Thank You to all that rode, endured & Conquered the 2024 Natchaug Epic!
The 2025 edition starts registration on November 1, 2024
2024 Full Results
Registration
Info coming November 1, 2024
Date:
Spring 2025
Location:
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT
Beginners Discouraged. Novices Warned. Weather be Damned. The fifth edition of “The Quiet Hell” will feature some modest changes to this exploration of the most formidable roads in Connecticut’s Northeast corner. Here are some details:
WEATHER PROTOCOL: The event is held rain-or-shine. Organizers reserve the right to shorten the route due to extremely foul weather. Rain bag service available Epic, Endeavor and Explorer categories. (See below for details.)
ENTRY DEFERMENT POLICY: While Domestique Events DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS for any reason, organizers will allow entrants to either transfer their entry in the Natchaug Epic to another person OR defer the entry to the 2024 Lime Rock Park Epic being held October 13. Entries may only be deferred one time. The deadline to do so is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 18. To request a deferment and/or transfer send email to admin@DomestiqueEvents.com.
INSURANCE SURCHARGE. A rider’s entry includes a $5.30 surcharge to pay for USA Cycling’s insurance underwriter. (Hence, our fee increase.)
WAITLIST POLICY. THE TOTAL CAPACITY OF THIS RIDE IS 850 AND IS EXPECTED TO SELL OUT. Organizers studied registration history to determine field limits in each category. Field limits in each category will be observed until February 1 when organizers may then adjust the the limits based on rider demand and waitlists. On Wednesday, March 20 organizers will “re-balance” the field limits to allow riders on the waitlist to participate in categories with open slots while respecting the total capacity of the event.
RIDER COMMUNIQUE: Final Communique with complete route maps and event details will be distributed to registered riders on Wednesday, March 20. (Please don’t pester us for the routes prior to that date.)
WEATHER POLICY. We ride rain, snow, sleet or shine. See our “Rain Bag” policy under “Epic/Endeavor Shared Details.” Cancellation with full refunds will be considered ONLY If the State of Connecticut declares a state of emergency.
RIDER BENEFITS. All entrants will receive a groovy musette, a number plate, timing chip, route inventory sticker, two well-stocked stops with freshly prepared food, one hydration/comfort stop, SAG service, neutral mechanical support, professional psychological support (no, seriously, we have a guy), spiritual guidance from resident yogi (no kidding, we have one of those, too!), post ride meal, beer/drink ticket, full results and access to a photo gallery distributed post ride.
ADDITIONAL MEAL TICKETS. Additional meal and drink tickets will be available at registration at $25 and $7 respectively. Support staff, friends, and family are welcome to join. There is a full restaurant and bar at the start-finish venue.
SUPPORT ROUTE. Private support vehicles are encouraged and welcome in key locations. A Support Route auto map will be available online and at registration. Support vehicles are welcome at rest stops to help serve their riders. The map will guide supporters to key course locations as well as bakeries, cafes, orchards, farm stands, a winery, a cidery, a distillery, shops and scenic elements of the region. NOTE: This is a savage course in early spring conditions. Organizers strongly recommend supporters use a four-wheel drive vehicle with high-ground clearance if they wish to drive the Support Route. Organizers cannot, and will not, assist in the extrication of stranded vehicles.
START PROTOCOL. There will be a mass start for each category for which flaggers will provide guidance for ONLY the first six miles. Riders may start on their own during the 20 minute period after the designated start time. Riders may not start early. Riders who reach the first timed segment prior to 9:02 a.m. will not be eligible.
FIELD LIMITS. The total event field limit is 850. No single field may exceed 300. Organizers will draw from wait lists after March 20 for any categories sold out while staying within the total event cap.
E-BIKE PROTOCOL
Organizers welcome the use of Class 1 e-bikes for the Natchaug Epic. E-bike riders are asked to notify the registrar at packet pickup. E-bike riders will be scored and denoted on the results but will not be eligible for awards. Teams seeking to be scored for the Quinebaug Cup competition may not include a member aboard an e-bike.
