Registration starts at 6:30 am at the Mountain Bike Ultra starting line at 1540 E Seven Peaks Blvd (this is a new intersection so the location that pulls up on smart phone maps is close but not the exact location-just drive up Seven Peaks Blvd until you see the gazebo, then drive to the top of the road to the dead end culdesac to park since there are no-parking signs below that point). The coordinates are 40.243775, -111.632435.
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| 1 Mile Road Race |
The Ultra mountain bike event will start at 7:15 am at the finish area of the the road race, and is approximately a 4 mile loop. You will be timed on the uphill portion only (about 2 miles), then are welcome to cool down on the remaining part of the loop and ride with other riders, or challenge yourself on your downhill skills but please use extreme caution. Here is a map for the Ultra loop: https://www.strava.com/activities/627624143. It has a short steep incline on asphalt with up to 36% grade on an early section of the route, so if you are not physically prepared to ride up this portion, feel free to hike your bike up this section. There will be only 2 bike-type divisions based on bike type for this race: Non-electric and electric, and age group categories. There is one steep downhill that is -27.9% grade that is a dip in the course right before the USH gate you will need to use caution on with the loose gravel, but otherwise it is mostly uphill. It climbs 778 feet if you do the whole loop.The Intermediate mountain bike event will start at 7:20 am above the steep section of the Ultra so that you can avoid the killer section of climbing. It will be 3.7 miles if you choose to loop down to explore the lower trail, or about 3 miles if you do an out-and-back, and the timed uphill portion is about 1.5 miles, but is not very steep. It will still have enough of a climb to separate you so that when you get to the single track you won't be bunched up in each others' way. Once you register, you can drive, ride or walk your bike up to the start, which is about 0.4 miles into the Ultra course. If you want to ride/walk from the registration area for a warm up, you need to start riding up by 7:05 am depending on your fitness level so you get up to the starting area in time. If you choose to park your vehicle up at the Intermediate start, you may wish to do the out-and-back so that you can avoid the climb at the end of the loop. If you leave your car at the bottom by registration, but wish to explore the loop route, you can walk or ride it up afterwards for an intense cool-down, or we can shuttle you up to your vehicle. There will be only 2 bike-type divisions based on bike type for this race: Non-electric and electric, and age group categories.
For all mountain bike racers, once you get onto the BST it is almost flat, so you will get some great speed on this exhilarating portion of the race, but use caution to make sure you stay within your abilities as there are some rocks on the dirt path. Also, be aware that there may be runners, bicyclists, or dogs on the trail who are not part of the race, so approach blind turns with caution and be sure to alert those you may pass from behind so they aren't startled. There is a steep downhill section (up to -31% grade) in Slate Canyon with loose gravel, so use caution on the downhill. You may want to just walk your bike down that short section.
Prizes will be available immediately upon returning to the starting area while supplies last. Ultra awards will be given out as follows: Top male & female get their cash prizes and trophies immediately, all those who did not win their age division can pick out up to 4 finisher prizes each depending on how they placed in their age division, age-division winners can either pick out 5 finisher prizes immediately or wait until the majority of age division winners finish for the drawing to choose a larger Ultra prize. If you haven't finished riding by the time the majority of age division winners finish, you are still welcome to choose a large prize but won't have first dibs.
The Freedom Run will attract up to 5,500 runners and will block off the south access to the race registration, so you will have to approach it from the north side. A map of the Freedom Run is here: http://www.freedomfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/FreedomRunMap.jpg. Plan your route to allow you to arrive early due to all the traffic from runners parking near Kiwanis Park and along the parade route. The Run starts at the same time as our bike race, so runners will be frantically trying to find parking at the same time you will. The suggested route is to get onto 2230 N and follow it as it turns into 900 E, then turn left or east onto North Temple Dr which turns into 2320 N and 2300 N, then follow the turn right or south onto 1450 E, which turns into a dirt road and will take you to the registration area. If you prefer to avoid the short dirt road section, once you get to the end of the asphalt, turn right or west onto Oak Cliff Dr, then left or south onto Oak Mount Lane, which turns into 820 N, then left or south at 1250 E, then left or east at 700 N, then left or east on Seven Peaks Blvd.
The Provo Freedom Festival Grand Parade starts at 9am so you should have plenty of time to change into some dry clothes and find a good place to watch the parade.
