US Cup / Team Big Bear released their schedule for next year. Looks a little disappointing. No Sycamore Canyon. No Sagebrush. I like Bonelli, but am not sure about having 2 races there. I like the US Cup quite a bit and Team Big Bear always does a great job. I just hate to see good races removed from the schedule. Race Schedule [TABLE="align: center"] [TR] [TD]March 1st - 2nd [/TD] [TD]Vail Lake, Temecula Cross-country #1 / Endurance #1 / Super D #1 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]March 16th [/TD] [TD]Bonelli Park, San Dimas Cross-Country #2 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]March 29th - 30th [/TD] [TD]Fontana City National, Fontana Cross-country #3 / Super D # 2 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]April 5th - 6th [/TD] [TD]Santa Ynez Valley Classic, Los Olivos Cross-country #4 / Endurance #2 / Super D #3 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]April 27th [/TD] [TD]Bonelli Park, San Dimas Cross-country #5 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]May 31st - Jun 1st [/TD] [TD]Big Bear Shoot Out #1, Big Bear Lake Cross-country #6 / Endurance Race #3 / Super D #4 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]June 28th - 29th [/TD] [TD]Big Bear Shoot Out #2, Big Bear Lake Cross-country #7 / Endurance Race #4 / Super D #5 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Other Team Big Bear Events [TABLE="align: center"] [TR] [TD]May 17th [/TD] [TD]Catalina Island Gran Fondo, Catalina Island 14 Miles / 41 Miles / 55 Miles [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]October 4th [/TD] [TD]US Cup 6 Hours of Bonelli, Bonelli Park, San Dimas Solo / Team Competition [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
No downhill.... Yawnnnn.... Premier??? Bonelli 3 times and not leaving SoCal? I'm not sure why they call is USCUP.
How did you confirm that Santa Ynez is an endurance race, the website is not clear and still has the 2013 forms on it.
The first Bonelli and Fontana are part of the 7 Race USXCT series. One of them is UCI HC and the other is a C1. Should see most of the top XC racers there
Hey folks, I'm new to both MTB and to the area. I come from a pretty solid road/CX racing background, and I'm eager to try my hand at a bit of XC racing. I was thinking about doing Vail Lake in a few weeks—my wife's parents live in Hemet, so there's an easy place to stay nearby. A couple questions: First, As a mid-to-front pack Cat 3 CXer, what category should I be racing XC? 2 or 3? Second, what's the course like? I've been doing a fair amount of riding up in the Santa Monica mountains—shop rides out of TCB—and while I'm pretty comfy with fire roads and flowy single track I'm still getting the hang of more technical stuff. Last, any info on how long the race is? What's the pacing like? I'm used to 45 min CX races, which are all sprint all the time. What's the story on XC racing?
Definitely Cat 2. With your background, your fitness should be better than a lot of the Cat 2 racers...If I remember correctly, Vail Lake is not a very technical course. I raced both CX and XC, and the main difference is that in CX you are constantly at ALT (red lining). In XC races, you are hammering most of the time, but you will get some periods of resting in the downhills. On the other hand, XC races last between 1 and a half to 2 and a half hours, so you need more endurance to sustain your efforts.
I pre rode the course this past Sat for next weeks races and it took about 45-50 min per lap anyone going to race??
In for the Endurance...the course drains well but there will be some slippery sections to mess with everyone's belief in the hero dirt.
No...but you will have to purchase a 1-day for $10...you can use that $10 towards the full-year license. Cat 1 XC is the only category that cannot race under a 1-day...must be full-year.
My understanding is you have to purchase the license just to race (any category) but it could be just the one-time or full year. I just coughed up the year fee 'cause I want to race the series (I'm in CAT2 also).
I was just perusing the USA Cycling rulebook which was updated at the end of December and they state the following under important rule changes for 2014 regarding licensing: "1A2(c): The definition of a one-day license was tightened to make it clear that the license may only be purchased by someone who holds the lowest category for the discipline of the race. Nobody who ever held a higher category can purchase a one day. In other words, it is a beginner, trial license." I'm not sure how strict this series will be and not sure if you can pay the full license fee on day-of registration, but if not it reads to me that you can do the electronic registration through USA Cycling's site for the year license fee and if they don't process it in time the electronic receipt may prove (with ID) as temporary registration. Probably best to do it sooner rather than later if you intend to a chunk or all of the series this year and verify with the event coordinator. http://www.usacycling.org/usa-cycling-rule-book.htm
The sentence immediately ahead of the Quote states ". . . and category 2 or 3 for MTB." Electronic sign-up of a license and printing of the receipt (you are issued your license # almost immediately) is sufficient to present to the organizers as evidence of licensure in advance of receiving the card 7-10 days after purchasing a year-long license. TBB is used to this process and they deal with it every year. Never heard of them turning away a racer with a printout. If you're Cat 1...no 1-day available to you...race the Marathons...1-Day works there for all categories...its just age groups unless you're in the open division.
Is the Endurance course the same as XC just 9 laps or so? I looked on there site just a link to the 8.75 mile loop http://connect.garmin.com/activity/276594628