EXPRESS DETAILS
- The 32-mile Express option will be at a tourist pace with several support riders.
- The route has six unpaved sectors, one of which is challenging, and 1,730 feet of climbing.
- Although the route includes the first timed segment (a.k.a. Le Cuisinart), timid riders may take a paved bailout route.
- The Express route will have a water stop at Putnam Cyclery.
- The Express is a friendly tour, but each rider will be timed for two segments.
EPIC/ENDEAVOR/EXPLORER SHARED DETAILS
- There will be one aid station (water, toilets, nutrition, mechanic and SAG) and two fully stocked rest stops including warm, freshly prepared food for the Epic and Endeavor riders. Vegan, gluten free and dairy free options available.
- The Explorer route will have one aid station (water, toilets, packaged nutrition and SAG) and one fully stocked rest stop shared wit the above routes.
- The Express route will have one full stocked rest stop courtesy of Putnam Cyclery. Vegan, gluten free and dairy free options available.
- The Epic, Endeavor and Explorer routes will be scored as Gravel Fondos with timed segments using computer chips. Course signage will be placed to alert riders to the start and finish of each timed segment.
- Riders will be scored based on the cumulative time of all segments.
- For the Epic, Endeavor and Explorer categories, gift baskets and awards will be presented to the top three finishers in the following age groups for each gender: Open, 45-plus, 55-plus.
- Epic, Endeavor and Explorer groups will have a lead moto that will provide escort on all sections save for the Airline Trail. Abandoned Village and West Thompson Lake section.
- Riders must finish by 3 p.m. to be eligible for awards,
- All riders must finish by 5 p.m.
- Although the course will be marked, riders are responsible for navigation. Digital routes will be distributed via email prior to the event. Cue sheets will be available at registration.
- Although SAG service and rolling mechanics will patrol the route, riders should be equipped and prepared to make their own basic roadside repairs.
- Rain bag service will be available at Rest Stops 2 and 3. Riders may pack dry clothes at the start area and/or shed clothes at each Rest Stop to be returned to the finish area. Drawstring bags will available upon request at Rest Stops 2 & 3 to drop off wet clothes. Those will be returned to the finish celebration by 3 p.m.
- Team Support Vehicles are welcome at each of the three rest stops subject to parking guidelines.
EXPLORER DETAILS
- The Explorer route is 48 miles with 12 unpaved sectors and 2,900 feet of climbing.
- The Explorer is a friendly tour, but each rider will be timed for three segments.
- The Explorer will have an aid station and one fully stocked rest stop.
ENDEAVOR DETAILS
- The Endeavor route is 61 miles with 15 unpaved sectors and 3,900 feet of climbing.
- The Endeavor will have a minimum of four timed segments.
EPIC DETAILS
- The Epic is 82.5 miles with 20 unpaved sectors and a minimum of five timed segments.
- The total elevation gain is 4,600 feet.
NEW FOR 2024: QUINEBAUG CUP TEAM COMPETITION
Within the 2024 edition will be a new team competition, The Quinebaug Cup. A trophy will be awarded to a top men’s team and a separate trophy to a top women’s team.
These are the rule of the competition:
- This only applies to the 83-mile Epic category.
- No team member may be on an e-bike to be eligible.
- There is no special registration required; simply designating a team/club affiliation on registration will be used for team tabulation.
- For the men’s competition, the fourth rider of a team in EACH segment will be factored into the cumulative scoring.
- For the women’s competition, the third rider of a team in EACH segment will be factored into the cumulative scoring.
- There are no limits to the size of a team from which the timed riders may be drawn.
- All riders factored into the scoring must complete the full course by 3 p.m.
- Teams are responsible to ensure their riders are registered properly with their team assignment.
- A rider’s jersey must match the team with which they are registered.
- Composite teams with mismatched jerseys will not be eligible.
- Teams must wear a jersey that clearly designates every rider’s affiliation.
RECON RIDE
Putnam Cyclery
11 a.m.
