ready to go on Friday

We were up at Singletrek Centrum yesterday to do a quick check on the course. There are a few obstacles to note next weekend (your typical bridge out here and active logging there), but generally everything looks great; and there is even a lot of progress on much more newly built singletrack!

Having ridden on a colder day (colder than forecast for next weekend), we can make a few recommendations.

1. Wear something to keep your feet dry and warm. There are no significant creek crossings, but lots of mud puddles/standing water throughout the trails that cannot be avoided.
   
2. Good gloves will keep you happy.
   
3. Plus, bring extra warm clothes for our post-ride socializing. We'll have plenty of time to ride, but it will be nice to relax out of muddy clothes after the sun sets. And when the sun goes down, so will the temperature. And we will be both inside and out.

We will be there around 11:00 on Friday morning to set up a little and start to do some rides. People will be hanging out at the Singltrek cetrum shop all afternoon. There is actually a good bit of trail we haven't even had a chance to look at yet, so we are pretty excited to go play. Come as early in the day as you can. We'll be hanging out enjoying ourselves. And we would be happy to have your company.

Plus, if you pre-ride the course between 11:30 and 14:45 you will have chance to look for one of the 10 time bonus cards, which will be hidden in the forests along the trail. And if you bring it to the start you will get a head start of 1, 3, or 6 minutes from the bunch start depending on which bonus you find!

The actual main event race is scheduled now for 15:30 (leaving from Singltrek Centrum at 15:00 for the 4.5km 20-25 minute ride to the start.) We will start on time. If you are late, you will have to catch us on the trail! :)

Caution: If the weather is bad (ie. rain or worse) we will start 30 minutes earlier at 15:00 to make sure everyone is back before it gets very dark in the forests.

I know we don't really announce the course ahead of time, because we don't want anyone to have an advantage, but it should be late enough that no one will check it out now. It will be a 17.4km track with about 300m of climbing. We are expecting those of you who are super fast to finish in maybe 45 minutes if you can keep your tires on the trail. Normal people will probably finish in an hour to an hour and a half.

It is almost all singletrack, so there aren't many places to pass. 

Very important rule, maybe the only one really is: Be Nice! If someone faster comes up behind you, pull over and let them pass. And if you come up on someone slower, tell them nicely and wait until it is safe or they pull over to let you pass.

The guys at Singletrek Centrum have been very helpful and are looking forward to seeing us on Friday. As they are supporting us and giving us a place to come in from the trail, we will try to give them some support back. They will have their regular setup of refreshments for sale: Beer on tap, very good coffee and teas, some other assorted drinks, sausages and other small snacks. They are also going to make some warm goulash soup especially for us too throughout the day. They also have a retail bike shop with sales, rentals, and service that has just opened up. Their prices are good, so bring a little cash to help out those who support us :)

Remember, we are happy to organize everyone to come ride together, and there will be prizes for all, but...

This is mountain biking in the forest, and it is NOT an official sanctioned event. You are riding at your own risk, so be careful, don't push it too hard and have a good time :)

So with that, come join us.

We are excited to see you next week!!

-Cory, Veronika, and a bunch of other helpful volunteers and sponsors