Sorry, I can't help you much other than I rode it last year. I can't remember exactly how to get there, other than it is just a couple miles west of White City and right off of the highway. I thought it was a blast!! It was the first enduro that I ever rode and I just went to have a good time. There was only about 65 riders last year because of the reputation of the White City races. I know that none of the "C" riders completed the race. Some guys don't like White City because they have some pretty steep hills. Last year the trails were in great shape and all of the hills were climbable. If I remember correctly the race consisted of close to 100 ground miles. A lot of the trail was virgin territory, which adds up to a lot log crossings and some pretty tight trail. I'm planning on going again this year if the weather holds out. So far I've been to a total of three enduros and White City is my favorite upto this point.
I also raced a three hour harescramble there a few years ago that just about killed me, but that's another story.
I also raced a three hour harescramble there a few years ago that just about killed me, but that's another story.
Check out some of my race reports:
1999
2000
2001
2002
A couple things to keep in mind as you read the reports, as I don't want to discourage anyone from attending. Last year's turnout was a crying shame, considering how awesome the trails were. When it's wet, it can be a nasty place. When it's moderately dry, I can't think of a better place to ride. Even though the ground miles are around 100, there is a lot of road transfer sections. The actual woods riding is maybe 60-70 miles, which sounds like a lot but there's plenty of places to sit back and relax, or make up some time if you're late. Last year's setup was a definite improvement, as the gas stops were at the club grounds (very easy to get to...exit 44 on I-55, couple miles west, club is right next to the highway) instead of out on a road somewhere. The club grounds usually start and end the race, and they are well traveled. Once you leave the club grounds, you'll be on trails that look like they only get ridden once a year for the enduro. Arrows can be challenging to follow, as the trails are not well defined.
I'm 0-4, twice because of the mud, once due to injury, and another time because of bike problems. Unfortunately, I will miss the enduro this year but plan to do the hare scramble the following Sunday. I'd highly encourage anyone to attend the enduro. I call it an old-school enduro, in that it's designed to be long and pretty tough for the average guy to finish.
1999
2000
2001
2002
A couple things to keep in mind as you read the reports, as I don't want to discourage anyone from attending. Last year's turnout was a crying shame, considering how awesome the trails were. When it's wet, it can be a nasty place. When it's moderately dry, I can't think of a better place to ride. Even though the ground miles are around 100, there is a lot of road transfer sections. The actual woods riding is maybe 60-70 miles, which sounds like a lot but there's plenty of places to sit back and relax, or make up some time if you're late. Last year's setup was a definite improvement, as the gas stops were at the club grounds (very easy to get to...exit 44 on I-55, couple miles west, club is right next to the highway) instead of out on a road somewhere. The club grounds usually start and end the race, and they are well traveled. Once you leave the club grounds, you'll be on trails that look like they only get ridden once a year for the enduro. Arrows can be challenging to follow, as the trails are not well defined.
I'm 0-4, twice because of the mud, once due to injury, and another time because of bike problems. Unfortunately, I will miss the enduro this year but plan to do the hare scramble the following Sunday. I'd highly encourage anyone to attend the enduro. I call it an old-school enduro, in that it's designed to be long and pretty tough for the average guy to finish.
I wish this enduro would loose it's bad reputation as a hard event. This is one of the best enduros in the Midwest. Yes, if it rains it can be very hard, mainly due to the hills and clay soil, but anytime it rains most enduros are hard.
The club has put alot of work into this event the past couple of years trying to get rid of the "to hard for beginner" reputation and I think they are doing a good job. Last year they ran it at an 18mph average for the whole race and gave decent resets after each section. Plus like Katoomer said the gas stops were at the start area. Last year Jeff Fredette won it with 17 points dropped. Not to bad for 100 miles of riding. I think most B's were in the 30's or 40's. I think the hardest part for the B's and C's is riding all the virgin like trail and the distance. Most events in this area are only 65 miles total with about 30-40 being woods. I thought last year they had some C's riders that finished, maybe I'm wrong.
