Beast of Repetition MTB Race @ Briar Chapel

Beast of Repetition Mountain Bike Race

Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, NC

Saturday, April 13, 2024 (Rain Date - Saturday, April 20, 2024)

The Beast of Repetition is a multi-lap MTB race that will challenge mountain bikers of all ability levels on the AWESOME trails at Briar Chapel, some of the best single-track in the Triangle Area!  

Briar Chapel:  Sprawling over 900 acres and located on the south side of Chapel Hill, NC, Briar Chapel is a green community that boasts a vast 20+ mile network of forested hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition to fantastic trails, The Sports Courts, with its large lawn and pavilion, offers a perfect staging area to start and finish this race. 

Course Description:  Depending on class, racers will start in waves and complete 2-4 laps (3-22 total miles) on the ‘best of the best’ trails at Briar Chapel (on the western territory).  Perfect for passing, each lap starts with 1 mile of road, paved trail, and gravel before hitting the natural surface trails.  The super junior race uses a completely different course and is great for kids just getting into the sport.  The courses vary as follows:

Expert/Sport/Single-Speed racers will complete three or four 5.5 mile laps of MTB awesomeness.  Offering the most technical features in this race, this course includes twisty, flowy single-track, several rock gardens, some small drops, berms, fast/fun descents, and punchy climbs.  Includes Silver Alert and half of the Mom Jeans.  Technical trail rating - 3+ out of 5.   LINK TO 5.5 MILE COURSEIntermediate racers will complete two 4.5 mile laps that include most of the 5.5 mile Expert/Sport course, removing a mile of the more technical/hilly terrain.  Includes Silver Alert and bypasses Mom Jeans.  Technical trail rating 3 out of 5.  LINK TO 4.5 MILE COURSEBeginner/Junior 6-14 racers will complete two 3 mile laps of fast and flowing terrain.  Includes a few rock gardens and hills.  Bypasses both Silver Alert and Mom Jeans.  Technical trail rating 2++ out of 5.   LINK TO 3 MILE COURSESuper Junior 6-10 racers will start with .5 miles of road and paved trail, then complete two, 1 mile laps of downhill grass, easy double-track, mellow pondside single-track, .5 miles of moderate uphill single-track, then a short section of paved trail, before heading back to the finish on paved trail and easy single-track.  This course is completely different than the other courses, and relatively easy compared to the rest of trails at Briar Chapel.  Technical trail rating 2 out of 5.   LINK TO SUPER JUNIOR COURSE.

Definition of Classes
Racers self-select between 29 different age and/or skill-based classes.  These classes have been created so riders can race and be scored with athletes of similar age and ability. For age-based classes, race age is determined as of 12/31/24.

Definition of Skill-Based Classes.  Use the following to guide you in selecting your class.

Beginner – you are an occasional rider, honing your mountain biking skills. When you ride, you generally stay on the less technical trails. You have never raced before or you do not race often.Intermediate – you ride often and are comfortable riding most terrain. You may have raced before but do not have tons of racing experience (1-3 races per year). Your endurance is good but you rarely ride more than 15 miles in one outing and you would have extreme difficulty maintaining race pace for more than 12 miles.  You might have raced in the beginner or intermediate classes before and have not broken the top three finishers on a consistent basis.Sport – with how much you ride, you feel very confident on your bike.  You are in very good riding shape, ride fast, and can ride 20+ miles in an outing.  You have podiumed at the beginner or intermediate levels or you have raced in the sport class, can keep up with other sport riders, and feel comfortable competing at that level. You might have raced in the sport class before and have not broken the top three finishers on a consistent basis.  Expert – you ride very often and feel extremely confident on your bike.  You are in excellent riding shape, ride very fast, and can easily ride 20+ miles in an outing.  You have podiumed at the sport level or you have raced in the expert class, can keep up with other expert riders, and feel comfortable competing at that level.

RACE #1 @ 8am (Expert - 22 miles) (Sport and Single-speed - 16.5 miles)
•    6:45am-7:45am:  check-in
•    7:50am-8am:  racer line-up/pre-race brief
•    8am-8:10am:  staggered wave starts (classes separated by 1-3 minutes)
•    9:30am-10:45am:  post-race food/beverage available (free for racers and volunteers)
•    10:15am:  awards/giveaways

RACE #2 @ 11:30am (Super Junior 6-8 / 9-10 - 3 miles)
•    10:45am-11:15am:  check-in
•    11:20am-11:30am:  racer line-up/pre-race brief
•    11:30am-11:33am:  staggered wave starts (classes separated 1-3 minutes)
•    12pm-1pm:  post-race food/beverage available (free for racers and volunteers)
•    12:30pm:  awards/giveaways

