Ouachita Challenge
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The tour will probably be filled in another week. If you want to ride it, then DO NOT wait to send in your rgistration!
http://www.ouachita-challenge.com
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
http://www.ouachita-challenge.com/reg.htm
There is a Ouachita Challenge Forum too:
http://www.mtbark.com/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.ouachita-challenge.com
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
http://www.ouachita-challenge.com/reg.htm
There is a Ouachita Challenge Forum too:
http://www.mtbark.com/phpBB2/index.php
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1,443 Posts
So what’s the deal with the “ride” and “race”. I do a fair amount of races that are this length or longer but I’m usually not “racing” against anyone but myself. That is to say I push myself to complete as fast as I can but that’s typically mid-packish. Is their any reason to pick one day over the other? I’m very interested in this event because it’s so early in the year It gives me something to shoot for to hopefully obtain some early season fitness plus I have never ridden in Arkansas.
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5,023 Posts
Oh god does that look fun. So some freinds and I are debating....whats the difference(other than the obvious) tween the Tour and the Race? Why would one pick one over the other? Is it the same course? I've seen the website, and they describe the course in type. I ain't reading that! Gimme a map so I can SEE where the trail goes!lanpope said:
Good question.
I'm in the same boat as the person who said they'd ride the same regardless of what it being a "race" or "tour". Pretty much I'll be racing myself.
I think there might be differing routes. There was some mention somewhere of "blue" streamers and "orange" streamers denoting differing courses.
The tour appeals to me because I'll be able to drive home on Sunday rather than doing the ride on Sunday.
Now for getting in the miles and finding a place to park the bike for the evenings there in Oden/Mena etc......
Looking forward to meeting some of these peeps who I see posting on a daily basis.....
I'm in the same boat as the person who said they'd ride the same regardless of what it being a "race" or "tour". Pretty much I'll be racing myself.
I think there might be differing routes. There was some mention somewhere of "blue" streamers and "orange" streamers denoting differing courses.
The tour appeals to me because I'll be able to drive home on Sunday rather than doing the ride on Sunday.
Now for getting in the miles and finding a place to park the bike for the evenings there in Oden/Mena etc......
Looking forward to meeting some of these peeps who I see posting on a daily basis.....
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3,268 Posts
The Tour is not a race. There is some support for tour riders through the sweepers and other trail guides. It is like a huge group ride. Tour riders will hit the Womble before having to deal with Blow Out Mt.
The race is largely unsupported and it is a race, but there are sweepers and they will not leave you stranded and the course is the reverse of the Tour which mans you will hit Blow Out Mountain right away instead of at the end like the Tour peeps will.
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The tour fills up FAST so if you want to get a spot, send your registration in NOW. By this time next week it will probably the filled... if it even takes that long.
Some folks who miss out on the tour often opt for the Race and just ride it at a tour pace. But remember it is not as supported as the tour is.
MAPS HERE: https://www.ouachita-challenge.com/packets.htm
The race is largely unsupported and it is a race, but there are sweepers and they will not leave you stranded and the course is the reverse of the Tour which mans you will hit Blow Out Mountain right away instead of at the end like the Tour peeps will.
The tour fills up FAST so if you want to get a spot, send your registration in NOW. By this time next week it will probably the filled... if it even takes that long.
Some folks who miss out on the tour often opt for the Race and just ride it at a tour pace. But remember it is not as supported as the tour is.
MAPS HERE: https://www.ouachita-challenge.com/packets.htm
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2,825 Posts
MTBNate's got it exactly right. The tour hits the smooth flowy singletrack first and saves the rough techy stuff for later in the day. Going in that direction the rough techy is easier to ride as well. In contrast, the race hits the nasty stuff first and takes a lot out of your legs before you hit the swoopy stuff. I've ridden it both ways, and I like the tour direction better. But either way is a lot of fun.
Edit: lanpope's pic above shows the swoopy flowy Womble. Here's the nasty techy Ouachita two years ago from mid-pack of the tour. This is probably about 15 miles into the day (another edit for clarity: 2 years ago the tour and race went the same direction, now the tour is reversed).
<img src ="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/wooglin/13.jpg">
Edit: lanpope's pic above shows the swoopy flowy Womble. Here's the nasty techy Ouachita two years ago from mid-pack of the tour. This is probably about 15 miles into the day (another edit for clarity: 2 years ago the tour and race went the same direction, now the tour is reversed).
