After a year-long hiatus, the Terrace Mountain bike race on Flathead is back this Sunday, September 15, and organizers are encouraging riders of all skill levels and ages to take to the loop.
Organized by Terrace Off Road Cycling Association (TORCA) and sponsored by McBike, the race travels the Terrace Mountain bike loop, also known as Flathead, which is the same route the King of the Mountain trail race started using last year.
“The trail is admittedly not a ‘ride in the park’,” said TORCA’s Tara Irwin.
“It is a challenging loop to race, but great as a ‘ride’, hence the attempt to attract more folks that might just want to make their way around the trail.”
The race is set up as a time trial format with everyone starting two minutes apart, with the faster more experienced racers going last so that everyone can finish around the same time.
There will be traditional prizes for first, second and third – but more colourful prize categories like best costume, heaviest bike, oldest bike, youngest and oldest participant, biggest showing from a family, and even slowest time around the mountain combined with a couple of refurbished cruiser bikes to give away should bring more bodies to the event.
“Really we just want to get people out to ride and have fun and take part in the barbecue to follow,” said Irwin.
“Even if folks want to walk parts or just do the first section of the trail, that is fine. If we have enough interest on the day of we can organize a short under age 10 or so race,” she said.
TORCA didn’t hold the race last year because they wanted to focus their efforts on trail building, but the group is looking forward to its return and anticipates a solid turnout.
Other bike races in the area have experienced high numbers this year, and there have been a few changes and new additions to the race circuit.
“We are pumped to see high participation rates at the other races and hope that we can get as many riders as the downhill races got out,” said Irwin.
The race is this Sunday at 1 p.m., participants should arrive between 12:00 and 12:30 to register.
More information can also be found at McBike.