1 cycling event in Georgetown, Texas

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Georgetown Trails Foundation and EnduraRace Trails present the annual DragonSlayer! DS2026

What started as 3 laps for a 78 mile event in 2017 still occurs on the gnarly rock gardens of Goodwater Trail around Lake Georgetown but now, as of 2019, utilizes the 30 mile loop option for more mileage per lap.

This event has achieved mythic status over the years as one of the hardest mountain-bike single day events in the country with up to 15 hours needed to complete the 100 miles, but with bail-out distances of 30, 60, and 90 miles available.

In addition to the classic format, we've upped the ante further and created the hands-down most wicked ride ever with a 200 mile, 36-hour category called The DragonSlayer Legendary. Can anyone even finish this monster? It may only happen once or once every few years, so don't miss out!

THE ROUTE:

The DragonSlayer uses all of the 26 mile traditional Goodwater loop with the addition of four extra miles to add up to the 30 mile distance. See the 2019 route below. It's the same for 2026.

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In the past, all laps were in one direction for the given year. This time around, you will ride in “washing-machine” style. That is, your first lap will be clockwise, second lap counter-clockwise, third lap clockwise, and so on. This should add a social element to the event as you can watch each other slowly degrade into base elements over the course of the weekend. The 10 mile kickers for the 100 and 200 distances are always counter-clockwise from the start finish to a sign that tells you to “turn around”. Yes, just like the Bonnie Tyler song.

Where it says “ranger station” on the map: what that means is there is a hut with no one inside to hear your complaint. There is however a water spigot on the back of these you can use to wash the blood and dirt off with or refill water too. They also make a good landmark for someone to find you if you phoned a friend for a rescue.

RULES:

1. 180 spots for the Classic and 20 spots for the Legendary. I may change this around based on demand.

2. No e-bikes allowed on USACE parkland and thus no e-bikes allowed in this event.

3. Riders of the 200 mile Legendary MUST start at 8pm on Friday 12/18/2026 and MUST finish before 8am Sunday 12/20/2026 to be considered a finisher. Additionally, they must finish 90 miles (3 laps) by noon Saturday 12/19/2026 (16 hours) or be disqualified and dropped down to the Classic. If they make the noon cut off, they will then have 20 hours to finish the remaining 110 miles which includes two 10 mile out-and-back kickers. They may ride their kickers anytime they wish, including in the opening three laps, but must have a full three laps completed by noon, kickers not withstanding, on Saturday to continue, so they should plan their time carefully. Riders of the 200 can bail at any completed lap distance and will qualify for the appropriate distance reward listed below.

4. Riders of the 90 and 100 mile Classic distances MUST start at 8am on Saturday 12/19/2026 and finish by 11pm 12/19/2026 to be considered a finisher (15 hours). They must also start their final lap BEFORE 6pm Saturday 12/19/2026. Riders of the 100 in addition to three 30 mile laps, must also complete their 10 mile out-and-back kicker before time expires at 11pm Saturday 12/19/2026. They can ride their kicker at any point during the event, but MUST start their final full lap before 6pm.

5. Riders seeking the 30 or 60 mile lesser distances may start at 8am, but must start before 1pm on Saturday 12/19/2026 and be off-course by 11pm Saturday 12/19/2026. They must also start their final lap BEFORE 6pm Saturday 12/19/2026. There is a 10 hour cut-off for 30 and 60 mile distance credit.

6. Anyone starting a lap after 2pm must have a helmet light and a bar light. It is recommended they have a set of backup lights too for safety whether its 2pm or not. Plan for needing up to six hours of lights for a lap.

7. There will be a sweep rider for the Classic which will hit the trail after the last person has started their final lap. There may be a sweep rider for the Legendary as well if anyone lasts long enough to even start a final lap.

8. Riders are allowed to pre-stage food, water, and supply caches along the route, but are wholly responsible for cleaning them up after their event within 12 hours of their finish. Likewise, there is no protection or guarantee that such caches will not be raided by other park users, animals, or participants, so consider how to label, lock and/or conceal them if that is a concern.

