HENNIKER, New Hampshire — Pats Peak in Henniker, NH will host the 8th Annual Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival the weekend of July 11 & 12, 2009. The weekend is presented by Pats Peak along with S&W Sports of Concord, NH, Root 66 Series Northeast XC Race Series and USA Cycling. Sponsors for the event include MB Tractor & Equipment and Grappone Automotive.

Bicycle riders from all over New England come to Pats Peak to participate in this exhilarating bike weekend. The Mountain Bike Festival features a 24-Hour, 12-Hour, 6-Hour, X-Country Challenge and Downhill Thrill races. Riders will be competing for over $4,000 in cash and prizes.

The bike course for the 24/12/6 Hours of Pats Peak and the X-Country Challenge is 5 miles long with 847 vertical climbing feet in each lap. It is a technical mix of single track, dirt, logging roads, switchbacks and downhill. Riders for the 24/12/6 Hours of Pats Peak may ride solo, in two person teams, in four person teams or in five person teams. The 24/12/6 Hours of Pats Peak races will kick off at 12:00pm on Saturday, July 11, 2009. On Sunday, Sunday, July 12, the X-Country Challenge Beginners Race begins at 9am followed by other X-Country classes throughout the day.

The Downhill racers will take the chair lift up to the top of the mountain and race down the course one at a time against the clock for the quickest time to the bottom of the course. They will take two runs each and the best of the two runs will be recorded. Bicycles used in the downhill have up to nine inches of suspension front and rear to help absorb the extreme terrain passing beneath them with speeds up to 40mph. The Downhill Thrill starts at 12:30pm on Sunday, July 12.

For more information go online to http://www.patspeak.com/summer/bike.php or call Pats Peak at (603) 428-3245 or 1-888-Pats Peak (1-888-728-7732). Online Registration is available through www.bikereg.com under the event title of Pats Peak Mountain Bike Festival (www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=8172).

Kids will be able to participate in Kids Race on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, there will be two Fun Rides departing at 10:00am from the Pats Peak parking lot. The Sled Pub will be open with food and beverage available.

Overnight camping at Pats Peak is available. Camping and registration opens at 3pm on Friday, July 10, 2009. Family, friends, and non-riders are welcome. Whether you’re a spectator or plan to race, you’re sure to have a great time.

Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival Weekend Schedule
(Subject to changes)

Friday, July 10

3pm:
Camping opens for participants and guests

3pm-7pm:
Registration: 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak; The Pats Peak Downhill Thrill; Pats Peak X-Country Challenge

Note: Everyone on your team must be present during registration. When all members of your team have signed the insurance waiver, an entry packet will be issued to the team captain that will contain your bike and rider numbers, any event schedule changes and information.

Saturday, July 11

7am-10am:
Continental Breakfast (available for purchase)

8am-10am:
Registration: 24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak: The Pats Peak Downhill Thrill: Pats Peak X-Country Challenge

Note: Everyone on your team must be present during registration. When all members of your team have signed the insurance waiver, an entry packet will be issued to the team captain that will contain your bike and rider numbers, any event schedule changes and information.

9am-4pm:
Downhill Practice

10am-3pm:
Lunch (available for purchase)

10:30am:
24.12.6 Hours Riders Meeting (mandatory)

This meeting is mandatory for all team captains and is an opportunity for us to go over the event rules prior to the race. Everyone will have a chance to ask questions regarding the race rules, scoring procedures, weekend schedules, etc.

11am-11pm:
Sled Pub open. *Lite Pub Fare will be available for purchase from 3pm-9pm.

12pm:
24.12.6 Hours Begins

1pm:
Kids Race (Under 12 years old; Helmet mandatory)

5pm-10pm:
Live Band

6pm:
6 Hours Ends, Awards Following

8:30pm:
Riders must start using lights

11pm-5am:
Quiet Hours

Sunday, July 12

12am:
12 Hours Ends, Awards 9am

5am:
Riders are permitted to ride without lights at this point in the race.

7am-10am:
Continental Breakfast (available for purchase)

7am-1:30pm:
Registration: Pats Peak X-Country Challenge

7am-9am:
Downhill Registration

9am:
X-Country Challenge Cat 3 Race Begins; First Timer Race to follow; Awards Following

9am:
12 Hours Awards

9am-12pm:
Downhill Practice

10am:
Fun Rides Departing From the Pats Peak Parking Lot

10am-4pm:
Lunch (available for purchase)

11am-Close:
Sled Pub open

11:15am:
Kids Race

12pm:
X-Country Challenge Cat 2 and Single Speed Open Begins;

Awards Following

12pm:
24 Hours Ends, Awards Following

12:15pm:
Downhill Race Riders Meeting – At Summit (mandatory)

12:30pm:
Downhill Race Begins (2 runs each, Best of 2), Awards Following

2:00pm:
X-Country Challenge Pro/Cat 1 Open, Cat 1 Single Speed, Cat 1 Begins; Awards Following

For additional information on the Pats Peak 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival, please visit www.patspeak.com.