‘Farm Fresh Scramble’ is Sunday

Published 11:34 am Friday, May 29, 2015

BAINBRIDGE – Bainbridge Island’s competitive youth mountain bike racing team, the Gear Grinders, are encouraging interested young riders to come out to Johnson Farm from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31. Stop in to race or ride on the nearby trails, eat some pizza, play games and have fun at the fourth annual “Farm Fresh Scramble” outreach event.

The day of racing is a fund-raiser to benefit the Gear Grinders for its next race season and an introduction to mountain biking for interested riders. Proceeds also benefit Johnson Farm.

The day’s schedule of events is:

9 to 10 a.m.

Riders may register and pre-ride the approximate 1.5 mile rolling loop trail course;

10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The “Kids’ Skills Course” is open;

11:15 a.m.

Beginner’s Race (two laps);

12:30 p.m.

Intermediate Race (three laps)

2 p.m.

Competitive Race (four laps).

Competitive riders have previous race experience, have been riding all season long, love to ride fast and will aggressively ride the course.

Intermediate riders may or may not have any race experience, but must have enough saddle time on a bike to be comfortable and safe riding single-track.

Beginner riders do not have any race experience, are still learning how to ride single-track and are out to have fun and compete on a challenging course.

Kid riders will navigate a short course around the orchard to have some fun on easy single-track and also ride on a skills course in the orchard.

Each bike race includes men and women of all ages.

More information and pre-registration is available at www.geargrinders.org/FFS2015.

Advanced registration is $15 for a junior, $20 for an adult or $50 for the whole family. Race day registration is $5 more.

All riders must wear a helmet and use an appropriate bike.

All riders must sign a waiver and any rider under 18 must have a parent sign their waiver.

On race day, all riders must sign in at least 30 minutes before race start and receive their race number. If you cannot preregister and are under 18, download the waiver online, have it signed and bring it with you on race day.

The Gear Grinders have a middle and high school team, which both compete in racing events throughout the year.