From The Racing Post, Nov 2009
The Ultra Centric Experience: A Gateway to Endurance Mountain Biking !
The Ultra Centric Experience gets underway in Murrell Park, November 20 – 22, 2009, in Flower Mound, Texas. This Mountain Bike format is unique by design to introduce Mountain Bikers to exceed their self imposed limits of endurance. New members to the sport may select a modest 6 hour, or endurance junkies might go for the gusto; the 48 hour Solo. The weekend of events also offers fairs in between; endurance events of 12 and 24 hours, also, a 4 person 24 Hour Relay.
The North shore Trail of Lake Grapevine was formerly a two-way trail. After years of planning in the making, and hundreds of man power hours; D.O.R.B.A. has meticulously transformed ¾’s of the entire trail into a one-way trail. Sixteen miles of one-way trail are used for The UltraCentric, under permit issued by the Army Corp’s of Engineers.
Regardless of the mountain bike event entered, the Payout is the same for all. The Mountain Bike Payouts will be awarded Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Champions Awards Brunch. Very simply: $50.00 per rider payout each for Men, and for Women. Each event awards 100 % from that event; 45 % to the champion; 25% to Second Place; 15% to Third Place; 10% to Forth Place; and 5% to Fifth Place, respectively. No minimum mileage is required in any event. The generous prize payout is designed to create competition within each event. Members of each field can look to their left, and right prior to the start, and witness their own competition. Folks already entered have every incentivize to encourage their potential competition to enter. The larger each field, the larger their potential take-home payout.
Pepper in some fun into your mountain biking; ten dollars of each entry goes directly to the St. Jude Children’s research Hospital. St. Jude is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.
The overwhelmingly user friendly site plan is designed to accommodate entrants needs without the use of a support crew, or handler. A participant can certainly be competitive without these usual needs. The Aid Station serves hot soups and pastas, in addition to traditional aid station nutrition. The aid station is placed right next to the sixteen mile loop, for easy access every loop. Seasoned bike mechanics provided by Bicycles Plus will keep bikes running smoothly the duration of all events. A weatherproof participant “Green Room” is available to provide a rest stop, and, effortless electronic timing all compliment the experience. The experience provides valuable insight to the workings of completing a 24 hour event. The entrants and spectators can see just how the experienced riders command their; caloric needs, hydration, pace, and mechanical aspects of endurance events.
The Camping resources available in Murrell Park are also very beneficial. The Camping selection is determined on a “first come-first served basis” so arrive early. Event parking is on site in Murrell Park. The Murrell Park entrance gate is closed every night at 10:00 pm, to 6:00 am. Plan accordingly.
The event concludes with a brunch, and awards ceremony on Sunday morning served from 9am to 11am in the main events area. Prize Payouts awarded!
Volunteers have made The Ultra Centric Experience one of the nations most sought after events for twenty-three years. Volunteers have come from local groups; DORBA, NTTR, and GRAW are strongly represented. Please give us the honor of your volunteer service, this may be in a safety patrol on the mountain bike course, or service in the aid station. You will select your very own time slots on the events web site, www.UltraCentric.net, then click the Volunteer now box. The Ultra Centric Experience’s participants are the most gracious; you are assured to have a blast!
So enter early, and enter often. I will met you at The Ultra Centric Experience. For UltraCentric details, registration, and volunteers www.UltraCentric.net .