SV Pre-ride Course Report

I took a break from the final exams study today, and we traveled to good ol' Grand County, where there are now more brown trees than living green ones. Thank you pine beetles... it is only a matter of time before a lightening strike turns all of Fraser Valley into one big forest fire.

Anyway, we proceeded to dissect the course at Sol Vista, riding different sections at a time, in the hopes of linking them together for what may be the actual race course. The directions posted by MSC on the forums were absolutely no help at all, and I had to consult with the SV staff at the bike rental shop 3 times, before it started to make sense. Even then, they said they were not sure what the final decision would be on the trail selection for race day. I guess we'll just wait and see!

Despite the ambiguity, here is the description of the course, although I make the disclaimer that it is subject to change!

The start, and the first 4 miles or so are definitely for sure. The course begins with a 2-mile climb on the Nature's Way single track trail, from the base area, and ascends 1,000ft to the top of the ridge. (I'm not sure how they plan to spread the field out because there is not much room to pass on this single track). The trail makes a lot of sweeping switchbacks as it ascends, so you can definitely get a look at who is in front and behind you. The terrain is bumpy dirt (from the recent excavation of the trail), and some loose, sandy corners.

Once you reach the top, you make a right turn onto a dirt road (double track??) and traverse the ridge line. The first 1/4 mile is soft sand - make sure to keep those cranks turning or you are immediately sucked in, and this is after you haven't even begun to recover from the climb yet! For the next mile or so, the road gradually ascends, and this is a good big ring hammer section, as it is a false flat, but since the ground is less sandy, it seems fast.

(From here on, the course is questionable, but this seems like the general consensus from the 2 shop employees I talked to. Plus we ran into 4 RMR guys and Kenny D. who were riding this route). Next you reach single track, which is a bit undulating for about 1/2 mile, and then starts going downhill. The trail is sandy/gravelly at first, and then turns into bumpy, loose small rocks. The downhill is not difficult, but it is very twisty with tight turns and tight trees in the woods, so it keeps you on your toes. After about 1 mile, you reach a dirt road. Turn right, and another big ring crank fest for about 1/2 mile. You reach a slight uphill, and then take the single track on the left.

This single track section is a little slower than the previous downhill, as there are lots of small up and downhills, with tight corners, small rocks, a few roots, some gravel, and some sand. At the end of this section you reach a dirt road and make a sharp right, crank uphill for about 25 meters, and then take the single track on the left. Now you leave the forest and enter a recently logged area, with small trees, tight twisty corners, all while going downhill again.

You come out on a large dirt logging road, take a right and descend back to the base area. The logging road was just plowed, so it is loose, sandy, and although you can go fast, it takes effort to make sure you're not going to slide out in the sand.

All in all, the route we completed was about 8 miles. So if they are thinking about a 6 mile loop, they may route the course down some different single track from the top of the ridge line. It is all up in the air. The terrain is a bit of everything, and this makes the course deceivingly difficult. Because of either the switchbacks or tight twisty turns, there is not much time to rest, even on the downhill. It should be a good course, and will hopefully be well-marked!