The largest single-day competitive mountain-biking event in the U.S., this 27-mile point-to-point race is held just as often on snow as it is on dirt. Jeremiah Bishop, the 2008 champion, recommends riding a hardtail 29er to help power across the soft stuff. Keep a steady cadence and stay loose on your bike so you don't squirm when it does. The final five miles are the hilliest, so ride them the day before to know what you're facing, says Bishop. And wear a full-zip jersey and light shell over a base layer so you can vent when you overheat. If you're interested in the 2009 race, you'll need to be fast before you even get there; registration opens February 27, and the 2,500 spots will probably go in two days. $65; iceman.com