What is this?

The Riding Solo Series is a low-key socially-distanced XC mountain bike stage race held over 4 weeks, this October and November, in Bend, OR.  It’s pretty simple and pretty dang close to a typical XC mountain bike race.

How does it work?

• You can enter any of the races, or all of them.
• The series consists of stage races. Each week will produce a podium (by age group and category). In the spirit of the Tour de France, overall leaders (by category) will be awarded yellow arm warmers to wear while riding as they maintain their lead in their respective category.
• You’re racing against other riders, just not necessarily at the same time.
• For each race, you’re welcome to do as many attempts as you’d like during the race window.  Each race window will start at 12:01 am PDT on Sunday and end at 11:59 pm on the following Saturday (7 days).
• Load each race course onto your device by downloading it from the race web page.
• Wherever you start on the course is your start/finish line. So you don’t need to start your activity tracker when you start your effort. Just roll on into the course.  As soon as you are on-course, that’s your start line, and your finish line.
• Track your race attempts using your GPS-enabled activity tracker or smartphone.
• Sync efforts either by exporting a GPX file from your activity tracker or smartphone. You can also automatically sync using your Strava account.
• You must follow the published course closely. If you deviate from the course by 200 meters or more, your race attempt will be excluded from the rankings.
• Your fastest race attempt counts during the time window.
• Race attempts must be submitted within 24 hours from the time the attempt has started.
• Login and track your progress on the race leaderboards and activity feed.
• The race series calculates scores for all efforts during the 4-week series timeframe. Awards will be presented for top finishers in each Gender, Category, and Age Group.

How is this different from any other virtual race these days?

First and BIGGEST difference. You’re competing on the same course as everyone else.  Only, you’re able to ride it whenever and however many times you want. On your own! Each race takes place over a weeklong time window. Go as many times as you’d like to hit your best time.

Second difference is the way the courses work. They’re loops. So wherever you first enter the course becomes your start finish line.  That being said, our course maps start and end in a specific place. So you’ll need to edit them if you plan to start/finish somewhere else.

Another big difference is you gotta stay 6 ft apart from all other racers!  PERIOD.  We care about you and others’ safety.

So, race your butts off to win epic prizes! All you need is yourself, your bike, a GPS device, and some speed!

Rules Overview

• Riders must complete the courses during the race time frames:
• Week 1: Sunday, Oct 11 @ 12:01am PDT through Sunday, Oct 17 @ 11:59pm
• Week 2: Sunday, Oct 18 @ 12:01am PDT through Sunday, Oct 24 @ 11:59pm
• Week 3: Sunday, Oct 25 @ 12:01am PDT through Sunday, Oct 31 @ 11:59pm
• Week 4: Sunday, Nov 01 @ 12:01am PDT through Sunday, Nov 07 @ 11:59pm
• Any GPS device that can sync to Strava or export GPX files can be used to submit your times.
• Race times must be submitted no more than 24 hours after that attempt has been started.
• Awards will be given out to the top 3 Male/Female riders in each category as well as some random awards for fun and other challenges coming out.
• Riders must follow the courses published (download the GPX to run it for turn-by-turn directions if your computer supports navigation directions)
• Riders must keep 6 feet distance from other riders as best they can.  Passing and yielding is the only exception (aka NO DRAFTING).
• Riders MUST Follow all trail rules and etiquette:
• This is a race but these are public trails
• UPHILL TRAVEL HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY
• Do not ride if it’s too rainy and you could cause damage to trails
• Pack it in pack it out (aka Leave no Trace)
• Absolutely NO eBikes!
• Be a S.H.A.R.K (Safe, Honest, Accountable, Responsible, Kind)

Bonus points

Send us photos and videos of your kit and race attempts. Tag it #RidingSoloSeries on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or whatever you use to communicate with those in the know.  Or message us using the red help bubble in the lower right corner on each page of this site.  The coolest and most creative submissions will get bonus prizes.

Need help?

Message us using the red help bubble in the lower right corner on each page of this site.