Same as last year, just seventeen times better.  $25 for a good day's racing, beer, food, prizes, fun...  if you were there last year, you know you got your money's worth.  If you missed it, don't do that again.

The Backyard Experience is a multi-stage mountain bike race showcasing the BYT trails of Charlotte, NC. From the creators of the Tour de Charlotte, join us for a day full of slaying The Backyard followed by slaying beers in a backyard!

Cost (includes beer and a meal):
Pre-register: $25
Day-of (cash only): $35

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Short'ish format stages ran somewhat XC short track style showcasing the best of the BYT, PRP, and MD trails.

Party to follow.

age range...? cut off on #'s of grinders? sounds to be of a awesome experience!

The link to bikereg.com has a lot of details, but since I'm good with Ctrl/C and Ctrl/V, here you go:

Presented by Faster Mustache and these awesome local sponsors:

WeeklyRides.com
Maxxis Tires
ProGold Bikes
Sir Edmond Halley's Restaurant & Freehouse
Refresh Technologies, Inc
BikeSource Charlotte
Charlotte B-cycle

The BYE will consist of 4 race stages. They will vary from 2-8 miles of racing each. Some will be point-to-point, others will be multiple laps. We will race on all of the neighborhood trails, including Farmbrook, Marion Dhiel, and Park Road Park. The top 13 finishers at each stage will be awarded between 1-13 points. Riders with the most points at the end of the day will be declared the Kings and Queens of The Backyard!

After a day of racing in the Backyard, we will roll as a group to an actual backyard, where we'll have an afterparty. Food will be catered by Sir Edmond Halley's Restaurant & Freehouse. We'll have hot chili and cold beers for race participants. We will also have the awards ceremony here.
If you have friends that are not racing, have them meet you at 5036 Valley Stream Rd. starting around 5pm!

All racers must sign in the morning of the race. Sign-in will take place at 5036 Valley Stream Rd. The sign-in table will open at 9am and close at 10:30am. There will be a mandatory racers meeting at 10:30am. The group will ride out to BYT promptly at 11:00am.

Parking: Please park your vehicle at a designated parking area and ride your bike to the race start. 
Designated Parking Areas:
    A. Back of Harris Teeter parking lot (5030 Park Rd)
    B. Pinewood Elementary School (805 Seneca Pl)
    C. On-Street parking on Seneca Pl.

This race is self supported. You must carry everything you need to ride for 5-6 hrs. You MUST race with your gear (no drop-offs, hand-offs, or personal sherpas). We recommend at least:
food
water
tools
tubes 
Of course assisting and helping your fellow rider is allowed and encouraged!

Registration WILL be limited so sign up early to ensure a spot for yourself!

Gotcha...Thanks!

Russell N wrote on 09/15/14 at 9:59pm:



Ain't the Swank on Sunday?

I can assure you, it's much better with a good hangover.

This sounds pretty fun and low key which is my kind of race. I will definitely try to make it out to this.

SycoCell wrote on 09/19/14 at 9:23pm:



Sorry.  Just saw this.

Most if not all of the stages will start with a significant amount of open area in order for people to have a chance at the hole shot.  Gravel, paved, where possible, a climb.  By the time you hit the woods, you should only have to worry about passing one rider at a time.

Things sorted out nicely this way last year.

It's not be big bike with elbow pads you need to be worried about (he was a little over-prepared).......it's the Alien over his left shoulder that's in the true spirit of the race.

Disappointed about the Grind getting canceled?

I was.  Now what? 

Sign up for our event.  Pretty sure we won't cancel.  We already lined up the beer and we'll be showing up to drink it ourselves regardless of your attendance. 

Ride bikes for six hours straight if it makes you feel better.  We'll save some beer for you.

Beer, bikes, whatnot... less than six hours of riding.  See you there.

SCOTT_T wrote on 10/02/14 at 7:10pm:


You can come, spectate, throw donuts and drink beer...

or...

you can come, volunteer, throw donuts and drink beer.

Just lemme know if you wanna volunteer IN A SOLID MANNER.   

SOLID...........no chit.

The Backyard Trails...

So hot right now.

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Spoke wrote on 10/09/14 at 9:01pm:


If we do our job right, you'll be happy you had...

and be ready to go right back to it.

Just a quick reminder, we're doing trailwork to get the trails ready for the race this weekend.  Wanna be a part of it?

All you need to bring are boots and gloves. We'll supply the tools if you don't have anything.

We are working Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9am both days. Park at Marion Dhiel if you are driving, and meet at the Farmbrook trail entrance at 9am.

This is a great way to give back to the trail system we all use and love. It's also a great way to meet other local trail riders and get a good workout! Please invite your friends. If you don't know how to do trail work, don't worry! We'll teach you!

Watch out for the former DH world champion and bicycling hall of famer in attendance.

Should be epic....

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$10 for spectating with PBR and food? May have to see if I have any juice left in me after trail work on Saturday. Haven't heckled Hubbs in a while, but you should know I'm a professional PBR drinker.

Last year there was a map put up of the stages. Is there going to be anything like that this year or will it be a suprise the morning of the race?

For those folks wanting to join the group of rowdy, smelly mountain bikers after the race....what time should they show up?  Will all the food be gone by 6PM?

Dude what's happening to your forecast???


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So, yeah... the weather.  It's not looking as good as it was earlier in the week.  I figured I'd get ahead of things and clear up the "muddy" matters.

The race will happen.  The Olde Meck beer is in our hands, the food arranged, the courses established.  If you are racing, be prepared.  Bring your rain gear and dry clothes for the after party which will be under a roof, tent or other rain defense structure.

As far as the trails go, we'll have about thirty people riding that day (assuming our preregistered riders show up and we don't get an influx of Tough Mudder types who apparently live for this type of thing).  We are aware that this will cause some damage to the trails... as much damage as thirty people who should know better would do on any given weekend when that type of thing happens regardless of trail closures.  We (Faster Mustache) will be planning a follow-up work party to address anything that needs to be done.  Pinkie swear.

We won't be on all the trails.  We will be riding one lap of those we do.  Any damage should be minimal, and we WILL be on top of it.  We've worked on these trails before, and we will work on them again.  We love them as much as you do and want to make the most of them before they get shut down for a couple years for the greenway construction.

So...

We'll be there putting on the race.  The volunteers and FM team members will be standing around making it happen no matter what.  We'll do our best to keep things moving between stages as fast as reasonably possible, but know that we won't move from stage to stage until all the racers have completed the previous one.  There will be sweep riders to keep things moving along.

It will be a good time... for hardy individuals.  If you're one who prefers comfort over everything?  This might not be your kinda day.

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eh, the weather changed that fast...it'll change again.
Emily, you should race.

HOT COCOA FTW!

I'm ready to stay "dry."

I cannot be bribed with wine. 

I double dog dare you!!!

gonzo wrote on 10/31/14 at 6:09pm:


Triple double triple dog dare you!

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soooo............what up with the24 hour rain rule ?

I wanted to do this but I have a lot to do around the house and am a giant wimp when it comes to cold weather and wet (I only make exceptions for the I-cycle). So y'all have fun out there and throw some poo at each other.

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Backyard mudfest 2014 stoked!!!

betty wrote on 11/01/14 at 2:19am:



Hell no.

Encouraged.

Possibly.

She better.

catsruletn wrote on 11/01/14 at 11:21am:


Pictures, or it didn't happen.

Wears my bike wrote on 11/01/14 at 7:19pm:


it was too boring, so no one bothered to take any pix.

It happened.

THE Mike King on top of the men's podium:

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April Wells takes the women's top spot:

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