The Chiliad Challenge is a side mission in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Description[]
The mission is started by entering a parked Mountain Bike on top of Mount Chiliad between 7:00 and 18:00 and having a cycling skill above 40%. The goal of the mission is to be the first to reach the base of the mountain while racing with other mountain bikers down the mountain. There are three courses that need to be completed for 100% completion. All three courses share the same finish zone and the final sector. Completing the first course unlocks the second, which in turn unlocks the third and final course.
The opponents seem to utilize a rubberband AI, a concept which tries to ensure that neither the player, nor NPCs can get too far behind (on purpose) or too far ahead without any competition. This can best be observed when idlying for a short time, then take shortcuts to try to catch up with the racers. They will not be as far ahead as one might expect.
Whereas in any other vehicle race wherein one can shoot at other contestants and get away with it, in this muscle-based race, if the player attempts to shoot opponents, not only will the player fail the mission, a one-level wanted star will also be obtained. Typically though, trying the race again at the top of the mountain will help lose the cops. The player can, however, get off and use the sniper rifle (no other weapon can be used) to eliminate them without penalty.
One feature most other races do not have is that there is a safety mechanic if CJ falls of the track with no way to recover. Should this happen, the screen goes black for a second and has CJ teleported back onto the track and can resume the race.
Courses[]
- Scotch Bonnet Yellow Route: (Reward: $500) This route lays mostly in the southwestern face of the mountain; it is the shortest way down to Angel Pine in distance and time but it is also the steepest, and corners are very closed (almost 180º most of them) and tricky due to the reduced grip of the dirt track and the descending factor. A careful braking and cornering is the key, and little sprinting is used. There are plenty of places where CJ can fall off the road and down the mountain from great heights, but some of them are protected with fences. The race includes 18 checkpoints.
- Birdseye Winder: (Reward: $1,000) This run uses the north face route to descend and then turns along the west side and then south down to Angel Pine, it is longer and less steep downhill overall than the previous route but also has some long and leveled straight sectors where CJ can sprint for a while and take the lead easily. However, side protections are even less than in the previous event and there are still some difficult corners. Once this event is won the next event is unlocked. This race includes 31 checkpoints.
- Cobra Run: (Reward: $2,000) This race will start mid-way down on the south side and follow a narrow trail which is very tricky in the beginning, with an elevated part; after a jump the second half allows a higher speed as it's wider. This race has 21 checkpoints.
Oversights[]
- During the Chiliad Challenge, the player can get off the bike and jump off the mountain, then open a parachute; the game will return the player to the bike, but the player will still have an open parachute on his back. The parachute then loses all of its function as a parachute. The video can be seen here on YouTube. This is patched in v1.01.
Video[]
Trivia[]
- All of the courses take their names from chili peppers.
- The Cobra Run Course features North Shore (wooden ramps) that did not exist in the early '90s when San Andreas is set, but grew in popularity in the world of mountain biking in the mid '90s and onward.
- Unlike most optional challenges necessary only for 100% completion, the best race times do not appear in the stats.
- When starting a course, CJ's pants will change to Ball Shorts from ProLaps. They will be available in the wardrobe after completing the course. This remains the case even if CJ is already wearing (ProLaps) sports short pants