Organizing Local MTB Races - 'Fun' Race Formats?

[Vegan Dave]

Hey all y'all,

I'm planning to organize a small XC MTB race series here, and i'm curious what events others have enjoyed or experienced as more 'fun'-oriented race formats..

For example, a Poker race, where riders collect cards on short laps, and then can stop and 'play' when they feel they have a good hand.

What are some other formats that can be done with relatively short loops that would be fun for a wide range of rider levels?

TIA!

 

[The Gear Movement]

Keg

Or you could hide beer in the forest and have a scavenger hunt... Oh, for families... have the kid's hide the beer.

 

[Vegan Dave]

heh, thanks, that's helpful.

Any ideas that keep people mainly on the bike and sober? =)

 

[hscoach2]

Team relay races on a much shorter, faster course (like a mini 8 or 24 hour), but with 4-5 minute laps.

We did this at our last HS race, and it was a huge hit with racers and spectators.

 

[Vegan Dave]

Cool, relays are in my list - do they mix strong and weak riders, or just let riders set their own teams?

 

[JayZee]

Here in Utah we have a series that takes place at Soldier Hollow, which was the cross country skiing venue for the olympics and is set up for biathalon. So once a month or so the race is a biathalon, using pellet guns provided by the venue. You race a lap then come and shoot and then do another lap or two depending on your category. There are small penalty laps for each missed shot.

Otherwise, a good weekly series is all about relaxed shorter racing. We have another local series that pays out significant cash to the top 3 or 5 in each category for the series. I was second in the Expert B category and received $250 at the end. They also had decent raffles after each race with about half of all participants getting something.

 

[Vegan Dave]

haha - that could be fun, except that it'd be too easy to shoot people around here! And, being Canada and all, there aren't a lot of guns, pellet or otherwise..haha..

Thanks for the suggestion tho! We've opted to do Mystery TT, Orientation, Poker race and climb/decending relay (ie, climber rides up, passes on to downhiller who comes down the downhill course.)

 

[slowdave]

Did pig race today, every lap you toss the pigs of pass the pigs fame, each team needed a new rider was a great day out team won best crash. points for the way pigs land its on wiki i believe.

 

[badboyberty]

What's the deal with 'pig race', is it first team to a certain number of points?

I'm a fan of hotdog hill climbs, each rider has to do an uphill technical TT while holding a hotdog (or notdog for non-carnivores) in one hand.

Granny gear 2-up sprints on the flat can be hilarious to watch.

 

[philcrisp]

This is always a laugh. Week long stage race.

http://www.guernseyvelo.org.gg/files/TourofGuernseyEntryForm2009.pdf

The caveat is that this is a small island and doing the races straight from work is not a problem. Needless to say the DH course is set with XC bikes in mind.