Ouachita Challenge registration open: Calling all 29ers...

[ncj01]

Last year 29ers were disporpotionately represented in the top of the field....

Registration just opened, spots fill up fast...sign up, bring your 29er, lets go for a big showing.

Tour on Saturday or Race on Sunday, or both if you're hittin' the crack pipe.

http://www.ouachitachallenge.com/reg.htm

I'm signed up for Tour on Saturday, will be sportin' the Lenz..

*~62 miles of single track
*April 9-10
*Oden, Arkansas
*on the Womble and Ouachita Mountains/Trails - Recognized IMBA Epic Trails

[TheSherpa]

Last year 29ers were disporpotionately represented in the top of the field....

Registration just opened, spots fill up fast...sign up, bring your 29er, lets go for a big showing.

Tour on Saturday or Race on Sunday, or both if you're hittin' the crack pipe.

http://www.ouachitachallenge.com/reg.htm

I'm signed up for Tour on Saturday, will be sportin' the Lenz..

*~62 miles of single track
*April 9-10
*Oden, Arkansas
*on the Womble and Ouachita Mountains/Trails - Recognized IMBA Epic Trails

The Tour is for pansies. I'm shootin' for Top 10 on my Paragon...

-TS

[donkey]

What part of Arkansas are we talking about.....north, south, east, west?

It's peaked my interest.

B

[ncj01]

What part of Arkansas are we talking about.....north, south, east, west?
It's peaked my interest.
B

Western half, about 1/2 way down...think Hot Springs...

Folks who have done both say it's a Lot nicer than the Leadville 100 for instance...

[TheSherpa]

What part of Arkansas are we talking about.....north, south, east, west?

It's peaked my interest.

B

It's, like, Central West. About 3 hrs from Fayetteville or about 1 hr West of Hot Springs.

-TS

[ncj01]

........ on my Paragon...-TS

Will, put down the crack pipe.

[robpennell]

Barb and I will be there racing on Sunday. I'll be on a green Rock Lobster SS and Barb will be rolling on a blue Waltworks. Why are you not racing?

[lanpope]

We have a group of 5 or 6 coming from Memphis, but I am the only one on a 29"er. I will be one of two SSers in my group.

There has been some talk of trying to do both days...

Man, April will be here soon!

LP

PS - Has anyone done this rigid before and how was it? I think I may need to find a new fork for the Monkey.

[ncj01]

Barb and I will be there racing on Sunday. I'll be on a green Rock Lobster SS and Barb will be rolling on a blue Waltworks. Why are you not racing?

I'm not man enough to race this year.

It will be EPIC if I finish (although I'm a 2-time finisher - out of 2 entries). I realize the distance and course is the same both days, but if I tour instead, it's more likely I'll have folks of my pace to ride with throughout the day...

[TheSherpa]

Will, put down the crack pipe.

Dayum, got me there. Still trying to decide if i'm gunna order it or not, but the parts spec is oh so nice and i could be one of the youngest 29ers around.

-TS

[donkey]

It's, like, Central West. About 3 hrs from Fayetteville or about 1 hr West of Hot Springs.

-TS

Alright, count me out. I was kinda hoping it was closer to TN, that way I could combine a trip to see my lady friend with a little ridin!

Maybe next year!

B

[robpennell]

call out a time and place for a 29er group photo/head count. Plus I really REALLY want to check out your bike.

[SoloWithOthers]

I am signed up for the tour. I will be on a Monkey, either green with gears front suspension or a brown stiffie single speed. I have a few buddies driving in from Atlanta. One SS no 29ers tho.

My girlfriend is riding too!

Mike

[ncj01]

call out a time and place for a 29er group photo/head count. Plus I really REALLY want to check out your bike.

No prob:

The ride starts about 8am both days...I recommend we have a pre-pre-ride-meeting-meeting around 730, both days....

Also, of course, the obigatory post-ride hang out session, cheering in the 29ers as they finish each day...3-6pm depending on your personal mojo setting.

Will, you can ride my RIG if you show up.

Hopefully our group photo will be larger than this (although there were 5-7 other 9ers there as well):
<img src="https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/IMG_1419.JPG">

[brewdog]

and would give me something to aim for (interprated as giving me a reason to get off my a$$).

I'm going to hold off on registration for a little while.

[ncj01]

and would give me something to aim for (interprated as giving me a reason to get off my a$$).

I'm going to hold off on registration for a little while.

There's a 200 person cap on each day....everytime people get turned away, canceled reservations wind up going on ebay for 3x original cost....would work for an interprising individual to buy them up and re-sale, but they only honor ones they re-sale, and proceeds go to local charities & trail maintence...

