The 18th Ever West Hill Shop Mountain Bike Race
Sunday, June 27, 2010
DIRECTIONS
TO THE RACE SITE: Take I-91 to Exit 4 in Putney, Vermont.
Follow signs to Putney School's Lower Farm on Houghton Brook Road (about 3.5 miles).
TO WEST HILL SHOP: At I-91 Exit 4 adjacent to north-bound off-ramp,
across from the Putney Inn. We are about 2 hours from
Boston, Hartford, Albany and Burlington.
RACE SCHEDULE
9:00 am - Cat. 3 (Beginner) Men/Women - 2 laps, 9 miles
9:15 am - First Timers - 1 lap, 4.5 miles
11:00 am - Kids 12 & under - 1 loop
11:15 am - Cat. 1 (Expert) Men/Women/Singlespeed Open, 4 laps, 18 miles
11:15 am - Pro/Open, 5 laps, 22.5 miles
1:30 pm - Cat. 2 (Sport) Men/Women/Singlespeed Open - 3 laps, 13.5 miles
REGISTRATION
To pre-register or to see more registration information go to
BikeReg.com
.
Race-day registration and number pick-up will close 30 minutes before each race.ENTRY FEES
Before June 26, 2010: $23 for USA Cycling licensed racers; $28 for non-licensed (includes one-day license fee)
After June 26, 2010:$28 for USA Cycling licensed racers; $33 for non-licensed (includes one-day license fee)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The race course is based on the course designed by Brian Stickel in 1986. The original course was mostly challenging cross-country ski trails, but we have added more singletrack over the years. The course goes back and forth, often passing near where you had been before so you can keep an eye on those behind (or ahead of) you.
The race starts in an open field going slightly uphill and around a short loop before going into the woods on the Ravine Trail. This takes you down a swoopy descent, overand up a steep short climb. You bear left onto the Main Street Trail, a wide-open trail that rolls along to the first single-track.
As you come back onto the ski trail you'll turn to go up the Near Ledges Trail where you'll drop into some more single-track, some of which is the trail Johs Huseby created in the early '90s. You'll exit back onto the Near Ledges and turn left up a small climb and across a short connector to the Middle Ledges Trail. This takes you uphill and across a flat section where you'll turn right onto some more new singletrack. This trail climbs up to the top of the ledges, probably the highest point on the course. Now you'll descend down a ravine, through the woods and out through the esses and back to(near the Ravine Trail) where you'll bear left to continue descending and will crank left to begin the ascent known as Heartbreak Hill.
You climb and climb. Finally you descend—watch for some off-camber rocks and ruts—and bear right to climb up part of the Ben Rockwell Loop. A bit of singletrack will divert you to the right (to avoid some muddy, slippery slabs). The trail levels out, for a moment, and then climbs up a bit to the top of the fast downhill, which takes you down and around the big berm and down some more. Then left over a quick up and a steep down and down a double track that takes you towards Tripping Field, a well-knownlandmark. Ride across and down, back to Main St. Trail and around the muddy corner. All that's left is to climb up Cemetery Hill to finish line. (Our lap times ranged from 26:30 to 37:30 minutes on one rainy night, for a group of Sport/Expert riders.)
For more information see theRoot 66 Race Series site. Held Under USAC Permit # 2010-pending
To pre-register or to see more registration information go toBikeReg.com.
Questions, e-mailrace directorJim Sweitzer