2011 Keyesville Race Highlights (Video!)

Scenes from the Pro Cross Country, Short Track, Downhill, Vintage Bike Race, and Teletubby Dirt Jumpers...
(Sorry we missed getting footage from the Trials events - Those riders were awesome!)

Includes top USA professional racers like Adam Craig, Tinker Juarez, Lance Canfield, Jim Hewitt, Will Patterson, Graeme Pitts, Ben Cruz....

2012 Keyesville Race: March 31-April 1


Keyesville Classic Trail description and information here.

Keyesville Race info here.

Keyesville Classic Mountain Bike Race 2011

Its time again for the 23rd Annual Keyesville Classic Mountain Bike Stage Race near Kernville!

This race is this weekend, March 18-20.

Rising pro racer, Cierra Smith, on last year's DH course.

(Photo by WMSmithPhoto.com)

Last year, racer attendance was increased by 25%, and tons of spectators were found lining the trails of the many bike events throughout the BLM managed Keyesville site.

The race featured many local riders as well as some of the top mountain bike racers in the country.

The dominant US racer, Kelli Emmett of Giant bicycles won the All Mountain women's Pro stage race (she also just won the prestigious Sea Otter Super D and Downieville All Mountain Championships). Kelli had lots of wonderful compliments for the event, and stated that Keyesville had the most fun Short Track she's ever raced. Her teammate Carl Decker, also the top pro XC/Super D racer in the country, won the stage race as well.

Kelli Emmett of Giant making a pass in the Short Track race.

Top U.S. rider, Carl Decker, in full race mode.

More Photos from 2010:

Bionicon rider, Chewy Aitken, at full speed.

Local Scott Link railing it.

Here are photos of all 3 days of the event by Six 3 Events.

Best X Country Bike Ride in Southern Sierras?

[This blog post has been adapted from The Mud Blog]
The Kern Canyon Trail is a preeminent cross country bike ride in the Southern Sierras. Its located in the trail epicenter of Kern River Valley, close to Lake Isabella and about 15 minutes south of Kernville.

This scenic trail is fast, flowy, smooth, fun......and certainly gets the heart pounding. With plenty of mountain views and an occasional glimpses of the river, you'll pass some small creeks, meadows and oak groves along the way.

The ride is great all year long, but can be very hot in the summer. It is simply amazing in the spring, as the wildflowers are in bloom and everything is green.
Although there's several variations of the ride, the most popular version starts from Keyesville and roughly contours the rolling oak-covered mountains above the lower Kern River to Delonegha Bridge.

GPX file of our ride here. [from The Mud Blog]

The ride begins starts on a section of the Keyesville Classic cross country race course and then contours the mountains and scenic look-outs for the next 21 miles. Most of the ride is smooth singletrack with lots of ups and downs, and ends with a great rolling descent. If you shuttle (the popular option) you'll climb 2800 feet up and drop 3400. Have fun!