Endurance Rules, Regs and FAQs
Endurance Rules, Regs and FAQs
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Determining the best race category can be confusing. The following is a general guide for category selection for 3 Hour and 6 Hour solo categories. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out for assistance.
*Race age for the 24-25 Series is your age on December 31 , 2025.• OPEN
Highest level of Chainbuster Racing. Experienced racer who has advanced speed, endurance, and bike handling skills. This category is split by gender but all ages are combined in one field. This is the payout category for the top three racers.
• SPORT
Experienced or developing racer who has high ability in one or two aspects of MTB racing (speed, endurance, bike handling) but is still developing in others (similar to USAC MTB CAT 2). This category is also split into age groups.
Age Groups: 14U, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+
• BASE
Beginner or developing racer who is continuing to hone his/her racing skills with regard to speed, endurance, and bike handling skills (similar to USAC MTB CAT 3). This category is also split into age groups.
Age Groups: 14U, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+
• CLYDESDALE
This category is reserved for riders who meet the minimum weight requirements (200+) of any skill level.
• MASTER/GRAND/ULTRA/HERO
These categories are reserved for our seasoned MTB veterans and are age-specific.
Masters 40-49, Grand 50-59, Ultra 60-69, Hero 70+
• JUNIOR 1 Lap
This category is reserved for our younger/ less experienced racers who might not have the endurance to handle 3 hours (25+ miles) on the bike.Participants under the age of 10 must be accompanied by their own sweeper.
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Number Designation
3000 - 3 Hour
6000 - 6 Hour
200 – 2 Person Team
300 - 3 Person Team
To help us ensure accurate timing, please make sure that your race plate is hung straight up and down on the front of your bike. If it is cut or folded, the timing chip will not read correctly.
If you have questions throughout the event, please approach the staff without your bike. This will help us avoid inadvertent chip reads.
If you have a mechanical or decide not to continue the race at any point, please tell the staff member at the Results Tent.ADDITIONAL INFO:
Each racer must have a Chainbuster Racing issued race plate attached to the front of your race bike. Plates may be notched to accommodate front mount cycling computers, but NO OTHER plate alterations are allowed. Any alteration beyond a simple notch will result in a disqualification from the race.
RFID timing chips are located on each race plate. The laps are scored by two computers running simultaneously AND via a manual backup that requires being able to see the race plate in its entirety. Altering race plates CAN damage the timing chips BUT it definitely makes it impossible to read the information needed to accurately enter the plate number manually.Race plates will be provided at the first race of the series that a racer participates in. That same number plate will be used throughout the series. It is the racer’s responsibility to bring that number plate to all races that they participate in.
Additional number plates will be issued at a replacement cost of $10 per plate. Please do not use a plate from a different race company.
Additionally, the 24/12 Hours of Iron Maiden and the Small Town Gravel Series each have a completely different plate.
As you finish each lap, please continue all the way through timing which is marked with a finish arch, and then you may stop in your pit area. Please plan accordingly if you plan to stop and position yourself on the course so that you will not have to cut from one side of the course to the other in order to get to your pit.Please do not stop in front of timing. If you have a question, continue through and then come back to timing (without your bike!)
Racers can only compete with one number plate on the bike at one time.
A racer cannot compete in simultaneous categories (for example, 3 Hour Open and 3 Hour Single Speed or 3 Hour Solo AND 6 Hour Team). However, a racer can compete in a 3 Hour Solo category and then, after the Solo race is concluded, transition to a 6 Hour Relay Team. If this occurs, laps for 6 Hour Team must be scored under the team plate ONLY. In other words, 3 Hour Solo laps will NOT count towards team lap total.
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Our endurance races begin at 10:00AM LOCAL TIME with the 6 Hour Open category.
Each subsequent category will start at one minute intervals .
2 & 3 Person 6-Hour Relay Teams start after individual categories have started.
The 3 HOUR race will start at 10:10AM with the Open category and then subsequent categories follow one minute apart.
The Junior 1 Lap will start five minutes after the last 3 Hour category.
The exact time is determined by field size for safety reasons.
Your bike should be positioned at the starting line no later than 9:45AM for 6 Hour participants (solo and relay teams) and no later than 10:05AM for 3 Hour participants.
Keep in mind, it is possible to be the leader in a category for three to six laps but end up further down on the finish list if other riders continue racing and complete their laps before time expires. It is often the most consistent rider, but not always the fastest, that wins our events. -
We use a true 3-Hour and 6-Hour format. You must cross the finish line before three hours or six hours or the lap does not count. Each category goes off at a different time, so your race end time depends on your race start time.
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A late fee of $10 will be applied after 11:59 PM on Increase/Decrease Day, which is on Sunday, two weeks before the event.
Increase/Decrease Day is also the deadline for reserving your custom race tee shirt!
Online registration closes at 11:59PM EST on Wednesday night before the event.
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Friday 4PM-6PM
Saturday 7AM-9AM
Early Check-In and Packet Pick-Up is available during pre-ride on Friday afternoon from 4PM-6PM at the venue.
