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Locals’ registration for Test of Metal fills up

For the third year the Test of Metal mountain bike race offered a limited early bird sale to riders from Furry Creek to D'Arcy. The first 100 spots sold in the first 15 minutes, with the remaining 100 being snapped up over the next few hours.

For the third year the Test of Metal mountain bike race offered a limited early bird sale to riders from Furry Creek to D'Arcy.

The first 100 spots sold in the first 15 minutes, with the remaining 100 being snapped up over the next few hours. By 8:59 p.m. on Dec. 1 all 200 spots were gone.

"Last year was faster, but we didn't really advertise this registration beyond our past riders list and the website," said race director Cliff Miller. "Still, looking at the names there are a number of first-timers, which is always nice to see."

There is still a chance to register for the race on New Year's Day, although competition for the other 800 available spots is generally fierce. The ticket booth goes live at 6 p.m. on Jan. 1 and one user can enter up to four names. If you're looking to enter with friends this year that may be your best option, otherwise some of your group may get left out.

Last year there were stories of informal registration parties where groups would bring their laptops over to one house and everyone would try to log in at the same time to improve chances of getting through and then register the entire group.

There is no wait list this year after organizers decided it was better to register more riders up front and let the field shrink due to attrition. There are also no cancellations or refunds and riders can't sell or give their spots to other riders if they decide to pull out.

The cost is $75 per entry.

If you're a pro rider or received a complimentary entry you do not need to register online. Registration is available up until the day of the race for pro riders, and sign-on is available at signup@testofmetal.com.

Taking place on Saturday, June 19 this year, the Test of Metal weighs in at 67 kilometres, with an estimated 1,200 metres of climbing and 35 km of singletrack. Once again the organizers are hosting a staggered start to separate riders by their estimated finishing times and address the problem of clumping up on the first singletrack sections of the course.