Hello Sprocket Fuel MTB Racer,
Welcome to the 2nd Annual Sprocket Fuel MTB Race, held this Saturday, 8/12 at Harris Lake in New Hill, NC! It’s going to be an AWESOME day of mountain biking action and we hope you are as excited as we are for race day.
Below is the race day info email which contains detailed information for Saturday. This note is long but should answer most questions you might have. Please take a few minutes to read. We will send one final email on Friday morning with reminders and last-minute updates.
Registration: Thank you for signing up to race. If you have friends that intend to race, please let them know that online registration closes at 10pm on Thurs, 8/10 and that race day registration on site will be available for an extra $10.
Race Classes and Starting Procedures: To prevent overcrowding on the trails and to ensure riders of similar ability are racing together, we are separating the field of racers into three distinct races – expert/sport/single-speed (8am), beginner/junior 15-18 (12pm), and first timer racers/juniors 14-U (12:15pm). Within those races, we will further separate into start waves, spaced 1-3 minutes apart (see below for exact start times).
Combining Classes: Racers are currently registered in 20 of the available 24 classes. Few athletes want to race with just one or two other athletes. So, after online registration closes at 10pm on Thursday, 8/10, we will evaluate the class participation and combine some smaller classes (if it makes sense). We will also drop classes that have low or no participation (meaning those classes would not be available for race day registration). We will not change distance or general race time (8am, 12pm, or 12:15pm) for any racer and we will not combine gender or ability levels. The final start list posted online on Friday morning will reflect any changes we make (VIEW START LIST HERE). The email we send on Friday morning will include the final start times for each class.
NO CLASS CHANGES AFTER THURSDAY 8/10: If you would like to change your class, you MUST change before online registration closes at 10pm on 8/10. To change your class, log into your profile on bikereg.com and edit your registration or click on the ‘Edit My Entry’ link in the navigation bar near the top of the registration page.
Current Classes / Start Times / Schedule:
8am Race
Experts (21 miles / 3 laps)
Sport and Single-speed (15 miles / 2 laps)
• Check-in open from 6:45am-7:45am
• 7:50am – Race line up
• 7:55am – Pre-race brief
• 8:00am – Expert Male Open, Expert Male Masters 50+
• 8:02am – Expert Female Open
• 8:05am – Sport Male Open
• 8:07am – Sport Male Masters 40+
• 8:09am – Sport Male Masters 50+, Single-speed Male Open
• 8:11am – Sport Female Open, Sport Female Masters 50+, Single-speed Female Open
• Post-race food/beverage from 9:30am-10:45am
• Awards/giveaways from 10:15am-10:45am
12pm Race
Beginners and Juniors 15-18 (9 miles / 1 lap)
• Check-in open from 10:45am-11:45am
• 11:50am – Racer line up
• 11:55am – Pre-race brief
• 12:00pm – Beginner Male Open
• 12:03pm – Beginner Male Masters 40+
• 12:06pm – Beginner Male Masters 50+, Jr 15-18 Male
• 12:08pm – Beginner Female Open, Beginner Female Masters 50+, Jr 15-18 Female
• Post-race food/beverage from 12:45pm-2:00pm
• Awards/giveaways from 1:30pm-2:00pm
12:15pm Race
First Time Racers and Juniors 11-14 (6 miles / 2 shortened laps)
Super Juniors 6-10 (3 miles / 1 shortened lap)
• Check-in open from 11:00am-12:00pm
• 12:10pm – Racer line up and Pre-race brief
• 12:15pm – First Time Racer Male, Jr 13-14 Male, Jr 11-12 Male
• 12:18pm – First Time Racer Female, Jr 13-14 Female, Jr 11-12 Female
• 12:20pm – Super Junior 6-10
• Post-race food/beverage from 12:00pm-1:30pm
• Awards/giveaways from 12:45pm-1:15pm
Race Weather Forecast / Course Conditions: As of today, Monday, 8/7, the forecast for race day is calling for morning temps in the low 70s, afternoon temps in the low 90s, light winds, and a mix of sun and clouds. Hydrate well, before (especially on Fri), during, and after the race. The forecast this week is calling for a chance of afternoon thunderstorms today and on Thursday. The trails are currently very dry so any rain we do get on Mon/Thurs should soak in just fine. The park and us will be monitoring the trails throughout the week and perform any needed maintenance to get the trails in race-ready condition. THANK YOU to Harris Lake Park Management and Staff for their awesome support! A weather/trail conditions update will be included in the email sent on Fri morning.
Venue Address: Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill, NC 27562
Parking / Arrival: After entering the park, follow the ‘race parking’ signs. Park in the field near the Hog Run trailhead. Please arrive early and carpool, if bringing family or friends. Our staff/volunteers will be controlling the flow of traffic to maximize available space. If and when all the space fills up near the staging area, vehicles will be directed to our overflow parking @ the Cypress Pavilion, which is a .3 mile trail ride to the staging area. Please factor parking, check-in, warming up, and using the restroom into your travel plans. We recommend arriving AT LEAST 45 minutes before the start time for your group (arrive by 7:15am for the 8am race, 11:15am for the 12pm race, and 11:30pm for the 12:15pm race).