9. Riders can accept outside aid as long as they, their supplies, and their bike progress along the prescribed route 100% under their own power. Thus first aid, food, water, mechanical assistance, etc. may all be delivered by a support person along the route, but that aid cannot in any way physically advance the rider, their supplies, or their bike forward.

10. Riders can leave the course and return, by the shortest available route and by any means available, to the start/finish for first aid, mechanical/break-down repair, etc. reasons BUT must return to the exact point where they left the course to continue their event if they wish to do so. Time cut offs are still in effect. They must have GPS tracking verification available after the event to prove they picked up where they left off.

11. Riders can switch bikes during the event as well as Frankenstein together anything that they can pedal under their own power and can borrow parts or even full bikes from others.

12. Riders can help other riders on course apart from physically moving them, their bikes, or supplies forward. So mechanical help is fine, pushing someone's bike or carrying them or their pack for them is not. That is a disqualifier (perhaps they are too injured or drained to continue anyway) for the person accepting the help. You can loan out certain things you are carrying though such as water, food, backup lighting, tubes, sealant, or other spare parts however without it being a disqualifier even though the person being helped are technically now carrying such for you.

13. All riders MUST ride with a GPS tracker AND with a charged cell-phone. Riders must be prepared upon request to show the GPS record of their ride in order to receive credit. Riders will be asked to send a link of their GPS tracker link to the organizer so he may keep track of where you are during your ride both for your safety, schedule planning, and for accountability. Backup battery chargers are encouraged.

14. All riders MUST CHECK IN before starting each new lap or kicker so we know to keep track of you if you go missing.

15. All riders abandoning their ride MUST notify the organizer by email, text, or in person before they leave the event.

16. All participants, riders or spectators, must sign a waiver online through bike-reg or in person at check-in.

17. Absolutely no sales for products or services of any kind at allowed by the USACE on parkland other than offering donations for camping to help defray the rental fee for the two group shelters.

18. All pets must be on a leash at all times and all pet waste must be collected and properly disposed of by owner.

19. Pack it in and pack it out. Leave no trash behind please.

20. No drinking from glass containers in the park. You can pour into a tumbler and then carefully dispose of the glass bottle.

THE SCHEDULE:

Friday 12/18/2026 3pm set-up.

Friday 12/18/26 6pm-7:30pm check-in for all distances.

Friday 12/18/2026 Riders meeting at 7:45pm and planned 8pm DragonSlayer Legendary 200 starts.

Saturday 12/19/2026 6am-7:30am check-in for DragonSlayer Classic

Saturday 12/19/2026 Riders meeting at 7:45am and planned 8am DragonSlayer Classic starts for all distances (if only planning to do one or two laps, start before noon).

SATURDAY 12/19/2026 11pm DragonSlayer Class cut-off time (or at 15 hours). Finish late by even 1 second and it does not count!

SUNDAY 12/20/2026 8am DragonSlayer Legendary cut-off time (or at 36 hours). Finish 1 second late? No credit.

Pack up and leave a trash free park by 10am Sunday.

The organizer reserves the right to actually sleep on occasion during what for them is a 40+ hour event, so please try to self-manage off hours.

AWARDS:

The 2026 DragonSlayer is not a race (though time is kept and published). The goal is to finish. That's it…just finish. Trust me, that's enough. Once you are out there for multiple laps you will realize that is not very easy especially for the longer distances. The DragonSlayer is about you versus the trail, you versus the weather, you versus your mind telling you to quit, sometimes you versus your bicycle that refuses to cooperate, and often times all of the above. Finishing is quite the award in and of itself. But we have some DragonSlayer traditional awards to provide as well:

30 mile (1 lap) - BabyDragon distance. We will encourage you to train for next year to do 60+ miles.

60 miles (2 lap) - DragonMaster rock trophy

90 miles (3 laps) - DragonSlayer rock trophy

100 miles (3 laps plus kicker) - DragonSlayer rock trophy plus 100 mile buckle until they run out.

