will

A Hagg Lake xc mtb race:

Positives:
+it's really close
+lots of parking

Negatives:
-Early Spring race would mean a pretty disgusting course...hike-a-bike
-Summer race would mean dealing with tons of trail traffic...people fishing, highschool kids shotgunning brewskies, etc
-still a really disgusting race
-nothing "interesting" about the course
-some really, heavily used areas of the trail are on their "last legs"...rutted, eroded, etc
-still water in the Summer means tons of mosquitoes

I hate to rag on this as a choice for a race but Hagg is one of the places I absolutely hate to ride. Only my opinion though so blast me all you want.

It's too bad a race in Forrest Park or something is out of the question...I think. I know some will say that the terrain in FP is even less interesting but the opporunities for making a really friendly race for beginners is there.

I did a poker-run-orienteering-mtb race there (totally unofficial) a few years ago that was a blast. Maybe we start organizing beginner mtb clinics? I'd love to be a part of that.

-will