Rapture in Misery

Important notes. You must register by October 9th to receive a t-shirt. Also to receive finishers prize you must finish by 6:30 P.M.

 

Rider information:

This is not a race, it is a challenge. This event will be insanely tough. The trails and roads are open. We will post a map closer to event date. Finishers will get a prize(you must beat the sunset). We will provide 3 sag stops. There will be multiple checkpoints to ensure you dont skip any trail. Non finishers will need to text promoter(I want my mommy), also your name will posted with quitting time. Finishers will also have name and time posted. Food will be provided after challenge. . Packet pick up will be at Bike Stop Blue Springs the day before the event. 

 

Rapture in Misery: From 24 Hours of Madness to a Mountain Biking Legend

Celebrating the legacy of a race that became a rite of passage

It Started with a Wild Idea

In 2001, a loose-knit group of mountain bikers rolled into Snow Creek chasing something few could understand — and even fewer could finish. A 24-hour mountain bike race. No glory, no fame — just headlights, hills, and a lot of pain. The idea was simple: ride until you can't, then ride a little more.

That first Rapture in Misery lit a fire. And soon, it became more than just a race. It became a legend.

The First Ride – Snow Creek, 2001

There was something gritty and pure about that first year. Snow Creek, typically known for its winter ski runs, played host to a summer sufferfest. Riders took turns circling a course that felt more like an endurance gauntlet than a bike race. People rode through the night, relying on duct tape, drive, and caffeine to hold themselves together.

There were no luxuries — just tents, cold sandwiches, and the sound of freehubs clicking through the darkness. If you were there, you still tell stories about it. If you weren’t, you’ve heard them.

Landahl Park – Technical, Raw, and Wild

After two years at Snow Creek, Rapture in Misery moved to Landahl Park, one of Missouri’s most revered singletrack trail systems. And with that shift, the race found a new kind of identity: raw, technical, and beautifully brutal.

Landahl’s terrain was a whole different animal. Tight turns, sharp climbs, off-camber descents — it wasn’t just about endurance anymore. It was about skill, timing, and knowing exactly how hard you could push without breaking... your bike or yourself.

Some came because they loved Landahl’s unforgiving charm. Others came because they’d heard about this crazy race where legends were made — and sometimes broken. Either way, it was a proving ground, and it helped cement Rapture as a must-do for Midwest endurance junkies.

Crowder State Park – Community Roots Deepen

Eventually, Rapture moved again in 2009 — this time to Crowder State Park, and with that move came a new phase. If Snow Creek was the spark and Landahl the fire, Crowder was where the fire turned into a tradition.

At Crowder, the vibe shifted from wild experiment to beloved annual gathering. The course was tough — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — but there was something about it that brought people together. The campground felt like a mini-village each year, full of familiar faces, shared meals, and the occasional beer hand-up.

It was here that Rapture’s community really bloomed. Solo riders, team riders, rookies, and veterans all came together with a shared understanding: this race was something special.

More Than a Race – What Made RIM Special

What set Rapture in Misery apart wasn’t just the course, the miles, or the midnight hallucinations — it was the people.

There was something magnetic about the event that brought out the best (and sometimes the weirdest) in everyone. You’d see solo riders grinding out lap after lap with thousand-yard stares, and then laugh at a guy in a tutu sprinting for a handoff. You’d share tools, tubes, and war stories with people you’d just met.

It was more than a race. It was a reunion for the unreasonably driven — the community of “why-not?” people. Everyone suffered, and everyone smiled through it.

The Newest Chapter

Rapture and Misery will stay true to its roots. This years event will take place around lake Jacomo and Blue Springs lake. We will connect single track, road, and chat trail to complete a 50 to 60ish mile loop. The trails will encompass some of the areas hardest climbing and tech. Each rider will receive a t-shirt and food. The riders that finish before sunset will receive a finishers prize.