Cider Cross/Last Standing/Fon Solo Gravel - ME

Read course updates in bold below. 

Join us for year number three of the Cider Cross/Fon Solo weekend!   

So forget the pumpkin spice, we've got a sour batch of apples ready to be mashed starting with Cider Cross, short track mtb, and trail running on Saturday and finishing with the Fon Solo Loop on Sunday. This two-day event is open to everyone and anyone, with categories for racing, riding and camping. Choose one or all, there'll be good times all around! 

If you've been thinking about 'cross, then don't miss this! This year, we'll have one 40 minute race but will have cyclocross AND mountain bike categories. This year's course will be approximately one mile with a couple of reroutes from last year to create another fast/open section.  (update, the new course is set and features faster sections to work better for slow turning gravel bikes) Bring whatever bike you got and get ready for a whole lotta slop. Trash-talk and heckling encouraged...You get the idea. The fire jump will be back this year for those so inclined… (Prizes for the top three finishers in each category tbd).  

The cross/mtb races are followed by a last-man standing style running race on the cx course.  Runners will need to complete each lap in a certain amount of time.  Lap length will be approximately 1 mile.   The time allowed per lap will drop by one minute per lap.  Pending a few test laps, we’re expecting the first lap to have a 20 minute time limit.  The second lap will have a 19 minute limit, the third 18 minutes… the goal is to allow all runners to get at least a few laps in but keep this from turning into a 24 hour race!  I’m not a particularly talented runner, but expect to get around 7-8 laps in with my 12-minute mile pace…If unfamiliar, you can find out more about the format here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backyard_ultra#:~:text=The%20backyard%20ultra%20or%20last,remains%20to%20complete%20a%20lap .  

There will be food and drinks for purchase available all day, with plenty of room for camping once the fire dies down. *Be sure to choose a spot from the list above if you plan on staying the night (BYOBreakfast:).

For our grand finale, we have put together a killer ride through the Sheepscot Valley, the Fon Solo Loop. There will be two course options this year (roughly 49 miles and roughly 25 miles) each serving up a mix of sweeping views, picturesque gravel roads and...CHUNKY GRAVEL CLIMBS. You know how we do!  The route will be largely the same as last year with one big change.  Because of an event conflict, we will not have access to the Hidden Valley Nature Center (where we had our aid station last year).  While we initially panicked, the change has actually led to a better and slightly longer course.  The HVNC section was the hardest for most riders last year so, this will be a welcome change for most.  On top of that, this change adds three new, very tasty, gravel roads!   The short course is easier and shorter this year eliminating the biggest climb from the last two years and some tricky technical sections. Both routes pass through (as in, you cross their tasting deck…) Oxbow Brewing near the end of the ride and they will be open and pouring for those so inclined…

So round up the troops and get signed up before we're sold out, this one's gonna be gooooood. Best part, proceeds go to The Schmid Preserve in Edgecomb!