Saturday, November 14, 2026

Austin Rattler

Reveille Peak Ranch, Burnet, Texas. A 20-mile loop of gripping singletrack and fire roads in the Hill Country. 86 days out.

Your distance

This scales Saturday long rides. 60 miles is the Leadville Trail 100 MTB qualifier — finish in eight hours or less.

Venue

Reveille Peak Ranch · 105 CR 114, Burnet, TX. Parking opens 5:00 a.m. Arrive early.

Course

Marked 20-mile loop. Orange signs, black arrows, orange flagging. Designed for passing — fewer choke points than a typical XC course.

Aid

Stations at start/finish every 10 miles. 20-mile riders get no aid access — pack it. 40-mile riders pass once; 60-mile twice. GU, stroopwafels, Bobo’s, pickle.

Cutoffs

60-mile: last lap must start by 12:30 p.m.; course closes 3:30 p.m. Qualifier coins require a sub-8-hour 60 and presence at awards.

How to ride it at 268 W

Target 300 W FTP is the training number. Race day is not a 20-minute test. Singletrack will force you below threshold. Fire roads are where you spend the fitness.

First 20 minutes

Cap surges. Let the nervous corral go. If you are breathing through your mouth on the first climb, you already blew the 60.

Rideable fire road

Hold about 230 W (low 80s % FTP). Seated, quiet hands. That’s all-day race pace, not hero watts.

Punchy rises

Stand, hit ~281 W for 30–90 seconds, sit and swallow it. Do not take these to Z6 unless you are racing the 20.

Three-lap map

  1. Lap 1 — position and rhythm. Eat at the line even if you don’t want it.
  2. Lap 2 — the race. This is where the over-unders pay off.
  3. Lap 3 — whatever is left. You trained durability for this hour.

Race-week checklist

  • Self-seeded corrals. Corral 1 is top-100 history — don’t invent a spot.
  • Tubeless, two CO2 or a pump, spare hanger if you have one.
  • 60–90 g carbs per hour. Rehearse this on every Saturday long.
  • November in Burnet is usually 50s–70s. The Texas sun still cooks on exposed ranch road — one light layer and a full bottle off the line.
  • Technical skill is free speed. If you only trained on the trainer, find dirt in October.
Official race guide