The Wente 8 Hour Mountain Bike race traditionally takes place on the first weekend in June each year.

This event is the most memorable mountain biking weekend in Bike Monkey’s quiver of events. It serves a mission of giving back to a program that has been shaping future generations of mountain bikers in California for 20 years. It is dedicated to paying it forward. Since 2016, the race has contributed to the maintenance of the extensive Wente trail system by providing equipment, machinery, supplies, organizing trail work weekends, and covering labor costs.

We utilize only a portion of the trails at Wente, a system primarily created to serve the scouting community. On race weekend, you have the rare opportunity to experience them for yourself.

The event is hosted on trails that were envisioned, built, and cared for by Kevin Smallman. His legacy lives on through Wente, and we are committed to honoring it through this race for as long as we can. However, none of this would be possible without the support of participants like you.

These trails have introduced thousands of children, who otherwise might not have had the chance, to the joy of mountain biking. Please consider joining one of our trail work weekends, and donating to the cause in ways that extend beyond just participating in the race.

The Wente 8 Hour MTB race takes place at a private, 3,000 acre Scout camp just outside the town of Willits, California which is about 1.5 hours north of Santa Rosa, and 2.5 hours north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Once you've reached Willits, California, the camp is another 30 minutes into the hills and down a dirt road.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON DRIVING FAST.

10MPH MAX SPEED WHILE DRIVING! This year we're implementing a zero-tolerance policy on driving fast inside Camp Wente. You, and your team will be disqualified immediately from any form of competition if you are caught driving at an excessive speed. Upon further infraction, and you will be directed to leave the property. It is not safe, and it damages the roads. DO. NOT. DRIVE. FAST.

Breaking our rules is grounds for you and your team being disqualified from competition, or worse, asked to leave. These rules are important as they keep everyone safe, comfortable, and also check a few boxes that we're mandated to adhere to.

Drive Slowly

A 10MPH speed limit is posted along the dirt road into camp. Do not drive faster than 10 miles per hour. Doing so creates dust, damages the road, and makes camp unsafe. Many of our trails drop right into the main road, and people hike and bike along them constantly. We have a zero-tolerance policy for people driving fast into, or out of camp. If you are caught doing this, you and your team will be immediately disqualified from competition without protest.

No Dogs

Dogs, sadly are not allowed at Wente. Keep them home. Find a sitter. Do not bring them to camp, or you'll be asked to leave.

No Cannabis

This is a BSA rule, and affects all scout camps. If you are caught using cannabis on the property, you will be asked to leave.

Quiet Hours

We ask that all campers adhere to reasonable quiet hours. at 10:00 PM each night, please reduce your volume as to not disturb your neighbors. Everyone is either racing the next day, and has to get a good night's sleep, or raced all day and needs a good night's sleep.

Vehicle Allowances

1 Vehicle allowed per soloist

1 Vehicle allowed per 2-person team.

A 2nd vehicle requires payment of $75.

2 Vehicles allowed per 3-person team

A 3rd vehicle requires payment of $75.

A van-camping site counts as your vehicle. You do not get an extra vehicle by purchasing a van-camp site.

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No RVs

RVs are no longer permitted at Wente due to the conversion of the existing RV parking spots into tented camping platforms. Do not arrive with an RV -- you won't be allowed to park it on the property.

No Camper Trailers

Tow-behind camper trailers are no longer allowed at Wente. We simply do not have room.

10 Minute Unloading

Take no longer than 10 minutes to drop your belongings at your campsite if you wish to unload before parking. Take note, that you may not end up getting to park in the lot you wish to park in if you don't unload and park efficiently enough.

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Important Parking Rules

Wente parking lots must fill in a particular order. Lot #1 must fill first, then lot #2, and finally lot #3. Your arrival order will dictate which lot you end up being parked in as directed by our event staff. It is impossible to predict where you will end up being required to park. A particular lot might have space in it when you first arrive, and then fill by the time you've unloaded your vehicle. Thus, it's crucial that you minimize the amount of time you spend fussing around with your stuff. We advise you follow our 10 minute unloading rule (see above).

Lot #1:

The nearest campsites to lot #1 are: Sunrise Ridge, Moss Shadows, Madrone, Sky High, Trails End, and Little Dipper. If at the vehicle checkpoint you are told to park in lot #1, then these are the campsites we recommend. If you arrive early, you'll likely end up being placed in lot #1.

