The Breck Epic - July 2009

[MikeMac]

The Breck Epic - July 2009
________________________________________
That's right, we've received provisional approval from the powers that be to begin putting the pieces in place for an event launch in 2009. The website (www.breckepic.com) will go live in two weeks and we'll have a ton more information available at that time, but here are the broad strokes:

Date:
- It'll take place during the second or third week of July. This is the 'great weather window' up here in the mountains (and the only time our caterer can do it!)

Format:
- 5 stages plus a prologue off-road TT
- The stages will be Monday-Friday with the prologue taking place on Sunday afternoon.
- Solo categories will be offered, but we'll be reviewing resumes prior to accepting
- A field limit will be in place (approximately 400 riders)
- Categories are still TBD, but we'll be taking our cues from the pioneers in the format, the Trans-Rockies guys and the BC Bike Race folks (and on that note, we take our hats off to both of them for establishing such an amazing format and for so graciously allowing us to so blatantly rip it off.)

Course/Venue Information:
- There will be a strong emphasis on course quality. You can expect very little road riding and even gravel and fire road riding will be minimized. The Breck Epic is intended to be a rugged backcountry experience.
- We'll use a 'cloverleaf' model with each stage starting and finishing in Breckenridge
- That means that we'll use ONE campground and will have no transfers
- Lodging will also be available.
- Attn: Weekend Warriors: if you're the type of guy who likes to give yourself one extreme challenge once a year...well, this is not the event for you. The courses will be long. They will be difficult. 90% of the terrain will be above 10,000 feet. Cut-off times will be strictly enforced.

Pricing:
- TBD
- we will begin to take refundable deposits on October 15th. Upon applicant's acceptance, final pricing and confirmation deposits will be non-refundable. They will however be transferrable, but all selection criteria will apply.

Other:
- The organizers will offer 4 spots in the race (either solo entries or 50% off a team entry) in exchange for blog-style race editorial outlining race preparation and actual race experience. Applicants must satisfy athletic criteria and submit writing samples. We will begin accepting applicants for 'Breck Epic Blogger's Grants' beginning October 15th as well.
- The Breck Epic will be a "Team IMBA" event
- The food, coffee and beer will be pro-grade. We're not screwing around there. The riding will be ok too.


Why Breck?:
Because there's a great story here, plain and simple. In conjunction with Summit County Open Space and the USFS, the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Committee (BOSAC) along with the full support of the Breckenridge Town Council has made trail access, maintenance and construction as well as the outright purchase of open space parcels for the express use of recreationalists a community-wide priority. It's amazingly forward-thinking of them and their foresight and vision in tandem with a trail network here in the Dillon Ranger District whose sheer size, sprawl and connectivity defy comprehension make Breck and greater Summit County ideal for epic, backcountry loop-style riding.

The Breck Epic will donate all race profits to these open space entities and in subsequent years will initiate a grant program by which applicants with a vested interest in open space may apply for a portion of the race's profits. We'd like the Breck Epic to underwrite and reward good work in the community, and as a commercial user of the backcountry we feel that it's incumbent upon us to give back in a meaningful and measurable way. Our immediate goal is to underwrite one additional seasonal staff member for both the USFS and BOSAC. Funds will be donated to these two entities with the explicit condition that they be used to further trail maintenance, improvements and building.

Wanna stay updated as more info becomes available? Send me your email addy. You can get me at mikemac01@gmail.com. I'll put you on our email list (which will remain 100% private and will forward relevant race info only.) By subscribing to the Breck Epic list you'll also receive race blogs and results delivered to your inbox as they're received from our blogging team.

Thanks for hanging in there with us. Many of you waited with baited breath as we talked up the Colorado Epic for the past two years and I appreciate your support and enthusiasm. I know that I speak for all of us when I sat that the Breck Epic team is pretty excited to get this ambitious project underway.

MM

[TheNeil]

Right on Mike!!

I just got goosebumps.

p.s. On a slightly unrelated, but related kind of way, you still looking at putting on a 'cross epic?

[MikeMac]

Cross epic?

Yup. "Crossifixion", fall 2009. Couldn't get it together for this year, but plan on 50+ miles of backcountry cyclocross riding in mid-September (most of it while swearing like a trucker with Tourette's Syndrome.)

If you guys are wondering what TN is talking about, do a quick search on "3 Peaks Cyclocrss".

Coming soon to a national forest near you.
MM

[TheNeil]

Ok, now I just straight up peed my pants.

You guys are killin it next year.

[LyndaW]

oooh that looks really cool. I've raced TR twice and BCBR once and was looking for something new next year.

[teamdicky]

Well I'm sure you know since I've pestered constantly for over a year now I have planned my entire life around being at this race. I'm so stoked this is going to happen. I even had my wife plan a volunteer trip to Haiti in August just to keep July clear.

I would type more blather, but I'm gonna go start training now.

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

Other:- The organizers will offer 4 spots in the race (either solo entries or 50% off a team entry) in exchange for blog-style race editorial outlining race preparation and actual race experience. Applicants must satisfy athletic criteria and submit writing samples. We will begin accepting applicants for 'Breck Epic Blogger's Grants' beginning October 15th as well.
- The Breck Epic will be a "Team IMBA" event

MM

A blog eh???

I have one of those lying around somewhere...

Not sure if I could match the "athlete criteria" or if my "writing samples" could cut the mustard. Gonna have to dust off my Prentice Hall Reader.

[teamdicky]

BTW: I'm gonna have to print the race info out and carry it around with me all day just so I can reassure myself that this isn't a dream.

[zrm]

I dunno Mike, you know how T-ride has the "nothing" festival? I think we should find a date without some kind of mountain bike or trail running race and call it "slacker" festival

Will each stage have a MBS? Think about the old Fall Classic days to flesh out the acronym.

[XC62701]

Sweet! I'm really interested to see more.

[mtbjedi1]

Bring it on!!!!

[69erSycip]

Good luck Mike. I hope to do this next year.

[MikeMac]

Thanks - the response has been a bit overwhelming. I expected it to generate some interest, but jeez...my inbox has scorchmarks on it.

I'm working on web stuff right now - yet another reminder that I should have gotten a degree in the sciences instead of that stupid, useless liberal arts degree - nothing like 90 minutes spent plodding through web code acronyms to make you feel like a big dummy.

The response for the blogger's entries has also been a bit crazy - I think that I'm going to have to set up some sort of voting system like the Santa Cruz Hellride guys did. Most of the folks who've written in asking for entries are friends and I anticipate having more applicants (that I know) than I have free entries. Weird problem to have...how do you tell your friends "sorry, you're just not funny or verbose enough?" Another part of the problem, and it's admittedly a good one to have, is that the folks who've already got blogs and have asked for consideration can actually write!

