Shelden's BIG Bang XC MTB Race

A traditional XC MTB race has returned to Stony Creek Metro park, and its Shelden Trails in Shelby Township, MI.  Mashing up exciting machine built single track, an old school climb trail, and classic two track, an 8.5 mile lap is on tap for racers.  Push hard and try to get that top step, beat your friends, or push yourself in your first mountain bike race on some of Southeast Michigan's favorite trails.

After the half-mile hole shot and prelude from the start line, the 8.5 mile lap -- split 60/40 between single and two track -- features six unique single and two track sections per lap, perfect for testing your handling and having fun while offering wide-open, fast, safe areas to pass. Steady climbs, flowing descents, and lots of fun and excitement await!

All post race proceeds donated to the House of Promise (Lansing, MI) for human trafficking victim rehabilitation. 

Click for the => Trailmaps link to Shelden's Big Bang course

Stony Creek and Shelden's Big Bang is unidirectional

• Pre-riding the course:

  • GPS Address: 4300 Main Park Rd., Shelby Township, MI, 49316

  • Park at the Stony Creek Shelden Trails parking lots

  • Stony Creek Metropark is well marked.  The map below shows the Park Entrance (and attendants) and red highlighted route to the Shelden Trails.  The attendant can assist and give a map if you need.

    • Stay LEFT after going past the park entrance gate and take the first LEFT AFTER the golf course

  • Park Pass Required: a $10 day pass entry fee is due at the park entrance before entering. An annual pass for the calendar year can be purchased for $40.

    • Want to pre-order to save time race morning?  You can purchase your Annual Pass in advance and affix to your windshield, upper left drivers side

Packet Pick Up:
WHERE: West Branch Pavilion Area / Stony Creek Metropark: 4300 Main Park Rd., Shelby Township, MI, 49316
WHEN: Sunday, October 25, 2026 @ 8:00 AM

Day of Registration:

• Elite - Expert - Single Speed CLOSES at 9:15 AM

• Sport - Fat Bike - Tandem CLOSES at 11:45 AM

• Beginner CLOSES at 2:15 PM

• COST: 

  • $65

  • $30 Ages 17 and under

This page is intended to inform e-Bike racers of the ONLY type of e-Bikes allowed in the e-Bike Open categories:

Class 1 Pedal Assist e-Bikes only
- No class-selectable bikes
- Specifically state pedal assist only
- Allowed bikes examples (not the exclusive list):

• Trek Fuel EXe

• Specialized Turbo Levo

• Santa Cruz Vala

• Pivot Shuttle

• Transition

e-Bike Class 1: MCL 257.13e (https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-13e&highlight=AT%2CAct)

In the event you have problems with the link above, here's the direct quote defining Class 1 Pedal Assist bikes:

Class 1 electric bicycle. As used in this subparagraph, "class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle that is equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that disengages or ceases to function when the electric bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.

These hotels are within 10 miles (or less) and 15 minutes (or less) from Stony Creek Metropark:

Hampton Inn Shelby Township

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Detroit Utica

Cambria Hotel Shelby Township

Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Utica

FOOD:

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks (host venue) and Join The Fight have agreed that Stony Creek Metropark will use one or more of its Food Truck Vendors to be at Shelden's BIG Bang on October 25th, 2026

  • They'll be ready to serve food by 11:30 AM

• You are permitted to bring your own food to the race

• The North Picnic Shelter (West Branch Area) grill - is not available for use

ALCOHOL:

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks (host venue) permits you to bring your own alcohol into Stony Creek, year around

  • However, Join The Fight will NOT be serving any alcohol nor can we give any alcohol away.