200 miles (6 laps plus 2 kickers) - DragonSlayer Legendary rock trophy, 100 mile buckle until they run out, plus a dragon-themed commemorative sword (it's a real sword).

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A note on the rocks…Tradition is that on your last lap, you choose your rock though sometimes your rock chooses you. It should be at least the size of a large baking potato and the more gnarly it is as Swiss-cheese limestone, the better. Haul your rock with you on your last lap and bring it to the organizer to get marked up. That is your trophy, and you will treasure it for the rest of your life. Your rock does not necessarily have to be from the Georgetown area, but if it is not, it should have some special significance for you and at least be potato-sized.

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We will also be getting jersey designs together for finishers to order on their own nickel as in years past. The jerseys are designed according to the distance you achieved. Yes the Legendary jersey will be…well…Legendary.

Jerseys from 2018 and on:

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NUMBER PLATES AND CHIP TIMING:

We use a Race-Result timing system which has a antenna mat you ride over to record time events. There is no promise, warranty, or guarantee that timing will work perfectly as this is not a race, but we are pretty good at timing, so that would be unforeseen. Chip timing can do funny things after the clock strikes midnight, so for the Legendary, it is more of an automated check-in device than anything else.

DragonSlayer Legendary riders get a specific number plate that lets everyone know what they signed up for and may imply that they are completely insane for doing so.

DragonSlayer Classic riders get their own version of the number plate which will still be hard-core as they have all been in the past.

Register by November 16th and you will get a number plate with your name on it. I will even let you choose your 3-digit or less number first come first serve. Use the event contact form to request your number.

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All plates will include a single RF chip attached with 3m adhesive on the back. I would encourage you throw an additional level of packing tape over this as the race is so brutal, we have had chips dislodge before.

If you show up wanting to ride using your TMBRA plate or anything else other than the DS2026 plate, you will be criminally trespassed and banished from the event for a period of no less than 99 years with no refunds.

PARKING:

Park along Park Road 8 which is the left turn after entering the park. There will be some traffic cones and signs and perhaps an eager volunteer (6am to 8am) to direct you there. PARK ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE in the grass as you enter as close as you can to the Cul-de-Sac without parking in the Cul-de-Sac unless you are a volunteer or event staff. You will ride past your car twice a lap along Park Road 8 making it easy to re-supply.

The main parking lot as you enter the park gate is available as overflow though we've never needed it in the past. Park Road 8 is a half mile long.

We will hold vehicle traffic on Park Road 8 five minutes before and after the mass starts for the Legendary and for the Classic or until the entire peloton is onto the trails.

START/FINISH AND AID STATION:

The start/finish line is at the end of Park Road 8 in the Cul-de-Sac along with basic bathrooms, water jugs, packet pick-up, first-aid (very minimal), and bike wash.

There are more water jugs on the other side of the lake at the Westlake Parkway trail-head.

Water is also available via spigots at Camp Tejas, Hogg, Overlook, and Cedar Breaks parks.

There are additional trail-side bathrooms at Camp Tejas and Overlook. Cedar Breaks as well, but they are well off-course.

CAMPING/LODGING:

Primitive tent/car camping is available at the start/finish area first come first serve. There are water spigots for drinking water and bike-wash, plugs for charging lights, and a couple of typical park-land restrooms available. 100 spots available for tents (parking your vehicle along park road 8 after dropping off your camping gear in the cul-de-sac area of the start/finish). It is greatly appreciated if campers can donate towards the shelter rental fees to offset costs for the organizer. A QR code will be available onsite for this or you can send directly to @Todd-Galbraith-6 on Venmo.

There are improved and shelter campsites a short ride distance away at Russell Park which are available through the Lake Georgetown website (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234665)

There are RV slips available a couple of miles away at Jim Hogg park which can be booked through the Lake Georgetown website (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232612), but they are a ½ mile off the route and a several mile ride from the start/finish.

There are also campsites at Camp Tejas (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234643) and Cedar Breaks (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232544?tab=campsites) but these are much much further away.

