The NUE Race Series, short for the National Ultra Endurance Race Series, is a premier endurance mountain biking race series held in the United States. It is specifically designed to test the limits of both amateur and professional mountain bikers by offering challenging and grueling courses that push riders to their physical and mental boundaries.

The National Ultra Endurance Race Series consists of a collection of long-distance races held in various locations across the country. These races typically cover distances ranging from 50 to 100 miles (80 to 160 kilometers) and are characterized by their demanding terrains, including rugged singletrack trails, steep climbs, technical descents, and unpredictable weather conditions. Participants must possess exceptional endurance, technical skills, and the ability to navigate diverse and often unforgiving landscapes.

The series attracts a wide range of mountain biking enthusiasts, including elite riders, passionate amateurs, and adventure seekers who are eager to challenge themselves. It showcases some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the United States, taking riders through dense forests, rocky mountain ranges, desert landscapes, and picturesque valleys.

Given the quality of all the events in the series, Strambecco profiles all NUE Series events, but here are a few of our favorites:

1. Nestled near the sun-kissed landscape of St. George, Utah, the True Grit 100/50 is a testament to endurance, technique, and the breathtaking allure of the West in Santa Clara, Utah. Our team considers it to be one of the Best Mountain Biking Events in the Southwest and Utah.
2. Located in Coperhill, TN, Cohutta 100 – Big Frog 65 are some of the best mountain bike events in the Southeast, as rated by Strambecco and part of the National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE). These classics by Mountain Goat Adventures are back again and ones you won’t want to miss.
3. A truly famous or infamous (depending on the person) race, the Grizzly 100 & Big Bear MTB Gran Fondo is a Saturday spectacular of multiple mountain bike race lengths held in the gorgeous area of Big Bear Lake, California. Strambecco could not recommend this event more, and it consistently makes our list of Best Mountain Bike Events in the Southwest.
4. The Wilderness 101 is a classic backcountry endurance mountain bike race in Coburn, Pennsylvania, and is part of the National Ultra Endurance Series. The Wilderness 101 set the standard on the East Coast in the early 90s for ultra-endurance mountain biking, and at Strambecco, we consider it to be one of the Best Mountain Bike Events in the Mid-Atlantic.

The NUE Race Series also comprises the Mohican MTB 100, Shenandoah 100, Marji Gesick 100/50, Ring of Fire 100, Big Grizzly 100/75, Carrabassett 100, and Pierre’s Hole 100.

The NUE Race Series aims to provide a fair and competitive platform for participants, as it awards individual rankings based on accumulated points throughout the season. Riders earn points based on their finishing positions in each race, and the overall winners are determined by their cumulative point totals at the end of the series.

These races not only test physical strength and endurance but also demand strategic race planning and mental resilience. Participants must carefully manage their nutrition, hydration, and energy levels throughout the long and demanding races.

The NUE Race Series has gained significant recognition within the mountain biking community and has become a popular platform for showcasing the skills and determination of endurance riders. It is a proving ground for athletes seeking to establish their reputations in ultra-endurance mountain biking.

By providing a challenging and competitive environment, the NUE Race Series has helped to promote the growth of endurance mountain biking in the United States, inspiring riders to push their limits, explore new terrains, and forge lifelong memories of extraordinary physical and mental achievements.