Well... the day is almost upon us!  Here at Bear Claw Epic HQ, we are STOKED for Saturday!  The weather is supposed to be IDEAL for mountain biking: sunny skies and highs in the mid 60s!  Rain this week will help tamp down some of the sand out on the course and should get the course in tip top shape for Saturday.  
Below are some important details in preparation for Saturday:
Pre-riding the Course
If you opt to take one more pre ride on the trail before race day, for the safety of students, staff, and riders, the Career Tech Center has asked that ALL riders avoid the parking lots at the Careet Tech Center and ISD until after 5pm.  You are more than welcome to ride the trail, just not the section of the course that goes through the parking lot.  Please do your best to honor their request, as they have important jobs to do during the day.  We are incredibly fortunate to have their cooperation in hosting the race!
Packet Pick Up:
Planning on being in town the night before the race?  Stop by the Cadillac Commons in downtown Cadillac right behind Clam Lake Beer Company on Friday Night between 6 and 8 pm to pick up your race packet and any merchandise you may have pre-ordered.  Enjoy a cold brew and a good meal at Clam Lake!
On race day, packet pick up will open at 7:30am and run til the start of the Bear Cub Epic at 11:30.  We will have pre-orderd merchandise available for pick up, as well as limited numbers of t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts, and jerseys available for sale.  If you missed out on 2018 merchandise, this is your chance!  
Pre-race/Post-race Food:
Before the race starts, enjoy some of the finest donut holes Cadillac has to offer from Blue Heron Bakery!  After the races, G&D Pizza will be available for ALL racers!  A huge shout out to both Blue Heron and G&D for helping out!
Bike Mechanics:
Gold Sponsor McLain's Cycle and Fitness will be on site race day with their wrenchers ready to address any last minute needs you may need taken care of on your bike before you start!  McLain's Cycle is located conveniently close to the race course (311 N Mitchell St, Cadillac, MI 49601) and is open until 6:00pm on Friday before the race!
Race Day Parking:
We have RECORD numbers signed up this year.  So if you want a good parking spot, it would be in your best interest to show up early.  
On race day, you can park at the Wexford Missaukee Career Tech Center (9907 E 13th St, Cadillac, MI 49601).  If parking fills up here, utilize the parking lots across the street at Baker College.  
Please remember, this race is hosted on school property (with the gracious support of the Career Tech Center) which is an alcohol, drug, and tobacco free zone.  
See the satellite picture below for parking:

Happy 2018!  We've been incredibly busy at BCE HQ plotting and planning for the 4th Annual Bear Claw Epic!  We are INCREDIBLY excited about what the 4th edition of the race has in store for all of you!

Here are some of the highlights:

• 2 Lap Intermediate Race - You talked, and we listened,. BRAND NEW for 2018 will be the 2 lap intermediate race!  Ready for more of a challenge than 1 lap, but not quite ready for 3?  The Intermediate 2 lap race will be perfect for you!  At 14 miles and about 1200 feet of climbing, you will be guaranteed a challenging, yet fun time out on the course.
• The Bear CUB Epic - Will be back for 2018!  After the incredibly positive reception from last year, we are looking forward to watching this race grow!  The Bear Cub Epic makes the Bear Claw Epic a race for all ages and abilities.  Now, the whole family has something to do on race day!
• Added Categories - Due to popular demand, we have added an Expert Fat Bike Category, as well as a Single Speed category in ALL race divisions.  Check out the Registration page here for more information.
• Course Direction - We will be keeping the clockwise lap direction we first tried in 2017.  More information on the course can be found here.
• Merchandise - A new year, brings new merchandise!  Check out the apparel section of the website, or check it out when you register through BikeReg.
• The NMMBA Trail Series - This year, the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association will be hosting a Trail Series featuring three events, the Traverse City Trail Fest (July 21), the Glacial Hills MTB Race (August 18), and the Bear Claw Epic (September 22).  For more information about the series, visit the website here.

As has been the case since our first year, ALL proceeds from the race go towards preserving, maintaining, and improving the Cadillac Pathway.  Our goal is to make the Pathway a year round, multi-user trail.