WEATHER:

The event will occur rain or shine, within reason. The event is insured for inclement weather that would create a significant hazard for riders and/or significant trail damage in the opinion of the organizer. This means you could still have to ride in some amount of rain, cold, heat, etc. If this is a concern, consider purchasing your own event insurance. A lot can happen in a 36 hour event window, so be prepared.

INSURANCE:

The event will be covered by the required amount of insurance provided by OBRA/NOBRA to satisfy the USACE. Participants will sign a waiver and be expected to handle all their own medical bills, or other costs associated with this event.

DISCLAIMER:

The Goodwater trail is an unforgivingly brutal test of bike handling skills, endurance, and strength. It is a 30 mile loop of which 20 is rock-garden to include about 2000 vertical feet of climbing per lap. It is a very difficult trail. Participants should not attempt unless they have pre-ridden the lap to first know what they are in for. They should likewise train for their distance goals. Sturdy bikes and strong tires are a requirement to finish and even the best will at times break.

Participants are expected to self-rescue. You can call the start/finish and we can assist with calling 911 to your location, but your ultimate survival whether in success or failure solely resides in your own hands.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS:

The Georgetown Trail Foundation is dedicated to planning, building, maintaining, and advocacy of mountain bike and hiking trails in the Georgetown area. The famous Katy trail is their masterpiece and thanks to their hard work, more and more land is being set aside for additional trails in the future.

EnduraRace Trails, formerly just EnduraRace, is headed up by the race organizer known as Todd Eric who is also known for timing, race promotion and event management for mountain races across Texas and Arkansas. He is also an accomplished trail designer and builder whose current capstone work is the Forrest Creek Ranch trail which has been described as “sacred geometry” in terms of carefully built flow for maximum speed and fun. He plans to work some trail building in soon for both Lakeway and Georgetown as his day-job schedule allows.

More sponsors to come we hope!

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESS:

Ride your own pace and do not race. Don't blow up lap 1 trying to stay up with the pro-level riders or anyone else faster than you for that matter. Even if you are the slowest out there, you may still turn more miles than the faster riders in the end and take home the rock trophy they wanted but their ego stole from them.

If you ride with a buddy, you need to ride to the lower common denominator and not push each other past the lessor's ability. Recognize though when it is time to tell your faster buddy to push on without you and let them take their best shot at their distance goal.

Plan your work and work your plan. Hydration and Nutrition coupled with realistic pacing goals are the key. Plan for 24oz of water with electrolyte mix (4-6oz sips at a time) and 300 calories (1 gel per 20 minutes) per hour max. Anymore than this and it blocks up your gut or washes out your electrolytes. Add protein to the mix after third hour and on to the end. Save the caffeine for the final lap. Go sparingly on thick solid foods without a lot of water (24 oz/hr max).

Keep a steady pace in the rocks with "light-hands" to keep the bike from bogging down. You need a solid 7mph average which means 5-6mph in the rocks and 10-12mph in the smooth. If a climb pushes you towards zone-4 heart rate, get off your bike and without a pause, walk the hill. At the top, get on and ride again immediately. Stay in zone 2 and 3 as much as you can.

Do not sleep unless you are SURE you can get going again after a short nap and keep your pit stops to 5 minutes or less barring repairs, etc. A 15 minute break can quickly become a 50 minute break and cost you your finish. Roll in, resupply, clean/oil chain and stanchions and leave for next lap. DO NOT SIT OR LAY DOWN if at all possible! Do not let your body think it is time to rest or that it is getting a rest. Remember when your body tells you it can do no more, you are only about 40% into it's full endurance capacity.

Hammer nutrition, pickle juice, Infinit, Tailwind, and other endurance racing products are fantastic for keeping you going but you have to TRAIN WITH THEM to know how your body responds to them. Do not try a new product the day of the DragonSlayer. Stick to the tried and true.

Pre-ride the course. Start now even if one lap is a struggle. Go out-and-back from each trailhead 5-10 miles each direction spread across several rides until you have the fitness to complete a full lap. Yes the trail needs some maintenance right now, but by the time of the event, it will be pristine if the weather cooperates.

Good Luck and keep the rubber side down!