The whole intent of the blogging initiative is to drive editorial. I know that I speak for a lot of us when I say that the most interesting thing that I read on Velonews.com or Mountainbike.com are the firsthand race reports. Rebecca Rausch, Will Frischkorn, Nat Ross - I just can't get enough. With an event so sprawling and ambitious the opportunity to draw the public in with the nitty gritty details is one that I don't want to miss. Mountain bike racing as entertainment has amounted to not much more than wasted potential so far. If the folks who've already contacted me are any indication of the caliber of writers that we'll ultimately award the grants then it's going to get real funny real fast. I think that it'll also be informative and hopefully inspiring.

Mike

[MikeMac]

Originally Posted by zrm

I dunno Mike, you know how T-ride has the "nothing" festival? I think we should find a date without some kind of mountain bike or trail running race and call it "slacker" festival

Will each stage have a MBS? Think about the old Fall Classic days to flesh out the acronym.

MBS?

Mandatory Bong Session?

Maximum Bud Smoking?

My Balls are Sore?

I'm sure we'll have lots of that last one. These days even the DH'ers are about as fun as the religious right (unless you get one of those teetotallers - they're accidents waiting to happen.)

[2dougyfresh9]

I'm down for this. Looking forward to it.

[subliminalshiver]

bump

[MikeMac]

TX for the bump SS.

One of the regional pros has suggested 2 hour stages in lieu of 4-5 hour stages. Thoughts? Suggestions about this or anything else? We had a pretty good thread going last year when we solicited you guys to let us know what you liked/disliked about your previous stage race experiences.

Bring it on. My back is strong (thass a Smoove B. Real quote right there, boyee.)

MM

[KERKOVEJ]

Longer is always better in my mind. If I wanted to race for 2 hours.....I'd go to more xc events. Make the Breck Epic like nothing else out there. That is what will set your event apart from the rest of the stage races out there.

Just my 2¢

[XC62701]

Originally Posted by KERKOVEJ

Longer is always better in my mind. If I wanted to race for 2 hours.....I'd go to more xc events. Make the Breck Epic like nothing else out there. That is what will set your event apart from the rest of the stage races out there.

Just my 2¢

Agreed...make it longer. I want to know death is an option

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

One of the regional pros has suggested 2 hour stages in lieu of 4-5 hour stages. Thoughts?

MM

Eeeewwwwwwwwwwww.

I want pain and lots of it.

Goes hand in hand with the format.

Stage racing should be a large experience that provides a challenge and memories.
Anybody can hold their sh!t together for two hours a day five days straight.

If I'm getting on a plane (and spending $$$$'s) I want it to be worthwhile.

Pros...

pfffffffffftttttt.

Guess a "real stage race" might mess with their training for the rest of the season.

[Mike Brown]

LOOOONG (4-5 hours MINIMUM) stages will most likely make me come out for this.
2 hour stages absolutely fricking will not.
If you want this to be a locals-only thing, short stages.
If you want it to draw travelers, longer stages.

[LyNx]

Yeah, thanks for the bump SS obviously missed this the first time around. Prob way above my fitness/skill, but still sounds like it could be very fun and memorable. Personally looking to do something along the lines of this to celebrate the big 4-0 next year. Will it be teams, as in like the BC and trans rRockies races where you have to be within "X" of your team mate? Definitely will be looking for more info as this evolves.

Oh and yeah, on the stage times, DEFINITELY something over 4 hours and more like 5-6. As Dicky says, "if you're gona hop on a plane and spend money" you want to feel it was worth it, anyone can ride 5 days straight for a couple hours even at that altitude.

[teamdicky]

AND...

I forgot to mention...

Every good stage race has a fat queen stage.

Give 'em a few days and then give 'em hell.

Sweet, sweet suffering.

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by Mike Brown

LOOOONG (4-5 hours MINIMUM) stages will most likely make me come out for this.
2 hour stages absolutely fricking will not.
If you want this to be a locals-only thing, short stages.
If you want it to draw travelers, longer stages.

C'mon Mike.
Don't mince your words.

How do you really feel??

NC represent!!

[zrm]

Mike,

My personal opinion is that the race should test a variety of skills. A stage or two for the bigger, power guys that is fast, not too technical, not too much climbing and around two hours. Since you are talking about the possibility of a prologue (Humbug!), maybe there doesn't need to be a time trial, but as you well know there are many possibilities for a pucker hill climb (I always wanted to do a hill climb from town to the peak 10 radio towers, or maybe to the translators on Baldy ). I like the idea of maybe the first three stages being somewhat easier then the final two stages being the killer 3-4 hours decisive stages. Plenty of options for something like that in the GH/Baldy/Soda creek area. That should add some drama to last couple days

Coffee at the Grace?. You know how I love coming up with ideas for course designs that other people have to implement.

[MikeMac]

ZRM..."Humbug?"

You effing sadist.

I sent you and email about SFTS stuff a few days ago. Not sure I have your current email addy correct tho'. Drop me a line at mikemac01@gmail.com and I'll give you the rough outline of the stages. There are a few tricky parts in there, but you'll get the idea.

MM

[teamdicky]

Like Mike said though...

I really think he hit the nail on the head. If you have five days of 2-3 hours of racing you'll end up with mostly locals. If you add a ton of prize money you'll certainly draw some honch riders from all over the place, but you won't get much participation from the somewhat strong folks looking for an adventure (the core group of stage race participants).

The race is called the Breck EPIC. There's not much epic about five days in the saddle for 2-3 hours at a time. I realize that format will hurt somewhat, and the racing at the head of the class will be fast and furious, but the CORE GROUP OF STAGE RACERS are looking for something else. We know we are not there to win. We simply show up to see if we are up to the challenge. We will be the folks finishing in the 40th to 400th place, and we will also be the people adding the largest amount of money to the cause (a worthy cause, not filling Mike's pocket).

Maybe you can get 400 (I guess 700 if it's a 100 solo/300 team split) people to show up for a stage race with a 2-3 hour a day format, but I somehow doubt it. I've had enough time in the trenches (five stage races) to know what most of these folks want. We'll take our doses of gravel and pavement to get to the trail, we'll ride till the fastest people are already eating dinner, and we'll clean up, eat, and head out for more.

Maybe some local wants a week of hard training rides (I am being cynical), but the people who buy a plane ticket ($300), pay to get their bike there ($200), and pay the entry (guessing around $1,000) want their money's worth. The idea of riding for three hours and then having to kill the rest of the day kicking around camp in Breck for ten hours before hitting the sack??? Sounds a little boring. I like the camaraderie of tent city, but the stories come from a long day on the trail.

If you don't want a lot of unhappy people make sure you have the course info (at least some general info re:daily mileage) up before people throw in their hard earned money. You'll have some unhappy campers if they find out the Epic is anything but.

