Too early for a thread? In for the black course 
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Just got my entry notification too.
I’m in for the Black course in 2026. Woot woot! Will be my 4th time doing this event. I just love the whole weekend and the vibe.
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First time for me. Doing the black as well.
Same
The black and blue courses are both great. I’m not doing the race this year, but will probably be riding on those roads in the spring before the MTB trails dry up.
That time of year is great in Steamboat, when it’s usually a little cooler, and things are still green.
Curious what else is happening during the weekend? I’m coming from the front range and have only mtb’d in Steamboat a few times. Is it worth arriving Friday?
Unfortunately won’t be doing it this year due to a vacation, but what an awesome event.
Check their website for more info. They have a new take on the Friday evening hill climb next year, I think, but all info should be available there, and will be updated with anything new.
I’m opting out for 2026, having done it the past three years. The new courses look nice, and it’s always a great event, but it also seems ‘the same’ every year, and it’s time for a new adventure. The real kicker for me, though, was that the condo I was looking at DOUBLED in price within minutes of the race date being announced. It’s already a pretty pricey weekend, and I get supply and demand, but that just seemed ludicrous.
As mentioned already, the Friday Hill Climb event is usually fun. Good costumes and vibes. This year they are moving the location and making it ever more of a party, with a band performance, etc…..
The Steamboat Pro Rodeo also happens on Friday night (happens on Saturday night too, but not many riders will go to it the night before they have to get up super early. It’s always a good time.
On Saturday they’ll have their expo, which is great most years. Last year the scene wasn’t as vibrant as they could only do it on Friday and most people weren’t getting in until that day. This year should be back to it’s normal self.
A lot of the vendors do their own shake-out rides on Saturday, too. It’s a good chance to meet new people at a not-race pace and ride alongside some of the pros and chat them up. Usually the sponsors get 2 or three pros to join the rides. Gotta sign up for those in advance and do it early. Steamboat (the town) has capped the number of people that can be on an individual shake-out ride, though they didn’t limit the total number of rides that can happen.
I am pretty sure there are rider discussion panels on the mainstage and some Watch the Femmes events at some of the local hangouts, too.
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I just got in!
First time doing SteamBoat. Doing the Black course. Any tips, tricks, advice, bike set up stuff?
Has anyone tried the new course? Trying to figure out what to run. I am thinking Pathfinder 42’s. Or would the new ones be better?
I hope to check some of the course a few weeks prior but Steamboat gravel is fast for the most part. I’ll be on 45mm G-One RS regardless.
Also, nice to see a race post instead of AI FTP issues!
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Think a 46-10 is a fast enough top end? I hope to be in the pointy end of the amature/18and under group.
Brennan Wertz rode 23.5 mph average to a win last year, take that as you will.
Appears a 22 MPH is what is needed to win. Hmmm. I wonder if 46-10 is enough. May have to go to a 46-9.
It totally depends on course and wind conditions (and I don’t know that course), but I’d be very surprised if a 46-10 isn’t more than enough gear to stay with the lead pack in almost any amateur gravel race. You’ll be pushing ~40mph before you start to spin out a 46-10 with gravel tires and ~35mph should be very comfortable. I’ve done flat-ish gravel races on my MTB that averaged over 21mph running a 38 and gearing wasn’t a limiter (and I’m not a high cadence guy). Unless you are rocking a 400+w FTP, The only situation where you risk spinning out a 46-10 in a group is a long slight downhill with a serious tailwind. There just aren’t that many situations I’ve seen in gravel racing where you have to pedal while holding 40+ mph for an extended period.
Only about 2ish months out yall. Who is excited? It looks like we have a rolling inclosure for the Black course which will be nice. Anything a first-time SBT racer should consider? I have done altitude before at Nats in Winter Park. So that’s something I am definitely considering and thinking about.
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