Check-in: Check-in at the staging area near the Hog Run trailhead. Check-in will be open from 6:45am-7:45am for the 8am race, 10:45am-11:45am for the 12pm race, and 11am-12pm for the 12:15pm race. At check-in you will receive your race number and t-shirt (if you ordered one). VERY IMPORTANT: Your timing chip will be on the back of your race number and should be affixed to your handlebars, with the twist ties provided, so it is fully visible from the front. At check-in we will also mark your calf with your class number.
Calf Marking: At check-in, we will be marking your calf with your class number. Calf markings help us with race start efficiency and will help you know who else is in your class during the race.
Portajohns: Portajohns will be located near check-in and the race start.
Race Lineup / Pre-Race Brief: The race will start on the gravel road near the trailhead. Racers should line up 10 minutes before the start of each race. We will be calling out the starting order of each class to ensure an orderly flow and less moving around after the pre-race brief. The pre-race brief will begin at 7:55am for the 8am race, 11:55am for the 12pm race, and 12:10pm for the 12:15pm race. The pre-race brief includes important safety and logistical information.
Race Start: See Classes / Start Times / Schedule above for exact start times. Reminder, these start times may be adjusted slightly if we combine classes (see Race Classes / Starting Procedures above).
Race Course Description: Depending on class, athletes will start in waves and complete 1-3 laps on a course that includes smooth, twisty, and flowing single-track trails. These trails are FUN! The race will start with .25 miles of wide gravel road, open field, and double-track trails, before hitting the single-track. The course measures 6.2 miles for a lap, north of County Park Drive, and 2.8 miles for a shortened lap, south of County Park Drive. The shortened lap is less technical. Expert, Sport, Beginner, and Juniors 15-18 will complete one shortened lap and 1-3 laps north of County Park Drive. Juniors 11-14 and First Time Racers will complete 2 shortened laps for a total of 6 miles and Super Juniors 6-10 will complete one shortened lap for a total of 3 miles. There are no long hill climbs on these courses.
To view interactive course details and elevation profiles for each course, click on the links below:
Link to Full Lap
Link to Shortened Lap
Trail Etiquette / Passing: There are passing opportunities spread throughout the course but passing may be challenging on many of the tight trails. Passing riders should use audible signals such as ‘passing on your left’ or ‘passing on your right’ and, when possible and safe to do so, slower racers should allow them to pass. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – BE COURTEOUS OUT THERE AND REMEMBER, THIS IS JUST A RACE AND THERE ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE. RACING SAFELY IS AN EXPECTATION. RACE HARD, BUT DON’T BE RECKLESS. THANK YOU!
Course Marking / Trail Closure: The course will be marked with arrows at all turns or areas of decision. Caution tape will block off trails that are not part of the course. Course marshals will be placed at key spots along the course and at the road crossing. The MTB trails at Harris Lake will be closed to other MTBing traffic for this race. With this said, there is always a chance a non-racer finds their way onto the course, so please keep your eyes open for other users.
NEXT LAP Course Marking: Racers in the classes below will complete two or three laps. We will have course marshals near the next lap intersection, but it is the responsibility of each rider to know which lap they are on. NOTE – we will help the juniors 11-14 to ensure they take their second lap but for all you adults out there, please remember your lap count.
• Experts will complete three laps of the course north of County Park Dr and should TURN LEFT the first and second times they see the ‘TO NEXT LAP’ signs (to start lap 2 and lap 3). On their third time through this intersection, expert riders should follow the ‘TO FINISH’ signs.
• Sport and Single-speed racers will complete two laps of the course north of County Park Dr and should TURN LEFT the first time they see the ‘TO NEXT LAP’ signs (to start lap 2). On their second time through this intersection, sport and single-speed racers should follow the ‘TO FINISH’ signs.
• First Time Racers, Jr 13-14, and Jr 11-12 racers will complete two laps of the course south of County Park Dr and should TURN LEFT the first time they see the ‘TO NEXT LAP’ sign (to start lap 2). On their second time through this intersection, First Time Racers, Jr 13-14, and Jr 11-12 racers should follow the TO FINISH signs.
Mile Markers: We love to use mile markers in our races but given the nature of this course, mile markers would be more confusing than helpful. With this said, we will have a mile marker at the aid station for Lap 1 (5.9M), Lap 2 (12.3M), and Lap 3 (18.7M). Obviously, the Lap 3 marker will only apply to experts and the Lap 2 marker will only apply to expert, sport, and single-speed racers. There will also be a ‘½ Mile To Go’ mile marker, which will apply to all racers on the last lap.
