Sylvan Island Stampede April 15th

[singlespeeder]

Anybody know what a good choice for gearing would be in singlespeed Comp?

[sommerfliesby]

I ran my standard gearing last year....36 x 16.  There is almost ZERO climbing (couple of short, steep ones), your biggest issue is gonna be the long back straight and the long finishing straight...you'll probably get spun out.  But the course is extremely twisty, so you'll want something that you can accelerate with.

[adhd-tv]

34 x 16 worked well for me, very tight, very twisty, no real climbs to worry about... super fun course.

[Fourstring]

Thinking I might give this a shot- it'd be my first race.  How's the beginner class?

[sommerfliesby]

Crowded.  But you will have a blast.

[Fourstring]

Crowded.  But you will have a blast.

Is it a pretty fast field, or just a huge spread of talent?

[redfuel]

I might try thenew maverick class if i go.    Too bad they don't have a Renegade class.

[Benflow]

Sylvan Island is unique in that it has a "Maverick" Class .... In between Novice and Sport.  So it takes pressure of the Novice class and makes it a fairly easy/beginner crowd.  My girlfriend, who had never done a race, and only ridden her $300 mountain bike a handful of times in 5 years lined up in the Maverick Class (we didn't want to wake up earlier to make Novice).  She had a blast and didn't finished just below midpack I think.  And it was pretty much all guys in her race.  You'll be more than fine in Novice. 

 

[Nativeson]

I'll probably try the mav class too. I only ride once a week if I'm lucky, so definitely not in any sort of race shape, but I'll go to have some fun.

[midwestfan266]

Just got signed up. Never raced a mtb race before, any idea how long I need to show up before my race time to get signed in. Any info would be great.

[adhd-tv]

Just got signed up. Never raced a mtb race before, any idea how long I need to show up before my race time to get signed in. Any info would be great.

If you register online, it will take all of 5 minutes or less on site... if you register on site, add maybe 3 more minutes.  FORC runs this race very efficiently IMO.

[ridingillini]

If you register online, it will take all of 5 minutes or less on site... if you register on site, add maybe 3 more minutes.  FORC runs this race very efficiently IMO.

I agree, I don't remember it taking much time to sign up in person a couple of years ago.  The main reason to get there early is to pre-ride the course (or as much of it as possible) before the race.  Now with the additional races they have I'm not sure whether there's time to pre-ride or not because it's been a while since I raced there.  If you're ridden Sylvan Island before then no need to pre-ride but if you've never been there, then I think it would be in your best interest to do so.

[midwestfan266]

Thanks for the input guys. Seems weird to me to be able to pre-ride the course. I'm used to hare scrambles and enduros on my motorcycle. You can only walk the course before hand , pre-riding is considered prior knowledge and against the rules.

[Fourstring]

I'm signed up and getting there Saturday to pre-ride, since I'm not counting on getting there early enough Sunday.  Should be a fun weekend; I think it might even be dry.

[Chicago-Baja]

I sign up already on novice, leaving sunday early.