For example: There was a race this year that was of an epic distance. The course was described to have a decent amount of singletrack when it was first introduced. Long after plans were made, tickets and entries paid for, and seasons were planned the course changed to 100% gravel. The promoter didn't want it that way, but his hand was forced. Some people might have said it was a great race regardless, but they said it through clenched teeth. If people pay for an Epic day on the trail that's what they want.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I think the race is getting "the full support of the Breckenridge Town Council" due to the fact that this race will attract out of towners who will come back with their vacation dollars. They would be pleased as poop to have hundreds of people from all over the nation (or world) come to Breck, have a good time, tell their friends, and most certainly come back to Breck. For those people to come there has to be some appeal. I know were staying in Breck the whole time, but communities pretty much beg to have the other stage races stop in their town. It may not be the TDF, but the funhogs paying thousands of dollars to take part in a stage race could come back with their tourism dollars later. I think this is part of what the Breckenridge Town Council has in mind.

But of course I want epic. Look at how much time I'll spend typing a stupid rant filled post on MTBR. I'm in it for the long haul, baby. Besides, if I finish by 1:00PM everyday I'll be drunk off my ass from drinking Coor's Light pounders before supper time. No one wants to see that.

I refuse to go back and edit that long post which ate up a good chunk of my morning for grammar, spelling, or etiquette.

[teamdicky]

Will I ever shut up?
Prolly not...

There are two great opportunities for short days during the week:

The first day:

Let people sleep in a little. Most will be slightly weary from travel.
Gives you (promoter guy) time to work out the bugs.
People will have more time at camp to get to know each other and get familiar with the Tent City" routine.

The last day:
Let people sleep in a little. They should be on the edge of exhaustion by the last day.
Early finish allows for more time to pack up for travel, awards ceremonies, and getting drunk (sounds childish, but it's what happens).

There are other benefits, but I've spent too much time this morning typing and my hands hurt from the effort. Maybe I need all the stages to be less than an hour since I can't handle a the discomfort of endurance posting.

[MikeMac]

Rest assured folks, it's going to be epic. The rider who threw out the question is a long-time customer and a good, good guy. I told him to expect a fair bit of pushback and I think that the response here confirms that.

Several years ago we promoted a 3-stage race called The Fall Classic. Stage 3 was an epic, big-loop backcountry XC that featured 3 monster climbs, one of them borderline insane. This one was also at the very end of the race and folks were pretty blown when they hit the bottom of it. Ariel Lindsley was racing pro at the time and ended up taking second. When I was witing him his check for his podium finish he said to me (laughing while he said it,) "That whole last climb? All I could think about was punching you in the face!"

We hope to provide each and every one of you with just such a moment. Maybe many of them.

XOXO,
MM

[boneblack]

Originally Posted by XC62701

Agreed...make it longer. I want to know death is an option

Fancy seeing you here. 100 milers not long enough for you. This sounds great.
J. (jhchoi)

[JDG1317]

That sounds pretty good...

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

Rest assured folks, it's going to be epic.

Good.

Now I can go back to practicing being funny on my blog.

[mtbjedi1]

Here'a another vote for big stages everyday. Minumim 50 miles, preferrably 60-75. That's what's going to make it epic. Anyone can make a hard race, but it takes talent and skill to make a race punishing and so awesome that you want to do it again and again. Too short and it draws the pure XC crowd. This is fine, but you've already seen the demise of the original Fall Classic, Mercury Tour etc.. So I feel this shorter format may not be all that sustainable. Ridiculouly long and hard (did I just say that?) also scares people away; think Montezuma and other Summit 100's. SO there's a difficult balance to strike. Thankfully you're the one promoter, at least in CO, that can probably pull this off right. Good luck, and thanks for being open to imput from us "endurance constituents".

[XC62701]

Originally Posted by boneblack

Fancy seeing you here. 100 milers not long enough for you. This sounds great.
J. (jhchoi)

Yea I guess I'm always looking to up the stakes a little... I've been eyeing a couple of these stage races up for a while now.

[jcospoco]

i wonder if this will hurt the F50 attendance? no biggie, there seems to be enough sickos around for all kinds of pain and suffering. I do urge all of you wishing for long stages every day....be careful what you wish for. There are plenty of long, rocky climbs here that they will send us up...day after day. Combine that with some afternoon t-storm potential. ouch. kudos to Mike for this one. I think mtb racing needs a unique, BALL-BUSTING event like this for sure. And this one almost sounds easy compared to the Epic Cross race that might happen one day. Slime tubes, patch kits, and 4-tubes-per-person mandatory.

[rhamilton]

I have been riding my own epic loops up in Summit county and there are some great 70 to 100 mile death marches that can be incorperated into this... How about hwy 9 to Ute pass to Jones pass to to Gunella pass to Argentine pass to Sally Barber???? now thats is what I am talking about. You do five days of that kind of stuff and you will turn the Breck Epic from a race to a legend.

[sbsbiker]

Mix up the stage lengths for best trail riding experence, and to keep the time splits close through the week. Three hours of high altutude, singletrack one day and five the next, whatever the day's epic route demands. If you break everyones legs in the first couple of stages, the competition for GC will be over quickly. If you start the week with shorter stages that kept the fields from spreading out too much, and as the week went on the stages got longer and harder, it would keep more riders in the hunt for the overall, and make everyone watch their backs as the week went on. Don't just add time or length to fill a quota. Try to make it so that one type of rider can't dominate. Don't limit yourself to what people expect from their experences with other races.

If you had a week off, a support staff willing to keep you fueled during your rides, and a yearning to "go big" all week, what would you ride to best experence everything the backcountry around Brek has to offer? keeping in mind that you want to finish every day ready to RACE again tomorrow, and the next, and the next.
If you go 70-100 miles day after day, by wendsday, most riders will be dead on the side of the road, walking the climbs, and not racing bikes anymore, just triing to finish. If you add time cutoffs, i would bet on lots of DNFs from; altutude sickness, dehydration, and bonk.

[srlooney]

Hey! What's wrong with XC racers? Wait... don't answer that. hahaha

[KERKOVEJ]

Need lots and lots of this....


And maybe some of this....

[srlooney]

Yes. I do need. Hey! Wait! That's me

[george7117]

This is very good news. And I won't have to travel to BC to get my "race" on.


Leadville 100, Silver Rush 50, Firecracker, Elk Mountain Traverse ......, is there a better place to live than here?????

[srlooney]

I am certain the answer is no.

[jcospoco]

if I were going to be off my bike some...I'll just race cross.
sounds like some of you are just plain masochistic. Promoter needs to be careful not making it too epic. sure he wants good press and a following, but not at the expense of, let's say, a 4hr margin b/w 1st and 2nd place...and/or a 20% finishing rate.

