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    Mother Lode Epic Logo
    A Point-to-Point, Four-Stage, Mountain Bike Race - Including a Boat "Transfer"
Clipped In Races Santa Cruz Bicycles Shimano Fox FATRAC Carter West Cranked Naturals El Fira Wood Fired Foods Voler Apparel MeshMash Custom Printed Apparel gheto Mraz Brewing Salmon Falls 50k Sloppy Moose Running Club Clif Bar American River Conservancy

Race Schedule

Registration closes on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 11:59pm! There is no race day registration.
No refunds; please review our full Clipped In Races Refund Policy for transfer/deferral questions.

This is a point-to-point stage race from Magnolia Trailhead to Beals Point. The shuttle and boat transfer are included with your race entry fee.

The Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic Course Route

Start End Notes
Parking and Check-In Beals Point (map) Opens at 6:00 am.
Please note it is $12 for parking at Beals Point.
Shuttle Loading Shuttle starts loading at 6:30 am.
Shuttle leaves by 7:15 am.
Shuttle

Beals Point (map) Magnolia Trailhead (map) The shuttle for you and your bike is included with your race entry.
Stage #1

Stage map
Strava
Video preview
Magnolia Trailhead (map) Cronan Ranch (map) Group start, 7.8 miles long
1,345 ft vert gain
Race starts at 8:30 am.
Transfer #1

Transfer map Cronan Ranch (map) Cronan Ranch (map) No actual transfer. Just a break before the downhill.
Stage #2

Stage map
Strava
Video preview
Cronan Ranch (map) Skunk Hollow (map) Individual start, 7.7 miles long
851 ft vert gain, 1,200 ft total vert loss
Cutoff time to start Stage #2 is 10:00 am.*
Transfer #2

Transfer map Skunk Hollow (map) Darrington Trail (map) Short transfer across Salmon Falls Road.
Stage #3

Stage map
Strava
Darrington Trail (map) Peninsula Campground (map) Individual start, 8.3 miles long
806 ft vert gain
Cutoff time to start Stage #3 is 11:30 am.*
Transfer #3

Transfer map Peninsula Campground (map) Dotons Point (map) We will ferry you and your bike via pontoon boat!
Stage #4

Stage map
Strava
Dotons Point (map) Beals Point (map) Boatload starts, 7.9 miles
951 ft vert gain
Cutoff time to start Stage #4 is 1:30 pm.*
 
*Riders must be ready to start the Stage by the listed start time. If riders are unable to do so, they and their bike will be SAGed forward to the next stage where they may continue with the race. We are doing this because this race is in the Sacramento area in the middle of summer, and we don't want anyone keeling over!
All racers will end up at Peninsula Campground, and even if they do not make the cutoff to start Stage #4, they will get a boat ride straight to Beals Point.
MLE Full Course Map
MLE Stages Course Profile

Race Categories

Registration closes on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 11:59pm! There is no race day registration.

Space is limited to 300 people! Given that we need buses, box trucks and boats to do the shuttle and boat transfer for each racer, it is capped at 300 racers.

Transfers & Deferrals:
We have a no-refunds policy (see Clipped In Races refund policy). However, we do allow registration transfers for a $25 non-refundable fee. Transfers must be requested via email by Wednesday, June 10 at 11:59pm.

New in 2020, we are offering a deferral program. If for any reason you feel that 2020 isn't your year to race the Epic, you will be able to defer your registration to the 2021 race during a deferral window from May 4 - May 20, 2019 at 11:59pm. There is a $35 deferral fee to cover program administration and costs already incurred. Please review the full policy here before you email us between May 4-20.

