Inaugural Carson City Off-Road mountain bike series set for epic, adventure-filled weekend

Three days of thrill-seeking, mountain biking adventure and plenty of capital city hospitality and entertainment will kick off the inaugural Carson City Off-Road Epic Ride series beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.

The Carson City Off-Road is the final stop in the Off-Road Series boasting a $100,000 pro cash purse, the most lucrative series purse in American mountain biking. The Carson City Off-Road features world class mountain biking with sweeping views of Lake Tahoe and Marlette Lake as well as Washoe and Eagle Valleys on the iconic Tahoe Rim Trail, Sunflower Hill, Ash to King's Trail, Red House Flume and the recently completed Snap Dragon Trail.

With three different distances to choose from, the Capitol 15, 35 and 50 courses (1 Capitol = 1 mile) offer a range of challenges for different skill and fitness levels.

Meanwhile in Carson City, fun for the entire family is available all weekend long, with a Bike and Gear Expo, two stages and three days of live music. All of downtown Carson City will be “open container” for the weekend, giving folks the freedom to responsibly roam with an adult beverage of choice. Carson Street will also be closed to traffic all weekend, serving as the epicenter of activities in the shadow of the historic State Capitol and Nevada State Legislature buildings.

After the Capitol 15 Fun Ride finishes on Friday afternoon, a free community Klunker Crit will happen at 6 p.m., zipping around on a course through the historic neighborhood district of Carson City, highlighted by passing the Governor's Mansion.

At 6:30pm, the Pro Women take to the course, followed by the Pro Men at 7:15pm for an action-packed evening of racing.

Capping off the day on the main music stage at 8:30 pm will be San Franciso-based funk group, Afrolicious.

Saturday is the main event for amateurs, with Capitol 35 and 50 riders taking the course. Meanwhile, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., live music will keep downtown Carson City rocking while the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Garden will serve thirsty visitors.

The Bike & Gear Expo will feature brands like CamelBak keeping folks hydrated, Pivot Cycles demoing their award-winning bikes, Stan's NoTubes offering free sealant refreshes and Maxxis Tires with their exploding inner tube contest. Music headliner The Cave Singers cap off a memorable day on the main stage at 7 p.m., bringing their unique blend of post-punk neo-folk rock.

Sunday is when kids get their shot on the bike, with the Shimano Youth Series Kids Fun Ride rolling around downtown right after the Pro Men and Women take to the challenging 50-mile backcountry course at 8:30 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. respectively. Overall Off-Road Series leaders Todd Wells and Rose Grant look forward to defending their overall title while in pursuit of the $2,500 bonus.

“The biggest challenge in any race is always the competition,” said Wells. “The course can have an impact but it's always the other riders that make the race hard. I'm hoping for a clean race at Carson City and no physical or mechanical problems.”

“From the little that I know about the type of riding in Carson City, I have gotten the idea that the trails and the course profile will suit me well,” said Grant. “I'm really looking forward to a new race that I'm hoping will also bring out some new faces.”

Like every Epic Rides event, funds raised from the event will go to a number of important beneficiaries, including the local non-profit trail and bike advocacy group, Muscle Powered, the Nevada Interscholastic Cycling League and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

“The Carson City Off-Road is the first Epic Rides event to reach capacity in its inaugural year,” said Todd Sadow, Epic Rides president and co-founder. “We're beyond excited to host the more than 600 mountain bikers and estimated 5,000 total attendees in a historic city with genuine Old West character and world-class mountain biking.”

Spectator Guide to the Carson City Off-Road
Even for those not toeing the line at the Carson City Off-Road, there are plenty of opportunities to be a part of this inaugural good time in downtown Carson City.

1. Cheer at the Start/Finish line - Watch the start of each Capitol event and the Fat Tire Crit on Carson Street in the shadow of the historic Capitol Building. Start times are available in the Schedule of Events. Don't forget a noisemaker! Speaking of noisemakers – hold on tight to leashed pets. The start of each event can be quite exhilarating, causing four-legged friends to run and hide.

2. Walk the Blue Line Trail – A painted blue line dotted with bronze medallions along the sidewalk in the city's historic district marks the Kit Carson Trail with more than 60 landmarks. The trail features Victorian-style homes from the 1800s, museums and churches, telling the rich story of one of America's most historic Old West cities. A map of the Kit Carson Trail can be picked up at the Visitors Bureau at 716 N. Carson Street. For your listening pleasure, downloadthe VisitCarsonCity App and look under “tours” in the PLAY section.

3. Tour the Capitol Building – More than 130 years after its construction, the Capitol Building is constructed of native sandstone, holding the special designation of second oldest capitol building west of the Mississippi River. Stroll the lush gardens of native plants and take a self- guided tour inside the Capitol Building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4. Visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum – Featuring locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad, this museum features train rides, handcar rides, lectures and a variety of events. A must for every train lover.

5. Hit the Casinos – What would a trip to Nevada be without strolling through at least one casino? With seven casinos within city limits, there's a range of choices. But for some classic Carson City character, visit the Carson City Nugget and Cactus Jack's Casino, both located in the heart of downtown.

Five Places to Spectate
1. King's Canyon Road – Whether standing at the start line in downtown Carson City or heading up the hill on your bike ahead of the start, King's Canyon Road climbs for nearly 15 miles to Spooner Summit, providing numerous spectating opportunities along the road. Spectators can also catch the Capitol 50 riders returning at the end of their journey as they pop out onto King's Canyon Road from the Ash to King's trail network and race downhill back into Carson City.

2. Spooner Summit – For those who don't have the energy or time to pedal, just jump in the car and head up Highway 50 to Spooner Summit, where you can watch Capitol 35 and 50 riders duck into the woods and ride singletrack along Spooner Lake. There will still be plenty of time to get back into the car and head down to Carson City for the finish.

3. Marlette Peak – For those who want the ultimate view, drive to Spooner Summit ahead of the event start and pedal up both North Canyon Road and all the way up to Marlette Peak on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Not only will you get to watch riders peak out after 20 miles of climbing, but you'll also have a double lake view of both Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe.

4. Ash Canyon – Only a short pedal from downtown Carson City, spectators can catch the Capitol 35 riders as they return to town on Lower Ash Canyon trail and the Capitol 50 riders as they make their final ascent on Ash to King's.

To keep up-to-date on results and times, visit epicrides.com or follow Epic Rides and Carson City Off-Road on Facebook, @epicrides and @carsoncityoffroad on Instagram and Twitter and search the hashtags #carsoncityoffroad or #epicrides. Epic Rides has been made possible by the Carson City Visitors Bureau, Carson City, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Ranger District and Nevada State Parks.