Palos Meltdown Information - WE ARE ON MODIFIED RAIN ROUTES - SEE INDIVIDUAL RACE MAPS BELOW
The Palos Meltdown has been the Chicagoland area's premier mountain bike event for decades. With racing for all ages and abilities, this event draws riders from all over the region. The Meltdown is held as a fundraiser for Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (CAMBr - a registered 501(c)(3) organization) to help build and maintain the extensive and varied system of mountain bike trails at Palos - now close to 30 miles in total. The race is held within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County's Palos Forest Preserves, on an extensive singletrack trail system built and maintained by CAMBr, just half an hour outside of Chicago. The trails are flowy, fun, and built with all levels of rider in mind. The event strives to keep a fun family atmosphere while providing a both challenging and fun race experience for first timers to the seasoned elite athlete.
Racers can pick up their racer packet on Saturday August 5, from 12 PM until 3 PM, or on Sunday from 7:30 AM onward. We recommend Saturday to beat the crowds!
2023 Schedule
8:45 am – Opening Ceremonies
9:00 am – First Timers and Juniors
9:15 am - Adaptive Mountain Bike (aMTB)
10:15 am – Men’s Novice
10:35 am – Women’s Novice
11:00 am – Awards presentation – First Timers and Adaptive
11:45 am - Awards - Novice
12:00 pm – Men’s Sport
12:20 pm – Women’s Sport
1:10 pm - Raffle winners announced
1:30 pm – Kids Race
2:00 pm – Pro/Expert Men
2:01 pm – Pro/Expert Women
2:15 pm – Comp Men
2:16 pm – Comp Women
2:30 pm – Awards presentation – Sport
5:00 pm - Awards presentation - Pro/Expert and Comp
Special Categories:
Fat Bike is only available in the Novice, Sport, and Comp races.
Single Speed is only available in the Novice, Sport, Comp, and Pro/Expert races
Clydesdale is only available in the Sport race.
Adaptive Mountain Bike (aMTB)
Strictly for riders with mobility impairments
E-assist permitted for this race only
RAFFLE - Every registered racer from First Timer's to Expert will be entered into a FREE raffle for the following goodies:
SRAM - 1. Mystery high-value item not yet released to the public, 2. Hammerhead Karoo 2 GPS Computer, 3. Time Pedals
The Forge - $100 Digital Gift Card
Vertical Endeavors - 10-Visit Pass and a Top Rope Lesson - Combined $255 Value!
CASH PRIZES - See https://runsignup.com/Race/PalosMeltdown/Page/Awards