[carneyam]

Call me crazy, but with "epic" in the name I would want it to be a sufferfest. Bring on the hike-a-bikes, rocks, exposure, and suffering. If the difficulty scares someone, perhaps the race just isn't for them. I say bring it on!

But that's just my 2 shiny pennies.

[zrm]

MBS?

Mandatory Bong Session?

Close, Mystery Bong stop. Hippie Pat used to be out somewhere on the XC course. He used to get quite a few folks to make the stop too. Even a few well known pros took part. (the names shall remain anonymous)

These days even the DH'ers are about as fun as the religious rig

What in the world is wrong with kids these days?

(unless you get one of those teetotallers - they're accidents waiting to happen.)

Hey Dude, since I became one o them teetotaller, my crash count has gone way...ummm, errrr, well I remember the crash's much better than I used to

[zrm]

Originally Posted by carneyam

Call me crazy, but with "epic" in the name I would want it to be a sufferfest. Bring on the hike-a-bikes, rocks, exposure, and suffering. If the difficulty scares someone, perhaps the race just isn't for them. I say bring it on!

But that's just my 2 shiny pennies.

Yeah, but you have to get enough people to make the thing fiscally sane. I think having the first couple or three stages being more XC type course's of 2-3 hours then the last couple stages being epic and decisive would be a good balance. Look at he road stage races, all the stages aren't hard, they want guys to race, not just survive. Remember, Breckenridge sits at 9600' and the average elevation of most of the riding here is probably around 10,700' with some trails going well over 12,000'. Add that to the mix and you'll have some seriously kicked a$$'s.

Anyway, I think Mike has a fairly good grip on what it will take to put on a good show for the racers and the public.

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by zrm

Yeah, but you have to get enough people to make the thing fiscally sane.

Trans Rockies: 600 people
BC Bike Race: 500 people
La Ruta: 600 people
Cape Epic: 1,100 people

I know it's a first year race, but given the number of Americans that do these races I don't think he can make it hard enough to scare people away from the chance to torture themselves.

I'll say it again.

The majority of the folks who make up the pack fodder (like me) want a challenge. I've spent plenty of time hanging out with folks that are plenty content to spend an entire day in the woods to have to wake up to... you guessed it... another full day in the woods. It's the challenge they seek.

Granted a two hour day for a pro will be a four hour day for Joe Six-pack, but a three hour day for a pro becomes six for Joe, four becomes eight... that's what they come for.

The bigger the chance that success is slightly beyond grasp means the greater the desire to seek it.

[zrm]

Well, since I haven't been really plugged into the race scene for a while I'll gladly defer to those who are. I suppose it depends on what the folks putting on the race want it to be. If that's five killer 3-6 hour stages there is certainly the terrain around Breckenridge to to it.

Personaly, even if I was still in race shape, which I ain't these days, I'd rather have a good mixture of types of courses than five death marches in a row, I think it would make for better racing, but that's just me. I know there are lots of folks out there that are a lot tougher than I have ever been so maybe my tastes aren't in the majority.

[frejwilk]

Originally Posted by teamdicky

The bigger the chance that success is slightly beyond grasp means the greater the desire to seek it.

Yeah!!

And also, does it really seem like such a high number of people would need to be paired up into teams for a mountain bike race with 2-3 hour stages?

Like others have said, with 'Epic' in the name it seems like longer stages are what you'd expect. I also notice that no one is soliciting feedback in the XC racing and training forum for this one.

FW

[mtbjedi1]

Originally Posted by jcospoco

if I were going to be off my bike some...I'll just race cross.
sounds like some of you are just plain masochistic. Promoter needs to be careful not making it too epic. sure he wants good press and a following, but not at the expense of, let's say, a 4hr margin b/w 1st and 2nd place...and/or a 20% finishing rate.

Jeff, you do realize that like most endurance races, only the top 5 people will actually be "racing". 95% of the attendees will be there to push themselves and have an epic experience. That's what makes these events special and appealling. So I think you can totally throw out the concept of keeping the racing tight, no one really cares! I do agree that to be successfull you have to have more than 50% finishing rate, so don't have a time cut.

[BOMA]

As a former Breck resident, firstly I have to say I'm stoked to see this happen.

With regard to the shorter time stages...I think it can be useful and even unique to include a few amongst the other big days.

I would say take a look at the way the Wildside race in Tasmania is set-up; shorter stages = two in one day. so, a 2 hour in the morning, 2 hour in the afternoon. They even have one of the shorter stages as a head to head sprint with the person closest to you in the Overall Classification.

Though my personal choice would be a 2-3hour morning stage, then a 45-60min sprint lap - at night, under lights, reverse order, each rider a minute or two apart... That would be EPIC!!!!!

[sbsbiker]

One last suggestion, No Teams. Make the event for solo riders, don't make It a two person event. I never like that format, and don't think it adds anything to the event except traffic. If everyone is racing solo, and someone goes down and needs help, I think (hope) other riders in the event would stop and help, dragging along a teammate is sooo un-american. If you want to ride with a teammate, that is your option, and team tatics could be played out if everyone is timed individually, every major tour is timed individually, and fielded with teams.

[Mike Brown]

A few comments after reading all these:
I agree WHOLLY that most entrants aren't "racing for the win." Most are riding as fast, far, and hard as they can for the personal challenge. If I was a "racing for the win" guy, I'd focus on my local XC race series.
Regarding the off bike/ cross racing comment- I love hike-a-bikes. It's part of mountain biking. I also like trails that are NOT buff and NOT groomed. Downed trees, loose rocks, extended tech, "which way do I go" questions all= good.
And I guess that's my overall point- for me, this would be more about mountain biking than "racing." Yes, the format would encourage me to push myself to go as fast as I can and hurt like hell. But, again, that's a personal challenge the format would encourage, not some grand scheme of scoring a bunch of podium schwag.

[MikeMac]

There've been some guys that have been arguing the solo/team thing back and forth. Some have even gone as far as suggesting that it should be either, not both. We're committed to offering both, but I have to admit some curiosity about what could best be described as extreme partisan politics (my way or the highway thinking.) What I can't seem to get my head around is this; If you were a team rider, how would the inclusion of solo entrants diminish your race experience? Alternately, if you were a solo rider, why would having people compete as teams lessen your accomlishment?

I'm asking not because I want to preach, but because I'm generally not the smartest guy in whatever room I happen to be in (thank goodness for the dog.) I'd like to hear some rationale behind the polarization in some folks thought processes.