Race entry includes:

  • Shuttle for you and your bike to the start line
  • Four stages of chip timed trail racing
  • Transfer via boat for you and your bike across Folsom Lake
  • Post-race wood fired pizza from El Fira Wood Fired Foods
  • Custom Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic schwag (see last year's schwag!)
  • Custom Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic tech T-shirt
  • Post-race beer from Mraz Brewing Company
  • Beer garden supporting Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC)
  • Podium prizes from our title sponsor, Santa Cruz Bicycles

The Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic Race Categories

Male Categories Female Categories
Single Speed Open (Combined Male and Female)
Pro / Open* Pro / Open*
Age Group Men** Age Group Women**
Clydesdale
2-Person Team Male*** 2-Person Team Female***
2-Person Team Coed***
We reserve the right to combine categories based on registration numbers.

*Guaranteed $1500 Pro/Open purse. Paid five deep, split equally between Men and Women.

**Age Groups will be equitably split after registration closes.

***Each person in a 2-Person team must do two of the four Stages, but teams may divide them up however they want. (e.g. Person #1 does Stages #1 & #2, or #1 & #3, etc.) Race entry for teams includes shuttle to the start and boat transfer for one person, and beer, pizza, and fun for both people.

The Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic Pricing

Category Through
May 31
June 1
to June 17
After
June 17, 11:59pm
Pro/Open $105 $130 You're outta luck!
Age Group, Single Speed, & Clydesdale $110 $140 You're outta luck!
All Relays $150 $180 You're outta luck!
Space is limited to 300 people!

Photos


FAQ

Your time will begin on Stage #1 after you roll over the timing mat at the start line, and it will stop when you get to the end of Stage #1. Take a breather, debrief with friends... and when you're ready, your time will start again when you begin Stage #2. Bomb through that, and your time will stop again when you get to the Skunk Hollow Parking Lot. Rinse and repeat for Stages #3 and #4. :-) This means you can cross Salmon Falls Road safely, and enjoy the boat transfer without worrying about your time. We encourage you to keep moving through the course, but you do not have scheduled or mandatory start times.
A short travel (Trail/XC) mountain bike will be best over the course of all four stages. A hardtail will also do well under a skilled rider and a long travel trail/enduro bike will be fun on these trails.
Yes, at the end of Stage #2 (Salmon Falls Bridge) and after the boat ride at the beginning of Stage #4 (Dotons Point).
Yes, but your entry includes the cost of the shuttles and cars may not be parked at the Magnolia Trailhead parking lot all day. We will not have a shuttle back to the start area after the finish of the race. And c'mon, it's more fun to ride up there with your friends!
Even though we break the course down into smaller bite-sized, eight mile segments, keep in mind this is still a 32 mile epic Trail/XC race. Not something that is usually available to Beginners. It's August, it will get hotter the longer you're out there, and make it even tougher to get through. This should be an enjoyable event, so pair up with a buddy and race as a team!
The Cronan Ranch trail system (Stage #1 and some of Stage #2) will be closed to the public until 11:00 am. So race hard and keep moving. Be aware of other trail users on Stages #3 and #4.
We will have jugs with ice water, and a jug of Cranked Naturals, and various Clif and Honey Stinger products available at each Aid Station. Some Aid Station coordinators may be adding their personal flair, so keep you eye out for things like bacon, snow cones, and various boat/water themed treats.
Beals point has 62 camping spots within walking distance of the race finish! Go to the ReserveCalifornia Website to reserve your spot. If "roughing it" isn't quite your style, then a.) what are you doing mountain biking?, and b.) please checkout Visit Folsom for cushier accommodations. ;-)
Yep! Here's the email we sent out to 2019 race participants: Mother Lode Epic Packet Pick-Up and Race Info.

About The Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic

  • The Santa Cruz Bicycles Mother Lode Epic is the brainchild of Santa Cruz / Fox / Shimano Pro mountain biker Clint Claassen and his wife Jennifer with Clipped In Races. Clint trains on many of these trails regularly and has always wanted to create an event to showcase the area. The inspiration for this stemmed from putting together a point-to-point race on trails that have never had a mountain bike race before. The stage format is an effort to provide an social racing experience like none other which correlates with a course like none other.