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Wednesday's Dog Days of Summer Town Challenge mountain bike race had 185 racers register, an expected break from the swell of competitors that has often topped 200 this summer.

Even with fewer riders, the race still demonstrated a trend that series organizer Gretchen Sehler said she's been noticing all season. Numbers are up, and the series outdraws last year's races nearly every week.

"We're getting 20 to 30 more riders every week," she said. "It's been going on like that all summer."

The surge in competitors isn't the sole reason Sehler and the Routt County Riders scheduled workdays for today and Saturday. A brutal spring runoff after a record-setting winter played a much larger part. In any case, Sehler said, she's looking for as many volunteers as possible to help get and keep the trails on Howelsen Hill and Emerald Mountain in top shape.

The first work session starts at 5:30 p.m. today. Workers are asked to meet at the bottom of Blackmere Drive.

On the docket for Friday will be work on Bog Bridge, a bridge that will span a perpetually muddy area that's been a headache for months.

"We're putting in a bridge there to get over it. We won't get it done (today), but we're hoping to get everything prepped," Sehler said.

Work resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday, volunteers again are asked to meet at the bottom of Blackmere Drive. Saturday will include work on the MGM and Blair Witch trails.

"We're going to put some culverts through some areas that were wet and gooey in the spring on MGM, then do more trail maintenance above MGM on the forest loop," Sehler said. "It's one of those things where if people have been riding the trails, it'd be great to have them give back at least one work day a year."

There's more than good karma coming the way of anyone who shows up, too. Friday's crews will be thanked with beer and pizza afterward, while Saturday's will be given lunch.

Anyone with questions can call Sehler at 819-1564.

"We've put in a lot of work after the spring runoff trying to put it all back together," Sehler said. "Hopefully, we can open some trails earlier next year with the work we'll be doing, instead of keeping them closed and waiting for them to dry out so long."

- To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 871-4253

or e-mail jreichenberger@steamboatpilot.com