LOWER LAKE >> The NorCal Cycling League is holding a championship race, the Six Sigma Slinger, on Saturday and Sunday at Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake.
Six Sigma opened up its property so that the three local high school mountain bike teams (Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Middletown) have a place to ride after the Valley Fire in September of 2015 destroyed much of the Boggs Demonstration Forest on Cobb Mountain, which was home to the county’s previous mountain bike course.
In the spring of 2016, coaches of the local mountain bike teams pitched the idea of hosting a race to the county’s wine owners. Details were worked out during the summer and construction of a new course at Six Sigma began during the fall. Hundreds of hours have gone into the design and construction of the trail by local team members, who were assisted by representatives of the NorCal Cycling League, other NorCal Cycling teams and community volunteers. The 5-mile-long course is now complete and ready to host its first race come Saturday.
As part of the North Conference (Bay Area and northward), the Lake County high school teams race on Saturday. The Southern Conference teams (South Bay to Monterey area) race on Sunday. Races begin with the girls at 9 a.m., freshman/sophomore boys at 10:40 a.m. and junior varsity/varsity boys at 12:20 p.m.. Each lap is slightly less than 5 miles with approximately 450 feet of climbing. Riders race two to four laps depending on division.
All races are open to the public and no admission is charged. More than 900 riders are expected to compete during the two days of racing.
Volunteers are always needed. For more information on viewing and/or volunteering, visit norcalmtb.org.