[wooglin]

I'm not man enough to race this year.

It will be EPIC if I finish (although I'm a 2-time finisher - out of 2 entries). I realize the distance and course is the same both days, but if I tour instead, it's more likely I'll have folks of my pace to ride with throughout the day...

This year the race course is the same as last year but they've reversed the tour course to take in the Womble trail first. I guess that's so people who drop out get to experience the best singletrack before they do. I'll be there Saturday on an SS'd Voodoo Dambala. I rode SS last year on a 1x1, and its actually last year's race results that got me looking at 29ers. Aside from the 29" gearies being disproportionately represented on the leader board, the top SS finisher was on a rigid MuTinyman.

[TheSherpa]

Will, you can ride my RIG if you show up.

Thanks for the offer, but 60miles on a SS would whoop my ass like no other. I talked myself into a Paragon and checked stock so depending on when i order it, i should have it by next week.

-TS

[ncj01]

This year the race course is the same as last year but they've reversed the tour course to take in the Womble trail first. I guess that's so people who drop out get to experience the best singletrack before they do. I'll be there Saturday on an SS'd Voodoo Dambala. I rode SS last year on a 1x1, and its actually last year's race results that got me looking at 29ers. Aside from the 29" gearies being disproportionately represented on the leader board, the top SS finisher was on a rigid MuTinyman.

True that....last year was the 1st year I DIDN'T ride it, and was the first year they ran it "backwards"....so for me, this year they're actually running it the same direction as the 1st 2 yrs it was run, which is when/where I rode it...so I'm happy with that....of course I could have all this backwards in my head.

Anywhoo, that was Jim from Florida on the Mutinyman, I had photo's up the day after the event, but I think I lost track of them....more impressive: the year before he tore off folks legs on a Fixie rigid cross bike...

[ncj01]

Thanks for the offer, but 60miles on a SS would whoop my ass like no other. I talked myself into a Paragon and checked stock so depending on when i order it, i should have it by next week.

-TS

why don't you just build up that still NEW blur from last spring and be done with it...or buy another game for your PS2 and be be done with it...that way I can come over and play while I'm telling the wife I'm going for a ride....

[wooglin]

Anywhoo, that was Jim from Florida on the Mutinyman, I had photo's up the day after the event, but I think I lost track of them....more impressive: the year before he tore off folks legs on a Fixie rigid cross bike...

That old thread is at the bottom of this page under "similar threads". I was just looking at it. Sadly a lot of your photos are gone.

[ncj01]

That old thread is at the bottom of this page under "similar threads". I was just looking at it. Sadly a lot of your photos are gone.

holy crap, in years and years I've not noticed the "similar threads" section...

I've got those photo's somewhere if I were to go diggin'...

[TheSherpa]

why don't you just build up that still NEW blur from last spring and be done with it...or buy another game for your PS2 and be be done with it...that way I can come over and play while I'm telling the wife I'm going for a ride....

Because once i buy wheels and brakes for it (put the old ones on my moms bike) i'm already within $100 of a Paragon. I also like trying new things and wanna give this 29er joke a try before Late Feb/Early March because i need a XC bike and i'm tired of riding my V-10 around the lake.

-TS

[ncj01]

Because once i buy wheels and brakes for it (put the old ones on my moms bike) i'm already within $100 of a Paragon. I also like trying new things and wanna give this 29er joke a try before Late Feb/Early March because i need a XC bike and i'm tired of riding my V-10 around the lake.

-TS

sell that POS special, add your Paragon budget, and subtract your shop discount and buy a 292, be done with it. Be sure to order it in XL so that after it sits around un-used in your garage for 8 months, I can buy it, let it sit unused in my garage for 8 days, and part it out to our board faithful....see, we all win!!

[~martini~]

Thinkin' about it. Told the wifey I wanted to do this and she looked at me and laughed. I don't know if that's good or bad though...

[ncj01]

Thinkin' about it. Told the wifey I wanted to do this and she looked at me and laughed. I don't know if that's good or bad though...

Ha.ha.ha.ha...oh man, I know what you mean, like you wouldn't beleive...I just love it when I'm not sure if I'm getting the blank check or the I dare you reponse....usually the latter...or worse yet, the blank check if you dare response...whew...

[wooglin]

Damn. They filled nearly 50 of 200 slots for the tour with the first batch of mail they could have gotten after announcing that registration was open. I sent mine the same day, but I guess it hasn't gotten there yet.

http://www.ouachitachallenge.com/riders.htm

[ncj01]

Damn. They filled nearly 50 of 200 slots for the tour with the first batch of mail they could have gotten after announcing that registration was open. I sent mine the same day, but I guess it hasn't gotten there yet.

http://www.ouachitachallenge.com/riders.htm

tour will probably be full by end of january...i'm in same boat as you, mailed mine Tuesday, I think...

