Upgrade to Trails

Overview

The 3rd Annual Rootrock Mountain Bike Race at Briar Chapel, held on the afternoon of October 17, challenges mountain bikers of all abilities on fun and demanding courses.  Riders will tackle a dynamic mix of smooth, flowing dirt trails, root- and rock-strewn single-track, and punchy hill climbs.  After racing, athletes enjoy a festive post-race vibe with food, great music, a free kids’ race for treasure, and a fun awards ceremony packed with giveaways. Complementing the 6th Annual Rootrock Trail Run (5K/10K/Half Marathon) held in the morning, Rootrock MTB is the second leg of the Rootrock Trail Races.

Register for both events and receive a special award and 10% off each race (select the Rootrock Trail Races Bundle during registration). Get pumped for an awesome day of trail racing!

About Briar Chapel

Sprawling over 900 acres on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community with an extensive network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. Centrally located Great Meadow Park, featuring a beautiful lawn, stage, and pavilion, provides the perfect start-and-finish area. 

Rootrock MTB – Course Maps and Description

Briar Chapel has 20+ miles of AWESOME single-track.  There are some easy, flat mellow areas but most of the trails at Briar Chapel offer a fun challenge and include plenty of rocks, roots, and hills.  Overall, we would categorize the trails at Briar Chapel as moderately technical. 

There are two courses that make up this race, a short loop (5.5 miles) and a long loop (12 miles).  We will start in waves according to class and have arranged the start order and flow of the waves so there will be limited passing between waves. 

The sport/single-speed racers will start first and complete one short loop, then a long loop for a total of 17 miles. Next up are the beginners/juniors that will complete one short loop for a total of 5.5 miles.  Experts are next and will complete two long loops for a total of 24 miles.  And finally, the Intermediates will complete one long loop for a total of 12 miles. 

Each wave will start with .3 miles of wide pavement, perfect for separating the field of racers.  After that, racers hit the trails, and stay on the trails, except for a few road crossings and a couple of short paved sections.   

Click below for links to the courses and elevation profiles:

Short Loop (5.5 miles) – 5.6 miles, 372′ elevation gain – rating is 3 out of 5 (see below) (.7 mile easy + 4.9 miles moderate)
Long Loop (12 miles) – 12 miles, 868′ elevation gain – rating is 3+ to 4- out of 5 (see below) (1.3 miles easy + 7.6 miles moderate + 3.1 miles difficult)

Technical Terrain Course Rating Scale:

1 – EASIEST (no technical terrain) (wide double-track (dirt road), smooth single-track with minimal rocks/roots, grassy areas, paved trail.  Some moderate hills) 
2 – EASY (some roots/rocks but mostly smooth sections of trail.  Some moderate hills)
3 – MODERATE (more roots and rocks and some smooth sections of trail.  Some short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Some ‘flat’ sections)
4 – DIFFICULT (a lot of roots and rocks.  Many short punchy hill climbs and gradual inclines dispersed throughout.  Few ‘flat’ sections.)
5 – MOST DIFFICULT (almost all roots and rocks.  Almost all hills, with very few flat sections)    

Course Maps (click on map titles for course details and elevation profiles)

Rootrock MTB – Definition of Classes and Distances

Rootrock MTB racers self-select between 29 different age and/or skill-based classes.  These classes have been created so riders can race and be scored with athletes of similar age and ability. For age-based classes, race age is determined as of 12/31/26.

Definition of Skill-Based Classes.  Use the following to guide you in selecting your class.

