Ring of Fire 50

The Ring of Fire 50 is part of the Mudslinger Events race series, the same organizers behind the legendary High Cascades 100 in Bend, Oregon. These races are known for rugged backcountry courses, demanding fitness, and excellent logistics.

For me, this race was a late-season pivot. My original plan had been to tackle the High Cascades 100, but after months of hard training, racing, and a bout of COVID-19, I was burned out. Choosing the 50-mile Ring of Fire was the right call — less commitment than 100 miles but still a serious test on similar trails. The timing worked out perfectly: we combined the race with a vacation, spending the week riding around Sunriver after race day.

Lead-Up & Training

I came into the race fit but not at peak form. Earlier in the year, I had trained heavily for long gravel and MTB events — rides like BWR Vancouver Island, Gran Fondo Ephrata, and a few XC races. Back in spring, I did an 85-mile, 10k-ft climbing day that built my endurance and tested my nerve health from straight bars, but by September, my mountain bike volume was lower than ideal. I crammed a few MTB sessions beforehand to sharpen skills and boost confidence.

Going in, I was rested but not razor-sharp, and I knew I'd need to rely more on aerobic base than recent specificity.

Course & Conditions

• Terrain: Fast volcanic singletrack, sandy corners, technical rock gardens, and flowing forest descents
• Weather: Cool morning, warm afternoon, heavy wildfire smoke (AQI 150–160)
• Start Altitude: ~5,400 ft
• High Point: ~7,000 ft
• Location: Deschutes National Forest near Mt. Bachelor

The course started with 1,500 ft of climbing in the first 15 miles, broken up with brief descents to recover, but there was no letting up — if you eased off for even a few seconds, someone appeared on your wheel. The volcanic dirt made traction unpredictable, and the combination of moon dust, sandy corners, and random rock gardens kept you on edge. Having never pre-ridden these trails, my reaction times were constantly tested.

The wildfire smoke added another layer of difficulty. Racing hard at altitude in 150+ AQI conditions meant my heart rate averaged 157 bpm for nearly five hours — one of the highest averages I’ve ever held in a long MTB race.

Race Strategy & Execution

My plan was simple: go hard early to secure position before the singletrack choke points, then manage effort on climbs and recover on descents.

• First half: I felt strong, pushing close to threshold and staying aggressive on climbs.
• Second half: Fatigue set in, and I noticed power fading on the longer grinds.
• Descents: I rode conservatively after a few close calls — the loose, sandy conditions punished mistakes fast.

I spent parts of the day trading spots with riders, especially one who climbed slower but descended faster. For the most part, though, I rode solo, finding my rhythm where I could.

Crashes & Challenges

I had two notable crashes:

1. Mile ~36: Rear tire slid out on loose sand, scraped my knee — minor but a wake-up call.
2. Mile ~45: Hit a rock, high-sided, landed on my throat, and ended up with dirt and leaves in my mouth. This one rattled me.

After the second crash, I backed off slightly, focusing on finishing without major damage. By the final five miles, my drivetrain sounded awful from the moon dust, and the deep sandy doubletrack at the end made things brutal.

Nutrition & Hydration

• Hydration: Osprey pack + Roctane mix, topped off at the midway aid station
• Bottles: Roctane mix for quick access
• Fuel: Gels every hour, supplemented with real food
• Carbs: ~*from stats* g/hour

Having a pack helped me stay on top of fueling in fast, flowy sections where bottle grabs weren’t practical.

Gear & Setup

Bike Setup

• Bike: Specialized Chisel
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT Deore 12-speed, 32T / 10-51T
• Fork: Fox SID Control, 120mm
• Wheels: Roval XC
• Tires: Ground Control 2.35 (front/rear)
• Dropper: Fox Transfer post
• Pedals/Power: Garmin power meter pedals

Lessons Learned: My tires were overkill for this terrain — too heavy and too aggressive for the sandy, high-speed trails. A lighter, faster-rolling file tread setup would have been ideal.

Performance & Results

• Time: ~5 hours moving
• Placement: 28th / 62 in Open Men
• Heart Rate: 157 avg
• Normalized Power: Strong early, dropped after mile 17
• Average Speed: ~10.8 mph (faster than my usual 7–8 mph on local trails)
• Downtime: ~5–7 minutes total

To crack the top 20, I’d have needed about 20 minutes faster — doable on a cleaner day, with better acclimation and no crashes.

Takeaways & Reflections

This race is a fitness + handling exam rolled into one. Unlike the High Cascades 100, which rewards endurance pacing, the Ring of Fire 50 pushes you toward XC-style intensity for hours on end. Between the smoke, altitude, volcanic terrain, and two crashes, finishing felt like a real accomplishment.

Key lessons for next time:

• Pre-ride the trails to know where the sand traps and rock gardens are.
• Run lighter, faster tires better suited to high-speed Bend trails.
• Sharpen descending skills and cornering — free speed without burning matches.
• Practice managing reaction time for faster, flowier singletrack.

This race pairs perfectly with the High Cascades 100 as part of a season-long plan: train for endurance at HC100, then sharpen top-end power and technical speed at the Ring of Fire.

Related Races

• High Cascades 100 – 100 miles of backcountry endurance MTB around Bend, Oregon.
• Mudslinger Events – Organizers of some of Oregon’s best mountain bike races.