[mdutcher]

...for the Tour on Sat, that is. Can't do the race on Sunday. But, there will be some representing by some KC wudchuks on both days (especially those guys pictured above). It should be a fun week-end. I will be on my Ti 29er, if all goes well and I don't break something between now and than, otherwise, it will be my fixie KM. Either way, it will a fun time.

By the way, the tour is a race. If there is a start and a finish, than it is a race. Not that I will be racing....Ha!

[ncj01]

By the way, the tour is a race. If there is a start and a finish, than it is a race. Not that I will be racing....Ha!

hahaha...well said...they keep score, with a start/finish line, it's a race....that's afirmative...

[Angus]

I am moving back to Arkansas this March after more than a decade of living in the Midwest Flatlands. I am Going to do this event an my Rigid KM,
I am just not sure do I sign up for the race or the tour?
I normally do racing events, and have done several Chequamegon 40's, how does this event compare,(I know its 20 miles longer) but how difficult is it ?
Maybe i will choose the event that the is better attended by this thread so I can meet some of Ya'll.

[ncj01]

I am moving back to Arkansas this March after more than a decade of living in the Midwest Flatlands. I am Going to do this event an my Rigid KM,
I am just not sure do I sign up for the race or the tour?
I normally do racing events, and have done several Chequamegon 40's, how does this event compare,(I know its 20 miles longer) but how difficult is it ?
Maybe i will choose the event that the is better attended by this thread so I can meet some of Ya'll.

There are a couple of severe hills that NEVER end, and a couple 1-2 mile sections of must-walk boulders (on/off bike all the time), but other than that, it's sweet like honey...

[~martini~]

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=71241
Crap. Something popped up. Just as fun. And closer. Same freakin' weekend. arrrgh~!

[ncj01]

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=71241
Crap. Something popped up. Just as fun. And closer. Same freakin' weekend. arrrgh~!

do both....more single track at the challenge though...

[Francis Buxton]

Barb and I will be there racing on Sunday. I'll be on a green Rock Lobster SS and Barb will be rolling on a blue Waltworks. Why are you not racing?

I'll be in St. Louis at the Midwest MTB Advocacy Summit that weekend. Maybe next year.

[lanpope]

What is the story on the closed registration. I thought maybe they were just sorting out the forms that they have received, but it has been temporarily closed for 2 days.

Surely they are not full already - they show 152 open spots for the tour and 182 for the race as of 1/9

LP

[wooglin]

Dunno. There's nothing about the closing on the Arkansas Bicycling Bulletin Board either. The ouachitachallenge site when down for a bit over the weekend I think. Maybe they're still recovering from that.

http://pub69.ezboard.com/bbikearkansasmessageboard

[ncj01]

Dunno. There's nothing about the closing on the Arkansas Bicycling Bulletin Board either. The ouachitachallenge site when down for a bit over the weekend I think. Maybe they're still recovering from that.

http://pub69.ezboard.com/bbikearkansasmessageboard

True that...

Guess #1 : site is down
Guess #2 : so many registrations came in, he needs to put the brakes on it and count registrants, sort into tour/race etc. so he can figure out if there are any spots left. I've known Mike for years, and new director Kenny (though not as well), they're good guys...

Smart money: send registration now...they'll not cash your check if you don't make the 200....

Smarter money: register for the race, it fills up slower.

[wooglin]

True that...

Guess #1 : site is down
Guess #2 : so many registrations came in, he needs to put the brakes on it and count registrants, sort into tour/race etc. so he can figure out if there are any spots left. I've known Mike for years, and new director Kenny (though not as well), they're good guys...

Smart money: send registration now...they'll not cash your check if you don't make the 200....

Smarter money: register for the race, it fills up slower.

I sent my registration in about 5 minutes after I got the email saying it was open. I'm going to be mightily PO'd if I don't get a slot. Especially if you did get the email on the 5th like you thought you did. I didn't get it until the 6th.

[lanpope]

True that...

Guess #1 : site is down
Guess #2 : so many registrations came in, he needs to put the brakes on it and count registrants, sort into tour/race etc. so he can figure out if there are any spots left. I've known Mike for years, and new director Kenny (though not as well), they're good guys...

Smart money: send registration now...they'll not cash your check if you don't make the 200....

Smarter money: register for the race, it fills up slower.

Well, My problem is that I can not register (for either) without the registration form, and I can not get the form while the site is down....

Does anyone know another way I can get a copy of the form and mail it in, or should I just go ahead and send my check and then send the form later?

