Courses announced for Carson City Epic Rides event

Based on the courses that are going to be used, the Epic Rides Mountain Bike Race to be hosted by Carson City in June is going to be an epic event, indeed.

In cooperation with Visit Carson City, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Nevada State Parks, Epic Rides Tuesday unveiled the Inaugural Carson City Off-Road mountain bike event courses. The event will be held from June 17-19.

Like the popular Whiskey & Grand Junction Off-Road events, the Carson City Off-Road event offers three distance options allowing beginner, weekend warrior and pro level mountain bikers to choose the challenge that’s right for them. Distances include the Capitol 15, 35 and 50 routes, where 1 Capitol equals 1 mile; the prefix pays homage to the event’s location in front of the sprawling lawn of Nevada’s State Capitol building on Carson St.

A featured landmark among a smorgasbord of Capitol City opportunities and experiences, participants will enjoy the opportunity to pass by the Nevada State Governor’s mansion along each route, including the kids ride and Pro criterium course. A pre-ride meeting for those in the Pro category will be held at the Governor’s Mansion at 2 p.m. Friday, June 17.

Adequate preparation will pay dividends as each course starts with a significant climb up Kings Canyon Road into the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada.

The Capitol 35 and 50 courses start with a 12-mile climb, top out at 8,200 feet on the scenic Tahoe Rim Trail singletrack and serve up views of three different alpine lakes, including Lake Tahoe. Featuring iconic trails and landmarks like Spooner Lake, Marlette Lake, Tahoe Rim Trail, Sunflower Hill, Snap Dragon Trail, Red House Flume and “Kings to Ash,” the Carson City Off-Road is sure to serve up a gritty soulful mountain bike experience that’ll leave minds as blown as legs as riders meander some of the West’s finest backcountry.

With a graduated distance format, each route presents a true mountain bike experience and provides the opportunity to enjoy a variety of terrain. From technical singletrack to undulating dirt roads to fun fast descents, no matter the distance, all participants able to complete their chosen route are not only going to be awarded a unique finisher prize, but with confidence are able to stake claim to being a bonafide mountain biker.

The Capitol 15 course, with more than 10 miles of singletrack, utilizes the Ash to Kings Trail in reverse plus Lower Ash Canyon Creek Trail and Jackrabbit Trail. A point of pride for Carson City’s trails community, the Ash to Kings Trail has been built by local trail advocacy group Muscle Powered and is rideable by all levels of mountain biker — as long as they toe the start line with the fortitude needed to usher them up the first climb.

“Carson City’s trail network is well built and inviting to all levels of mountain biker,” said Epic Rides President Todd Sadow. “And, with numerous cooperative land agencies and land owners coming together to show off the area’s natural resources, together we’ve constructed a day on the bike that all attendees will enjoy and can be proud to have completed,”

Event registration opened on January 1 and is quickly approaching the 600-rider limit. Registration and event information is available at www.epicrides.com

Epic Rides has become world famous for producing events that celebrate the many positive aspects of mountain biking. Events such as the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo presented by Tucson Medical Center, Tour of the White Mountains, the Whiskey Off-Road, the Grand Junction Off-Road, and the newly announced Carson City Off-Road are popular with participants because they offer challenging, fun riding and emphasize the joy and health benefits inherent in the sport.