Tahoe Sierra 100 Update

IMPORTANT POLICY ON REFUNDS
Refunds will not be given after August 10th.


TEAM COURSE CHANGE
After reviewing the course this weekend with friends we've decided to shorten the team category course to 33 miles of the best stuff we could utilize. The reason for this was decided that the pre-existing 46 mile loop would be too tough for team competitors, and the spirit of enjoyment would be lost. It's all about having a good time, and afterwards we want you to have enough juice left over to pour over the days accomplishments with friends and family alike - otherwise it just wouldn't be racing!


RECOMMENDED SS GEARING
For those of you racing one-speeds, make sure to choose your gearing appropriately. This is the High Sierra, and conditions are dependent on ones ability to handle altitude. The terrain is going to be favorable, but at the end of the day with 14,000 feet of vertical gain that gear ratio is going to make a big difference.




Free camping is 95% full!
If you have not reserved a spot by e-mailing Jim at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it make sure you do so ASAP!

The Tahoe Sierra 100 is not a “technical” course
It is composed of fire roads, double-track and single track with about two miles of pavement. But DO NOT TAKE THE DESCENTS LIGHTLY. There are rocky areas, and with the moon dust that builds late in season the rocks are hard to make out as you are racing in the High Sierras. There will be at least 14,000ft of climbing or more--the course may undergo a few last-minute changes due to the wildfires that have affected the area.

RED WHEELS
There will be two rolling mechanics on Quads with sets of replacement wheels for the racers. Participants that are in the running for cash need to take special note--if you take a wheel there is a time PENALTY of 15 minutes. These are rules posted by NU 100 series director Ryan Odell. These wheels will be painted red so there's no fooling anybody.

Course Description
The Start
The race will start out with a flat 1 mile pavement start, followed by 3 miles of fire road on Road 96. Next you will turn left and climb 5 miles on fire road. This climb has everything--lose rock, hard pack, gravel, dust and mind-blowing views. It climbs approximately 2,000 ft in 5 miles. Mostly in the shade with a little sun here and there, the ascent bring you up to soda springs road. There, you will turn right (team racers will turn left and head to Robinson Flat) Volunteers and signs will help to point you in the right direction. We will know you're a team racer by the color of your race number.

Ride North
Next, racers will turn right and head north to Soda Springs. There will be a water aid station here. This fire road consists of a long descent, some rocks (not to technical), and a few small water crossings that might be dry by race day. There are a few hard, steep climbs on this section of the course. Just before reaching the North fork of the American river you will be tuning a hard right (the sign is very hard to see as its grown over with brush) This is road 51.

Amazing Views
Road 51 has lots of orange and yellow ribbons marking it. A sign should read “Lyon Ridge/French Meadows”. You will head ascend a short distance and then turn right (there is chained gate if you go straight—this is the wrong way). This climb has lots of big water bars all the way up the 2 mile climb to Lyon ridge. Looking left you will see Mt. Disney, Mt. Lincoln (the backside of Sugar Bowl Ski Resort), Anderson Peak, Granite chief, Lyon Peak, and Tinkers Knob. This will be your first food/water aid station.

Dusty Road
When you get to the top of Lyon ridge you will turn to your left and head along the Western States Trail .If you look to the southwest through the tree's you will see French Meadows in the distance--the finish line of the race. There are a few high country water crossings here(very small) This is a rolling downhill until you reach a gate. After the gate its a bomber descent, so hold on. It gets dusty so back off if riders are in front of you. This is single and double track, and comes out at a another gate with a water crossing. After the water crossing stay to your left and you will head on to another fire road where a downed tree lies across the road with a bike-width cut so you may pass. For the next 2 to miles or so put the fluids away--the 5 mile climb is coming again. You will turn right and climb back up to soda springs road and to Robinson flat aid station.

Drop Bag Station
When you reach the top of the climb you will now turn to your left (again there will be people at the water station making sure you turn left) Next you have a 5-6 mile ride to the Robinson Flat aid station. This is the drop bag aid station so if you have a bag here please yell your race number out and they will get it for you. This is a two way aid station you will see this coming back at mile 85 or so. There are bathrooms here at Robinson Flat.

