You may decide to bring 1 bike or 2. You have the option of racing a mountain bike on Friday and Saturday and a gravel bike on Sunday. The mountain bike course is fairly smooth, but there are lots of flowy turns that would make it tricky on a gravel bike. The “Gravel” course is on open roads of mixed terrain. You will encounter rocks, steep descents, and possibly mud. If you have a gravel bike with minimal tire clearance ( AKA cross bike) we do not recommend it for this course.  An ideal bike for both courses would be a hardtail mountain bike or a full suspension with lock-out.

We look forward to seeing what you bring and sharing your experience.

One of the most beautiful things about this region of Costa Rica is the abundant wildlife. In the area, there are pumas, deer, raccoons, skunks, snakes, iguanas, and monkeys. Although it is possible you could encounter any one of these animals, most are nocturnal. During your ride, there is a good chance you will hear the Holler Monkey. They usually reside high in the trees and are hard to spot, but you can hear them yelling at you. If you yell back they will only yell louder.

There is also a serious risk of encountering snakes. They live in the hall grass. If you need to sit down to fix a shoe or pee, do it on open ground and always look around for snakes first.

If you do not reside in the topics, these are a few tips to help you cope with the heat. The temperatures will vary between 75 and 90, with high Humidity ( 80%). The days vary from Sunny, to partly cloudy, and sometimes it rains. The rain is warm and usually light during the day.

• Drink water with electrolytes. Carborocket is our hydration sponsor, so there should be plenty on hand. Prepare a minimum of 2 bottles for each day or carry a hydration pack.
• Wear a bandana. Even if you are not prone to sweating, you will here. If you do not wear a bandana sweat will pour into your eyes making it hard to see.
• Take Breaks in the shade. This will keep you from overheating. If you need to stop, even for a moment, look for a shady spot to stand in.
• Don’t be afraid to get wet. There are stream crossings each day. Take a moment to get wet and cool off.

The race is occurring at the beginning of the dry season. If there is a hard rain the night before an event there will be mud. Most of the mud on the course is slippery mud ( not sticky mud).  This is true for both the MTB Course and the Gravel Course. You may also encounter slippery rocks and roots in shady areas.  Because of this we suggest you have good knobby tread on your front tire.

During the Mountain Bike ride you can expect to cross many small streams. None are deep, but the exit onto the trails can be tricky, adding a technical aspect to the course.

During the Gravel Ride, you may encounter up to 45 water crossings. Most will be small streams, but as you approach Pilas there are two big rivers. You will need to walk these as they can have deep holes and be up to 2 1/2 ft deep  ( 1 m) .

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• Elite/Pro is an open category. We will not ask you to prove your qualifications, but don’t sign up for this category if you have not raced at the Elite level before.
• Open Men and Women is an amateur category for those 19-49
• Jr’s are under 19. For most rides, you will be asked to supply additional documentation of your skills before we will let you enter the race.
• Masters is 50 + age
• All ages are determined by the age you will be on December 31 of the current year,