Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Race

September 17, 2023

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Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Race

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring back mountain bike racing to Fountainhead…and to bring back the Cranky Monkey. Join us for an awesome day of bike racing and community.

*** Race Day Information ***

Register

Volunteer

Race Date: Sunday September 17, 2023 (rain date 9/24)
Race Courses: 3 XC courses varying in length from 9+ miles to 21+ miles. See course notes below for course information and maps.

Base – 9 miles
Sport – 15 miles
Expert – 22 miles
In each race, we’ll have at least the following classes (full list will be on BikeReg): female 19-U, male 19-U, open female, open male, male masters (40+), female masters (40+), male masters (50+), female masters (50+), male masters (60+), female masters (60+), male masters (70+), female masters (70+), female singlespeed, male singlespeed, clydesdale (200lb+), e-bike (class-1 pedal assist only). Subject to change as needed.

We are separating each race into wave starts with groups of classes to help space out the field.

Fountainhead Trail Fund

All the trails at Fountainhead are primarily built and maintained by volunteers organized by the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE). All racers will have the opportunity to donate to the Fountainhead Trail Fund during registration.

Race Courses

The base course is 9 miles long and includes about a half mile of pavement, about a half mile of doubletrack, and roughly 8 miles of singletrack. The start of the race utilizes a 1.5 mile stretch of blue-blazed hiker/equestrian singletrack and doubletrack that is normally closed to bikes. Please do NOT ride this section unless it’s on an organized pre-ride day.

This section of trail leads to black loop and enters the black loop just before the three drops (which are all closed during the race), but past the many technical rock gardens in the first section of the black loop. This design creates a base course that includes sections of the black, blue, and green trails, but purposefully avoids the technical rock gardens and technical downhill run on the black trail.

* Please note that this course will challenge many riders. It is recommended that you have enjoyable previous experience riding venues such as Wakefield, Schaeffer Farms, Pocahontas, or Meadowood before riding Fountainhead. If you feel comfortable riding the green and blue trails at Fountainhead, then you should not have any issues on this course.

The sport course includes the base course and then adds the full green and blue loops (green to blue to green) for a total of 15 miles. All drops are CLOSED during the race on the blue loop.

The expert course includes the base course and then adds the green, blue, and black loops (green to blue to black to blue to green) for a total of 21 miles. All drops are CLOSED during the race on the blue and black loops. The expert course includes the technical rock gardens that exist in the first section of the black loop.

Registration Fees

$35 to $65
Longer races at $5 more than shorter races.
Race day registration is available if the race doesn’t sell out for an additional fee.

Registration Fee Includes

Fun and challenging course design, professional race operations, wonderful volunteer support, mechanical support, awesome aid stations, medical support, plentiful post-race food, electric atmosphere, great music, and awards and give-a-ways.

Race Day Schedule

Sunday September 17, 2023
8:00am – Base (9 mile) race starts
9:00am – Sport 15 mile) race starts
10:00am – Expert (21 mile) race starts

Draft Race Start Procedures (subject to change)
We are separating each race into wave starts to allow enough space to spread out the field of riders. Each wave will be separated by a few minutes. Exact start times will be based on the number of riders in each class.

Base (9 Miles) Race
Check-in open from 6:45 to 7:45am
8:00am – 8:15am wave starts

Sport (15 Miles) Race
Check-in open from 7:45 to 8:45am
9:00am – 9:15 wave starts

Expert (21 Miles) Race
Check-in open from 8:45 to 9:45pm
10:00am – 10:15am wave starts

Directions

Fountainhead Regional Park
10875 Hampton Rd.
Fairfax Station, VA 22039

From Interstate 66:

Take I-66 to Route 286 (Fairfax County Parkway – formerly Rt 7100). * Exit at 55A SOUTH toward Springfield.
Travel south on Rt. 286 for approx. 6 miles.
Exit onto Rt. 123 SOUTH (Ox Rd.) for approx. 3 miles.
Right onto Henderson Rd.
Left on Hampton Rd.
Right into park.
Continue to the upper parking lot on the right.
Follow the signs to parking and check-in.

From Interstate 95: