ON-LINE REGISTRATION ONLY

Early Pre-Registration closes Thursday, July 20 at 8:00 PM 

Late Pre-Registration closes Saturday, July 22 at 8:00 PM

No Day-Of Registration....Pre-Registration Only

No Day-Of Class Changes

Registration Check-In

ALL racers, please CHECK-IN at Registration at least 30 min before your race.  (If you have your race number, please bring it to check-in.)

Racers who have NOT raced a Series race this year will pick up their race number on race day.

Racers who HAVE raced a Series race this year will use their existing race number and will NOT pick up a new race number.

Award ceremonies will follow each class of racing.  Medals (1st, 2nd, 3rd) will be awarded for all classes/subcategories as follows:

Kids Comp (Age Group)
Citizen (Age Group, Clydesdale)
Sport (Age Group, Clydesdale)
Comp (Age Group, Single Speed, Fat Bike)
Marathon (Overall)
Elite (Age Group, Overall)

2022 Race Information

Bluff Rider's Charge has access to 7+ miles of wooded singletrack to tailor-make an ability-based course for each category. Your beloved trails will be prepped and ready to shred, courtesy of the Mount Kato Trail Crew!

The MNMBS, Mount Kato, and the Mankato Interscholastic Cycling Team re-joined forces in 2019 to re-energize the iconic Bluff Rider's Charge. All proceeds from the 2022 race will benefit More Families on Bikes, a Mankato-based organization that cultivates the family cycling culture as an independent activity provider.

Yes, it's back for 2022!

Free pre-ride? Yup, just sign-in with a representative of the Mankato Interscholastic Cycling Team and your daily trail pass fee is covered.

Complimentary hot dogs off the grill? You know it. They taste SO much better after a hot lap at The Mount.

Reindeer Games? Of course, even Rudolph can play...

Who: Bluff Rider's Charge participants, family members, and friends

What: Pre-Ride the 2022 Bluff Rider's Charge race courses* **

When: Saturday, July 23rd, 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm

Where: Mount Kato Mountain Bike Trail System

Why: soak-up the awesome Minnesota Mountain Bike Series culture and get some Mount Kato trail time!

*the elements of Kid's Comp will be open to pre-ride, the actual race course will be marked the morning of Sunday, July 24th.

**Citizen, Sport, Comp, and Elite courses will be fully marked.

Bluff Rider's Charge is thrilled to have the LocAle Brewing Co. and the Pelican Food Truck onsite at Mount Kato for the 2022 event!

In tandem with Bluff Rider's Charge, LocAle Brewing Co. will be releasing a West Coast-style IPA (available at Bluff Rider's Charge and the LocAle Taproom) brewed with Midwest grown hops from MN & WI. A portion of the proceeds will support the Mankato area cycling community!

Our friends at the Pelican Food Truck will be offering a variety of AWESOME menu selections: Walking Tacos, Loaded Gourmet Hot Dogs, Gouda Mac Bowls, and Nachos!

Oh, and we also have mountain bike races...

Use the 'Mount Kato Mountain Bike Trail System' link for a bird's eye view of the complete trail system, course map, and on-board video links!

*Specific course elements are subject to change based on course conditions on race day and discretion of the race director and property owner.

We introduced an all new Kid's Comp course in 2021--a 2-lap, 4 mile event using the Mount Kato trail sectors of:

Reed's Way, The Maze*, Back Home, & Cabin Run.

By popular demand, we plan to use this course again in 2022--spectators will have the opportunity to view and encourage Kid's Comp riders at their start, completion of Lap 1, and their finishes!

(*Kid's Comp will ride The Maze in the reverse direction (counter-clockwise) during their race. The Maze is NOT to be ridden in the reverse direction any other time, including during pre-riding.)

This classic 2-lap event at Mount Kato includes:

Kato Climb, Frog Pond Loop, Outlook Traverse, Back Loop, Gets Tight, Cedar Climb, Killer Toad Loop, Dead Horse, The Maze, Back Home, Cabin Run.

Marathon class riders have the added challenges of the Staircase climb and the technical descent of Ridge Run 2.0:

Kato Climb, Frog Pond Loop, Outlook Traverse, Back Loop, Gets Tight, Cedar Climb, Killer Toad Loop, Dead Horse, The Maze, Staircase, Ridge Run 2.0, Back Home, Cabin Run.

What better way to invest four hours of your day?!

UPDATE: the Sport Men & Women; Comp Women course has been amended--for 2022, this race course will use the Ridge Run 2.0 descent (previous editions have used 'Luge').

Sport class riders have the added challenges of the Staircase climb and the technical descent of Ridge Run 2.0:

Kato Climb, Frog Pond Loop, Outlook Traverse, Back Loop, Gets Tight, Cedar Climb, Killer Toad Loop, Dead Horse, The Maze, Staircase, Ridge Run 2.0, Back Home, Cabin Run.

UPDATE: the Elite Men & Women; Comp Men course has been amended!

OK, we're giving Mad Squirrel a rest for 2022...sigh.

All of your other favorites are still in the mix, who will adapt to the new race course and be on the box?

Kato Climb, Frog Pond Loop, Outlook Traverse, Back Loop, Gets Tight, Cedar Climb, Killer Toad Loop, Dead Horse, The Maze, Staircase, Ridge Run 2.0, Back Home, Cabin Run.

Mt. Kato area maps

Mount Kato Ski Area
20461 Hwy 66 | Mankato, MN 56001

Driving Directions from Minneapolis/St. Paul and points north:

Take US Hwy 169 South from the Twin Cities to Mankato/North Mankato. Exit right onto Riverfront Dr. and go about 8 blocks--turn left onto Sibley (under the overpass) and continue six blocks to right turn onto Blue Earth Street. Left at the stop sign onto Hwy 1 (old Hwy 66), follow for 1.5 miles to Mount Kato on your left.

Driving Directions from points south:

Take US Hwy 169 North/60 East. Turn left onto Hawthorn Road/Hwy 90 and go about 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Hawthorn Road/Hwy 90 and go about 2.5 miles. Turn left on Hwy 66 (south of Mt Kato) and less than a mile from there Mt. Kato will be on the right.

Camping is available at two locations near Mt. Kato:

Land of Memories