Ride N’ Tie, A New Kind of Team Race from Suffer Better At Staunton State Park

When the first ride and tie was organized, back in 1971, to promote Levi Strauss of all things, it involved two trail runners and a horse, with the team members alternating running and riding over the lengthy mountain course.  Runner and rider made the decision when to switch on their own, depending upon the terrain and the strengths of each participant.  While ride and ties, two runners and a horse, are still offered, the two runners and a mountain bike option is now also becoming more popular. 

Our Suffer Better Ride ‘n Tie is of the Run & Mountain Bike variety; we just don’t know that many horses.  And rather than have the team determine when and where the transitions take place, we will have designated transition spots, where the runner switches to the bike and the rider becomes the runner.  Each segment will be approximately 5 miles, the total course measuring 20 miles, with 3 distinct transition points.  The team will start together and finish only when both the runner and rider cross the final finish line. The Race is May 15th. Register HERE

Says Suffer Better founder, Peter Downing, “This is the first year, we want to unite the trail running and moutain biking communities since in so many ways we’re all sharing the same lovely places, and trying to do something different and fun.  And, like all of our events, it’s about helping the planet – this one focused on our summer air quality, which creates health problems due to the high incidence of ground level ozone, largely from vehicle emissions.  We are trying to get people to do simple things to reduce the amount we all drive, get people to pedal, take public transport, walk, combine trips, carpool, etc. Money raised goes to Conservation CO.”

Teams can be all male, all female, or co-ed.  We’ll be giving awards to the top team in each category.  

Our new Ride ‘n Tie will take place on the beautiful run and ride-friendly trails at Staunton State Park, with the start and finish at the Mason Creek parking lot.  

REGISTRATION

This is a team race, each team having 2 members.  Teams can be all-male, all-female or co-ed. Each team member registers separately and the registration fee is $60/person or $120/team.

When you sign up, if you are the first member of your team, you select “Create a team.” You get to get things rolling for your teammate and give a name to your team.  Remember: We’ll be giving a prize for best team name!  And remember to tell your teammate what the team name actually is!

If your teammate has already registered, you pick “join an existing team” on the team option.  

Once the two of you are all signed up, you’re good to go.

BASIC RULES

The Suffer Better Ride n’ Tie is a 2-person, one bike race. 

The rider and runner alternate their positions throughout the race. In each wave, the riders will start approximately 2 minutes before the runners.  Waves will start at 7 am and continue every 10-12 minutes. 

Mandatory switches occur approximately every 5 miles over the 20-mile course. If the runner is ahead of the biker – the runner will have to wait for the biker to come to the switch area. If the rider arrives first, s/he can leave the bike and helmet at the transition area and begin running to the next transition area. 

The course is all trail, some quite steep, with the possibility of ice/snow/mud patches based on the weather.

Helmets are required while on the bike.

Participants must be over 14 years of age.

Each team will receive two race bibs, a bike sticker and a pair of bike helmet numbers. 

There are 3 aid stations on the course, where water/hydration drink will be provided by race volunteers.  Runners and riders must provide their own bottles.

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