Mountain bike racing returns to Booker T. Washington State Park March 10-11 with three different types of races to kick off the 2012 Tennessee Bicycle Racing mountain bike race schedule.
The Booker T. Washington race is promoted by the local Velo Vixens Cycling Club, and for just the second year, the March 10 racing will feature a time trial – with riders competing against the clock over a five-mile route – as well as a short-track race.
The short-track competition is like a “roller derby” on mountain bikes, according to race director Ken Radley with Scenic City Multisport. Racers will complete laps on a one-kilometer course for 20 minutes, followed by a mad dash over three final laps to the finish.
Sunday’s racing will feature the traditional cross-country mountain bike race of various distances.
Radley said that more than 100 racers are expected to compete throughout the weekend. “People can come out and watch, or we’d love to have people come out and volunteer,” Radley says. “And anyone can come out and even as a beginner they can race.”