MTB Rides, Races, & Gravel Grinders

Northern California

MTB Races

April

4/5 Prairie City Race Series #3: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

4/12 Prairie City Race Series #4: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

4/15 Lake Sonoma MTB: Sonoma. 25.2 mi., 4,071 ft. elev. gain on singletrack. This is a single lap race with no turn-around on a rugged remote loop. Top 3 i all categories podium. grasshopperadventureseries.com

4/19 Prairie City Race Series #5: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

4/20-23 Life Time Sea Otter Classic: Laguna Seca, Monterey. Professional and amateur athletes alike make the annual pilgrimage to Sea Otter to participate in gravel, cross country, downhill, enduro and dual slalom events. Once you’re done, cruise the expo, sit with friends over a beer, enjoy the family-friendly experience at the Kids’ Zone. Sea Otter Classic

4/26 Prairie City Race Series #6: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

May

5/3 Prairie City Race Series #7: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

5/10 Prairie City Race Series #8: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

5/17 Prairie City Race Series #9: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

5/20 Groveland Grind: Groveland. Mixed terrain w/pavement, broken pavement, dirt, gravel outside Yosemite. 48 mi. 5,400 elev., 30 mi. 3,400 ft. elev., 21.5 mi. 2,200 elev. gain. Categories: Women: beginner, sport, expert/pro. Men: Beginner, sport, expert/pro. Also, e-bike category. grovelandtrailheads.org

5/20 Georgetown Enduro: Mace Mill OHV, Georgetown. Loose, rocky, flows trails. Pro, expert, sport & beginner, eMTB categories. chip timed. Reg. includes race entry, camping, event pint glass & beverage ticket. californiaenduroseries.com

5/24 Prairie City Race Series #10: Prairie City OHV Park, Rancho Cordova. Wednesday night series beginning at 6 p.m. Cross country MTB event. Different course weekly, moderate hills, singletrack & jeep roads. Beginner: 2 laps, Sport: 3 laps, Expert & ProExpert: 4 laps. Check website for Kids race info. Frank Shoemaker, The Bike Nerd, thebikenerd@gmail.com or racemtb.com

June

6/24 China Peak Enduro: China Peak Mtn. Resort, Lakeshore. 4 eMTB categories: Open eMTB Men & Women, Sport eMTB Men & Women. All categories race 5 stages. californiaenduroseries.com

Gravel Ride

April

4/29 Six Sigma Hopper: Avenue of the Giants, Weott. 2 options: 77 mi., 5,329 ft. elev. gain or 40 mi., 3,200 ft. elev. gain along moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs. grasshopperadventureseries.com

May

5/6-7 Siskiyou Scenic Bicycle Tour & Gravel Ride: Upper Greenhorn Park, Yreka. Two day event. 5/6: All-paved road rides of 101 mi., 67 mi., 40 mi., & 21 mi. These routes are the same as last year — beautiful views of Mt. Shasta and Shasta Valley. 5/7: 2 gravel rides, 63 mi. & 39 mi. - both very challenging. Hosted by Rotary Club of Yreka & Jefferson Mountain Bike Assoc. Reg. includes rest stops, SAG, end of ride meals both days, w/ beer available. Camping at Greenhorn Park the 5/5-6t. To register, visit Siskiyou Scenic Bicycle Tour for all info.

5/28 Art of Survival Century Gravel Grinder: Dorris, CA. Ride along the flatlands of Butte Valley with farms, ranches and up to stunning Juanita Lake. Choose from a 74 mi., 54 mi., and 13 mi. family friendly. Rest stops with great food and beverages with educational components highlighting the rich history of the area. Fees includes SAG, post-ride dinner, entertainment and prizes. Discounts for registering for both days. Register at Survival Century Gravel Grinder

June

6/3 Gold Country Challenge: Grass Valley/Nevada City. Gravel bike rides. Ride beautiful and historic back roads of Nevada County’s gold country along the scenic Yuba River. Gravel rides include challenging 49 & 28 mi. options. Excellent route support. Enjoy a post-ride meal and beer under the pines. Event supports Grass Valley Rotary community projects and Bright Futures for Youth. Early reg. discounts Gold Country Challenge

Gravel Race

April

4/20-23 Life Time Sea Otter Classic: Laguna Seca, Monterey. La Gravilla is the Sea Otter gravel race over the rolling hills and trails of the Fort Ord National Monument. This isn’t your typical gravel race — this is flowy singletrack and wide-open fire roads. Test your gravelly grit and elevate yourself to new levels of endurance at this one-of-a-kind off-road event. Sea Otter Classic

Gravel Festival

June

6/3 Lost & Found Gravel Festival: Portola. 35, 60, 100, courses w/gravel sections, 20% road on 100 mi. event. lostandfoundbikeride.com

Southern California

Mountain Bike Races

April

4/27 Summer Series #1: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

May

5/4 Summer Series #2: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

5/11 Summer Series #3: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

5/18 Summer Series #4: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

5/20-21 Big Bear #1: Bear Mountain. Enduro, Cross Country, MTB Marathon. teambigbear.com

June

6/1 Summer Series #5: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

6/8 Summer Series #6: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

6/15 Summer Series #7: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

6/17-18 Big Bear #3: Snow Summit. 3 stage Enduro, series final of the Kenda Cup cross country, downhill. teambigbear.com

6/22 Summer Series #8: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

6/29 ENCORE: Summer Series: Lake Hodges, Escondido. Fun, fast, challenging races on Thursdays. 8 races, w/2 throws outs — race 6 of 8 races to qualify for overall rewards. Champions are awarded in each class at the end of the series. Categories: experts men/women, super sport, sport men/women, 55+ men/women, beginners, single speed, school girls/boys. quickndirtymtb.com

Nevada

Mountain Bike Race

May

5/13 Chain Smoker: Blue Diamond. You pick 'em: The Good: 15 mi., (1 lap); The Bad: 30 mi. (2 laps); The Ugly: 45 mi. (3 laps). This race starts in downtown Blue Diamond & is all singletrack around Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Conservation Area. Awards for the Top 3 Men and Women Finishers in each class, all distances. Includes eTiming & results, t-shirt you can’t live without. quickndirtymtb.com/race-info/chainsmoker/