Mt. Sac Fat Tire Classic 11/4/07

[denmother]

[SIZE=4]Mt. Sac Fat Tire Classic [/SIZE]

Note: Don't forget to change your clocks/watches, etc., Daylight Saving Time ends on 11/4!!!


[FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=7][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]An off-road mountain bike race that is a challenge for all level riders, the Mt. SAC Fat Tire Classic has been around for 16 years.[/FONT]

Held on the property of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, the racecourse sets off over a rolling landscape with two steep climbs and 1/4 mile steep downhill per six-mile loop. Participants ride through two tunnels on mostly packed dirt twice per loop.

Handcrafted trophies, created by Mt. SAC students, are awarded three deep in all classes. Your entry fee is a tax-deductible contribution to Mt. SAC Skills USA.

Mt. SAC’s Fall Fat Tire Classic has joined the Idyllwild Spring Challenge, Rim Nordic X-C #3 and SoCal Velo to form its own mini series. Combined points from all of these races will determine the series winner at the race.

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1483392

Expert Men & Women
Start time: 8:30 a.m.
Distance: 4 Laps (24 miles)
Sport Men & Women
Start time: 8:45 a.m.
Distance: 3 Laps (18 miles)
Beginner Men 19 & over
Start time: 11:00 a.m.
Distance: 2 Laps (12 miles)
Beginner Women & Jrs. 18 & under
Start time: 11:00 a.m.
Distance: 1 Lap (6 miles)

[speckledtrout]

YIKES! i've been wanting to try a race but the thought paralyzes me! However, all the people on this board make it sound so dang fun, that I think I'm finally gonna bite the bullet and go for it! I love the fact that it's a laid back race. That kind of vibe makes me feel a lot less mortified of coming in last . I'd love to talk my friend Ed into doing it with me. He's 60 and rides a Gary Fisher singlespeed 29er. He leaves me in his dust constantly. He's my hero...

[genusmtbkr5]

I had to go through a maze of events to find it. Here's a short cut to the link. I'm In!
http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1483392

I've added the link at the top as well

[speckledtrout]

hmmm...so, the beginner women only do the loop once? is that right or am i reading that wrong?

[denmother]

Originally Posted by speckledtrout

hmmm...so, the beginner women only do the loop once? is that right or am i reading that wrong?

You are correct!

Expert Men & Women
Start time: 8:30 a.m.
Distance: 4 Laps (24 miles)
Sport Men & Women
Start time: 8:45 a.m.
Distance: 3 Laps (18 miles)
Beginner Men 19 & over
Start time: 11:00 a.m.
Distance: 2 Laps (12 miles)
Beginner Women & Jrs. 18 & under
Start time: 11:00 a.m.
Distance: 1 Lap (6 miles)

[speckledtrout]

got it! wow. that makes it even less intimidating to race. in that case, i'm all over it!

[davidB]

they don't break it down by age groups?

that means even further back i'll finish. i'm probably doing it, unless my brother or girlfriend hold me up to the muddy buddy race that same day.

[allison]

Originally Posted by davidB

they don't break it down by age groups?

that means even further back i'll finish. i'm probably doing it, unless my brother or girlfriend hold me up to the muddy buddy race that same day.

They do for finishing times/results, but not start times.

e.g. the Bonelli race had all sport start first, then all beginner, then all pro/semi-pro, then all experts.

The results were still broken up by age category (except for women. We were all together).

[denmother]

Originally Posted by davidB

they don't break it down by age groups?

that means even further back i'll finish. i'm probably doing it, unless my brother or girlfriend hold me up to the muddy buddy race that same day.

At the previous races at Mt. Sac, they did stage the start by sex/age groups/category. They don't do a mass start like they did at Bonelli. In fact, that is the 1st time I have ever seen it enmasse like that. Very strange!!

[davidB]

oh ok thanks! I wasn't too thrilled to finish 30th or so. i'm definately there.

[BadBoyRipper]

I just registered!! See you all there!

[davidB]

anyone know anything about what parts of mt sac are open to ride? geoladders shows quite a few gates that are probably closed until race day right?

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by davidB

anyone know anything about what parts of mt sac are open to ride? geoladders shows quite a few gates that are probably closed until race day right?

Most of it is closed until race day.

[Pilas]

Originally Posted by davidB

anyone know anything about what parts of mt sac are open to ride? geoladders shows quite a few gates that are probably closed until race day right?

In fact, some gates are even closed on race day...
I remember this guy opening and closing a gate as we raced by so the cows would not escape!

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by Pilas

In fact, some gates are even closed on race day...
I remember this guy opening and closing a gate as we raced by so the cows would not escape!

Haha, a couple years ago I had to yell at the cows as we were going through their corral.......they didn't listen.

[denmother]

Per the Race Director, there is no "official" pre-race day practice allowed because there is no insurance coverage except on race day.

[Upchuck]

Originally Posted by allison

They do for finishing times/results, but not start times.

e.g. the Bonelli race had all sport start first, then all beginner, then all pro/semi-pro, then all experts.

The results were still broken up by age category (except for women. We were all together).

Yeah, I have to say, that mass start at Bonelli kind of sucked. We had 27 riders in my age category alone! (40-49 Sport).

My teammate was right beside me at the start. The riders at the front of the mass start were almost on the paved before we could even get rolling on the grass. (not literally)

Once we left the paved to the dirt, a few guys botched their gears and started a conga line. I barely squeezed through on my bike, but my teammate was a minute back after the first lap and never bridged the gap.

[mechmann]

yeah a guy fell on me going through the pines. i don't know what he was trying to do, but he just fell right on my front tire. caused quite a jam up. they should have staged for category, but i guess that complicates timing...

[davidB]

i hated that part worse than the cactus area. Lost so much ground when someone decided to walk up that hill. Beginners in tight area while still bunched up = bad idea Hopefully the guys at mt sac don't make the course similar like that

anywho, i have to be sure to say hi to you guys at mt sac. This way i can be in some pictures

a good friend of mine (welding student at mt sac) knows the race director pretty well, i'm going to see if she can get some info on the race to see if it was like last years. I think she said she did one of the trophies two years ago.

[jfromlv]

I like the mass start, it's the rest of the race that sucks!