This year Lost & Found racers can earn their entry fees back by doubling them through donations to Connected Communities, the cornerstone project of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship .

Riders will be reimbursed ALL their entry fees (minus the non-refundable BikeReg surcharge) if they raise at least twice what they paid to enter in donations. Racers who meet the minimum donation will be reimbursed within two weeks following the event on the credit card used for original payment. Additionally, the top three overall fundraisers and best team fundraiser will be in the running for sweet prizes—last year's prizes included a Shimano Limited GRX groupset, WTB CZR carbon wheelset and a Kuat bike rack—and an exclusive invite to the pre-race Thursday Night Party.

Connected Communities is a multi-faceted project designed to spur economic development in the Lost Sierra. The most exciting component of the project is the proposed 600 miles of singletrack trail that would establish a network connecting communities across the region. The long term goal is to establish a multi-use signature route—dubbed the Lost Sierra Route— that would highlight these communities and stimulate their economies through outdoor-recreation tourism. The dollars raised this year will go directly toward progress on the next two phases of the Connected Communities project: environmental review and construction. Together, through trails, we can bring local jobs, tourism dollars and ultimately stability to an area that already gives all of us so much. 

This year, we are providing a fundraising opportunity as part of our race registration process that enables racers to earn their entry fees back, as well as play a pivotal role in a bigger mission to ensure longterm economic prosperity in the Lost Sierra region. Racers who choose to fundraise will be rallying their networks for donations for Connected Communities, the cornerstone project of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (the nonprofit that organizes the Downieville Classic and Lost & Found Gravel races). The goal? Raise at least double your entry fees, and you'll get your fees back (minus a BikeReg surcharge). 

Connected Communities is a multifaceted project designed to spur economic development in the Lost Sierra region and our most ambitious project to date. The most exciting component of Connected Communities is a proposed 600 miles of singletrack trail that would create a network connecting towns across the region. The long term goal is to establish a multi-user signature route—dubbed the Lost Sierra Route—that would highlight these communities and stimulate local economies. The dollars raised by racers this year will go directly toward progress on the next two phases of the project: environmental review and construction. 

Your fundraising efforts will help this region recover from years of devastating wildfires and economic hardship following the decline of the timber and extraction industries. This film  helps explain the impact of the Lost Sierra Route will have in these mountain towns. 

Together, through trails, we can bring local jobs, tourism dollars and ultimately stability to an area that already gives all of us so much.