The 2011 Butte 100 MTB Race

The 2011 version of the Butte 100 Endurance Mtb Race is scheduled for July 29-31, with the actual race taking place on the 30th. This race is gaining such momentum since its inception four years ago. Last year was the biggest field and had its first iconic competitor, Tinker Juarez. Last year the 100 mile race route was an extended loop along either side of the continental divide which made it hard for race organizers and volunteers to police for rider safety and support.

Here I am giving Tinker Juarez's bike a pre-Butte 100 race tune-up in 2010.
Imagine my excitement tuning a Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
and cycling icon's machine. It was a first in my short wrenching career.

Tinker told me after the race that he thought the Butte 100 route was more challenging in some respects than the Leadville 100, given its climbing profile and amount of challenging technical single track.

Recently on Tinker's Blog, he posted his 2011 race schedule and happily, for all of us in the southwestern Montana Mtb Community, he has the Butte 100 once again in his cross hairs for July. Tinker is a great guy, very approachable, humble to the core, and a cycling well spring of experience.
I enjoyed my short time with him and look forward to his return to The Outdoorsman this July.

Tinker Juarez and a Happy Wrench

Check out this year's Butte 100 Race Profile. It's a two lap set-up with over 16,000 feet of climbing on mostly single track. The revised course provides greater safety, emergency responsiveness, and aid station support for the racers.

 I've ridden all of the eastern section of the course and found it challenging under casual pace conditions. Can't imagine doing that terrain amid race chaos. It should prove to be an excellent format and TRP
Triple Ring Productions, lead by local organizers Bob and Gwen Waggoner, Guy Vesco, and Gina Evans, have added event timing chips provided by Montana Timing to ensure accurate race results for all competitors. All-in-all, TRP has taken past racer comments to heart and continues to make changes year after year to bring an excellent professional racing event to a one-of-a-kind Montana venue.

The Butte 100 is gaining ground in the professional mountain bike racing community because of the hard work by so many of my Montana friends.  Look out Leadville!