I'll race or tour, I just want to do the event!

LP

[angryWoodchuck]

I normally do racing events, and have done several Chequamegon 40's, how does this event compare,(I know its 20 miles longer) but how difficult is it ?

Longer than Chequammegon, depending on how fast you ride the 40. If you're a sub-3 hour guy at Cheq, you should be sub-6.

So much single-track, so few precious hours to ride them.

[wooglin]

Just got this via email:

"We have had a conflict of dates with the Forest Service we are working
on a satifactory resolution for both parties. We should know by today
what that resolution is going to be. We will send out an email as soon
as we know. We are working as fast as we can with the Forest Service to
resolve this issue.

Best Regards

Ouachita Cycling Club"

[TheSherpa]

Just got this via email:

"We have had a conflict of dates with the Forest Service we are working
on a satifactory resolution for both parties. We should know by today
what that resolution is going to be. We will send out an email as soon
as we know. We are working as fast as we can with the Forest Service to
resolve this issue.

Best Regards

Ouachita Cycling Club"

Hmm, i wonder what's up. I'll have to ask around.

-TS

[wooglin]

Just in case anyone isn't on the Ouachita mailing list, the latest info is that when the dates were changed there was a miscommunication with the USFS. Turns out that the weekend of April 9-10 is during turkey season, and the FS is a little leery of having a bunch of us out there either scaring the turkeys or getting shot at.

[PBnJ]

I've got those photo's somewhere if I were to go diggin'...

I snagged some of those photos for my website; you can see them here if you want: www.ismybikeok.com. I'm still hoping the re-scheduled date falls so I can attend, as I'm negotiating a move to Dallas next week, but it may be a moot point if they have 400 entries sitting on their desk already.

Brian

[SoloWithOthers]

Registration is now open again thanks for your patience as we worked through this with the Forestry Service and Game and Fish Commission. As most of you probably know the Forestry Service was not to sure of us having this event on the dates of April 9th and 10th and we had some discussions with them and the Game and Fish Commission as these dates were in the second week of Turkey Season. After some deliberation they allowed us to keep these dates under one stipulation and that is that all riders must rear hunter orange vests. Considering the alternative of having to move the dates we opted for the vests. The only dates we had left that we could have moved to was the first of March and the weather here in Arkansas can be really crazy at that time of the year. So all riders will be required to wear hunter orange vests. These can be purchased at most department stores for a couple of bucks, they are lightweight and are not cumbersome though they don't make much of a fashion statement.

For those of you who have already sent in your registration we have already started processing these registrations and you should be receiving a confirmation email soon. We had stopped processing registrations when this conflict arose.

Also we are renting the River View bunk house this year, you can however get a group of your own to rent it.

Thanks Again for your patience
Ouachita Cycling Club

This I gotta see! LOL

[phil.]

Not on a 29er, but from Fort Smith, signed up for the "race" as the saturday tour wouldn't had worked for me. Maybe I'll see some of you guys down there.

The Tour is for pansies. I'm shootin' for Top 10 on my Paragon...

-TS

[wooglin]

This I gotta see! LOL

Oh crap. Hunter orange doesn't go with anything. It will just ruin my ensemble.

[wooglin]

No prob:

The ride starts about 8am both days...I recommend we have a pre-pre-ride-meeting-meeting around 730, both days....

Also, of course, the obigatory post-ride hang out session, cheering in the 29ers as they finish each day...3-6pm depending on your personal mojo setting.

We still on for this? Got a location? Its a school, there's gotta be a flagpole there somewhere. Or should we just meet at the orange Lens?

Normally the OC would've been this weekend. And I'm getting mighty antsy....

[ncj01]

We still on for this? Got a location? Its a school, there's gotta be a flagpole there somewhere. Or should we just meet at the orange Lens?

Normally the OC would've been this weekend. And I'm getting mighty antsy....

I hear ya...

how about right where this photo was taken? At the front steps of the school...it's not hard to spot the 9ers...

Lenz won't be there...If I make it, look for the fat guy with the ultra-pimped-nothing-stock-but-the-frame sugar 292. Bike should be complete by this time next week, which gives me what, uh, 5 work days to train? Wait, it's daylight savings time, heck, i'll have plenty of training time...

:-)

<img border=1 img src="http://www.ismybikeok.com/Assets/Ouachita%20Challenge/wudchuks.jpg">

[wooglin]

how about right where this photo was taken? At the front steps of the school...it's not hard to spot the 9ers...

That's good for pre-ride. Post-ride on Saturday folks should look for a white Cherokee with SC tags, a green Voodoo, and me crapped out in a camp chair. I'll even splurge on some good beer, not my usual swill.