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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17th, 2023 10am-4pm

IT'S BAAAAAAAACK!

Click HERE to make a donation in support of the high school and middle school mountain bike teams!

This is a FREE, non-competitive, community mountain bike event and fundraiser designed to ALL LEVELS and ALL AGES of riders - the super tough adventurer, the regular weekend warrior and the parent and kids who ride a few times a year. The intent is to bring the Taos cycling community together for a fun, casual, non-competitive day of riding on some of Taos' most accessible singletrack. Build community, make new friends, ride a loved Taos trail system, and enjoy nature on great BLM singletrack! It's FREE so everyone can enjoy. Brought to you by the Field Institute of Taos, sponsored by super cool, community minded local businesses (see below). Staging is at the end of County Road 110. Look for the tipis and go about 4+ miles to the end of the road (and we do mean the end of the road). Past UNM Taos and the golf course.

Check our Facebook page for updates.

THE DETAILS!

We'll be ready to get folks started at 10am on event day but you are welcome to show up and start riding any time between 10am-4pm. That's how cool we are, ride as much or as little as you like. This event is for all levels of riding and all age groups. There are four different courses: a 12+ mile loop for more advanced and athletic intermediate riders, a 4 1/2 mile loop for novice adults and kids who can ride some singletrack and don't mind going uphill a bit, a shorter true beginner loop and a 1/3 mile kiddie loop for strider bikes, training wheels, and kiddos that aren't ready for full on singletrack. You can ride alone and do all the miles by yourself or you can ride on a 'team' with another person together or trading off between laps. There aren't any "official" prizes, but we do have swag for the folks who ride the most miles between 10am-4pm as well as other prizes to randomly selected participants. Helmets are required! EMS will be at the event, just in case. Neutral support will be available on site thanks to Taos Cyclery. Bring lunch and drinks, water, a chair, and shade! Snacks will be provided. At 4:30pm we will recognize the male and female adult and male and female junior riders who log the most miles (and smiles) during the event as well as the top fundraisers (see below). We will also draw the Be FIT Raffle winners at this time! Don't miss out on the best dressed contest...win cool socks.

Please be sure to clean your bike before the event as the BLM is requesting this as part of our permit (to prevent the spread of invasive species). Your bike works much better when it's clean anyway, right?

REGISTRATION INFO:

REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE ON-SITE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT beginning at 9:00am and it's FREE.

Donations are encouraged with funds raised going to the Taos Composite High School and Team FITaos Middle School Mountain Bike Teams. Check out the Team Facebook page HERE.

REGISTRATION and PACKET PICKUP

Sunday, October 16 9am-3pm

Race Venue

End of County Road 110

Taos, NM 87571

WHY ARE WE RAISING MONEY?

The TAOS COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM and the TEAM FITaos MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM are cross country mountain bike teams based here in Taos. The high school team is competing for the 7th year in the Colorado League alongside over 1600 high school riders. The middle school team is in its second year and introduces kids to the FUN team atmosphere. Between the two teams, there are about 40 athletes riding and training! Scholarships and sponsorships allow access to all riders. The teams are all about having fun, setting goals, improving skills, developing strong character and good judgment, and achieving personal bests.

Please support the team!

HELP US FUNDRAISE or SUPPORT THE TEAM!

CAN YOU HELP TAOS COMPOSITE - THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM?

Any rider can easily join in supporting the cause and help raise funds for the nonprofit high school bike team, Taos Composite, by reaching out to family, friends and community for sponsors via an online fundraising page! Click HERE to set up your fundraising page or to MAKE A DONATION

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE BeFIT RAFFLE to win BIG!

Be FIT raffle drawing at the conclusion of the event! Tickets are $10. You do not need to be present to win but you do need to get a ticket to win. Tickets will be sold in advance as well as throughout the day of the event.
Prizes include a TSV Season Pass, a New Belgium Brewing Townie Bike by Brooklyn Bicycle Co., a family membership at Quail Ridge Taos, a family season pass at Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area, a guided rock climbing trip with Mountain Skills Guides, a sweet Humble Brands gift basket, and more!
Raffle proceeds go to scholarships for Field Institute of Taos environmental education programs.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION!

Ride sweet, flowy singletrack (85% on long loop) mixed with double track (15% on long loop) with big views and plenty of riding along the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. Rolling terrain in sagebrush, piñon and juniper. The staging area is at the end of County Road 110 (past the Taos Country Club). This road used to descend into the gorge until a huge rockslide closed it for good in the '90s. PLEASE NOTE: These trails are signed "No e-bikes" by the BLM so please respect the intended use. Directions to venue here.

Course maps: Long Course (12+ miles) Short Course (4.6 miles) Mini Course (mini!)

Trips for Kids Taos will be getting kids on bikes and providing plenty of encouragement! This is an IMBA Take A Kid Mountain Biking Event so bring your kids to ride! We believe strongly that we need to get our kids outside exploring and moving. Here's what IMBA has to say about it: "Bicycling is good, healthy fun, and a gateway to healthy lifestyles. IMBA strives to develop a connection between kids, bikes and the natural world around them while touching on themes such as bike safety, skills, rider etiquette, nutrition, & hydration."

A BIG HUGE "THANK YOU" TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS!!!

Thank you to our amazing title sponsor, TaosNet!

Thanks also to Taos Community Foundation, Sol Luna Solar, Taos Ski Valley, Taos Sports Alliance, Taos Tennis, Pit Viper, Humble Brands, Taos Mountain Bike Association, Boot Doctors, and Cottam's Ski Shops who are generous contributors that make this event happen. Taos Cow will be scooping free ice cream! Cid's Market is supporting us with snacks and food for aid stations. Taos Bakes is providing bars for all riders. Taos Cyclery will be on-site offering mechanical support to riders.

This event is organized with 100% volunteer support including the folks from Team FITaos, Taos Mountain Bike Association, parents of the high school and middle school teams, and many, many more.

Taos Search and Rescue will be at the event to make sure everyone finishes the day in one piece.

Check out Ride the Rift on Facebook for things like sponsorship updates (free stuff!), event details and photos.

Questions? Email us at info@fitaos.org