Moots Sponsors Dirt, Sweat and Gears Through 2010

Moots Cycles and Dirt, Sweat & Gears announced Moots’ two year commitment to sponsor the 2009 and 2010 Dirt, Sweat & Gears 12-hour endurance mountain bike race festival in Fayetteville, TN. Moots crew members will travel the 1,402 miles from their high altitude home in Steamboat Springs, CO to oxygen-rich Fayetteville, TN to partake both as partners and racers in one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing mountain bike events.

Scheduled for May 9, 2009, the third annual Dirt Sweat & Gears (DSG) race is on USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike National Ultra-Endurance Calendar. Last year’s DSG event drew 300 competitors from 31 states and Canada, including pros Nat Ross, Tinker Juarez, Josh Tostado, Rebecca Rusch and Pua Sawicki.

“Moots is psyched to team up with Dirt Sweat & Gears”, said Rob Mitchell, president of Moots Cycles. “Clay and Grant have created a competitive race environment while maintaining a grassroots flavor that allows all participants to be festive in a close, fun and tight-knit atmosphere. It’s an event we feel mirrors a lot of what Moots is about.”

Also known as “The Mountain Bike Shindig”, Dirt, Sweat & Gears is a weekend of activities for competitors, support crew, family, friends and fans. Festivities kick off on Friday, May 8 with a bike-lovers film and the not-to-be-missed 20” wheel nighttime time trial on the infield of the DSG racecourse.

Following Saturday morning’s Kiwanis Club’s Sunrise Breakfast, the 12-hour endurance race (aka the “Main Event”) begins promptly at 9:00 am with a LeMans start. Racers will battle one another and the clock for the next 12 hours over the 10+-mile fast, yet challenging course, gaining 1,500 ft. of elevation per lap.

Pro Men, Women and Single Speed Open classes will complete for an event-high $11,000 cash purse with equal payouts to both Men and Women of $1500, $1000 and $500 for first, second and third place finishes. Amateurs will pedal for more than $15,000 in prizes. Additionally, Moots has donated a mountain bike frame for the DSG raffle grand prize. Each $10.00 donation equals an opportunity to win the Moots frame with proceeds benefiting SORBA to help in their continuing efforts to provide trail accessibility for the Southeast mountain biking community.

“Moots’ pledge allows us to enhance the overall event for 2009 and 2010”, said Clay Higgins, DSG event promoter. “We’re excited to have a company with a rich cycling heritage onboard. We look forward to Moots bringing their one-of-a-kind titanium bikes and Rocky Mountain spirit to Fayetteville. I encourage everyone to come for the race and stay for the weekend!”

Festivities continue throughout race day with live music, a vendor village, random prize drawings and a kid’s race. A bonfire, BBQ and awards ceremony will immediately follow completion of the race. Camping and RV spots are available with port-o-lets, running water, trash collection and recycling.

Dirt, Sweat & Gears is a 12-hour endurance race and weekend festival in Fayetteville, TN. Now in its third year, the 2009 event is scheduled for May 9. DSG hosts 300+ racers from 31+ states. Pro riders compete for an $11,000 cash purse while amateur racers walk away with over $15,000 in prizes including frames and complete bikes. For more information, visit: www.dirtsweatandgears.com.

Moots Cycles, based in Steamboat Springs, CO has been a respected leader in the cycling community for over 28 years. The company is known for hand building the finest quality titanium road, mountain, cross and commuter bikes, select parts and components from its facility in the Rocky Mountains. Moots bikes are enjoyed by cycling enthusiasts worldwide for their unsurpassed ride quality, attention to details and superior craftsmanship. Moots frames and parts are available from high-end specialty bike dealers throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. For more information on Moots, visit: www.moots.com.