If you cannot pick up your packet, you can have a friend, coach or teammate pick it up AS LONG AS YOUR WAIVER WAS SIGNED ONLINE. Otherwise, they will not be able to pick it up for you.
Please be mindful of the fact that we will be checking in 200+ racers. We will have registration/ check-in open for a total of four hours (on Friday from 4:00PM-6:00PM and Saturday from 7:00AM-9:00AM).
If you want to avoid a long line at check-in, please check-in at any point prior to 7:30AM on Saturday!
Please let us know if you check in and then decide not to race. -
Our races will carry a registration limit based on local guidelines and restrictions.
Onsite registration will not be available at every race.
When onsite registration is available, a $20 late fee is applied.
Additionally, there is no guarantee of a tee shirt with onsite registration.
Please check our website and social media to determine if a race is sold out and/or if onsite registration is available.
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For those new to the Chainbuster family, we utilize an RFID chip timing system to capture your lap times. On your race plate, you have two silver timing chips that are encoded with your plate number. When you pass through timing, mats on the ground will read those chips and record your time.
The results tent is the Specialized tents where you checked in. If cell service is available, you will find a QR code to scan to take you to our race day results page. Results will be uploaded about every 15-20 minutes starting about 11:30AM. It is not an automatic upload so please check the timestamp at the bottom if you do not see your results. They may have just been uploaded before you came in. Once the race is complete, results will be placed on the results page on our website.
If you have a question about results, please see a staff member in the results tent. If you need to speak with timing, please approach the tent WITHOUT your bike.. This will help avoid inadvertent chip reads.
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Teams must switch racers on the course from the designated Hammer Nutrition Team Transition area only.
Only one team member is allowed on course at a time.
All teams competing in the 6 Hour Relay Team categories must consist of the same team members IF competing for series awards.
3 Person FEMALE teams MAY be moved to male or coed categories, if requested and if no competition exists in their category; however, female teams in alternate categories will not score series points.
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All relay team members are expected to transition in the HAMMER NUTITION Teams Transition Area which will usually be approximately 300 feet past the timing tent near the check-in area. There is no baton to pass as your timing chips are located on your race plate. (Look for the Transition flag!)
Coolers of water and HAMMER NUTRITION products will be available for all racers. Please assist us by keeping the pits and trails clean.
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Chainbuster uses a point system to reward the top series finishers in each category.
The Chainbuster Endurance Series will be tracked/recorded by our staff throughout the season.
In order to qualify for the Championship Points Series, racers must race a minimum 5 out of 7 race events in the same category.
Additionally, teams must consist of the same people - no alternates.
At the end of the series, if you have raced a minimum of 5 out of 7 races to qualify for the series, we will then take your best 5 race results.
If there is a tie at the end of the series in any category, we will determine winner by most head-to-head victories in the series.If series remains tied, we will determine the winner by most laps completed in the series.
If there is still a tie, we will determine winner by most laps completed at the series finale.
If there is still a tie, the final tie breaker will be the fastest overall time at the series finale.
All teams must consist of the same people to qualify for series points. If a team needs to add a substitute racer, a new team name will be given for that race and the team will be scored under new team name. That race(s) will not count towards Series Points. -
If a rider in a team category has a mechanical or has a wreck preventing them from finishing the lap, the rider can call in to their team to send a replacement rider on course.
The replacement rider must check in at the timing tent before entering the race course. Once the replacement rider enters the course, the original racers lap is canceled and his/her time on course will be added to the lap time of the replacement rider.
All laps must be completed before the 6 hour race clock expires.
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Unless otherwise posted, races will be held as scheduled.
Our amazing friend, fellow racer and staff meteorologist at AMB Weather keeps us up-to-date on all things weather starting on Sunday night before the race. His website holds the latest information for our race.
On the occasion that a race is affected by adverse weather conditions, we will do everything possible to work with land management to reschedule the race for a future date, and your registration will be automatically transferred to the new date. If a reschedule is not possible OR if you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, we will transfer your registration to another race of your choice.Refunds are not available
If a race is canceled due to inclement weather, the points for that race will be made up at the series finale.If you were registered for a race that was canceled due to inclement weather, you must register for the series finale and complete a minimum of 1 lap in the series finale to receive points for the canceled race.
The points for the series finale will be awarded using our regular points scoring system. We will then take your score from the series finale and double it to account for the canceled race.
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Our amazing photographers, Kelly and Kevin of Dashing Images will be onsite to document our day! Pictures are usually posted by Sunday evening. Watch social media and our results page for the link to the photographs. Please say “thank you” by purchasing your memories. However, all pictures are property of Dashing Images until you purchase them.
Please do not use unpurchased pictures (watermarked images) on social media.
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If you are not feeling well, we ask that you please stay home.
Email us prior to race start and then submit a transfer request.
We will gladly transfer your race registration to a future Chainbuster-hosted race in the same calendar year.
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If you have a family emergency or illness after online registration closes, please email us prior to race start and then submit a transfer request. We will gladly transfer your race registration to a future Chainbuster race within the same calendar year. Click here to request a transfer
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There will be no refunds once registration is processed. However, we will work diligently to transfer you to another race in the same calendar year in the event of illness or emergency.