• Beginner (5.5 miles – one short loop) – you are an occasional, but proficient rider and are honing your mountain biking skills. You can ride moderately technical terrain (some roots and rocks), but generally stay on the less technical trails. You have never raced before or you do not race often.  The trails on the short course are rated moderately technical, with a few sections that a beginner racer may need to walk. This race will be a challenging, but doable endeavor.  NOTE – THIS RACE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A TRUE NOVICE RIDER.      
• Junior 8-14 (5.5 miles – one short loop) – young riders who are proficient on their bike but are still learning. You can ride moderately technical terrain (some roots and rocks), but generally stay on less technical trails. The trails on the short course are rated moderately technical, with a few sections that a junior racer may need to walk.  This race will be a challenging, but doable endeavor.  NOTE – THIS RACE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A TRUE NOVICE JUNIOR RIDER.  NOTE TO PARENTS OF JUNIORS:   One or more sweeps will ride behind the junior riders.  Parents are welcome to volunteer to sweep (please let us know if you want to sweep).  We have timed the race start so the beginner and junior racers have made it to the split (at .7 miles – .4 miles of pavement and .3 miles of single-track) well before the expert and intermediate racers make it there (the experts start 7 minutes after the juniors).  The split is where experts/intermediates take the long course and beginners and juniors stay on the short course.  Sport and single-speed racers will complete one short loop and one long loop and start before the beginner and juniors.  The vast majority of beginners and juniors will be completely finished with their race before any other riders finish.  
• Intermediate (12 miles – one long loop) – you ride often and are comfortable riding most terrain. You may have raced before but do not have tons of racing experience (1-3 races per year). Your endurance is good but you rarely ride more than 15 miles in one outing and you would have extreme difficulty maintaining race pace for more than 12 miles.  You might have raced in the beginner or intermediate classes before and have not broken the top three finishers on a consistent basis.
• Sport (17 miles – one short loop + one long loop) – with how much you ride, you feel very confident on your bike.  You are in very good riding shape, ride fast, and can ride 20+ miles in an outing.  You have podiumed at the beginner or intermediate levels or you have raced in the sport class, can keep up with other sport riders, and feel comfortable competing at that level. You might have raced in the sport class before and have not broken the top three finishers on a consistent basis.
• Expert (24 miles – two long loops) – you ride very often and feel extremely confident on your bike.  You are in excellent riding shape, ride very fast, and can easily ride 20+ miles in an outing.  You have podiumed at the sport level or you have raced in the expert class, can keep up with other expert riders, and feel comfortable competing at that level.

Schedule of Events / Start Times

STAGING AREA:  Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel (161 Salt Cedar Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

SATURDAY, 10/17/26 (Race Day)

• 12:30pm-1:45pm:  Check-in / Packet-up / Calf Marking
• 1:45pm-2:00pm:  Racer lineup
• 1:50pm-2:00pm:  Pre-race brief
• 2:00pm-2:20pm:  Race start (in waves)
  • 2:00pm:  Sport Male Open/Sport Male Masters 40+ (short loop + long loop – 17 miles)
  • 2:02pm:  Single-Speed Male Open, Sport Male Masters 50+, Sport Male Masters 60+ (short loop + long loop – 17 miles)
  • 2:03pm:  Sport Female Open, Sport Female Masters 40+, Single-Speed Female Open (short loop + long loop – 17 miles)
  • 2:05pm:  Beginner Male Open (short loop – 5.5 miles)
  • 2:07pm: Beginner Male Masters 40+, Jr 13-14 Male, Jr 11-12 Male (short loop – 5.5 miles)
  • 2:08pm:  Beginner Female Open, Jr 13-14 Female, Jr 11-12 Female, Jr 8-10 Male, Jr 8-10 Female (short loop – 5.5 miles)
  • 2:15pm:  Expert Male Open, Expert Male Masters 50+, Expert Female Open (long loop + long loop – 24 miles)
  • 2:17pm:  Intermediate Male 19-39, Intermediate Jr Male 18-U (long loop – 12 miles)
  • 2:19pm:  Intermediate Male Masters 40+, Intermediate Male Masters 50+, Intermediate Male Masters 60+ (long loop – 12 miles)
  • 2:20pm:  Intermediate Female 19-29, Intermediate Jr Female 18-U, Intermediate Female Masters 40+, Intermediate Female Masters 50+ (long loop – 12 miles)
• 3pm-5:30pm:  Post-race Food/Beverage
• 3:45pm:  Awards/Giveaways (5.5 mile racers – Beginner and Junior)
• 4:30pm:  FREE Kids Race for Treasure (Kids 4-10):  We will separate the kids into age groups and complete one, two, or three laps of a .3 mile course in the fields near the staging area (4-5 one lap, 6-8 two laps, 9-10 three laps).  After racing, kids can choose a toy from the ‘treasure chest’.  Sign up your child at check-in from 3:30pm-4:15pm.
• 5pm:  Awards/Giveaways (12, 17, and 24 mile racers – Intermediate, Sport, Single-Speed, and Expert)

Registration Fees

• Beginner/Junior (5.5 miles): $30-$33 by 1/11, $33-$35 by 7/17, $35-$40 by 9/17, $37-$45 by 10/16
• Intermediate (12 miles): $33-$35 by 1/11, $35-$40 by 7/17, $40-$45 by 9/17, $45-$50 by 10/16
• Sport/Single-Speed (17 miles): $40 by 1/11, $45 by 7/17, $50 by 9/17, $55 by 10/16
• Expert (24 miles): $45 by 1/11, $50 by 7/17, $55 by 9/17, $60 by 10/16
• Race day registration is an extra $10.