In completely unrelated news, my wife and I welcomed our second son into the world this past Monday. Tavish Sky McCormack wighed in at 6lbs. 11 oz and was 19 inches long. "Tavish" is Gaelic for 'mountainside' and his middle name is derived from the avalanche chutes on the backside of the Ten Mile Range just east of Copper Mountain on the south side of the road. From a distance they look like an S, a K and a Y. Young Tavish hasn't had an easy road so far - he's got fluid in his lungs and possibly pneumonia. He lived in Vail Valley Medical Center's newborn intensive care unit for 2 days before being med-flighted to Denver on Wednesday afternoon. His docs are optimistic that the change in altitude will speed him down the path of recovery. If you've got a spare moment, please think a kind thought today on his behalf. His mother and I would be in your debt.

Other than that things are coming together slowly but surely for the event. We've even lined up indoor showers.

Talk to you all soon,
MM

[srlooney]

It seems to me that having a team category and a solo category is more than fair. The guys arguing for solo can race solo, and the guys arguing to do a team, can do a team... and if they aren't competing against one another, why would it matter? It seems that it would make everyone happy. Shrug. I'm not sure if I want to do solo or a team, but am debating both... I thought that in a team race, both people have to finish together every day, much like an adventure race?

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

If you've got a spare moment, please think a kind thought today on his behalf.

Kind thoughts going your way.
Real problems tend to put silly disputes into perspective.
Hope things turn around soon.

[TheNeil]

Mike, Best wishes for your son, and your family.
I've always really liked the Sky Chutes, its cool that they had a part in naming your boy.

Now to the less important stuff, I like your idea of both team and solo. Let people have the opportunity to be part of a team, and have the team comradery (sp.), but let the stubborn solo guys go at it too. I'm sure you will make a reasonable decision.

[MikeMac]

Thanks for the kind words folks - I think that we have reason for optimism as far as young Tavish goes. I'll post an update here when we know more.

As far as the team/solo thing, I know that we're committed to offering both. To answer Sonya's question, yes, the team format will pretty much be the same as the other stage races. What I was trying to get a better handle on was why people felt like one group needed to be excluded. Sonya's question led me to think that I may have explained things poorly and I wanted to throw it out there so that I could get a better grip on the thought process. 100 heads are always better than one.

MM

[LyNx]

Mike, my thoughts are with you and young Tavis, hope the altitude change helps him recover fully - I know it helps me getting back to sea level after that insane altitude. keep us updated

As TD said, real world events put stupid bickering into perspective sadly some people are just selfish and don't think of what others might like or what would be best for the whole and not the individual.

[Moots91]

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for your son. When a loved one is suffering, everything else is pretty insignificant.

[srlooney]

I hope your son is getting the best care in Denver and that things continue to improve. You're in my thoughts, wishing you the best!

[MikeMac]

I've seriously derailed this thread by injecting our family drama. Please consider this a preemptive thanks to all who read the post above and took the time to fire some energy our way. The outpouring of support from friends and family has been unbelievable, but with that said, this is probably not the best place. Feel free to PM or email me (mikemac01@gmail.com) if you've got good stories or vibes to share - believe me, it's incredibly appreciated by both my wife and me.

Righty-o then, back to the Breck Epic thread...

I'm not trying to call anyone out as far as my question above (why have either/or, but not both solo and team competitions?), rather I was trying to get at the mindset behind it - is there a solid basis for this school of thought, or do we just need to take a deep breathe and reel it back in a bit.

...and nobody cares about indoor showers? Man, I thought that' generate a bit more enthusiasm!

MM

[srlooney]

Indoor Showers? what-what-what?!?!? There you go.

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

...and nobody cares about indoor showers? Man, I thought that' generate a bit more enthusiasm!

MM

Would those be "team showers" or "solo showers"?

The "co-ed team showers" at the 2007 BC Bike Race were.... ummmmmm... interesting.

[srlooney]

hahaha. Hey-O! That could motivate you to ride on a team, eh?

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by srlooney

hahaha. Hey-O! That could motivate you to ride on a team, eh?

Dunno.
Maybe.

Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by teamdicky

Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

Not necessarily a dig on Kerkove, but hey... why not?

[2fast4u]

How about throwing in a late afternoon/night loop, just to change things up???

[sbsbiker]

To addres the team vs solo thing, I think that the team competition does add an additional element to the racing, it's just not for me, I'm not a team player when racing my bike. I race mt bikes because it's you vs the course, fastest time wins. Unlike road cycling where you, your team, and many other factors come into the play when deciding the winner. In mountain biking, self suffcentcy and personal strength have always been key to getting good results, and keeping a team together during a mtbike race is not always the fastest way to the finish. But let team's compete, I'm all for letting people choose whatever they want out of events, just don't force everyone to do it an I'm fine.

BTW; I'm also against pits, and mechanical support for racers during an event. Luck, and the flat gods should have their say in who wins. Finishing on what you started with was always a part of mtbiking and racing for me. If you choose too light a tire, or the wrong equipment, it'll effect your results. That's mtbikeing.

[MikeMac]

SBS - yer gonna love "Crossifixion". Sep. 19, 2009.

[sbsbiker]

Cross and MTbike racing are two different animals. Let them have their pits, and run-ups, and mud (hopefully). By the time I'm going good during a cross race, I've puked, been lapped, or it's over.(or all of the above)

[MikeMac]

"Crossifixion" is a 60-mile backcountry 'cross race. Ever hear Dennis Leary describe his dad? In his words, "he could nail his thimb to the wall with a nail gun, light a smoke and crack a beer before he pulled the nail out with a hammer."

That race is for those guys. It's a slightly different animal. Google "3 Peaks Cyclocross and you'll get an idea of what I'm talkingt about.

MM

[MikeMac]

...with the possibility of a prologue on the 5th.

And there you have it.

MM

[XC62701]

Awesome!!!

[zrm]

Jeeze Mike, why not talk with Westcott and make the F50 the prologue?

[MikeMac]

We can't go the week after because of a conflict with national championships in SolVista. Plus this way the bike industry folks will be able to attend both events - something they made clear that they wanted to do.

Not a perfect solution, but the best available.

MM

[sbsbiker]

Another idea I had for stages was a two DH TT on one day with a mandatory untimed ride between the two. It would be a sort of rest day, as the climb to the starts wouldn't be timed and allow for a double Super D stage!! That would be unique, allow for different winners on the day, mix up the GC a bit and be loads of fun.

[zrm]

Jeeze Mike, more than a week with a bunch of mountain bike racers in town? In early July? Might be a bit overwhelming.

[tomimcmillar]

teams vs solo, I'll weigh in, what the hell.

Teams make sense if you're either,

a: racing laps at a timed event, yuk.

or b: doing a 'race' that requires navigation on the part of the racers, where team dynamics and responsibilities are a factor. Teams make sense for races like the Wild100 or the DoubleDare, or adventure racing.