RACE #3 @ 12pm (Intermediate - 9 miles)
•    10:45am-11:45am:  check-in
•    11:50am-12pm:  racer line-up/pre-race brief
•    12pm-12:08pm:  staggered wave starts (classes separated 1-3 minutes)
•    1pm-2:30pm:  post-race food/beverage available (free for racers and volunteers)
•    2pm:  awards/giveaways

RACE #4 @ 1pm (Beginner and Junior 6-14 - 6 miles)
•    11:45am-12:45pm:  check-in
•    12:50pm-1pm:  racer line-up/pre-race brief
•    1pm-1:03pm:  staggered wave starts (classes separated 1-3 minutes)
•    1:30pm-2:30pm:  post-race food/beverage available (free for racers and volunteers)
•    2pm:  awards/giveaways

Registration:  This race is limited to 300 total racers.  Reg fees - $30-$55 depending on class and registration date with longer races priced higher.  Lowest pricing until 1/24, regular by 3/13, and late by 4/12.  If space permits, race day registration will be available for an extra $10.  REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE $ AND GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT ON THE STARTING LINE.

Your reg fee includes

healthy competition on a fun and challenging courseprofessional race operations and timingvolunteer supportmedical supportaid station supportpost-race food (free for racers and volunteers)free photo downloads (a professional photographer will be at the race)awards/prizes/giveaways (THANK YOU, Trek Chapel Hill and Delta Cycle) other cycling giveaways from our other sponsors!$3/rider donation to Meals on Wheels courtesy of Coastal Credit Union - THANK YOU, Coastal! To keep the reg fee as low as possible, a t-shirt is optional.  Our tees are very nice though, so you might want to consider ordering one when you register.  

Staging Area:  Sports Courts at Briar Chapel.  There is no physical address to Sports Courts.  Nearest home is 2523 Briar Chapel Parkway, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Race Parking:  Park on the neighborhood streets near the staging area.  See map for details.   NOTE - some of the streets at Briar Chapel are narrow.  To ensure vehicles have enough space to pass, please park on ONE SIDE of the street ONLY.  

Early Check-in:  Early check-in will be available at Trek Chapel Hill from 4pm-6pm on Thursday, 4/11.  Trek Chapel Hill is offering 10% discount on gear and accessories during early check-in.  (243 South Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514)

Check-in:  After parking, check-in to receive your bike number and t-shirt (if you ordered one).  Athletes are encouraged to arrive at least 45 minutes before their start time to provide time needed to park, check-in, warm up, use the restroom, and attend the pre-race brief.   If space is available for race day registration, please show up at least one hour before your start time.  If you attend early check-in on Thursday, 4/11, you do not need to check-in on race day. 

Race Lineup/Pre-Race Brief/Start:  Arrive at the start 10 minutes before your race start.  A pre-race brief will take place a few minutes before the start.  

Race Finish/Timing/Results:  This event will be chip timed.  Ensure your bike number (with timing chip) is affixed on your handlebars, visible from the front, with the twist ties provided.  Results will be posted online following each race and you can access the results using a QR code that will be displayed at the race.

Race Recovery/Medical:  Dr. David Berkoff, Dr. Greg Summerville, Dr. Jill Sylvester and their team of medical pros from UNC School of Medicine - Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute will be on site offering their expert medical care to our athletes. Visit their tent after the race to assist with recovery or to treat an injury. 

Post-Race Beverages/Food:  Water, Gatorade, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Company will be available after the race.  Post race food includes items such as fresh fruit, trail bars, chips, cookies, etc.  FREE food and beverages will be available at the finish line for all racers and volunteers.

Awards, Prizes, and Giveaways:  We will have three separate awards ceremonies - 10:15am for expert, sport, and single-speed, 12:30pm for super juniors, and 2pm for beginner, junior, and intermediates.  Awards (1st-5th place pint glasses) will be presented to the top five in each class.  Prizes (gift certificates / cycling gear from Trek Chapel Hill and/or Delta Cycle) will be presented to the top three in each class.  We will also randomly distribute giveaway items from Trek Chapel Hill and Delta Cycle.  Take 10% off Trek gear and accessories when you check-in at the Trek Chapel Hill on 4/11 and take 20% off Delta Cycle gear when you purchase online with coupon code RLRC20.  Thank you Trek Chapel Hill and Delta Cycle.

Thank You TORC!:  TORC (Triangle Off-Road Cyclists) hosts rides and builds/maintains triangle MTB trails.  Thank you, TORC for supporting this race and for all the great work you do to build/maintain the trails we all love.  To learn more or to become a TORC member, CLICK HERE.