RACE INFO & FAQ

WHAT IS R3D RIDER HAF?
The R3D RIDER HAF is a 3-day mountain bike stage race held in the stunning and remote backcountry adjacent to Steamboat Springs, CO. Each day's course is designed to be equal parts long, difficult, challenging and amazing. The routes are diverse, each of them placing riders in sections and segments not commonly known or accessible to casual riders. The concept is simple; we take stunning MTB sections and link them with gravel connectors to produce daily stages 50-70 miles in length. Mountain bikers are encouraged, road and gravel bikers are welcomed. Each course's attributes (singletrack versus gravel) will serve to level the playing field. In the word's of Yuri Hauswald, "Yer gonna ride yer eye out!"

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
We started dreaming up a Steamboat event back in 2018. At that time, there were multiple offers on the table for The Breck Epic, all of them involving double, tripling or even quadrupling that event's 400-500 rider field. As longtime cycling access advocates, the concept of placing that many riders in the Epic field ran contrary to some very deeply help stewardship and conservation beliefs. Placing that many riders within what we consider backcountry chapels isn't only tough on the trails, it's not a good experience for our athletes. Bigger, in this case, is not better. BETTER is better.

So armed with a concept (long, difficult, and with a fast and qualified field), we began to talk to stakeholders in the Steamboat community. The good folks at MOOTS. Local riders who we've hosted at the Breck Epic. Leadership from Routt County Riders. Steamboat Powersports, search and rescue teams, local medical people and Mountain Trails Axxess. The result of those meetings is the concept we're describing here. A small, boutique race where the field is fast, the number of entries small, and the course simply spectacular. Out of those meetings came one other significant development; the idea that we could use this event to help fund groups in the community that could use the help. You can read more about that a bit further down.

Most importantly, we want Red Rider to be a respectful ode to Steamboat's trails, and in harmony with its passionate stewards.

RACE DATES?
July 22-24, 2021 (permit pending-more info on that soon)

FORMAT & TIMING
Red Rider's winners will be determined by general classification. It's a stage race, so lowest cumulative time wins. However...our timing crew will create up to six segments daily that will be course specific. Each will fall under one of the following categories; Climb, Descent, Gravel/Road, Neutral Zone. "Winners" of these sub-competitions will be recognized daily. GC winners in sub-competitions will also be recognized in official results.

REGISTRATION
Via RaceRoster. Fundraising categories loading on Monday, May 3, 2021. REGISTER HERE

WHY EXPERTS (AND ABOVE) ONLY?
We believe in inclusivity as a general rule, but RED RIDER HAF is a stout challenge intended for fit, expert-level and above riders. The courses are very difficult. This makes the logistics of attempting to accommodate a wide spectrum of ability nearly impossible. We also feel that a selective race field improves the caliber of racing at the pointy end of the spear. Is that rule hard and fast? Well...no. We don't want to discourage anyone, but this is a stout challenge. We feel as if a motivated and reasonably fit rider can do well here. The "Experts and above" qualification is a bit of a warning shot at anyone who thinks that this is an off-the-couch experience. It is not. If you've been putting in your miles and appreciate the transformative effect of a serious challenge, then come join us.

IS THERE A FIELD LIMIT?
Yes. No more than 300. Ever. This number allows us to produce a top-flight event, but one that keeps stewardship ideals firmly in mind and practice. There are many events out there with thousands of competitors. That's ok-it's simply not the experience we wish to provide. From our experience at Breck Epic, we've come to believe that bigger isn't better. Instead, BETTER IS BETTER. A 300-rider limit allows the race field to know itself and each other. It allows community to develop. Equally importantly, it protects the integrity of the trail system.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
$699 per solo rider. $1399 for duo categories. Riders can also opt to fundraise in exchange for no-cost/low-cost entry. Details below.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT.
On the surface? Yes. Red Rider is a small, premium event with concierge-grade service and partners. Our promise to you is to provide an uncrowded, selective race experience on some of the best backcountry terrain in Colorado and North America. This is not a short track. The price is reflective of our stance on keeping our numbers low. It's also directly related to the price we pay to keep our riders safe on course while providing them with a top-flight experience.

