Isn’t Haiti deforested, where are the mountain bike trails?
Is Haiti safe? I heard there were a lot of gangs and crime in Haiti? How will you ensure my safety and the safety of my stuff (like my bike)?
How will a race help when people are still living in tents?
What am I going to see there?
Are there really any good singletrack trails in Haiti?
Will mountain biking erode away what little topsoil remains?
How much of the course is a road and how much is singletrack?
How much does the event cost?
What is included in the cost of the event?
Will locals be helping put on this event?
When will you have final route descriptions?
What type of support will there be in the race (nutrition, hydration, mechanical)?
Is the water safe to drink in Haiti?
Don’t they still have major problems with diseases like Cholera/Typhoid/Malaria? Will I be at risk?
What should I do to prepare before I go?
How do I get my bike there?
If this is point to point how will I get home?
I want to help! What should I do?
I want to race! What do I do?
Isn’t Haiti deforested?
Not entirely. The course will actually go through La Visite National Park. The park consists mainly of pine forest, grasslands, and some montane broadleaf forest at an altitude above 1,700 m (5,600 ft). The park offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching. A number of threatened species, including some endemic to the island of Hispaniola, can be seen in the park. Top
Is Haiti safe? I heard there were a lot of gangs and crime in Haiti? How will you ensure my safety and the safety of my stuff (like my bike)?
Contrary to popular belief (a phrase that applies across the board in Haiti), the country is actually quite safe. The murder rate in Haiti is one of the lowest in the western hemisphere, at 6.2 per 100,000 residents (US is 4.8) - far lower than popular tourist destinations like Costa Rica (10.0), Dominican Republic (31.0), and Jamaica (39.0). There are 10 US states and districts with higher murder rates, topped by Puerto Rico (22.6 per 100,000) and Washington DC (24 per 100,000). Statistically, your risk is 400% greater in the capital of the United States than in Haiti. [source Wikipedia]
That said, safety and security are our top priorities, and we will provide security for all the participants, and their gear, from the time you arrive until you (reluctantly) get on the plane at the end of your trip. All participants will be staying together in an athlete village and gear will be transported by race organizers. Standard travel advisories apply, and you should be vigilant against petty theft, etc. Top
How will a race help when people are still living in tents?
It is a well established fact that tourism is one of the best economic drivers for developing countries. In the neighboring Dominican Republic, for example, tourism accounts for 14% of the GDP. Haiti, lacking in infrastructure to support tourism, and battling a huge public perception of a country in shambles, is likely decades away from a large scale, sustainable tourism industry.
However, what we discovered in our early scouting trips is that it is the most “off the beaten path” destination in the Western Hemisphere, and for adventure travelers seeking trails that have never been ridden, Haiti is an undiscovered treasure. The average adventure traveler will spend approx $1000 in a week, nearly all of which will go directly into the hands of local merchants and vendors. With a nominal per capita income under $2/day, every trip provides the equivalent of 1.5 years of income. More importantly, it provides an incentive to develop skills and build businesses to support the adventure tourism ecosystem.
Finally, the trailblazers who venture to Haiti will be simply stunned by the experience, and will come back as vocal ambassadors to help shift the perception of Haiti through discussions with friends and sharing via social media. This is candidly the greatest impact you can have. Top
What am I going to see there?
Paul Clammer, who just published the definitive guide to Haiti with Bradt Travel Guide book, has written some descriptions for us on what your experience will be in each leg of the journey. You will be riding through rarely visited parts of the country and will come back with an experience to share with envious friends. Read the descriptions from Paul here.
Are there really any good singletrack trails in Haiti?
See for yourself on our media page
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Will mountain biking erode away what little topsoil remains?
We have partnered with the International Mountain Bicycling Association who is sending some of the world’s best trail development specialists to Haiti to improve upon the current roads and trails that are consistently washed out due to poor design. As a result of this project, the roads, trails and paths will be in substantially *better* condition for all users – primarily Haitians who walk them every day. For information on IMBA and trail maintenance, reference http://www.imba.com/about
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How much of the course is a road and how much is singletrack?