The Deep Canyon
When you leave the Robinson Flat aid station you will leave the upper part of the campground on the gravel fire road that takes you to the Western States Trail, Cavanah Ridge, Road 44 and Road 43. About 0.7 miles outside the campground you will turn right (a big brown sign says Cavanah Ridge, Western States). This is a double track for 6 miles of fun downhill (a little climbing to start) great views at the start of the trail. This double track will turn into a long fire road for total of 15 miles. You will pass threw Deep canyon with water in the steam below the bridge. After about 6 more miles there will be a sign that says Road 44. Stay to your left until you get to the crossroad of 44 and 33 then turn right at road 33. There will be a water aid station here to get you to the next one.

The Brown Sign
A big brown forest service sign is to the right and is hard to see, its on a four way crossroad and reads “Grouse Falls, Cuckoo Ridge”. There is 2 miles of chip seal road followed by about 10 miles of fire road. Along the way you will see the (Grouse Falls trail sign). This way you know your on the right road. Again it will be marked with Orange/Yellow ribbons.

The Road
You will come to Mosquito Ridge Road aid station next, full of food and water where friends and spectators can see you pass through. There will be road signs letting cars know you are on the road (this road gets only a handful of cars in one day)

Don't Get Lost
You are now only about 10 miles from French Meadows. You will turn left on Road 96 (also called Mosquito Ridge Road). From this point you can get very lost if you don't know the area. Some of it has not been in use for many years. If you are one of the few that have asked to pre-ride the course, please be very aware that this part of the course will not be marked until after July 19th!

The Stretch
You will travel 1.3 miles on pavement until you turn right at the Spruce creek road 16. It is a fire road that goes for 4 to miles (there are great views of Lyon Ridge and Needle Peak. You were here at mile 17 or so. You will come upon an area called Penny Pines "The Big Burn". This road will take you to the Big Trees turn. It will be well marked with arrows and ribbons. You will make a hard right down a small chip seal road. As you descend, stay left and you will come to a dirt fire road that will start to climb. As you reach the top of the climb there will be a hard left--an old, nameless logging double track road that will come out to a timber sale from last year and also to Mosquito Ridge Road where you will turn right and head down the pavement for a few miles to Road 43 (the sign says Robinson Flat Road 43). This a food and water aid station and you friends and family can see you here. This is the closest aid station to French Meadows Lake. You will turn left here and follow this fire road. From this point on its pretty much straight forward. About 5 miles .You stay on 43 until you reach the Robinson Flat aid station.

Finally
You will head back after leaving from Robinson Flat--6 miles on Soda springs road (THERE WILL BE TEAM RACERS CLIMBING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. PLEASE RIDE SMART AND STAY ON YOU SIDE OF THE FIRE ROAD. ITS A BIG ROAD). At the bottom, turn right and head 4 miles to the McGuire campground and boat ramp to the finish.


LIGHTS
Know that you will need a light on your bike if you are at Robinson Flat later than 7:30pm. That's 12 1/2 hours into the race. You will not be allowed to continue without a light. You will also need a red light for the back of your bike. If you are racing on team please pick a person that can ride at night for the last lap. If your last team member leaves between 3:30 and 4:30, the team must have a light at Robinson flat aid station. No team racers will leave French Meadows after 5:15pm. If your running late a sag van will bring you in.

Please train smart and race smart. This is not a NORBA event, and you must be prepared for (and expect) wild things to happen out there—this is wilderness after all.

Tahoe National Forest Service and Global Biorhythm events have the right to change the course at any time due to the ever changing fire conditions and mother nature. This would be for the racers safety, and the safety of the environment.

Robinson Flat aid station is a drop-bag station for your bag and lights. You must be ready by 6:30 in the morning on Saturday September 6th with race number and name on the white plastic bag that you will receive at racer check in.

Family and friends can only see you at the Road 43 aid station and at the Road 33 and mosquito ridge road aid station. ALL OTHER AID STATIONS ARE CLOSED TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND RACE CREWS. IF THE RULES ARE BROKEN BY YOUR CREW, YOU WELL BE DISQUALIFIED FORM THE EVENT.

Tahoe National service and Global Biorhythm events would like to keep traffic off the fire roads for the safety of the racers. PLEASE PACK OUT WHAT YOU BRING IN. IF ANY RACER IS SEEN THROWING GEL PACKETS OR ANY FORM OF GARBAGE YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE EVENT.

Thank you!
Jim Northey
Race Director
Tahoe-Sierra 100