Midwest MTB Racing Recap
This weeks report is splattered with mud from the Salsa 2-4 hour event at Afton Alps, Ore to Shore in the UP of Michigan, the Leadville Trail 100, the Gear Grinder in Jamestown, a quick review of the new mountain bike trails at Elm Creek and a look ahead to the big Border Battle.
Salsa 2-4
The popular 24 hour event at Afton hosted by MORC was held under muddy conditions to start. Two reports are in from the racers including Rebecca Sauber who was one of the participants of the new 4 hour division.
Rebecca's report:
My husband Lonie and I competed in the 4 hour race at the Salsa 2-4 on Saturday. It had poured the night before which made for some muddy conditions. It was a Lemond start, but you had to run with your front tire. We ran half way up the ski hill and then back down to put your front tire back on! The first two laps were a little sketchy on some of the corners. I went down a few times and got up laughing! There were not many racers in the four hour category, but I was happy to race against Anne Grabowski. Anne and I were struggling together on the first lap. We both got 5 laps in four hours. I was hoping to go out for a 6th lap, but was 1:59 to slow. I finished first for the day and Anne second.
Thanks to some crazy people on the top of "Manhandler" who made it tolerable. A funny guy with a megaphone would yell at you, "You are so slow," "You are riding like a girl," or "You should not be tired!" Fun way to harass people while they were suffering! Afton is 1500 feet of climbing per lap, ouch I forgot how much that hurts!
In the men's race Cody Goettl got the win and Lonie Sauber came in second each with 6 laps. A good time had by all. Great bands and fun time to support MORC!
Brandon Charboneau along with his girlfriend Meghann teamed up to take on the hilly track at Afton and Meghann recaps nicely:
To get a really good idea of the race and prep, we are going to have to rewind until Wednesday eve. A 7pm “training” ride at Lebanon hills led to discovering more creaks and broken parts on Meg’s bike than we would care to admit. After picking up a new cassette and ripping everything apart and re-greasing one bike done – Thursday at midnight.
Friday morning before work, Brandon is looking at his bike and discovers the expensive bottom bracket that was just purchased this spring is already trashed (Race at Salem?). Race less than 24 hours away – what to do . . . after much deliberation and new bike purchases considered, it was decided to rip apart the single speed and use the bottom bracket and cranks from that bike thus creating a 1x9 monster!!
After a 2:30am downpour Friday evening, race day arrives. Bike repairs are still being done the morning of, car is packed and ready to go – arrival time at Afton Alps - ~830am – 1.5 hours to start. Pick up timing chips and then go back to the site to get ready to start – Brandon changes into his kit as Meg sets up a tent with a friend. A few last minute tweaks here and there – racer meeting at 930 and Brandon jets out for a warmup.
The race started off with all the bikes set down with the tires off – riders had to run up the ski hill (Brandon was very thankful for all the running he has done lately) and then back down to the bikes to attach the wheel – and with a wheelie off the start – the biking begins.
Brandon put down 3 laps first and then Meghann is out for two. Another two for Brandon and after some Fajitas made by the friends at the campsite Meghann is out for another two – dinner of bars and some taco and Brandon heads back out again regretting the jalapenos that he put on his tacos. Feeling good Brandon does 3 night laps and Meghann is too pooped to go out again. After a good night’s rest and a slow start in the morn, Meghann puts down two more laps to finish with a grand total of fourteen – not bad, room for improvement – and the race was still enjoyable!
Grinding the Gears in Jamestown
Steve Wenzel has probably logged more Gear Grinders than anyone I know and reports from the land of the albino buffalo:
The 2011 Gear Grinder MTB race held at the Pipestem Dam north of Jamestown lived up to its name. Run the second Sunday in August for over 10 years, this race has always been an event that I try to attend on an annual basis. Though the attendance numbers have decreased since the early years, there were still over 25 racers total in attendance from all areas of ND.
Due to high water this season the start of the race was reversed and a section was skipped altogether but the main part of the single track was all rideable and in almost perfect condition. The Pipestem Dam course is in a bowl and usually baking hot, but not this year. With a SE breeze and temps in the 70's, race conditions were spot on.
All races started together at 10am with the number of laps ridden determining what event the racers were participating in. After a long, rough gravel road to shake things out you head in and around the center of the park. The course is set up to utilize the ravines and trees to the fullest. After a flowing section through some pine trees you are in for some hard braking down the ravines followed by a quick switch back and climb back up. I lost count during the race, but figure you are going down and up at least 6 times per loop and that is not counting the long climbs out on the prairie. Through the middle of the loop you are wishing for a section to catch your breath but it never seems to happen.