YOU CAN RACE FOR FREE BY FUNDRAISING
We encourage those for whom price is an objection to opt for the fundraising option (which essentially allows them to race for no charge at all).
Participants may opt to fundraise instead of pay the flat registration fee. This option may be selected during the registration process. By committing to raising just $1099, riders gain free entry into the event. We've provided a variety of turnkey tools for fundraising participants to use, including a personalized event page for each racer, plus a one-button option to create an additional Facebook fundraising page. Best of all, we've pre-populated all of the fields for you. You're allowed to edit your page and message, or you can elect to use the responses we've provided.

WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES?
We're focusing on organizations that plan, build and maintain trails and those that save lives out there. Our primary beneficiary is Routt County Riders, a group whose body of work is as impressive as it is expansive. They keep the goods GOOD. Paired with them as a beneficiary is our motorized partner, Mountain Trails Axxess. We firmly believe that the backcountry's future is more secure when likeminded stewards link arms in the service of its protection. Plus, if you auger somewhere out there in the boonies, the person most likely to find you is riding a KTM or a Yamaha. Our second beneficiary group are the Search and Rescue teams who are extensions of the Routt and Jackson County Sheriff's Offices. These two organizations conduct world class field rescues on a regular basis for cyclists, climbers, dirt-bikers, equestrians and anyone else who finds themselves on the wrong side of Mother Nature. They are overqualified, courageous, dedicate and underfunded, often sacrificing their own equipment to bring someone home safely.

CATEGORIES

SOLO

  • Pro Men & Pro Women (you hold or have held a pro license and/or are pro level fast/fit)

  • Masters Pro Men & Masters Pro Women (you hold or have held a pro license, are pro level fast/fit, and are 40 or older)

  • Expert Men (Cat 2), Expert Women (Cat 2)

  • Singlespeed Men, Clydesdale (190lbs+)

DUO

  • DUO MEN

  • DUO WOMEN

  • DUO COED

*additional categories may be added based upon age breaks within registration data

SANCTIONING
The Red Rider HAF is proudly independent. No license is required.

RACING AGE
Your racing age is determined by the age you will be on December 31st of the current year at 11:59PM.

WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH MY ENTRY?
Fully supported aid stations, personalized number plate, personalized RedRider HAF water bottle, three aid bags, RedRider HAF tee, RedRider HAF socks, RedRider HAF hat, finisher award, entry to final banquet, meal tokens for days ZERO, 1 and 2.

E-BIKES
Are not allowed at this time.

MASSAGE
Massage plans will be made available soon.

SERVICE PLANS
Service plans will be made available using local shops and preferred mobile vendors. If you've participated in The Breck Epic you know that we have this dialed.

TEAM COMPOUNDS AND RIDER SERVICE COURSE EXPO
Team compounds and expo spaces are available for a modest fee. Please register HERE.

PURSE & PRIZING
Plaques 3-deep in all categories.

AID STATIONS & AID BAG SYSTEM
Red Rider will utilize the aid bag system popularized by The Breck Epic. Each rider will receive three color-coded aid bags. Additional bags may be purchased for a modest fee. Riders place items of anticipated need in each bag (nutrition, clothing, supplies, etc) much like a USPS flat rate box. Bags are dropped each morning by riders at the trucks servicing that day's aid stations. From there, they will be delivered to the corresponding aid station of your choice. Bags are returned to Race HQ by 4pm each afternoon where the may be picked up by riders and reloaded for the next stage. Aid stations will be placed as frequently as possible, but riders should carry enough hydration, nutrition and shelter to anticipate as much as 20 miles between aid points.

WILL THE COURSE BE MARKED?
Yes. However a GPS capable of having each day's course loaded on it will be mandatory for ALL riders. InReach or Spot devices are highly recommended.

WHAT ABOUT TIMING?
A chip timing system will be use that will allow us to produce instantaneous daily results. Additionally, we will time strategic sections of each day's course (climbs, descents, gravel sections, etc) which will allow the field to parse an incredible amount of data to determine their placing not just overall, but in specific sections.

WHAT DOES "HAF" MEAN?
The course is hard. Very hard.