Expect Excellence. Your Registration Fee Includes:

• Limited race entry to provide an intimate and friendly race experience and to prevent overcrowding on the trails
• Wave starts by class, with traditionally faster classes starting first.  This, combined with the race loop flow limits passing between waves.
• Fun and challenging course design
• Professional race operations
• Superbly marked course – you won’t get lost
• Exciting atmosphere with great music
• Excellent volunteer support
• Well-stocked aid stations
• Medical support
• Chip timing – accurate and timely posting of results
• Abundant, varied, and tasty post-race food/beverage, including items such as sliders, fresh fruit, hummus/veggies, bagels/peanut butter, trail bars, chips, cookies, and a crowd favorite, little cups of M&Ms.  Beverages include water, Gatorade, soft drinks, Honest Kids juice, and Athletic Brewing Company non-alcoholic beer. Beer from Crank Arm Brewing will be available for purchase.
• Fun awards ceremony with contests and lots of giveaways (see below for details)
• FREE photo downloads post-race (a professional photographer will be at the race)
• NOTE – to keep registration fees as low as possible, a t-shirt is optional.  Our tees are very nice though, so you might want to consider ordering one when you register.  

Awards and Giveaways

We will have two award ceremonies: 

• 3:45pm – Beginner Junior
• 5pm – Intermediate, Sport, Single-speed, and Expert

Awards and prizes will be presented to the top three in each class. 

We will randomly select winners of some great giveaways – includes gift certificates, cycling gear, and Roadless Races merchandise.  Racers and volunteers are eligible to win.

Venue

Safety, Rules, and Policies

Rules:

• Bike helmets (certified by CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL) must be worn and buckled.
• Each racer will receive a bike number.  Bike numbers should be affixed to the front of your handlebars and must be unobstructed and completely visible at all times.  
• Cyclocross and e-bikes are not permitted in this race.
• Earbuds are not permitted in the race.  Wearing earbuds during a mountain bike race is not safe and is frustrating for those trying to pass.
• Pets are not permitted on the course. 
• Respect the environment.  No littering.
• Please inform our timer if you drop out of the race.
• Riding racers have right of way over racers walking, pushing, or carrying their bikes.  Walking racers should use the least rideable portion of the trail when being passed.
• Passing riders should vocalize when overtaking another rider with commands such as ‘passing on your left’ or ‘passing on your right’.  The passing racer is responsible for passing safely.  When vying for position the leading racer does not necessarily have to yield to the challenging racer.  A racer may not, however, bodily interfere with the intent to impede the progress of the challenging racer.
• Follow all course marking.  Short cutting the course is grounds for disqualification.
• Abusive or profane language toward other racers, volunteers, or race officials or foul riding will not be tolerated.  Unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for penalty or disqualification and will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the race director.  Please exercise good sportsmanship.
• Roadless Races reserves the right to alter the course at any time before or during the event.  For no reason shall a participant or anyone other than a Roadless Races staff member make alterations to the course.

Policies:

• Refunds: Receive a refund (minus $10 and the runsignup processing fee) if you cancel 21+ days before the race. No refunds within 21 days. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com
• Credits: Receive a coupon code for future Roadless Races if you cancel 3+ days BEFORE the race. Cancel 21+ days before race = 100% credit. Cancel 8-20 days before race = 75% credit. Cancel 3-7 days before race = 50% credit. To cancel, email request to info@roadlessraces.com.
• Transfer Your Entry to Someone Else: Transfers must be initiated online at least 3 days prior to the race. No race day transfers. We do not allow transfers to another race. To transfer to another racer, go to you profile on runsignup, and follow directions to ‘Transfer to Someone Else’.
• Change Distance: Distance changes must be initiated online at least 3 days prior to the race. No race day distance changes. To change distances, go to your profile on runsignup, and follow directions to ‘Transfer Event’.

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