The course will start out in downtown Port au Prince in front of the National Palace. From there, the peloton will ride together for several miles to the outskirts of town where the climbing begins. The initial wall is a 5000+ foot ascent with grades up to 26%, on a surface that passes for ‘roads’ in Haiti. By the midway point, it is a packed dirt/gravel surface, and that progresses into rocky terrain for the remainder of the Day 1 ridgeline traverse. In La Visite National forest, you will discover single track that IMBA’s trail specialist Chris Kehmeier ranked among the best in the Western Hemisphere. For a great description, with pictures, read the blog post by former pro rider Steve Zdawczynski
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How much does the event cost?
Our Early Bird Special is $1499 good through September 20! (price then goes to $1600)
The costs for non-riders (family, friends, supporters, etc) is $1450
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$1600 bucks for a one day race? That’s just crazy! It would be so sad if this great idea gets messed up by greed!
$1600 covers all expenses (and cultural experiences) for 6 days/5 nights. If you are a resident Haitian and wish to work out alternate arrangements, please email us to discuss at mtbayiti@travelcology.com. And to be clear, all proceeds from this race are supporting vendors from Haiti, who will benefit from the tourism income. Top
What is included in the cost of the event?
Your registration fee includes all costs on the ground (lodging, food, transportation, full race support, cultural experiences, entertainment, etc). Flights to/from Port au Prince are not included in that total and information will be provided shortly. Proceeds from this race are supporting vendors from Haiti, who will benefit from the development of sustainable tourism income.
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Will locals be helping put on this event?
Absolutely! The majority of involvement regarding transportation, lodging, logistics and support will be handled by local Haitian tour operators, guides, porters, cooks, etc. There is a documentary film being shot of the event and the majority of the film crew will be alumni of Haiti’s Cine Institute. Top
When will you have final route descriptions?
The course consists of three phases over two days of riding. The ascent from the National Palace to La Visite National Park, a single track course through forest, and the descent to Jacmel. Race organizers have made 2 trips this year scouting out possible routes, and will be planning a third trip in November to GPS map the course. At that point, the ascent and descent is largely solidified, and the single track will be mapped in November. As with any event, last minute changes are possible and athletes will be notified during daily pre-race briefings.
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What type of support will there be in the race (nutrition, hydration, mechanical)?
There will be multiple aid stations along the course each day to provide water, race nutrition, mechanical and medical support, etc. We will also have roving medical and mechanical support in ATV vehicles to assist riders. A full medical evacuation contingency will be in place. There will also be SAG support for riders who do not make designated cut-off times. Specific brands for nutrition and sports drinks will be determined later.
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Is the water safe to drink in Haiti?
We take Food and Water safety very seriously, and will be taking all possible precautions to ensure that all participants have delicious food and drink that they can enjoy without concern. The race organizers will be eating and drinking alongside you, so trust that we have a vested interest. Top
Don’t they still have major problems with diseases like Cholera/Typhoid/Malaria? Will I be at risk?
As with any travels to developing countries, you are advised to consult an international travel doctor and the CDC website to ensure you have current vaccinations for Hepatitis, Typhoid, and Rabies. Race organizers will take all possible precautions to ensure that food, water, and sanitation within the camps is safe. We will also provide safety briefings upon arrival. See more detailed advice from our Medical Director here.
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What should I do to prepare before I go?
Train to make sure you’re in shape for the course. Check with you doctor to make sure you are up to date on any immunizations you may need. Book your travel arrangements into and returning from Port-au-Prince. Make arrangements to get your bike to Haiti. Haiti uses the same 2 and 3 prong electrical outlets as the US so your electronics will work without any adapters needed.Top
How do I get my bike there?
Most people will fly to Haiti and arrive in Port-au-Prince. This gives you two options. First, you can fly with your bike (most airlines will charge an additional fee for bikes, so check with the airline for their rules and regulations). Second, you can arrange to ship your bike with someone like FedEx or UPS and pick it up when you arrive in Port-au-Prince. Plan plenty of time ahead to make sure that your preferred carrier goes to Port-au-Prince and learn their rules for picking up packages. [Race organizers are currently in discussions with potential airline sponsors to offer reduced rates for bike transport] Top
If this is point-to-point how will I get home?
The race finishes in Jacmel on Saturday. There will be a huge celebratory party that night (think Mardi Gras). On Sunday morning, vans will transport athletes, along with their bikes and gear, back to Port Au Prince. Top
I want to help! What should I do?
Visit the Get Involved page for more information and ways you can help.
I want to race! What do I do?
Because this is the first year, the race is capped at 75 riders and will sell out. Click here to Register Now
