First Event in the 5th Annual Solo Cup Series, the California-based event promotions company Team Bigfoot is once again coordinating a mountain bike endurance race series. Championships are up for grabs in eighteen different age/ability categories. The format is simple, a rider’s miles from any of these races are added whoever has the most miles in any of the 18 categories is awarded with a championship trophy at the finals at the Whiskeytown Nine to Five at Whiskeytown Lake in October.
This series is managed by Team Bigfoot, but other organizations have historically joined in too. This year there’s a round in Oregon, the 8 Hours of Independence, organized by Mudslinger Events. For the second year in a row the series visits Southern California with the inaugural 12 Hours of Rim Nordic, organized by Jason Ranoa.
The series kicks off May 23 with the 12 Hours of Weaverville, in the former gold mining town of Weaverville, CA., just east of Redding. The course is in the Weaver Basin Trail System, a network of trails that includes several miles of flume trails hand-dug in the 1850’s to bring water to the high-pressure water guns used by the miners. These contour-line trails make this 11.8 mile course legendary. It starts with a 3-mile fire-road climb that pays off with a single-track descent back to the start/finish. The venue is a high school complete with paved parking, real bathrooms, hot showers, food service and in-town convenience. Grocery stores and take-out are just minutes away. Race time is 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, allowing racers to experience the fun of an endurance event without having to invest in expensive lights.
SOLO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP CATEGORIES: Male Beginner, Male Sport, Male Expert, Male Pro, Male Jr (age 17& under), Male Master (age 40+), Male Super Master (age 50+), Male Super Duper Master (age 60+), Female Jr.(age 17& under), Female Beginner, Female Sport, Female Expert/Pro, Male Clydesdale (200lb+), Tandem (2 riders), Unicycle, Male Singlespeed, Female Singlespeed
NOTE: Not all events in the series use these exact categories, but that's okay. A rider’s miles count in whatever category he/she enters at the finals regardless.
5TH ANNUAL SOLO CUP SCHEDULE
#1 May 23, 12 Hours of Weaverville, Weaverville CA, 8am to 8pm, www.teambigfoot.net (707) 845-3095
#2 June 14, 12 Hours of Rim Nordic, Running Springs, CA, 9am to 9pm, www.12hoursoftemecula.com
#3 July 4, 8 Hours of Independence, Philomath Oregon, 10am to 6pm, www.mudslingerevents.com (541) 847-3030
#4 Aug. 1, Kirkwood Nine to Five, Kirkwood Resort, Lake Tahoe, www.teambigfoot.net (707)845-3095
#5 Aug. 22, 12 Hours of Humboldt, Arcata, CA. www.teambigfoot.net (707) 845-3095
#6 Sept. 5, Clikapudi Six to Midnight, Shasta Lake, CA. www.teambigfoot.net (707)845-3095
THE FINALS, Oct. 3, Whiskeytown Nine to Five, Whiskeytown Lake, CA. www.teambigfoot.net (707) 845-3095