XC Mountain Bike Schedule for 2023 (Schedule on 1st Post)

ChrisG said:
I just want to second the endorsement of this venue. I’ve often said literally the exact same thing as @JDurk when describing the course here: It tests every aspect of a mountain bike racer.

I have really good memories of racing cross here as well.

Sad to see it go, but all things must pass.
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It's definitely a test. And I failed it once.
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Cassinonorth said:
So I'll have to miss both first races for H2H or MASS.

Experienced racers, which would be your pick to race 5/6x this summer? I'm wildly more familiar with the H2H venues fwiw.
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Long time MASS racer here. French Creek and Bear Creek would include plenty of rocks and climbs. FC has XC and Endurance, BC is XC only. As I mentioned above, with @ChrisG 's endorsement, Granogue is a "put it on your calendar" type of race. The Sept race is the MASS season finals and has a better chance of not being 100deg with 100% humidity and t-storms.
 
Cassinonorth said:
So I'll have to miss both first races for H2H or MASS.

Experienced racers, which would be your pick to race 5/6x this summer? I'm wildly more familiar with the H2H venues fwiw.
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So I really haven't "raced" much in a few years, but I loved racing new venues that were interesting and different to me...in the beginning I really wanted to podium etc, but eventually I chased the new/different trails instead of performance (not that you mentioned performance). That being said, don't discount the NYS races on the calendar that @jShort put up...Williams Lake is sooo much fun (racing through the cave is epic) and Blue Mountain never disappoints...it is just such a fun place to ride/race.

Also, MTBNJam is absolutely a can't miss...there is an enduro-ish race buried in it, and I make some sick awards...just ask @UtahJoe 🙂

Bear Creek is amazing and hits every button on East Coast XC, but is heavy climbing up front and downhill on back, with a fair bit of tech, I mean, it is on a ski mountain lol. I still loved hearing the West coast guys complaining years ago when the National's were there while we were racing--"This isn't mountain biking!" lol...well not California racing, but typical East Coast racing 🙂
 
rottin' said:
So I really haven't "raced" much in a few years, but I loved racing new venues that were interesting and different to me...in the beginning I really wanted to podium etc, but eventually I chased the new/different trails instead of performance (not that you mentioned performance). That being said, don't discount the NYS races on the calendar that @jShort put up...Williams Lake is sooo much fun (racing through the cave is epic) and Blue Mountain never disappoints...it is just such a fun place to ride/race.

Also, MTBNJam is absolutely a can't miss...there is an enduro-ish race buried in it, and I make some sick awards...just ask @UtahJoe 🙂

Bear Creek is amazing and hits every button on East Coast XC, but is heavy climbing up front and downhill on back, with a fair bit of tech, I mean, it is on a ski mountain lol. I still loved hearing the West coast guys complaining years ago when the National's were there while we were racing--"This isn't mountain biking!" lol...well not California racing, but typical East Coast racing 🙂
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The Heckle Pit on the DH side of BC Nationals was INSANE! Nothing will ever compare.
 
JDurk said:
Long time MASS racer here. French Creek and Bear Creek would include plenty of rocks and climbs. FC has XC and Endurance, BC is XC only. As I mentioned above, with @ChrisG 's endorsement, Granogue is a "put it on your calendar" type of race. The Sept race is the MASS season finals and has a better chance of not being 100deg with 100% humidity and t-storms.
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rottin' said:
So I really haven't "raced" much in a few years, but I loved racing new venues that were interesting and different to me...in the beginning I really wanted to podium etc, but eventually I chased the new/different trails instead of performance (not that you mentioned performance). That being said, don't discount the NYS races on the calendar that @jShort put up...Williams Lake is sooo much fun (racing through the cave is epic) and Blue Mountain never disappoints...it is just such a fun place to ride/race.

Also, MTBNJam is absolutely a can't miss...there is an enduro-ish race buried in it, and I make some sick awards...just ask @UtahJoe 🙂

Bear Creek is amazing and hits every button on East Coast XC, but is heavy climbing up front and downhill on back, with a fair bit of tech, I mean, it is on a ski mountain lol. I still loved hearing the West coast guys complaining years ago when the National's were there while we were racing--"This isn't mountain biking!" lol...well not California racing, but typical East Coast racing 🙂
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Thanks for the insights, guys. I'm floating between the "woo new courses!" and "familiarity will be nice this year". I don't have to pick a series but I felt like that would be nice for timing races and competing against the same people every month. Leaning MASS right now.
 
JDurk said:
The Heckle Pit on the DH side of BC Nationals was INSANE! Nothing will ever compare.
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Bear Creek postponed their announcement twice. Is it possible that Nats are coming back to PA? There is some speculation.

Maybe USAC was too wrapped up in cx worlds that they didn’t want to announce it last week?

I actually heard that it would be in killington but maybe Bear Creek got it….Fingers crossed.
 
jShort said:
Bear Creek postponed their announcement twice. Is it possible that Nats are coming back to PA? There is some speculation.

Maybe USAC was too wrapped up in cx worlds that they didn’t want to announce it last week?

I actually heard that it would be in killington but maybe Bear Creek got it….Fingers crossed.
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Nats would be cool, but I'm guessing it's the new "save the date" XC only race on the MASS FB page based on the comments from a person who is a local to BC, Emmaus and Bicycling Mag.
 
JDurk said:
Bear Creek mtb Nationals. 7/5-7/9.
usacycling.org

USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike National… | USA Cycling

USA Cycling announces the dates and location for the 2023 Cross-Country Mountain Bike National Championships.
usacycling.org usacycling.org
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This is likely to get a huge showing from the local NICA riders. PA’s season starts in July so those kids would have to be proactive in getting ready. Considering PA is 1400+ kids and at least 1000 of those kids are within 2 hours of bear, it should be huge.

At NJ's 500 and DE and MD, should be a much larger under 18 field there.
 
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stb222 said:
This is likely to get a huge showing from the local NICA riders. PA’s season starts in July so those kids would have to be proactive in getting ready. Considering PA is 1400+ kids and at least 1000 of those kids are within 2 hours of bear, it should be huge.

At NJ's 500 and DE and MD, should be a much larger under 18 field there.
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Hopefully it sparks the local XC community altogether. It would be great to see some bigger fields at the races this year
 
And I guess there’s suddenly a demand for USAC sanctioned races…. Weird how that just flipped
 
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