For Riders

Subject to Change: Registration and bib pickup will begin Thursday, August 15 from 3-6 pm at Tin Mountain Conservation Center on Bald Hill Rd in Albany. Registration and bib pick-up continues at the base of the Auto Road on Friday, August 16 from 2 to 7 pm. Registration will open again on Saturday morning from 6:15 am to 7:30 am. Note – your support driver MUST have the Auto Pass from your bib to drive up the road. Plan well. At 7:45 am, the Auto Road closes and support vehicles are out of luck at that time. Don’t wait to register! Click here for the race day schedule for more information.

Bring your driver’s license and please have the confirmation email from bikereg. Just in case.

You MUST sign a waiver to participate in the MWARBH. Before race day, please check your all your emails and junk mail . for race related emails. Emails will be sent to those who have not electronically signed a waiver. Those who haven't signed, will be required to sign a waiver at registration before picking up a bib and race info at registration. Please sign before arriving at registration as it makes the process easier and quicker.

Support drivers must head up between 6:15 am and 8 am. The Auto Road closes to uphill vehicle traffic at 8 am sharp.  Support drivers, with their passengers, start descending the Auto Road beginning about noon. That means, drivers will spend approximately 4-5 hrs at the summit; “home of world’s worst weather”. Everyone should be prepared with food, water, warm clothes (hat, gloves, warm jackets, blankets, etc). Your car is your primary shelter. The summit buildings, and indoor rest rooms open at 9 am. PLEASE do not 'camp out' in the State Park building, or you will be asked to leave. Port-a-johns are available outside. Drivers should have food, water and clothing for themselves and their racers. Drivers need to drive all the way to the summit and not ‘leapfrog’ with riders – no cars are allowed on the road after the race begins.

The Sherman Adams building at the summit is open for the season. The Sherman Adams building, a modern summit building, houses The Sherman Adams Visitor Center, a cafeteria, restrooms, gift shops, and the Mount Washington Observatory and its museum. Do NOT plan to spend the entire time in the building. Those who 'set up camp' inside for an extended period of time will be asked to leave. Your car is your primary shelter during your time at the summit.

Portable toilets, water, commemorative fleece blankets, finisher medals, and first aid are available at the finish on the summit. You should be prepared with additional food, water/energy drinks and warm, dry clothing in your support driver's car. There will be 5 gallon bottles of water to refill water bottles. Cups will not be provided nor will there be individual plastic bottles of water for environmental reasons.

We will have a ride share information during registration times and a meeting spot near registration on Saturday morning. Support drivers are not guaranteed and finding you one is YOUR responsibility, not that of the Mount Washington Auto Road or Tin Mountain Conservation Center. Please review the support driver information on our driver page.

Dogs are a part of a family, too. Although we love our own dogs as well, we DO NOT allow dogs in the event festival area or parking areas. If you have a Therapy or Service Dog, please make sure they are wearing their identifying collar/leash for easy identification.

Our age group waves are color coded and start heading off at 8:30 am with the Top Notch racers (red) first. Check the event schedule. After that, waves will be staged and started approximately every 5 minutes in the order below. Listen for race announcements to be sure you line up with your wave:

 8:30 – Top Notch Women and Men, red bibs.
 8:35 – 19 & Under and 20-34 Women and Men, blue bibs
 8:40 – 35-39 Women and Men and Non-Binary Racers, yellow bibs
 8:45 – 40-44 and 45-49 Women and Men, pink-purple bibs
 8:50 – 50-54 and 55-59 Women and Men, green bibs
 8:55 – 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75+ Women and Men, silver bibs

Where can I warm up?

Racers typically warm up on a trainer at their car or in a reserved spot in tent row. Racers will not be allowed to ride “just a little bit up” the Auto Road. No riders are allowed on the Auto Road before the race as support vehicles and support drivers start up the Auto Road around 6:15 am. Warming up on Route16/White Mountain Highway can be dangerous and should be a last resort. If you choose to warm up on Rt. 16. you MUST ride single file. The Auto Road / State Police have the right to pull bibs from those not complying with the single file rule. The parking lot will be very busy with cars coming in. We strongly recommend blinking lights and ask that you stay hyper-vigilant regarding  other drivers and riders. Drivers are often looking at the mountains, more than the road. Please be careful.

Can spectators take the Cog Railway up?

Spectators are welcome to take the Cog Railway to the summit. Keep in mind that the Cog leaves from the base station in Crawford Notch, which is on the opposite side of the mountains from the Auto Road. Be sure to time your visit appropriately and book early.

Are helmets mandatory?

Yes. We also strongly recommend front and tail lights as it can be quite foggy.

Is there mechanical support before the start?

Yes! Mechanical support will be available at the base before the race. Support is provided by REI Co-Op North Conway. Check with them if you have some last minute needs.

Emergency Medical Services will be available at the base and at the summit. The medical team will be in contact with aid stations via Auto Road stages and HAM radio operators. If you need assistance, please seek the nearest race staff, volunteer or HAM radio operator. There is no mechanical support along the Auto Road.

Your lunch ticket will be attached to your bib along with any additional lunch tickets you may have purchased. Keep those safe because you will need them when you get back down. Lost lunch tickets are not able to be replaced.