<img src ="https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/wooglin/13.jpg">
Yeah, I think I will give it a go SS this year. Last year all I could think was that at least my ti ss would be lighter pushing it up those hills.BThor said:
Thinking 32x20 on the SS 29er. What gear did you ride last year?
We will see...
You said before you would likely not make it back this year, starting to change your mind? It is a great ride...
LP
Yeah the Womble is great...but it is great either direction. I've ridden the Womble both ways several times.
The Ouachita trails, on the other hand, are brutal. I'm just hoping it will be less brutal going the race direction this year than the tour direction last year, but I have never ridden the Ouachita trails the direction of the race.
Wooglin's comments above have me concerned though...
Oh well...we will see you all there!
LP
The Ouachita trails, on the other hand, are brutal. I'm just hoping it will be less brutal going the race direction this year than the tour direction last year, but I have never ridden the Ouachita trails the direction of the race.
Wooglin's comments above have me concerned though...
Oh well...we will see you all there!
LP
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87 Posts
I’m registered for the race and having attempted the race last year I think I will bring the lightest bike I own.
Shoes that allow for hike a bike would be preferred.
Lanpope is trying to talk me into using my GF Rig, but I think my old legs will be pushing my Orbea 29er geared bike.
This is a great event. Give it a try. It will be an early season test of your fitness.
Shoes that allow for hike a bike would be preferred.
Lanpope is trying to talk me into using my GF Rig, but I think my old legs will be pushing my Orbea 29er geared bike.
This is a great event. Give it a try. It will be an early season test of your fitness.
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111 Posts
Race..
I am signed up for the tour again due to having a lot of friends doing the tour also (like 15 people) It will more than likely turn to a friend on friend race but that is not the plan.
Lanpope - The race course in my opinion is easier. The climb up Big brushy is not near as bad and then you get to go down everything we climbed last year. Blowout and chalybeat are steaper from the race side but shorter and again with some good long downhills, then as you said the womble is great either way. Last year I ran a 32-19 and felt like it was a pretty good gear on the WW's.
Bthor is scared that if he spends to much time in Ark. he will be converted from his urban Dallas metrosexual self to a good ole pointy hat wearing ******* like myself!!! I called him yesterday trying to talk him into it!!
Great time. I will prob go ride parts of the course this winter just for kicks!! Keep ya'll posted. Later BK
I am signed up for the tour again due to having a lot of friends doing the tour also (like 15 people) It will more than likely turn to a friend on friend race but that is not the plan.
Lanpope - The race course in my opinion is easier. The climb up Big brushy is not near as bad and then you get to go down everything we climbed last year. Blowout and chalybeat are steaper from the race side but shorter and again with some good long downhills, then as you said the womble is great either way. Last year I ran a 32-19 and felt like it was a pretty good gear on the WW's.
Bthor is scared that if he spends to much time in Ark. he will be converted from his urban Dallas metrosexual self to a good ole pointy hat wearing ******* like myself!!! I called him yesterday trying to talk him into it!!
Great time. I will prob go ride parts of the course this winter just for kicks!! Keep ya'll posted. Later BK
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171 Posts
Nice jump, always amazed at what a 29er can do, well at least a cartoon 29er.
FYI,
The gang from Hot Springs is doing there annual New Year's Day ride on the Womble. The ride distance varies and may be a Lake North fork to Lake Ouachita, or Lake Ouachita to Lake North fork to Lake Ouachita...with bail out options along the way.
This will be a great way to see some of the Oucachita Challenge course and ride the womble.
for more information contact [email protected] or 501-623-6188
FYI,
The gang from Hot Springs is doing there annual New Year's Day ride on the Womble. The ride distance varies and may be a Lake North fork to Lake Ouachita, or Lake Ouachita to Lake North fork to Lake Ouachita...with bail out options along the way.
This will be a great way to see some of the Oucachita Challenge course and ride the womble.
for more information contact [email protected] or 501-623-6188
This is what I was thinking re: the course as well. I guess we'll see.mtbkendall said:
Good riding with you and BThor last year. I hope we all run into each other again this year!
Anybody thought about doing both days (I can't believe I even said that)...
LP (must be forgeting how tired I was last year after the tour)
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