• If you'd like alcohol beverages post-race, you must bring these yourself

NON-ALCOHOL:

• Join The Fight will have assorted soda (regular and diet) and lots and lots of WATER (July race: gonna be HOT)

RACE DAY EVENT SCHEDULE:

• 8:00 AM - PACKET PICK UP & DAY OF REGISTRATION OPENS

• 9:30 AM - ELITE | EXPERT | SINGLE SPEED RACE STARTS

• 11:30 AM - FOOD IS READY TO PURCHASE

• 12:00 PM - SPORT | FAT BIKE | E-BIKE | TANDEM RACE STARTS

• 12:45 PM - ELITE | EXPERT | SINGLE SPEED AWARDS

• 2:30 PM - BEGINNER RACE STARTS

• 2:45 PM - SPORT | FAT BIKE | TANDEM AWARDS

• 3:45 PM - BEGINNER AWARDS

RACE CATEGORIES:

• AWARDS: Medals to the top three overall finishers in their race class:

  • Elite Men Open, Elite Men Masters 40 +, & Elite Women Open

  • Expert Men's Division (Age Based Results)

  • Elite/Expert Single Speed

  • Sport Men & Women

  • Beginner Men & Women

  • Fat Bike Men & Women Open

  • e-Bike Men & Women Open

  • Tandem Open

CASH PAYOUTS:

• Men's Elite Open, Men's Masters 40+, and Women's Elite Open

  • 1st Place: $100

  • 2nd Place: $75

  • 3rd Place: $50

CLYDESDALE WEIGHT:

• Your height in INCHES multiplied by 3

• For example, 6 ft. tall is 72 inches and therefore if weighing 216 lbs. or more, you're a Clydesdale

• This is on your honor, there's no weigh in

 
START ORDER:

Shelden's BIG Bang is a Wave Start race format.  Safety is #1 in importance, and logistics secondarily.  With that said, we'll look at final numbers within each race class the last 4-5 days before race day and determine if any race classes will be grouped together.  

3 LAPS/25.5 MILES: 
ELITE MEN, EXPERT MEN, SINGLE SPEED, ELITE WOMEN, EXPERT WOMEN
​
2 LAPS/17 MILES: 
SPORT MEN, SPORT MEN CLYDESDALE, FAT BIKE MEN, E-BIKE MEN OPEN, FAT BIKE WOMEN, E-BIKE WOMEN OPEN, SPORT WOMEN, TANDEM
​
1 LAP/8.5 MILES: 
BEGINNER MEN, BEGINNER MEN CLYDESDALE, BEGINNER WOMEN

9:30 AM START TIMES:

• 9:30 AM = Elite Men Open

• 9:32 AM = Elite Men 40 +

• 9:34 AM = Expert Men 39 & under

• 9:36 AM = Expert Men 40 - 49

• 9:38 AM = Expert Men 50 - 59

• 9:40 AM = Expert Men 60 +

• 9:42 AM = Elite / Expert Single Speed

• 9:44 AM = Elite Women Open

• 9:46 AM = Expert Women 39 & under

• 9:48 AM = Expert Women 40 +

12:00 PM START TIMES:

• 12:00 PM = e-Bike Men Open

• 12:02 PM = e-Bike Women Open

• 12:04 PM = Sport Men 30 - 39

• 12:06 PM = Sport Men 40 - 49

• 12:08 PM = Sport Men 19 - 29

• 12:10 PM = Sport Men 15 - 18

• 12:12 PM = Sport Men 50 - 59

• 12:14 PM = Sport Men 14 & under

• 12:16 PM = Fat Bike Men Open

• 12:18 PM = Sport Men Clydesdale

• 12:20 PM = Sport Men 60 - 69

• 12:22 PM = Sport Men 70 +

• 12:24 PM = Sport Women 40 - 49

• 12:26 PM = Sport Women 19 - 39

• 12:28 PM = Sport Women 50 +

• 12:30 PM = Sport Women 15 - 18

• 12:32 PM = Sport Women 14 & under

• 12:34 PM = Fat Bike Women Open

2:30 PM START TIMES:

• 2:30 PM = Beginner Men 40 - 49

• 2:32 PM = Beginner Men 50 - 59

• 2:34 PM = Beginner Men 30 - 39

• 2:36 PM = Beginner Men 60+

• 2:38 PM = Beginner Men 19 - 29

• 2:40 PM = Beginner Men 15 - 18

• 2:42 PM = Beginner Men Clydesdale

• 2:44 PM = Beginner Men 14 & under

• 2:46 PM = Beginner Women 40 - 49

• 2:48 PM = Beginner Women 50+

• 2:50 PM = Beginner Women 19 - 39

• 2:52 PM = Beginner Women 15 - 18

• 2:54 PM = Beginner Women 14 & under