Dads on Dirt and D&D Bikes bring a new spin on the MILFDURO …. DARKDURO!

Milfduro … in the DARK!  New segments! New route! Same enduro-format race in Milford! But now at night with lights!

“What’s an enduro?” …. Enduro timed means that ONLY THE FIVE STRAVA SEGMENTS LISTED WILL COUNT TOWARDS YOUR RACE TIME. Overall route time doesn’t matter.

This is NOT a typical downhill-type enduro. The segments are a mix of climbing and downhill single-track trail. Part adventure, part race … ALL FUN! We’ll be riding the Milford Trail BACKWARD after sunset. Lights required of course. If you haven’t ridden the Milford Trail backward, you’re in for a very different experience! It’s like a whole new trail.

• The race will consist of Strava segments along the OFFICIAL MILFDURO DARKDURO race route. Race day is any day YOU pick between OCTOBER 14 THROUGH OCTOBER 22, 2023.

• DO NOT RIDE THE TRAIL BACKWARD DURING THE DAY.

• YOU MUST RIDE THE ENTIRE ROUTE AFTER DARK (at least half hour after sunset).

• THE SEGMENTS MUST BE RIDDEN IN ORDER ALONG THE ROUTE for your segment times to count. 

Here’s the FULL MILFDURO DarkDuro Race route. DO NOT RIDE THE TRAIL BACKWARD DURING THE DAY.

The 5 segments that will count in the race will be:

1. DarkDuro 1
2. DarkDuro 2
3. DarkDuro 3
4. DarkDuro 4
5. DarkDuro 5

Directions from Start to Finish (Following the RACE ROUTE):

1. You’ll be starting from the Janowski Park (Milford Trailhead). The route starts on the north/west side of the parking lot along the baseball fence. Follow the trail into the woods. Hang left when the trail merges to cross the bridge. Once across, go left (opposite of what the sign says – remember – we’re riding the trail backward). Ride to the first paved path crossing.
2. DarkDuro 1 starts just on the other side of the path and continues until the next paved path crossing. The segment ends before the path.
3. Continue on the trail across the paved path. The next transfer of trail is the longest before the next race segment. You’ll meet another path crossing (at the DAM). Continue on the trail onto the new pipeline section field. You’ll climb to the top of the hill going north.
4. DarkDuro 2 starts in the middle of the turn at the top of the hill on the pipeline. You’ll take a quick downhill section to climb back up to the highest part of the Milford Trail. Turning right and back into the woods. The segment ends after the steep down where the trail runs along the path, snaking between trees and just before a very rooty climb up.
5. Follow the trail to the top of the new jump line. You do not have to go up the jump lines backward, but extra credit if you do! The next segment starts at the top of the jump line, next to the big rocks.
6. DarkDuro 3 begins at the first corner going downhill next to the fence. Follow the trail north to where it begins to turn to the east toward the YMCA. You’ll make a short climb to another slight downhill. The segments ends at the next sweeping left turn.
7. Keep following the trail for the second longest transfer. You’ll end up next to the YMCA for a bit before starting to make your way back toward the pipeline (still in the woods). You’ll climb a bit before the next segment starts.
8. DarkDuro 4 starts at the top of the climb in a big rock garden. This segment will continue until the next paved path crossing.
9. DarkDuro 5 segment starts just on the other side of the paved path and continues until it ends at the parking lot.

CLASSES:

Depending on the participants, there might be more categories. 

• MEN (16+)
• WOMEN (16+)
• 16 and under

AWARDS AND PRIZING:

• Top 3 places awarded to the racers with the fastest cumulative Race Time over all 5 segments. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS:

• DO NOT RIDE THE TRAIL BACKWARD DURING THE DAY.
• You must complete the whole route, but overall route time does not matter.
• Your race time is determined by adding up your times on each of the race segments only. SEGMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER along the route, on the same day, at least a half hour AFTER sunset (sunset is 6:50pm).
• All segments must be recorded and SUBMITTED BY THE SUBMISSION FORM by 5pm on October 22. ONLY SUBMIT 1 RIDE. You can use a GPS or phone to record your ride. Just make sure it’s saved to Strava BEFORE 5 pm.
• Strava is NOT perfect. Segments sometimes get started late, or finished early. I will monitor the submissions and check to make sure that the routes trigger correctly. If there are errors in a submission, I will correct them by looking at your rides and logging when the segment SHOULD have started and ended.
• DO NOT RIDE THE ROUTE DURING THE DAY.
• Make sure your ride is set to public, and your privacy settings DO NOT hide the beginning or end of your ride.
• You are allowed to go back and re-ride a segment (in the event of a fall etc) as long as all other segments are done on the same ride. 
• Yes – you can do the route as many times as you want over the time period. BUT YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR RIDE with the form in order for it to count. ONLY SUBMIT the ride you want to count for your race time. DO NOT submit multiple rides.
• Ride solo or in a small group of friends. It’s always fun with friends!
• This event is 100% self-supported. Plan ahead and bring enough fuel, hydration and LIGHTS to ensure survival. 2 lights are recommended. Ride within your limits. 
• Don’t be a jerk! Have fun. Be safe. Heed to hikers, walkers, kids, horses, deer, bunnies, chipmunks and the legendary Milford Panther.
• Did I mention DO NOT RIDE THE TRAIL BACKWARD DURING THE DAY.
• Questions? Shoot an email.

   Here is a link to the registered riders: