Downieville Classic 2016

Downieville Classic
August 4-7, Downieville

The Downieville Classic offers riders a 29-mile cross country race or a 15-mile downhill with a 5,000 foot vertical drop. Downieville is infamous for its races, and riders come to prove themselves hardened and unbreakable. Race or ride the epic cross country to the Sierra Crest and back to town, or take in a double dose with the seemingly endless descents of the Downieville Downhill in the All Mountain World Championships. Or just come to enjoy the bike festival for the weekend. Either way, you win.

The Downieville Classic Cross Country race is one of the last remaining point-to-point bicycle races in the United States. The 29-mile course follows a rugged “Gold Rush” era route from the mountain town of Sierra City (elevation 4,100 feet), to the crest of the Sierra Nevada (elevation 7,100 feet), and down 5,200 vertical feet into downtown Downieville. It’s considered a tribute to the mountains, the rivers, the big trees, the fresh mountain air and the hard men that carved trails through the river canyons in search of gold and prosperity.

The Classic is followed by the Downieville Downhill, which drops 5,000 vertical feet in 15 miles from Packer Saddle to Downieville. It’s the longest and most demanding downhill mountain bike race in the nation.

Not a racer? Not to worry. Nearly as famous are the Ron’s House of Big Air River Jump, the log pull competition, and a soundtrack of live music.

This event is the second race in the Lost Sierra Triple Crown series which also includes June 4th’s Lost & Found Gravel Grinder and October 8th’s Grinduro. The Lost Sierra Triple Crown series is an incredible challenge of both fitness and bike handling skills.

Proceeds benefit Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS).

downievilleclassic.com