Nebraska Cycling News

Location: Omaha

Download 2008 Psycowpath MTB Series race bible...

Schedule:

*Bypass is related to the course map. View the map for details.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

On-site registration will be available at all events in the 2008 Psycowpath MTB events with the following guidelines:

1. For Beginners: At most USA-Cycling sanctioned mountain bike races, all riders must present an annual license or pay for a one-day license. In 2008, Tim Edwards State Farm has provided financial support that allows Psycowpath to remove the one day license fee for Beginner riders. Beginners must still fill out the form but will not have to pay the $10 for a one-day license. Your entry fee is a flat $15.
2. Sport category riders must present a current annual USAC license at registration or purchase a one day license for $10. By the time you're racing Sport, hey, you're getting pretty fast, your looking around at who you need to watch out for at the starting line, and Psycowpath, and USA Cycling (USAC), well, we want to track how well you do over time. Show your serious about mountain biking and join USA Cycling and Nebraska Cycling Association by purchasing an annual USAC license.
3. Expert racers are required to have a current USAC annual license.
4. To buy a license: Annual licenses may be purchased on-site for $60, and with your purchase the Nebraska Cycling Association will hook you up with cool stickers and a water bottle. If you have questions regarding USAC licensing, visit www.usacycling.org.
5. NOTE: Only USAC Annual license holders are eligible for State Championship places on June 21 at Ponca.
6. One-day licenses for Sport will be available on-site for $10. Expert riders are not eligible to purchase oneday licenses.
7. Registration opens at 8:15am and closes 15 minutes before each event.

XC EVENT ENTRY FEES:

Beginner & Sport* reduced for 2008!!:
Expert categories $25
Singlespeed $20
Sport categories $20
Beginner categories $15
Junior categories $15
If you are a first time racer, please mention so at time of registration. If there's anything that a mountain biker loves more than a sweet singletrack race, its sharing the fun of the race with a new person. We want to meet you. Tell us it's your first time. All first time racers will be recognized at the finish!

PRIZE LIST for XC Events:

Pro/Semi-Pro/Expert Men (Open) $125/$100/$75/$50/$25
Pro/Semi-Pro/Expert Men Masters 35+ $50/$35/$25
Pro/Semi-Pro/Expert Women (Open) $50/$35/$25
Singlespeed Medals (3 deep), merchandise and/or gift certificates
Sport classes Medals (3 deep), merchandise and/or gift certificates
Beginner classes Medals (3 deep)
Junior classes Medals (3 deep)

RACE RULES & INFORMATION:

1. All 2008 USAC rules apply.
2. Events are subject to weather! In case of inclement weather, visit nebraskacyclingnews.com for updates.
3. Helmets must be worn at all times while on the bike at Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath MTB events.
3. Promoter reserves the right to adjust start times and mileage.
4. Promoter reserves the right to cancel/combine events and prize lists as necessary.
5. All Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath MTB events held under USAC permits.
6. Events held in Nebraska State Parks require a park permit. Day passes available on-site for $3.00. Annual passes are $17.50, a second annual park pass is ½ price!
7. Helmets and shirts are required to participate in the events. Body paint does not count.

WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS:

We care about our trails—our friends at TrailsHaveOurRespect.org have spent thousands of hours making trails that are super fun to ride. When our dirt gets wet, it turns to peanut butter, will destroy your bike and destroy the trails. You deserve to have fun and to respect trail conditions. In case of inclement weather, watch Nebraskacyclingnews.com for updates Friday afternoon and evening before race date. In our experience, wet trails on Saturday are often rideable on Sunday, hence: if weather forces cancellation, the Sunday immediately following the Saturday race date is the default reschedule date. Events rescheduled to Sunday will have adjusted start times to start later in the day.

RESULTS & POINTS COMPETITION for XC Events:

· Results for all Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath events will be posted on-site at all events and available for review on nebraskacyclingnews.com. Points accrued during XC events will be tallied after each event and made available on Nebraskacyclingnews.com very shortly after each event. For questions or concerns regarding the points standings, contact our top dog points man, Tim Wieland at twieland@mac.com.
· Marathon events are a great time, and will offer unique prizes to participants but to their different category structure and team options, points towards the XC series championship will not be accrued at marathons.
· Each XC race, finishing riders will accrue series points towards the series championship. NEW FOR 08: The series champions will be determined by comparing the five highest scoring races for each rider. Put simply, series champions are determined by best 5 out of 7 XC races. Points structure for the XC Series:

· Riders receive 3 points for 16th to 20th place.
· Riders receive 1 point for 21st and below.
· Add 1 point per rider that finishes in your field. Example: If you finish 7th in the Sport Masters field of 13 finishers, you would receive 30 points for your place and an additional 13 points for the number of finishers in your field for a total of 43 points.
· Riders who upgrade during the series may take 50% of their accumulated points.
· Points are not transferable laterally, i.e. Sport Open to Sport Masters.
· Series Champions will be determined on best 5 of 7 XC performances! In the event of a points tie, best of 6 races will determine winner.

Cool, custom hand made trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in the above XC classes for the XC Series Points Championship, to be recognized at end of season banquet. Date to be announced.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

Tranquility Park Mountain Bike Trail, Omaha, NE
THE COURSE: Tranquility Park MTB Trail is Omaha's first approved off road trail system in a city park. These trails are primarily singletrack though there are also some short sections of doubletrack connectors. A good mix of terrain can be found here - everything from a tight, swervy switchbacks through pine trees, to wide open grassland climbs, followed by speed-building swooping descents to backcountry rough and dirty pockmarked tread. There may be a few sections that will put a rider off their bike (either by ejection or election) and there is a good amount of climbing to be had here (by Omaha standards). Race loop is approx 4 miles for all levels.

THE VENUE:

TPMTBT is located smack in the middle of suburbia. Sandwiched between busy, traffic choked streets and a north-west Omaha neighborhood, the park surprisingly transports you to another place. With it's grassy hillsides and pine forests, you'd swear you were in the foothills of Colorado. Near the trail is a large open field and a big hill that's great for running the dog or viewing the racers approaching and descending. The park cozies up to Tranquility Soccer Complex and tennis courts. There are no public restrooms or running water at the trail head so look for the port-a-johns and bring extra water. Parking is plentiful, but not always close to the trailhead. 

DIRECTIONS:

(the Psycowpath Team recommends using www.mapquest.com):
Tranquility Park, Omaha, NE
From I-680, go west on Maple St. 1 mile to 120th St. Turn right and enter the Tranquility soccer field parking lot on the left. Go through the gate at the north end of the lot and follow the road along the Big Papio River to the start/finish.