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 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 – 21 miles
- In each race, we’ll have the following classes: female 19-U, male 19-U, open female, open male, male masters (40+), female masters (40+), male masters (50+), female masters (50+), female singlespeed, male singlespeed, clydesdale (200lb+). Subject to change.
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:
- Exit I95 and take Rt. 123 NORTH for approx. 4.5 miles.
- Left on Hampton Rd. for approx. 3 miles.
- Left into park.
- Continue to the upper parking lot on the right.
- Follow the signs to parking and check-in.
Sponsors
Race Your Bicycle!
Races
Spring Backyard Burn 5M/10M
Rosaryville Half Marathon/10K
Rails to River MTB Race
Fountainhead Half Marathon/10K
Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder
Blue Crab Bolt 5K/10K
XTERRA EX2 Tri/Du
Cranky Monkey MTB Race
Fall Backyard Burn 5M/10M
Rocky Gap 25K-50K-Relay
VentureQuest Adventure Race
Schaeffer Half Marathon/10M
Volunteer Sign-Up