2026 XC MTB Season Discussion Thread (Schedule in 1st Post)

Santapez said:
OMG that looks fucking horrible. Great trails, but holy shit that's a lot. Maybe I should sign up for this.

It's really impossible to compare the Pisgah trails to much of anything in NJ. Most of that course will be fire road climbs and then fast/steep but not too dangerous downhills. I don't think you'll find a single flat spot or anything you'd consider "rolling". Mountain Creek without the lift for 65 miles?

In reality it's probably a great fitness course as the race will be fully won based on the climbs on the gravel fire roads. I'd 100% be choosing my Chisel for it over my Ripmo. Around mile 60 at the top of Upper Black you'll have hike-a-bike for a short bit before you start descending.

You'll be coming down some really great trails. Once you're past that hike-a-bike you're hitting all of Black Mountain. That section of Upper Black is one of the best trails around here in my opinion, although your opinion may be different after 60 miles. Spencer/Fletcher/Trace in the middle are a lot of fun to come down. Only part I'd really have big concerns with technical riding is Pilot. I haven't ridden it since it's hard to get to but supposedly technical but I have friends that aren't great riders that shuttle it so it can't be too bad.

In reality it's probably a good replacement for Sugar. My only concerns is if you're looking for a HUGE ride as I doubt it'll have the registration #s that Sugar would. So you're not going to get any "Huge race in town this weekend" feeling like you may in Bentonville, and the course is so big you may end up in no-man's land but I'm assuming with your fitness you'll likely find a group or groups. It's also almost impossible to get lost or make a wrong turn like in a smaller XC race.

Easy with logistics. You can make a weekend out of it, get an inexpensive AirBnB down the street from the start, or if you're into it stay at the Campground across from the start. Visit Asheville if you want on your way out of town, etc. If you did Friday to Monday you could ride in Dupont on Sunday morning easy to help the legs and then drive halfway to Harrisonburg or so. If you traveled with a wife there's plenty of stuff for her to do for the entire day while you're out suffering.
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Amazing, thanks for the detailed write up. Sounds like a winner to me. No issues at all with gravel climbs.
 
Santapez said:
Remind him that it's also a running race and his wife can sign up to run it.
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Is there a category where we can combine our times? Might need her to offset my slowness.

Edit: sadly it conflicts with one of the "run in a circle for 24 hours" NJ Trail Series events so doesn't look like I'm talking her into this.
 
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I may have missed this but endurance races in H2H are 3 hours now?

Weren’t they always 4 ?
 
I'm watching this year, but my daughter will be registering.

I was barely qualified to race cat 2, but did because I was there for my daughter anyway and it was fun being on course (and getting passed by) my daughter and her friends. Now they are racing Cat1.....I have no business being with that group, and don't have the motivation to go hours early for myself.
 
We'll be sending our local single-speeding sasquatch. He'll be on an ancient Cannondale of some sort and wearing a kit from a shop that no longer exists. Say hi as you lap him.
 
Cassinonorth said:
Mayhem roll call!

Couldn't wait for MASS to start up, jumping into the 2.5 hour endurance since that's what my plan called for anyway.
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I'm trying to register but Bikereg is stuck at the 1 day USAC license $35 fee saying I need to enter a license number that I don't have. Assuming you have a license so wasn't an issue?
 
JDurk said:
I'm trying to register but Bikereg is stuck at the 1 day USAC license $35 fee saying I need to enter a license number that I don't have. Assuming you have a license so wasn't an issue?
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My license expires Sunday so I was able to sneak in without paying. Probably would've passed for another $35.
 
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