Lot #2:

The nearest campsites to lot #2 are: 12 O'Clock High, Turkey's Roost, Oak Flats, Diamond W, Wishbone, Sailors Rest, Sleepy Hollow, and Big Dipper. Lot #2 is also the closest parking lot to Van Camp, and is right next to the team tent zone. We generally start placing cars in lot #2 in the early to mid afternoon hours after lot #1 has filled. You may not park in lot #2 unless directed to do so.

Lot #3 & 4:

Lots #3 and 4 are reserved for people who arrive on race-day because lot #1 and 2 are probably already full. If you are arriving on race day, you will not be allowed to drive your vehicle past the last open lot. Period. The race start/finish area is already built, full of people and ready to go. We cannot make exception to this rule.

The nearest campsites to lot #3 & 4 is the newer Family Camp zone on the southwest corner of the lake where RV camp used to be.

Arrival Day and Pre-Riding

Race Day!

Chill Day.

The very first race we ever produced was an 8-hour mountain bike race, and we've kept the same race format for almost two decades. There are nuances.

Human powered mountain bike

It's a mountain bike race, and the best rig really comes down to your own personal preference. We don't get wound up about equipment, but reserve the right to simply say "NO" to anything that's deemed unsafe.

E-Bikes are not allowed to race.

8:00 AM Start

Each team will designate one individual on their team to start the race at 8:00am. It doesn't matter who starts the race, and you do not have to let us know. Our RFID scoring equipment will automatically determine this. If you are on a team, do not send more than one teammate at a time to complete a lap!

Solo or Relay

Teams are made up of 1, 2 or 3 people. An individual may race as many laps as they wish in succession, but each member of a team must complete at least 1 lap in order to be eligible for awards. When the individual racing wishes to stop, they must "tag-out" by high-fiving the teammate who will take their place. Tag-outs must happen immediately after passing under the finish line, in the transition zone.

A soloist, if you haven't guessed, simply keeps going as long as they can until the time limit is reached.

The Bonus Lap Rule

Our 8 Hour race format consists of between 8 and 9 hours of potential racing. The implementation of a "bonus lap" rule keeps things interesting. Here's how it works:

The race starts at 8:00AM, and the course "closes" at 4:00PM. When the course closes, no more competitors are allowed to start a final lap. However those who made it out to start their final lap before the 4:00PM cutoff will have until 5:00PM to finish, creating a scenario where competitors might find themselves racing as many as 9 hours.

How the race is scored

The most laps accumulated in the shortest amount of time wins.

Results are provided in real-time with digital touch-screen displays located in the festival near the finish line so you can see how your doing throughout the day.

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APPROX: 8.3 Miles | 1,100' of Climbing

Over and over and over again. The fastest recorded lap times hover just over 37 minutes.

A couple hundred (at least) above-ground, level platforms exist at Wente with enough room to sleep 2-3 people each. These tented camping platforms are first-come/first-serve. You don't even need to put your own tent on them, but some opt to do just that, creating a secondary bug barrier. There are fourteen different camp zones at Wente.

Campsite Access

When you first arrive at Wente, we ask that you head straight to a campsite, and claim your spot. Then, you must park your car in one of the designated parking areas.

VAN CAMP - REQUIRED FOR VANS - YOU MUST REGISTER

Overnight van camping is permitted in Van Camp, and nowhere else. It is imperative that you register your van/adventure vehicle or any vehicle greater than 20 feet in length. Van camp is located in a designated area on moderately level ground. Signs and staff will point the way.

There are no utility hookups in Van Camp. However, restrooms and showers are nearby. All spaces are not perfectly level, and it is a good idea to have leveling blocks with you. You will need to follow the instructions of on-site staff to park your vehicle properly when you check in.

Wente features flushing toilets and hot showers. You don't need to pee in the woods. In fact, please don't pee in the woods.

Inclusions

Your race entry includes:

• 3 days of venue access including a private lake for swimming, fishing, and access to boats during boating hours.
• A parking pass as outlined in our Vehicle Allowances section, above.
• A post-race meal is included for every competitor
• Lots & lots of beer, both traditional and NA
• Coolers full of Guayaki until it's gone
• The option to buy additional meals
• A kick-ass commemorative t-shirt
• Level, tented platforms for camping
• Open field camping in designated areas
• Access to all mountain bike trails in addition to the race course
• Access to Wente's pump track
• The 8 Hour race
• All venue maintenance and use fees are included
• A substantial portion of your entry fee goes to support the Wente Scout MTB program and multiple volunteer trail workdays hosted by Bike Monkey which are free to attend!