The Vail Recreation District's (VRD) final schedule for the 2009 Mountain Bike Race Series will be announced soon and mountain bike racers are encouraged to begin preparing for the series by participating in Dogma Athletica's "Are You The Strongest Cyclists in the Valley" competition. The competition will take place March 16-20 at Dogma Athletica in Edwards in their state-of-the-art cycling studio.

Each evening during the contest week, a Dogma Athletica cycling coach will lead a warm up and then a 30-minute time trial course, while recording data for each contest and contestant. The time trial course will be the same each evening and the coach will track average wattage for the 30 min time trial and then formulate the watts per kilogram that a rider can power out for the course. Advance registration is required by calling Dogma Athletica at 688-4433.

This summer marks the 26th season of mountain bike racing in the Vail Valley. A final schedule for the VRD's 2009 mountain bike race series will be announced in April. Races are currently scheduled for May 27, June 10, June 17, July 22 and Aug. 5. Locations and dates are to be determined. Volunteers will be needed at each race and will receive a T-shirt and other items for their help.

Race series sponsors are currently being sought and will receive mention in race series collateral, advertisements, news releases and on end-of-series prizes. Photos of the 2008 race series are available by clicking here.

For more information on the Dogma Athletica contest, call 688-4433. For more information or to become a race series sponsor, call the VRD Sports Department at 479-2280.