But if you're on a course with support, where you're following arrows all day, I don't see what a team format adds. If you go off course, great, now two people are lost. Has anyone ever seen a downed racer not get immediate help from the first on the scene? We're all in it together anyway, the team for safety thing doesn't really ring with me in these supported events.

If you offer a solo cat, then just make it all solo. If people wanna ride it like an adventure vacation with their best riding buddy back in 253rd place, they can still do that. I'd be curious to see, at the end of this first running, how many solos vs team entries you end up turning away due to the field limits that are set...

And the stages, 5ish hour finishes for the leaders, light drops if needed for the masses. Don't further cheapen the word 'Epic,' give folks a chance to really learn something about themselves.


and beyond all that, +++vibes+++ for the youngster.

[KERKOVEJ]

Originally Posted by zrm

Jeeze Mike, why not talk with Westcott and make the F50 the prologue?

I like this idea.

[teamdicky]

Ahhhhhhh...... shaddap Tomi.

You'll be at TdB anyways.

[frejwilk]

I wouldn't have guessed that folks would just want teams and no solos. Are there people thinking that way?

As for folks interested in solo. I think many of those wishing to ride solo might be more concerned with the field limit for solo riders than whether teams were also in the race. That is, they'd just be worried about getting in. I haven't seen firm numbers anywhere, but I had the impression that solo spaces would be limited compared to teams.

In general, I am curious about the reasoning behind the team format for these races. I'm not questioning why people would want to race together, just why the format requires it. As mentioned above, if it would offer an advantage or sense of security, what would be the problem with solo riders 'teaming up' during the event? It is a race and not trying to be self supported.

FW

[brad h]

with much of what Tom said. I think solo is much more appealing. Who wants to live with having one bad day adding 45 minutes to your buddies time? 45 minutes in a race that is crazy expensive that you (and your partner) train for for the entire year.

I'm ridiculously excited about this event, have wanted to do mtb stage race for years but the travel to another country combined with the team format have kept me away. If I get a solo spot in this thing I'm hiring a coach and I'm showing up in the best shape of my life. It will dominate my life for the next 8 months. When the race begins I will go as hard as I can all week without having to worry if I can keep up with so-and-so or vice versa.

For me personally, every epic (whether a hundie race or a solo 14hr backcountry adventure) I have ever done has been an immensely personal and private test of physical, mental and emotional strength. Group rides are group rides. Racing is racing. Ultimately I want to succeed or fail by myself.

[sbsbiker]

Make everyone register solo, and then award team GC based on combined finishing times for those that wish to pay extra for a "team" entry. The extra fees for the team competition could goto prize money for the team cat.

I also think a points based stage race in addition to a timed stage race would be cool, that way if you had a day where you lost time,(bonk or mech) but otherwise you were riding strong, you wouldn't drop too many spots in the points GC, and thus be able to stay competitive all week long.

[MikeMac]

There will be a solo category. There will be a team category. There's no need to force one group to conform to the other's preferred method of racing.

We won't 'field limit' the solo folks by limiting that field to a specific number, but there are safety considerations (as much as some may want to dismiss them,) they exist. As a longtime promoter I can say that for certain. All accidents don't happen on the marked course. The solo folks will have to be able to document their self-sufficiency, backcountry acumen and endurance pedigree in order to be considered.

Look for an emailed update today (10/16/2008) if you're on the newsletter list. If you'd like to be on it, shoot an email to: mikemac@breckepic.com. I know that I promised that the site would go live on the 15th, but as many of you know, my wife and I had our second child last Monday and he's spent better than a week in the ICU in Vail and then in Denver. I project that the site will go live on 10/23. Sorry for the delay.

MM

[MikeMac]

WEB UPDATE:
I know that I promised to get the site up and running by the 15th, but as many of you know, my wife and I had our second child on October 6th and that he had some problems. We spent a bit more than a week in the hospital with him before being allowed to bring him home. Young Tavish (Gaelic for ‘mountainside’) McCormack is doing well and seems to be happy to be back in Breck. He also seems to be completely oblivious to his culpability in delaying the launch of the site. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he’s not a raging destructive narcissist (we’ve already got a 2 year old with those qualities.)

DATE FINALIZATION:
Remember that time in band camp? Just kidding. Remember when we were discussing date options and we asked you guys to chime in? Well, with the help of the bike industry folks (and all of you) we’ve decided. This year’s Breck Epic will take place on July 6th-10th. There’s a possibility that we’ll add a seeding prologue on the afternoon of the 5th. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Why did we decide to go with those dates? Well, there are a couple of things going on in Colorado that we didn’t want to conflict with, yet we also felt that we needed to pay close attention to what we consider our window of good weather here at 9,600 feet…and that means July. There’s the Firecracker 50 on July 4th which will serve as USAC’s Marathon National Championships, The Breck 100 on the 18th and USAC MTB National Championships which will be held in SolVista Basin from July 16-19. After deliberating the merit and level of conflict with each we decided to go with the earlier week. I don’t want to conflict with any of them, but unfortunately we will. I’ve got a bit to say about each:

The Firecracker: Jeff and I created this race 9 years ago and it’s blossomed into one of the very best races in the country. I’m proud of that and more than a bit bummed out that we’re crowding its space. With that said, I’ll also throw out there that the customers are probably a bit different. It’s also a one-day event, whereas the BE is a 6 day affair soup-to-nuts. The USFS will be limiting Jeff’s field this year which means that regardless of the conflict (real or imagined,) The Firecracker’s going to have a full field. That makes me happy and ultimately allowed me to fall in line with the bike industry’s wishes to go with the earlier date so they could support both and not conflict with NATS. For more info on The Firecracker head to www.mavsports.com.

The Breck 100: The Breck Epic is based on the belief that Summit County contains an abundance of riches in terms of its trail network and its connectivity. If you don’t have the ability to take the full week off, but would still like a stiff challenge on an amazing course you should check this race out. Thane from Warriors Cycling also offers a 32 mile and a 68 mile option if you’re not up for the full hundo. www.warriorscycling.com.

NATS: I feel that we have the least crossover here especially since NATS caters to short-format, UCI World Cup-style racing. I also am stoked beyond belief that NATS are finally in Colorado. I lobbied USAC for years to create a one-day NATS event and then lobbied some more to bring it to the Rockies. There’s something pretty amazing about hashing it out on course for a stars and stripes jersey and the event at SolVista promises to be amazing for both the endurance and gravity crowds. The good folks at Bigfoot Productions will be producing and promoting NATS with the help of the SolVista Bike Park crew and the folks at Granby Ranch. You can find more info here: www.racemsc.com and www.solvistabikepark.com

Jeff and Thane will probably be involved in some way with the event. Thane in a course capacity and Jeff in an 11th hour “hey Jeff, I can’t figure this out, will you do it for me?” capacity. Let me offer a preemptive thank you to Jeff right now: Hey Jeff, thanks buddy.

