Mountain biking is a grass-roots sport that is only about one bake sale above your local group ride in terms of publicity and prestige, but it is an exciting sport that requires intense fitness, training, and dedication. At SFist, we understand the sport and the culture around it. We also understand what makes a good mountain bike race. To that end, we've reviewed the 2007 MTB racing season in order to provide our readers with a summary of this year's most interesting Northern California events.

So grab your bike, sharpen your elbows, and strap on a number plate for some challenging dirt action, or pack up the camp chairs, the cooler, and the kids, and head out to the races for a cheap day of fun and entertainment. Even if you aren't interested in competing, check out some of these events. You will see amazing feats of cycling prowess, discover the latest in space-age materials and designs, and probably pick up an armful of free posters, stickers, and other industry schwag.

The best professional road cyclists in the world are competing for the maillot jeune on the rolling plains and brutal mountain passes of Europe right now, but this weekend, we've got our own battle for cycling supremacy going on right here in the Bay Area.

Today through Sunday, road cyclists from Pro down through Cat 5 and beyond can compete in the Cougar Mountain Classic on and around the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. As an added bonus, the Cougar is playing host to the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. That's the Nationals baby, right here, almost within sight of Mt. Tam, mountain biking's Hoboken.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty good, but overall, 2006 has been a crappy year for NoCal mountain bikers. From rained-out training rides to unrideable trail conditions to poorly functioning equipment, this year's record rainfall has left local mountain bikers underprepared, underconditioned, and slightly frustrated heading into the prime-time riding months.

Because of this year's early season muddown, local mountain bikers have been looking to July for salvation. In addition to the legendary Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival at the end of the month, this year, both the Cougar Mountain Classic at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma and the NORBA MTB National Championships in Mammoth are being held in the middle ofJuly, moved up from their traditional dates in September.

D'oh!