Aid Stations/Hydration: We recommend that every racer bring their own filled water bottle/s or hydration pack to use in this race. We will have one aid station on the course (every 6 miles for the 8am and 12pm races only) and one at the finish line. The aid stations will have water, Gatorade, a first aid kit, and a staff member with emergency communications.
NO EARPHONES or AUDIBLE MUSIC: Using earphones or playing audible music in a mountain bike race is a significant safety risk and is not permitted. This will be strictly enforced and is grounds for disqualification. Please don’t make us be the bad guy.
Photos: Uber-talented professional photographer Mario Quivera will be at the race capturing images from the event. All photos will be available for FREE download a few days after the event, and we will send you an email when they are ready. Smile big when you see Mario out on the course!
Chip Timing / Results: The timing pros from Junction 311 are timing this race. Your timing chip will be on the back of your race number, which you will receive at check-in. Affix your race number on the front of your handlebars with the twist ties provided (see photo below for an example of stellar number placement). Your race number must be visible from the front (cables behind is better but in front is OK also). Results will be posted on-site and a link to results will be sent to you after the race.
Recovery and Medical: UNC Orthopeadics’ top-notch team of sports medicine and physical therapy professionals will be on-site at the race offering their expert medical care to all athletes. Stop by their tent after the race if you have any medical needs, want to talk about recovery, or just want to learn more about their services. Additionally, the Apex Fire Department will be on-site to provide any needed emergency response. Thank you, UNC Orthopaedics and UNC Sports Medicine Institute and the Apex Fire Department!
Post-Race Food: Water, Gatorade, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic craft beer will be available after the race. Food includes yummy stuff like sliders, bagels/peanut butter, hummus/veggies, fruit (bananas and watermelon), trail bars, chips, cookies, little cups of M&Ms, etc. Food and beverage is complimentary for all racers and volunteers.
Athletic Brewing Company Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer: A cold beer hits the spot after a race and now you can enjoy a tasty post-race craft beverage that doesn’t compromise your ability to stay sharp and healthy. After the race, grab an Athletic Brewing Company beer and enjoy! Also, take 10% off your first order of ABC beer when you order online using code RR10. Thank you and cheers to Athletic Brewing Company!
Swag from Trek Chapel Hill: Trek Chapel Hill has generously contributed sweet swag that will be used for prizes and randomly as giveaways. We have Trek gift certificates, tires, multi-tools, chamois butter, tees, water bottles, and THREE Bontrager Blaze WaveCel MTB Helmets ($300 each) – WOW! THANK YOU, Trek Chapel Hill!
More Giveaways from Brandon Jozwiak of Nest Realty: Local real estate pro, Brandon Jozwiak from Nest Realty, will be randomly giving away more cycling swag. THANK YOU, Brandon!
Awards, Prizes, and Giveaways: We will have two separate awards ceremonies, at 10:15am for expert, sport, and single-speed and at 1:30pm for juniors, first time racers, and beginners. Awards (1st-5th place pint glasses) will be presented to the top five in each class. In addition to the pint glasses, the top three in each class will receive prizes (swag and discounts into next year’s Sprocket Fuel race). Giveaways (from Trek and Nest Realty) will be randomly distributed at the award ceremonies. If you win or are awarded a helmet or tee but need a different size, you may swap it out at the Trek Chapel Hill store. You must be present at the awards ceremony to claim your award/prize or win a giveaway – THEY WILL NOT BE MAILED.
Coastal Credit Union Donation to Meals on Wheels: Not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, that provides member dividends, teller service 7 days a week, better rates, low fees, and safe/secure banking, Coastal Credit Union has been putting community over profit for over 50 years, and we are thrilled to partner with such an upstanding corporate citizen. At this race, and at all our events, Coastal has committed to donate $3/athlete to the local chapter of Meals on Wheels to support its mission of providing meals and connection to homebound seniors in need. Please join us at the awards ceremony to celebrate as Coastal Credit Union presents Meals on Wheels Wake County with a BIG CHECK. You rock, Coastal Credit Union – THANK YOU!
Awesome Sponsors: THANK YOU to all our generous sponsors for providing product, services, donations, and giveaways in support of grassroots racing and our community. Please show your love and support our sponsors in any way you can. Athletic Brewing Company, Brandon Jozwiak from Nest Realty, Coastal Credit Union, Trek Chapel Hill, and UNC Orthopaedics/UNC Sports Medicine Institute.
One final THANK YOU goes out to you and all racers for participating, to the helpful volunteers for donating their time and energy, to Harris Lake Park Manager Christine Sorensen-Hester and her staff for their incredible support, and to the Roadless Races staff, friends, and family for the support and hard work to make it all happen.
We can’t wait for race day and look forward to seeing you on Sat.
Jim
Jim Harman
Race Director
Roadless Races
roadlessraces.com
jim@roadlessraces.com
571-251-6034