SPONSOR REFERRAL PROGRAM:
I don’t want to overly commercialize and monetize the event, but historically the best sponsorship leads come from word of mouth. In order to integrate with the stated goal of the event (to directly fund additional labor resources for Breckenridge Open Space and Trails and the USFS) we’re being a bit selective about who we partner with. If you’re hooked up with an organization that might be interested in aligning themselves with the greener goods and goals, please feel free to contact us to make an introduction. I can provide more details, but we’ll offer each referrer a 10% ‘finder’s fee’ that can be applied toward entry fees and merchandise. Based upon finalized cash sponsorship. Limit one solo entry (@ $1000 value, actual value TBD) and $300 merchandise credit.

MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES:
Lodging, food, camping, showers, mechanical support, aid stations, moto crew…not to oversimplify, but all that stuff’s coming together. Expect great food, beer and coffee. Expect phenomenal riding.

BLOGGERS GRANT OVERVIEW AND APPLICATION:
This post is too long. I can’t help myself. Sorry MTBR. Please see next post for all the poop on the BE Blogger’s Grant Program. Or email me for a word doc of the application: mikemac@breckepic.com

VOLUNTEERS:
We need ‘em. Volunteers will get piles of event swag and I’m talking about the good stuff. Each volunteer will earn $10/hour credit at the company store. You’ll be able to redeem your credit for socks, tees, hats, fleeces, bags, etc. All volunteers will also receive meal tickets for breakfast and dinner for each day that they volunteer. Interested? Please contact me at mikemac@breckepic.com.

Thanks for hanging in there -
MM

[MikeMac]

Hey everyone, the actual app is at the bottom in BLUE. If you'd like to skip the dogma please feel free to scroll down.

MM
BLOGGERS GRANT OVERVIEW AND APPLICATION:

A look back…I’ve been involved in cycling events for as long as I can remember. There are two events that stand out for me when I look back and I guess if I really dig deep into the mental nooks and crannies I can say that they’ve shaped how I’ve come to look at events in general. The first event that jumps out at me was a what-was-then-called NORBA event in Traverse City, Michigan. I remember that the race was so much more than that – it was an event. The energy was unbelievable and you were left with no doubt that if you were a mountain biker, Traverse City, on that weekend, was the center of the universe.

My weekend was highlighted by two notable experiences, both of which left indelible impressions on a short naïve kid from Wisconsin. First, there was a fit and tan women walking around all weekend with a shirt made of what I could only describe as the sort of fish netting that you might sea in the South Pacific. She was also bra-less. Possibly European. To this day I couldn’t tell you what her face looked like. Couldn’t pick her out of a crowd of two if I had to. What can I say? I was about 22 years old and still flailing in the uncertain seas of huge hormonal surges. I was also sort of a moron at the time (you could make a case that I still am, although it’s possible that I’ve been upgraded to ‘juvenile’.)

The other part of that weekend that sticks out for me was the fact that the night prior to the XC event I got caught up in the excitement of the weekend and the camaraderie of sharing one crappy hotel room with 15 other farting, belching and generally stinky recent post-adolescents. There was beer. There were drinking games. There was credibility on the line. So I got hammered. Drunk as a chicken. I was so hung-over during my Sunday race that I’m pretty sure I got passed by a 12 year-old wearing clogs. I may have hallucinated that, but unfortunately for my ego I’m pretty sure that hippy freak middle-schooler owned me. My race experience was summed up at the finish line (yes, I finished) with the following words: “I’ve never wanted anything to end so badly in my life.” Then I was laughed at. By people claiming to be my friends. For years.

What these two memories underscore for me is that events at their best are experiential. When the stars align they give a participant much more than just an on-course experience. I don’t want to get all John Tesh-y here, but something that requires an over-the-top amount of commitment and sacrifice tends to get its mitts into your life in a systemic way. By living through the experience you generate memories. Of pain. Of good food. Of the lack of it. Of a particularly smelly fart. Of a woman with nice boobs, a staggering lack of modesty and no visible tan lines. Of intense suffering and of rich reward.

What started way back in over 20 years ago as a ‘sweeper’ for a local century ride turned into a full-immersion experience that’s defined my life and career. Over the past decade and a half one of the things I’ve most enjoyed is living vicariously through the exploits of others, especially where it concerns bike racing. I like reading about other people’s experiences in the saddle and my guess is, so do you. So without further preamble, I give you “The Breck Epic Blogger’s Grant Program”. Or in other words, “why use 10 words when 10,000 will do?”

Happy reading,
MM

Overview:
The Breck Epic Blogger’s Grant (BEBG) Program was established out of pure selfishness. I like to read about bike races and I feel like there are a lot of people out there like me. I also feel that the current crop of race reports published in the straight-up vertical media sometimes lack in nuance what they attempt to make up for with a detailed list of top-five finishers. I think that people want to live vicariously through others and I’m willing to pay for a small handful of you to document your journey from wherever you are right now to your finish in Breckenridge on July 10th. In exchange for you putting pen to paper I’m offering 4 individual race entries.

The Rules:
1. There are four BEBG. They’ll be made available to solo and team competitors.
2. Only 1 person per team may receive a blogger’s grant. 50% of your team’s entry will be picked up by us.
3. BEBG application submission period begins today. Thanks to all of you who’ve already forwarded your literary palmares…but please fill out the form and get it back to us.
4. BEBG applications need to be submitted (via email only) by Tuesday, January 6th, 2009. That’s 6 months out from the race start and will give you a rough submission deadline of one article every 6 weeks leading up to the race.
5. Blogger’s will be required to submit 4 training/general articles prior to the event in addition to 1/day while the event is in progress.
6. Each article (9 total) must be a minimum of 1,000 words.
7. Images may be included – please submit screen-resolution images unless otherwise directed.
8. Articles will be edited by BE staff, posted online at www.breckepic.com and blasted out to the members of our newsletter email list.
9. BEBG applicants will have their applications posted online on the event’s website. Users of the site’s forums will be allowed to vote for their preferred blogger. Winners of the ‘poll’ will receive their very own BEBG and unlimited self-promotional bandwidth. Polling rules are still to be determined, but in general, the sooner you get your application published online, the greater window of availability for people to vote for you.
10. The copy of BEBG recipients becomes the exclusive property of the event. You may repost your copy, but in broad strokes, we own it and can use it as we see fit. This leads us to…
11. Your blogs will appear on the Breck Epic website and in email blasts. Each blogger will also be ‘paired’ with one of the industry publications. BE staff will edit and forward your copy to your designated publisher with the sole intent that it be allowed to be published on that publication’s website.
12. Don’t be bummed if you don’t win! If you habitually write we’ll post links to your stuff on the blog page. There are also event sponsors who may request their own writer for the event. We’ll address this situation one-on-one with sponsors and writers as it becomes relevant.
13. We (OK, “I”) hold the deciding vote. I could be coy or less than up-front about that, but there are also strategic reasons for this program. I’ll serve as the ultimate tiebreaker if necessary.
14. Please submit your application by January 6, 2009 to mikemac@breckepic.com. Sans-serif fonts only please.