Limited to 100 riders, this will be a 32-mile review of the Express Route at a show-and-go pace with veteran riders providing guidance. The route will include six of the unpaved sectors featured in Sunday’s Epic, two of which will be used for timing purposes Sunday. Beginners are welcome and a bailout option allows riders to avoid the dreaded Wakefield Pond Road (aka Le Cuisinart) sector. Pre-ride coffee and pastries will be served along with some post-ride libations. Packet pickup and event merchandise will also be available.
Note: all proceeds benefit the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program.
To register, click here: https://www.bikereg.com/natchaug-recon
Bike Shops
AIRLINE CYCLES66 Main StreetEast Hampton, CT 06424860.365.5496www.airlinecycles.com BRUMBLE BIKES 166 Main Street Westerly, RI 02891401.315.0230www.brumblebikes.com LANDRY’S BICYCLES WORCESTER 20 Jolma Road Worcester, MA 01604 508.713.9695www.landrys.com PEDAL POWER WILLIMANTIC**1171 Main StreetWillimantic, CT 06226 860.347.3776www.pedalpowerct.com PUTNAM CYCLERY*58 Pomfret Street Putnam, CT 06260 860.928.0011www.downtownputnamcyclery.com SOUTHBRIDGE BICYCLES930 Main Street Southbridge, MA 01550508.764.3657www.southbridgebicycles.com *Official Natchaug Epic merchandise partner, host of the Saturday morning Recon Ride. ** Host of the Saturday afternoon Chris Brits’ Silk Road Mountain Race presentation
Lodging
The Comfort Inn and Suites in Dayville (Killingly) is our official lodging partner. They can be reached at 860-779-3200. The hotel is located at 16 Tracy Road, just off Interstate 395. This is a clean and affordable hotel. They offer a discounted rate for Natchaug Epic riders for those who book prior to Feb. 26. Please use this link to take secure the discounted rate: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/KT87C2
There will be limited on-site camping at the Thompson Speedway on a first-come, first-serve basis. Portable toilets will be in position and the Raceway Restaurant is open Saturday until 11 p.m.
These premier coaching services are offering discounted packages and select amenities for riders seeking to use Natchaug Epic as an early season test of both fitness and skills.
Each coaching service will be offering unique packages to guide a client up to and through the event. Participating riders will receive a discounted entry and enjoy special on-site amenities established for each coaching service.
Registration for the coaching promotion ends on February 15, 2023. Please contact coaches for more information.
“We get to look at a lot of fitness data from our clients but the Natchaug Epic format allows us to actually ride alongside our clients, hit those segments hard, and then offer some coaching adjustments throughout the event,” said Aidan Charles, founder of Charles Coaching and Nutritional Services.
“There is so much more to riding an event such as this than improving your power-to-weight ratio,” said Chris Brits, founder of Velo Legitimo coaching. “It’s a long event that presents great challenges for athletes who have only 12 weeks to prepare.”
“To have a stable of athletes all on the same calendar schedule is a fantastic coaching opportunity,” said Bart Lipinski of ProThirteen Coaching. “Moving them from a lot of indoor work to a challenging outdoor event – which includes logistics, clothing, nutrition and hydration – will be like prepping a pro team for a spring classic.”
The CT Cycling Advancement Program aims to put every child in Connecticut on a bike. Click to learn more.
The Last Green Valley is the 35-town National Heritage Corridor in eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts. Click to learn more.
The Wyndham Land Trust is working hard to protect land in the Quiet Corner of Northeast Connecticut. Click to learn more.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is providing medically-supervised summer camps and programs free of charge to children with serious illnesses and their families throughout the Northeast. Click to learn more.
Best Buddies in Connecticut offers One-to-One Friendship and Leadership Development programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Connecticut. Click to learn more.
WINY is a heritage radio station that transmits in AM stereo on 1350 kHz. Its studios and transmitter are located in Putnam, Connecticut. Click to learn more.
Ron Manizza’s weekly podcast, Bicycle Talk. Click to give it a listen