Racer Information
11th Annual Arcadia Grit & Gravel Mountain Bike Race
Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10:00AM, Arcadia, Michigan
Registration for the 2023 Arcadia Grit & Gravel has reached its cap and online registration is officially closed! Thank you to all the racers who got in under the wire - we’ll make sure you have a great time on May 20!
Timing
Debbie and Tony Newton from Newton Timing and Race Services have done a fantastic job at all of our Peak2Peak races at Crystal Mountain and continue their expertise in Arcadia. They'll be using their Chronotrack Systems technology and here's what that means for you:
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You will be required to show your driver's license or another appropriate form of ID when you pick up your race packet. Your timing chip will be stuck on the back of your number plate, no muss, no fuss.
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Each racer must pick up his/her own packet. Others may not pick up packets for friends, etc.
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The start and finish lines will be barricaded off until the actual start of the event so there will not be any premature 'tripping' of the system.
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Packet Pick Up
Packet pick up will be at the Pleasant Valley Community Center on Glovers Lake Rd, on Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO PACKET PICK-UP ON THE FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE RACE!
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Wave Start Times
See Wave Start Times page.
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Licenses
No licenses of any kind are required for the Arcadian Grit & Gravel Mountain Bike Race.
COME RACE WITH US
Course Breakdowns
This course is like nothing you've ever raced before. Here's how the courses break down in terms of distances on the different surfaces (roughly):
Short Grit
Distance is roughly 15 miles with pavement covering 3 miles, gravel roads covering 3 miles, two-tracks covering 1 mile, and single track covering 8 miles.
Short Grit Categories
1. Short Grit Men 11-34
2. Short Grit Men 35-49
3. Short Grit Men 50+
4. Short Grit Men All Fat Bikes
5. Short Grit Women 11-39
6. Short Grit Women 40+
7. Short Grit Women All Fat Bikes
Big Grit
Distance is roughly 28 miles with pavement covering 5 miles, gravel roads covering 11 miles, two-tracks covering 3 miles, and single-track covering 9 miles.
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Big Grit Categories
1. Pro/Elite Men
2. Pro/Elite Women
3. Big Grit Men 13-24
4. Big Grit Men 25-34
5. Big Grit Men 35-44
6. Big Grit Men 45-54
7. Big Grit Men 55-59
8. Big Grit Men 60+
9. Big Grit Men All Fat Bikes
10. Big Grit Women 13-29
11. Big Grit Women 30-44
12. Big Grit Women 45-59
13. Big Grit Women 60+
14. Big Grit Women All Fat Bikes
15. Big Grit Single Speed
16. Big Grit Tandems
Click the buttons below to access the different course maps for Arcadia Grit & Gravel.
Tandems
Tandem riders will have one class with no age or gender breakdown. Only one entry registration per tandem is required – please include both names when registering on line. Tandems can be male-male, male-female, or female-female, any age, any skill level. Please note: there will be no tandem race for the Short Grit.
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Single Speeds
Single-speeders will have one class, as well. There will be no single speed race for the Short Grit.
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OTHER WAYS TO RIDE
PRE-RIDING THE COURSE
Anyone can ride either the Big Grit or the Short Grit course anytime; just click on the course map links above for a detailed description.
Young Racers
Want to get your kids involved with the community of northern Michigan mountain biking? Endoman Promotions is offering all youth racers ages 11-14 to race FREE in the Short Grit race. (Please note, this offer does not apply to any racers in the Big Grit race.) So get them out there and let us help you help them get excited about friendly competition and the fantastic benefits of riding and racing - we’re happy to support our youth in this fun way to a healthy lifestyle! Leave the Inside Out!
T-SHIRTS
Arcadian Grit & Gravel Tees for both men and women are available for sale when you register on-line or they can be purchased on the day of the race. But best not to wait for race day, since they sell out quickly. See the new design and colors for 2023 here.
The awards ceremony will be starting around 1 pm, starting with the Short Grit awards, then the Big Grit and ending with the Pro/Elite awards. The purse for the pros will be paid out for the top three finishers for both men and women, as follows:
1st Place: $400
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
For each age category, the top three finishers will each receive a custom made medal.
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Bonus
You'll also want to stick around for the drawings for other great prizes and merchandise, including coupons for dinners at area restaurants, bike gear and more!
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AWARDS
Accommodations
We have a few outstanding options for the travelers out there, each with its own unique amenities and attractions.
The Watervale Inn is a charming ‘old-world' resort on the shores of Lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan and it’s about 5 miles due north of Arcadia, off of M22 (turn west on Watervale Rd). They are offering rooms at the Inn (call the Inn for a discounted rate) and that includes a full dinner Friday night and a hearty breakfast. Check out their website or call 231-352-9083 for more information.
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Last and surely not least, is the Pleasant Valley Resort Motel, right in downtown Arcadia. It’s literally steps from the start line and couldn’t be more convenient. This quaint, cozy motel is clean, comfortable and reasonably-priced. Be sure to mention the Arcadian Grit & Gravel for weekend specials.