SATURDAY
MAY 9
Dauset Trails Nature Center
Jackson, GA
RACE 3 FORMAT
THIS RACECOURSE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FOR ALL GRADES
2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade Rangers will compete under an “individual time trial” format during the Race at Expedition 3. Here’s how their races will be conducted:
Racecourse direction is clockwise
This race uses a NET TIME format, which refers to the time it takes an individual to cross the start and finish line mats. It excludes how long it takes a rider to cross the start line from their starting position. Each rider will have a race plate on their bike containing a microchip that tells our timing computer when the Ranger’s bike passes over the start and finish lines.
Each grade level and gender (e.g., 3rd Grade Boys) will have a designated start time (see the schedule below). Rangers will be lined up in the start chute based on their finish times from the Race at Expedition 1, with the fastest riders staged at the front of the pack.
Each row of Rangers will contain five athletes. Rangers will be sent off on the course row by row with a buffer time between each row. This is designed to help manage rider safety.
5th Grade Rangers will graduate to a more traditional mountain bike race format during the Race at Expedition 3. Here’s how their races will be conducted:
This race uses a GUN TIME format, which refers to the time it takes to finish a race from when the starter's gun is sounded until crossing the finish line, irrespective of when the competitor actually rides across the start line. There will be wave offsets for each group of Rangers that take off after the initial gun time and all finish times will be compiled together for the results. (Note: we do not use an actual starter gun, but rather a PA announcer who tells riders when to “GO!”)
5th Grade Boys and 5th Grade Girls will have designated start times (see schedule below). Rangers will be lined up in the start chute based on their finish times from the Race at Expedition 1, with the fastest riders staged at the front of the pack.
Rangers will be sent out on the course in waves of 15 student-athletes at a time. A small buffer time will be given between each wave of Rangers, designed to help manage rider safety.
The top 10 fastest riders (5 boys/5 girls) in each grade level will be recognized at the Medal Ceremony at 2:40 p.m. We encourage everyone to come together as a huge Trail Rangers family at the medal ceremonies to cheer on your teammates from across the state.
RIDE THE COURSE
Let’s go for a ride on the Expedition 3 Race Course at Dauset Trails Nature Center in Jackson, GA. Watch this POV video to see what Rangers can expect on this course.
EXPEDITION DAY INFORMATION
Whether you are attending this Trail Rangers Expedition Day as an athlete, coach, parent, or community member, here’s all the information you need to maximize your experience!
VENUE INTERACTIVE MAP
DAUSET TRAILS NATURE CENTER
360 Mount Vernon Church Road
Jackson, GA 30233
This is an interactive map for Expedition 3: The Guardians of the Trail. The map provides location pinpoints for features such as the General Store, Restrooms, and more. It also shows our Trail Rangers race course and the location of our interactive zones. Zoom in and click around!
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking is $10 per vehicle
If you don’t have an Express Parking Permit hang tag (see below), please have your credit or debit card ready as you approach the parking attendant. This will help keep the line moving. Parking in the ProGold Lubricants Parking Lot is card only - NO CASH.
Expedition Express Parking Pass - Available for purchase until 5 p.m. on April 1
Pay Once. Park Always. Order your Express Parking Pass hang tag that allows you to enter the ProGold Lubricants Parking Lot via the Express Lane. There will be no need to stop to do a transaction, plus you’ll save money! Express Parking Passes are $20. That’s a 50% savings over event day pricing!
FOOD VENDORS
Georgia Cycling offers a variety of onsite food vendors at our races. Check out the information below to learn about who will be onsite for this race.
Serving lunch from
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Serving amazing pops from
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Snacks available from
7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
RULES OF CONDUCT
We welcome the community to attend our events! Our athletes enjoy it when there is an enthusiastic crowd, but we ask all spectators to follow a few simple rules. This will ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.
STAY BEHIND THE RED TAPE: Keep your body and your belongings behind any tape with the Specialized Bicycles logo. If you lean over the tape to take a picture, you may inadvertently make contact with a rider.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS: Mountain bikes will be moving around you at high speeds, so please do not walk around looking at your phone! Stay alert and obey all crossing guard instructions when attempting to cross an active racecourse.
NO FLY ZONE FOR DRONES: Nobody may operate a drone at this race.
CHEER FOR EVERYONE: If there is a rider going by you, shout out words of encouragement! You don’t have to know the person to support them.
LEAVE NO TRACE: We are guests on this property, so please clean up after yourself and throw all trash in the proper receptacle. If you are in the forest, carry all trash out with you.
THIS EVENT IS DOG FRIENDLY…FOR FRIENDLY DOGS
Your furry friend is welcome to attend this race; however, we have a few simple rules to keep in mind…
Dogs must remain on a leash at ALL times. Unleashed dogs and their owners may be asked to leave and not return.
Please clean up after your dog. Poop bags are not provided, so please bring your own supply.
Do not let your dog enter a Pit Zone tent for a team other than your own. Remember, most tents have food tables, which could be a tasty distraction.
SPECTATOR AREAS
Looking for the best place to watch the race? We have created special spectator areas that offer prime viewing opportunities. Our spectator areas are marked on the interactive map above. Of course, you are welcome to watch the race wherever you feel comfortable, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the competition.
A hammock in the woods provides an excellent vantage point to watch the race. Keep your hammock at least 10 feet away from the course and DO NOT stack your hammock. Violations of this policy may result in being asked to leave.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
RULE BOOK
Be prepared for race day! All Rangers, coaches, and families should be familiar with the 2026 Rule Book. Failure to comply with the rules outlined in the 2026 Georgia Cycling Rule Book may result in a penalty for an individual or team. (Rule Book to be published on December 1, 2025)
Georgia Cycling has a chief referee on-site who will be enforcing all rules and regulations. Only a Head Coach or Team Director may file a protest at Race HQ.
