Fool's Gold Mountain Bike Race

Looking for feedback on a potential date change for the 2026 Fool's Gold Race to October 10th. For the past several years, we have held the race on the second Saturday in September. While 2025 was reasonably cool, most years are still hot and humid and other years we been dinged by hurricanes passing though. I am considering moving the 2026 event to October 10, as there is an opening in the MTB calendar this year. I've wanted to move this event to October for YEARS but there just weren't any feasible weekends. How would this date change affect you if you were planning to join us this year? If you travel from out-of-state and the October 10 date conflicts with something in your home state that would force you to choose one or the other, please also let me know that. I know some conflicts are likely inevitable but I'd really like to move this event to potentially cooler and dryer weather.

EDIT: I'd also consider October 3 and 17, though these are GCA weekends for those of us in Georgia, though this event has been on GCA weekends from 2020-2023. We weren't able to get off a GCA weekend until they changed up their schedule a bit in 2024-2025. Feel free to give feedback about those dates as well.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Fool's Gold Bike Races at the beautiful Montaluce Winery and Restaurant! We had fantastic conditions for the 2025 edition of the event. We hope you enjoyed the course, the event swag and that you had a great weekend in the North Georgia Mountains. Congrats to all who started this epic adventure! Results have been posted:
https://mountaingoatadventures.com/results/2025/FoolsGoldResults2025.pdf

2025 Race Photos from Dashing Images are up! They were shooting near the large creek crossing on the Bull Mountain Trail. You can check out the gallery here:
https://pics.dashingimages.com/foolsgold2025

We have about 50 shirts leftover from the 2024 race in various sizes. These will be up for grabs for free starting at the Friday race check-in. Feel free to grab one as my goal is to not bring them back home.

Fool’s Gold course marking has begun! I was a little sad that I only got to cut puny trees with my giant handsaw! Trails are clear, briars have been annihilated (thanks Kevin!) Signs are up on the singletrack. Road signs don’t go out till Thursday since the locals really like to run them over. Can’t wait to see everyone this weekend!

The extended forecast is looking GREAT for this year's Fool's Gold Bike Races! Dry weather leading up to the race means the course will be fast with minimal wet spots. A high of 81 on race day is just about perfect for GA this time of year. You can still sign up - come join us on Saturday September 13th at Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega!
https://mountaingoatadventures.com/foolsgold

Fool's Gold Mountain Bike Race Registration closes at 11:59 pm on Tuesday September 9th. As of right now the weather is looking good - come join us for this classic fall event!
https://reg1.mountaingoatadventures.com/register.php

If you plan to take advantage of the free camping at Montaluce for the upcoming Fool's Gold Bike Races, please be sure to email us no later than Sept 8th to let us know you plan to camp. We'll be sending camping details out via email so you will know where to go when you arrive. Camping at Montaluce is available for FRIDAY and SATURDAY nights, in designated areas. We will have separate areas for tents and RV campers.

Less than 10 spots remaining at the lowest entry price for the Fool’s Gold races! Sign up now and you’ll save $10 and we still have shirt sizes XS through XXL available.

https://mountaingoatadventures.com/foolsgold

ATTENTION FG PRE-RIDERS: If you are pre-riding for Fool's Gold and you want to start at Montaluce, please park at the BACK of the large gravel lot over by the restaurants, do not park at the pool, as it is still open for homeowners. Grab a wood-fired pizza at the Trattoria afterwards - they are quite delicious!

Alternatively, you can also park at the Jake Mountain Parking Area and access the loop from there. This option is actually more covenient if you are coming from the NW GA area.

We have less than 20 spots left for the Fool's Gold Mountain Bike Race at the lowest registration price. Go get em and save a few bucks!
https://mountaingoatadventures.com/foolsgold

We have about 25 spots left at the lowest entry price for either race distance. Those start going fast the closer we get to the race date, so be sure to secure your spot!
https://mountaingoatadventures.com/foolsgold