Anyway, I'll be there and I hope they get a good turnout this year. I'll contact the guy that normally puts it on and see if I can post his number so people can get more info if needed.
The club has put alot of work into this event the past couple of years trying to get rid of the "to hard for beginner" reputation and I think they are doing a good job. Last year they ran it at an 18mph average for the whole race and gave decent resets after each section. Plus like Katoomer said the gas stops were at the start area. Last year Jeff Fredette won it with 17 points dropped. Not to bad for 100 miles of riding. I think most B's were in the 30's or 40's. I think the hardest part for the B's and C's is riding all the virgin like trail and the distance. Most events in this area are only 65 miles total with about 30-40 being woods. I thought last year they had some C's riders that finished, maybe I'm wrong.
Anyway, I'll be there and I hope they get a good turnout this year. I'll contact the guy that normally puts it on and see if I can post his number so people can get more info if needed.
I agree with FlyinRyan that it's a shame that they have such a bad rep. I thoroughly enjoyed the race, especially the virgin trail.
As far as "C" riders go, I know none of them finished because I won the "C" class. I only made it about 65 miles before houring out. I found the one place on the course that you could get stuck and I managed to do it. I was zeroed out when I went into the section and I was just a couple minutes shy of houring out by the time I got out, but I kept plugging away until I finally houred out. The only reason I won the class was because I went further than the other "C" riders. I was a happy camper since I was just out for a trail ride. I few months before that I gave up on racing do to a reoccuring injury so I couldn't have asked for more. I guess I found a new sport that I can compete in without feeling pressure to ride over my head.
As far as "C" riders go, I know none of them finished because I won the "C" class. I only made it about 65 miles before houring out. I found the one place on the course that you could get stuck and I managed to do it. I was zeroed out when I went into the section and I was just a couple minutes shy of houring out by the time I got out, but I kept plugging away until I finally houred out. The only reason I won the class was because I went further than the other "C" riders. I was a happy camper since I was just out for a trail ride. I few months before that I gave up on racing do to a reoccuring injury so I couldn't have asked for more. I guess I found a new sport that I can compete in without feeling pressure to ride over my head.
Every year we go through a culvert that passes underneath a road, that has proven to be quite interesting when it's nasty. Maybe one of the club members could point you to where it's at. If the course is relatively dry, it might not be as interesting to watch, but easy to get to (if you can find it).
It was tougher than usual or so I hear. I've never been there during a mudfest, but the trail was very challenging. I think I went over every log they have at least twice. O.K., maybe it just felt like it. Overall the trail was in great condition, but there was plenty of places to get barried if you picked the wrong line. I talked to one of the race officials afterwards and he told me that 80 people started and 30 people never made it passed the second check.
I bailed out at the gas stop after houring out. I ended up getting stuck exiting one of the many creek crossings at around 20 miles. I used up alot of energy getting out. Most of the other crossings were easy. The 2 culverts looked nasty. I ended up going over the road on those. I heard 5 people were stuck in a culvert at one time. Most of the trails were awesome. Some sections had quite a few large logs. Most trails were marked well. It was much warmer than I expected. Definately not an easy enduro.
Mark
Mark
I finished but that was about it. I had (still have) a bad sinus cold and I was dead tired around 50 miles. I never got stuck but did launch the bike up a couple creek banks. I think everyone was skipping going through the culverts except for the last one they had, you had to go through it, and it was deep, lucky there were plenty of club members to help you.
I thought the trails were great, more of an old style enduro, tight woods and lost of them. It was a good thing the B & C's didn't have the ride that section twice, some of the holes were even deeper the second time.
I thought the trails were great, more of an old style enduro, tight woods and lost of them. It was a good thing the B & C's didn't have the ride that section twice, some of the holes were even deeper the second time.
