2020 Race Cancellation Communication

Dear Lumberjack 100 participants and friends,

In light of the current situation regarding COVID-19 we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Lumberjack 100 event for 2020. This was not an easy decision to make, but a necessary one as we put the safety of our riders, volunteers, friends and family above all else. We know that this is a great disappointment to many of you whom look forward to our event every year and know that we feel the same way. There is simply not a clear path of going from the Governor’s stay at home order which has been extended to May 15th to holding an event that gathers over 500 people in close proximity just a month later. We appreciate everyone being patient as we have tried to navigate the murky waters of this pandemic, and it’s important to us that you not be left in the dark wondering whether the event would go on or not. Many folks travel from all over to participate and it is only fair for them to have a reasonable amount of time to cancel any travel reservations and adjust as necessary. Our team also looked at the idea of postponing the event to later in the year but with many spring and early summer events pushing into the late-summer/fall it has become a jam packed schedule here in Michigan. We did not think it would be fair to other event promoters to simply put our race on top of their dates as the whole event promoting community is being dealt a big blow this season. We wish this simply were not the case and that we could all gather, celebrate fantastic achievements and enjoy one another’s company in the beautiful Manistee National Forest. If you have been training hard and preparing, please don’t let this announcement steal the wind from your sails. We encourage everyone to continue riding, enjoying the outdoors and recreating in a responsible manner.

Current event registrants:
For those of you registered for the event we will offer a few options going forward.
First, everyone’s 2020 entry will automatically defer to our 2021 event which is planned for June 19th, 2021. If that works, you’re all set and there’s no action needed.
Second, if you are facing financial hardship and need the money quickly we are offering a cash refund of $125. To receive the cash refund please submit your request via email to lumberjackmtb@gmail.com. Third, if you wish to receive a full refund and are not in a rush, you may transfer your entry to a person on the waitlist beginning May 22, 2020 at Noon. You’ll just need to go to your Bikereg race registration
 (link in email) and select “EDIT” and then “WITHDRAW ENTRY”. This will sell your entry to the next person on the waitlist and your payment card will be credited.  We have also removed the $10 transfer fee so you will incur no charges should you decide to transfer.

We have temporarily closed the registration/transfer process to allow individuals on the waitlist to remove themselves should they not wish to participate in the 2021 event. We will have a 3-week period where our team will manage the waitlist, offer cash refunds and set everything up for 2021. Once that period is over the transfers will resume just as they were before, and transfers and category changes will continue up until June 2nd, 2021.

Waitlist individuals:
If you are on the waitlist and wish to gain an entry for 2021 simply leave yourself on there. Your place “in line” will remain the same.  If you do not wish to gain an entry for 2021 please remove yourself from the waitlist by May 22nd at noon. Please know that the process is automated via BikeReg and if you leave yourself on the waitlist it will automatically pull you into the event and charge your credit card once someone transfers out and you are next in line. To remove yourself from the waitlist, go to your race registration, select “EDIT” and then “REMOVE ME FROM THIS WAITLIST”. Transfers and registration changes will resume on May 22nd at noon and remain open until June 2nd, 2021.

Merchandise:
Pre-ordered merchandise will defer with your race entry and available for pick up at the 2021 race. If you request an entry refund and also had pre-ordered merchandise, your merchandise will be refunded with your entry. If you elect to transfer and wish to keep your merchandise order we will ship it to you once it is available around the event timeframe. If you elect to transfer and do not wish to keep your merchandise order please contact us and we will refund your order.

Our goal in all of this is to be as fair and equitable as possible. We pride ourselves on providing a top-notch event experience and appreciate all the support that riders have shown us over the years. We hope that through this process you see that we are doing our best to accommodate all of you in these tough times. Please understand that we expect to receive a large amount of correspondence and work related to the cancellation so be patient as we work through everyone’s refunds, changes and transfers. If you have questions related to the 2021 event or non-critical questions please hold those until June if you would. Once again, we apologize for this unfortunate turn of events, but it is out of our control. Being that promoting events is our livelihood this is not something we wish for but once again we hold the safety and health of everyone involved in the highest regard. Thank you all for your understanding and patience, and we wish you all the best throughout the 2020 season!

Sincerely the Pavement Ends Team,

Rick and Cathy Plite, Scott and Marnie TenCate, and Jenny and Matt Acker