The Questionnaire:

Feel free to write whatever you’d like, but please adhere to the word-count guidelines. You’ll be allowed to run on indefinitely if you win. (To the victor go the spoils.) Please email to mikemac@breckepic.com by January 6th, 2009.

NAME:
SPONSOR/TEAM:
HOMETOWN:

35 words or less (please answer all)
Where are you from?
What kind of bike do you ride?
What do you love about it?
Solo or team competitor? Why?
Who’s your teammate (if applicable)?
Done any ultra-endurance stuff before?
Favorite food?
Movie?
Book?


100 words or less (please answer at least 4)
Worst experience on a bike?
Best experience on a bike?
Tell us about your LBS (Local Bike Shop):
Tell us about your favorite ‘local’ ride:
Tell us about your favorite ride EVER:
Describe a sponsor or company you admire and why you admire them?
Who will play you in the Breck Epic movie and why?

200 words or less (please answer at least 1)
What do you hope to get out of this experience? Expectations/goals/etc.
Tell us about your history as a cyclist or in the industry:

200 words or less (optional)
Feel free to blatantly self-promote here. A quote you like, a direct appeal to the voters, some hateful vitriolic slander for your political opponents (see: Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter…) This is your space. Decorate it however you’d like.

An image of you. Or of whatever.
Mandatory. 200 x 200 pixels please.

Links to your work: (Optional. Please submit a maximum of three.)

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

35 words or less (please answer all).....



100 words or less (please answer at least 4)......



200 words or less (please answer at least 1).....

etc, etc.

Are you looking for max 35 words/100 words/200 words etc. for each question in each subset, or are you looking for no more than the stated total to answer all the questions in each subset?

I'm not gonna get thrown out on a technicality.

Do you think Roger Moore would look good in lycra?

[TheNeil]

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little!!


I should note that it wasn't because of the unmodest fishnet wearing euro though. Glad I got that cleared up.

[MikeMac]

Again, I'm not sure what she looked like, but for her, presentation was everything.

Team Dicky - 35/100/200 words per line item or question, not per subset. In other words, if I asked you thename of your favorite pet and I asked in the first section, you could use 35 words to tell me.

MM

[teamdicky]

Originally Posted by MavSports

Team Dicky - 35/100/200 words per line item or question, not per subset. In other words, if I asked you thename of your favorite pet and I asked in the first section, you could use 35 words to tell me.

MM

Wow.

I'm gonna get to use every word I know!!

[tomimcmillar]

Originally Posted by teamdicky

Wow.

I'm gonna get to use every word I know!!

might even need to use a couple twice.

[MikeMac]

...a reasonable facsimile. Consolidated info for everyone: http://breckepic.blogspot.com

MM

[mcordar1]

single speed class?

[Stanley Johnson]

well I ride a lot but I live at 3k and seldom ride over 5k and not sure how much time at altitude i could get in prior....so I fear altitude siiiiiiiicknesssss.....

seems like an event for those that live at 7K at least..

[XC62701]

Originally Posted by Stanley Johnson

well I ride a lot but I live at 3k and seldom ride over 5k and not sure how much time at altitude i could get in prior....so I fear altitude siiiiiiiicknesssss.....

seems like an event for those that live at 7K at least..

Well I'm super interested and I'm coming from an elevation of about 80 feet and will have 10 days to acclimate if my plan holds up. You've already got an edge...

[MikeMac]

If you're making the trip from either coast you may want to consider registering for The Firecracker 50 on the Saturday preceding The Breck Epic. 50 miles might be a bit long with what lies in store for you with the Epic, but I can honestly say that the F50 is one of the very best races in the US. It's also Marathon NATS. If you like the idea of getting two amazing race experiences while you're out here but are balking at the 50-miles, they do offer a team option. Each rider on the team does one 25-mile lap.

Seriously, the F50 is a race that you should do before you die. It's that good. If you're here and can't/don't want to race it I'm sure that Jeff would love to have you as a volunteer. You get a pretty cool swag package (t-shirt, custom DeFeet Woolie Boolies, a killer barbecue and I think I remember there being free beer in the past ) If you're interested in racing or volunteering you can give Jeff a ring-a-ding at westy@mavsports.com.

Word.

[R2]

Hey MavSports-
the race sounds killer! the Firecracker 50 this year was a great race and staying up there for a whole week of riding sounds excellent. I like your format, your awareness for the local trails and it seems like a great event. Also, thanks for the compliments on the race reporting. I always wonder if anyone out there reads the stuff I post. FYI, the last name is RUSCH (pronounced Rush, as in fast! get it!). Anyway, I'm just about to put a posting up from the IronBiker in Brazil last weekend on www.mountainbike.com

Good luck with the race planning. I'll most likely see you there.
Rebecca

[XC62701]

Originally Posted by MavSports

If you're making the trip from either coast you may want to consider registering for The Firecracker 50 on the Saturday preceding The Breck Epic. 50 miles might be a bit long with what lies in store for you with the Epic, but I can honestly say that the F50 is one of the very best races in the US. It's also Marathon NATS. If you like the idea of getting two amazing race experiences while you're out here but are balking at the 50-miles, they do offer a team option. Each rider on the team does one 25-mile lap.

Seriously, the F50 is a race that you should do before you die. It's that good. If you're here and can't/don't want to race it I'm sure that Jeff would love to have you as a volunteer. You get a pretty cool swag package (t-shirt, custom DeFeet Woolie Boolies, a killer barbecue and I think I remember there being free beer in the past ) If you're interested in racing or volunteering you can give Jeff a ring-a-ding at westy@mavsports.com.

Word.

Yes I can say from first hand experience that the F50 is awesome. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, the parade start is something great to experience, and the race itself is pretty epic. I did it this past year and coming from sea level with no acclimation was a challenge in itself. I did ok and finished(not what I would call strongly) but was glad I got to see the experience. I'd love to come back out and try it again especially with the Breck Epic immediately following. I think the worst part was the climb up to little french flume(?) I think. It was fun riding over elk bones though

If I get my way it'll be the F50, Breck Epic, and XC Nats at SolVista all in my visit to CO from NJ. It'll be one crazy road trip

[XC62701]

Any new updates? Any idea if I'm going to need a mortgage application to finance this race?