Mountain bike racing at Fountainhead included women too. Photos by Bruce Buckley Photography
There are two professional level mountain bike trails in Fairfax County where off-road races attract riders from all around, making it another aspect of sports tourism in this area.
Just like the hockey tournament at St. James in early April, hundreds come into town for races at the Fountainhead Park mountain bike trail in Lorton and the Lake Fairfax trail in Fairfax, creating a sporting event and with it, the financial windfalls of events like this. Whether it’s hotel rooms for out-of-towners, restaurants, sporting goods shops or bike stores, there’s sure to be money spent on these races. And tax revenue too.
They’ve even got world-class names. The races at Fountainhead are called “Cranky Monkey,” and at Lake Fairfax, it’s the “Rails to River Races.”
EX2 Adventures is a force behind these mountain bike races. “Our events are more than races, they are carefully crafted experiences that leave you feeling alive and reinvigorated, with new friends, and a sense of accomplishment that only comes from really challenging yourself,” read their description on the web. EX2 is a local organization that was founded in 2000 by Jim and Kimberly Harman to produce endurance events that fuel a passion for the outdoors; inspire a sense of belonging, community and social responsibility; and celebrate the achievement that comes from doing hard things, like mountain biking.
The next EX2 events scheduled include the Spring Backyard Burn at Lake Fairfax on Sunday, April 6; Spring Backyard Burn at Pohick Bay on Sunday, April 27; the Rails to River XC Mountain Bike Race at Lake Fairfax on May 4; and the Fountainhead Half Marathon in Lorton on May 18.
The finish line at Fountainhead in Lorton.