RANGER RACE PLATE
Each Trail Ranger will be provided with a single race plate for their bike to use at all Expedition Days. The race plates contain a timing chip that tracks a rider’s time. Race plates must be positioned vertically on the bike; otherwise, they could result in a timing error. Replacement number plates will be available at the Race HQ tent for $25.
RACE HQ
The Race HQ Tent is your source for all competition-related questions:
Race Plate Replacements
Questions related to rules
Filing a protest (Head Coach or Team Director only)
Emergency Medical Information
COACHES MEETING
The Coaches Meeting will provide an up-to-the-minute overview of race day. Since event information can shift at the last minute, at least one representative from every team must be present at this meeting.
NEUTRAL SUPPORT POWERED BY FREE-FLITE BICYCLES
While Rangers are expected to show up with a fully functional bike, mechanical issues can happen on race day. Free-Flite Bicycles is onsite with experienced and skilled mechanics to help assist. Please note that should a part need to be replaced, we do not offer complimentary replacement parts. Free-Flite Bicycles may have a limited selection of replacement parts available for purchase. Parts are subject to availability.
BIKE FETTISH PIT ZONE
The Bike Fettish Pit Zone is the base camp for all teams on race day. Each Trail Rangers local program has a space for tents, bikes, etc. This is a walking zone only! No bike riding in the Pit Zone.
Vehicular access is restricted to those with a Pit Zone Pass and only during designated times. Otherwise, there is no driving a vehicle inside the Pit Zone. Your local program lead will coordinate with coaches and parents on the process of getting supplies into the Pit Zone.
SPECIALIZED STAGING AREA
The Specialized Staging Area is where Rangers line up for the race. Student-athletes must follow the staging times posted below. If a rider is not in staging on time and misses their call-up, they will be automatically placed at the back of the field, with no exceptions.
One coach per team is permitted to enter the staging area. Parents are not permitted in the staging area at any time.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM POWERED BY CARDIOTRONIX
Keeping participants and spectators safe is a top priority for the Georgia Cycling Association. That’s why we have a highly experienced Emergency Medical team onsite. This team is comprised of qualified EMTs, Paramedics, Registered Nurses, and Wilderness First Responders. Our team is in contact with local law enforcement and first responders to share event itinerary, racecourse maps, evacuation routes, and other pertinent information.
| SCHEDULE FOR EXPEDITION 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Pit Zone Opens for Load In | Vehicles must have a permit to access Pit Zone |
| 8:30 a.m. | ProGold Lubricant Parking Lot Opens | |
| Course Pre-Ride (coach:ranger ratio applies) | No riders may enter the course after 9:45 a.m. | |
| 9:30 a.m. | General Store Opens | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Coach Meeting | Gather at Race HQ |
| Skills Zone Open | ||
| Activity Zone Open | ||
| 10:30 a.m. | Pit Zone Closed | All vehicles must be out of Pit Zone by this time |
| 10:40 a.m. | All 2nd Grade Boys must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 11:00 a.m. | RACE: 2nd Grade Boys | |
| 11:10 a.m. | All 2nd Grade Girls must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 11:25 a.m. | RACE: 2nd Grade Girls | |
| 11:30 a.m. | All 3rd Grade Boys must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 11:50 p.m. | RACE: 3rd Grade Boys | |
| 12:00 p.m | Skills Zone Closed | |
| Activity Zone Closed | ||
| 12:00 p.m. | All 3rd Grade Girls must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 12:15 p.m. | RACE: 3rd Grade Girls | |
| 12:20 p.m. | All 4th Grade Boys must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 1:00 p.m | Skills Zone Open | |
| Activity Zone Open | ||
| 12:40 p.m. | RACE: 4th Grade Boys | |
| 12:50 p.m. | All 4th Grade Girls must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 1:05 p.m. | RACE: 4th Grade Girls | |
| 1:10 p.m. | All 5th Grade Boys must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 1:30 p.m | RACE: 5th Grade Boys | |
| 1:40 p.m | All 5th Grade Girls must be in Race Staging Area | |
| 1:55 p.m | RACE: 5th Grade Girls | |
| 2:00 p.m | General Store Closes | |
| Skills Zone Closed | ||
| Activity Zone Closed | ||
| 2:20 p.m. | Pit Zone Opens for Load Out | Vehicles must have a permit to access Pit Zone |
| 2:40 p.m | Medal Ceremony | |
| WAVE TIMES FOR EXPEDITION 3 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATEGORY | STARTS WITH # | STAGING TIME | START TIME | PULL TIMES* | LAPS | TOTAL MILEAGE | PLATE COLOR |
| 2nd Grade Boys | 1-100 | 10:40 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | ORANGE |
| 2nd Grade Girls | 101-200 | 11:10 a.m. | 11:25 a.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | CORAL |
| 3rd Grade Boys | 201-300 | 11:30 a.m. | 11:50 a.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | RED |
| 3rd Grade Girls | 301-400 | 12:00 p.m. | 12:15 p.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | FUSCIA |
| 4th Grade Boys | 401-500 | 12:20 p.m. | 12:40 p.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | YELLOW |
| 4th Grade Girls | 501-600 | 12:50 p.m. | 1:05 p.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | PURPLE |
| 5th Grade Boys | 601-700 | 1:10 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | GREEN |
| 5th Grade Girls | 701-800 | 1:40 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. | 30 min | 1 | 2 miles | BLUE |
*Pull times remain at the discretion of event officials and are subject to change to ensure course and rider safety.