Over 1800 feet of climbing through the 3 loop expert race. I was able to keep things in the middle ring and grit my way through all of the climbing in which my legs are feeling it the day after. So, the Gear Grinder lived up to its name and will do so again next summer.
Overall, everything was well organized. We were given clear direction, started on time, the course was well marked with water hand ups by a bunch of Jamestown XC runners on the backside of the course. Payout went to the top 6 places in the expert class which helps pay for gas getting there. I recommend the race and hope to see you next year.
Leadville Trail 100
Wisconsin rider Dallas Fowler made the trip west to take on probably the most publicized mountain bike race in the country, the Leadville 100. Dallas posted an impressive result with a top 120 finish among the 1000 plus riders. (Report coming later)
Ore To Shore
The "triple crown" of the Midwest kicked off with the point to point race in UP of Michigan. Brian Matter edged out Cole House and Tristan Schouten in a sprint finish to take the win as Sara Kylander-Johnson took top female honors.
Seventh place finisher TJ Woodruff provides a recap:
Ore to Shore 2011 is in the books now and I made the most of the experience with the number one plate on my bike as last year’s winner. So much goes into a single race and with the rest of the race calendar it’s hard to do the same preparation twice leading into a race like this. Ore to Shore was a high priority race for sure, but this year it came shortly after a big six-week long block of racing. I went into Ore to Shore well-raced, though perhaps a little less trained. I knew that I’d be ready to go and that the competition would be as tough as ever. It was an exciting race, especially the second half where the pace was consistently high with numerous attacks and counter-attacks being made.
The start was clean and I was able to keep trouble free early on. Cole set the pace up Lucy hill and I was able to follow without problem as the first split was made. I felt good and kept towards the front as to avoid any mishaps. The pace would go hard in some sections, but for every section that we rallied through, there was a section following where we all sat up and recovered. With so much non-technical, high speed riding it’s understandable that no one is willing to set tempo at the front. I was content to wait it out, knowing that the real racing would happen later.
On the 510 road things finally picked up and the attacking began. I was in the mix and feeling fine with this early on. Between attacks there would be brief opportunities to recover and I was taking full advantage. Attacks became more frequent (and recovery harder to come by) and once we were about 11 miles from the finish. I was no longer able to respond to the acceleration. Brian and Tristan were clearly the strongest guys. As fast as Tristan went off the front I was going off of the back as we went up one of the grassy ski trail climbs. Mike Phillips laid it down just before this climb so once he got going again we traded pulls shortly before he eventually got away. Five riders were gone at this point while Mike and I rode in the final miles to bring home sixth and seventh places respectively.
Seventh is still a solid result and we set an all-time fastest finish on the course, but I’m still a little disappointed that I missed out on those final miles of racing. There’s not much worse than getting dropped and not being able to do anything about it, but that’s how racing goes on occasion. With a little over a month before Chequamegon I’m looking forward to having another shot at the podium once September comes around. Racing hard with great competition never gets old. Congrats to Brian on the win and everyone else who was also in the mix.
Elm Creek Mountain Bike Trails
Last weekend I was passing through the northern suburbs and took a quick trip to check out the new mountain bike trails at Elm Creek. After spending some time getting to the trail head, I jumped on the track without looking at a map just riding until I came back to the trail head.The trails were super quick and smooth and wasn't hard to get the wheels moving....fast! There were hardly any rocks or roots and it was a great trail for riders curious to the sport of mountain biking. There was good flow and the most challenging aspect was keeping the line dialed in due to the high speeds and not hitting trees in the process.
Hinkens to Worlds
Last week Eden Prairie, MN native Jack Hinkens punched his ticket for his second trip to the Worlds Championships with solid results on the national and international scene including a 2nd place finish at the US Mountain Bike Championships. Hinkens was one of 51 riders named to the squad including gravity events that will be chasing the rainbow in Champery, Switzerland. Krista Parks of Madison, SD also named to the team for women's cross country.
Looking Ahead
With the schedule relatively light and nice looking long term forecast on tap, the battle between Wisconsin and Minnesota could be huge as far as numbers, for the bragging rights of which state is fastest. The series edge goes to Wisconsin with the duel being held at White Tail Ridge for the fourth year in a row. Regardless, a super fast course with lap traffic being a challenge for Comp and Expert racers at the venue just east of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Keep the wheels moving!
 | About the author... Jay Richards maintains a very active lifestyle. He somehow finds time between managing a full-time resort (Maplelag) and bringing up a family of four boys with his wife Jonell, to compete in both mountain bike and a few cross-country ski races. Jay rides for Maplelag Resort, manages the Maplelag/Paramount mountain bike team and enters his 21st year of racing and promoting mountain bike races. |