Midwest MTB Racing Report

Another great weekend of mountain biking is in the books as the Midwest Mountain Bike report comes to an end, capping off a most excellent season. I am sure there will be riding opportunities well in to November as select racers in the Midwest gear up for the Iceman Cometh, the point to point race in Traverse City, MI but soon the snow will be flying and the skis will be gliding! This weeks report includes recaps from the final race in the Minnesota high school cycling series, the 12hour EndTombed in North Dakota, a couple mountain bike related items to note and a look ahead to cycling opportunities for those that need to keep the wheels moving all year round!

EndTombed

Steve Wenzel made the trek north to Turtle River State Park to participate in the 12 hour EndTombed race, part of the ENDracing series and sent in a recap:

The 4th annual ENDracing ENDtombed 12 hour MTB race was held last weekend at the Turtle River State Part west of Grand Forks, ND. In the past the weather has been flat out cold and questionable. This year the weather could not have been better – bluebird skies and warm temperatures. Racers were able to hang out side and enjoy the day while waiting for their next lap.

All of the first lap riders toe the line and start the day with a half mile run to their bikes. The almost 10 mile loop consists of just about everything: ski trail, flowing single track, gravel, hammering through a camp ground, a sweet temporary bridge crossing that makes you pucker each time that you cross and some all out bush whacking out on the prairie. The course flowed nicely and was entertaining all the way around.

It is surprising how quickly 12 hours pass when you are anticipating your next loop around the course. My team consisted of 4 riders that were all consistent with our 40 minute lap times. Single riders doing the whole day on their own were monitoring their food and liquid intake to keep things going -- long day in the saddle.

As the 12 hours was coming to an end we were calculating lap times to maximize total number of laps. The last three laps were pitch dark and required all the lights you could strap on. Interestingly the lap times stayed the same when things darkened up.

My team, Team Maplelag took the overall win for the team category. I was impressed with single rider from Bismarck John Goeddertz who rode 16 laps total, 154 miles throughout the day, all laps under 45 minutes to win the singles category.

Great people, well organized event and an all out excellent day to be on a bike.

Related: EndTombed website with eventual results

Minnesota High School Cycling League Finals - White Tail Ridge

The Minnesota High School season finished off its season at the popular White Tail Ridge near River Falls, WI. State Champion in the varsity girls division, Jordan Horner recaps the race and fantastic race season:

There's no doubt this season was anything less than a major success, both for the league, and myself. Growing by at least 200 racers in one year is insane, and that doesn't even include those who join teams and decide not to race. And going from having my abilities doubted by many, due to the last couple races last year, to proving what I can really do, is a great personal accomplishment. It is a real bittersweet feeling to know that I am all done racing bikes in high school, but I'm just glad I can end on a good note.

We really have been blessed with good weather this season, and this Sunday was no exception. While it was really chilly in the morning watching the middle school race, it got pretty comfortable by my start time. It was a good thing I was so worried about keeping my hands from freezing on my warm up, or I might have started to get too emotional about it being my last race. I didn't feel any certain way about the race, walking to the start line, just ready to go out and ride my heart out and have fun. I had ridden my bike a good three times since the last race, because of a family vacation and busy senior year schedule. I wasn't sure how I might perform compared to others who had definitely been training a lot more than me in preparation for this last race.

The race had to have been the most fun I've had all season, and racing with Josie is one of the best parts of that. Like I said last year, I would much rather have competition and at least make it a close race, than to have none and win by a mile. The course was the fastest I remember it ever being and it was all go go go wire to wire. It makes it a lot easier to push it when there is almost a constant line of people cheering, along the course. That is one thing I really love about this league, so many parents and friends come to watch and really enjoy the sport. Anyway, Josie was on my tail the first three laps and there never really being a gap between us, that I know of. I kept wondering what her strategy might be because she didn't pull around me once and I was afraid pulling her around the whole race might just let her relax. I felt great going into the fourth lap and decided I would try to pull away from her a bit on the first climb. She had stuck with me every other lap climbing this monster so I didn't know what might happen this time around. My legs were screaming at me but, on the hill, I clicked it up a couple harder gears and pedaled harder. My parents were on the top of the hill and told me I had gained a good five or so seconds from the hill and that I needed to just keep this up along the field and I'll do just fine. Throughout the last lap I kept hearing my gap, ten seconds, fifteen, thirty, and closer to the finish it kept getting a little bigger and I had a good feeling there was nothing that could take this from me (probably should have knocked on a tree out there). Coming out of the last bit of woods and heading to the finish line everyone was cheering and I had the biggest smile on my face.. I had just raced my heart out and won my very last race.. Now it's time to get sad about it, right?  (Photo: Todd Bauer)

I have to give a huge shoutout to Josie, Cianna, Camille, Anna, Kalli, Claire, Sophia, Caitlin, and Nicole, for being the best group of girls I could have asked for in my last season. You girls are some tough competition and really kick butt! I am so excited to watch all of you who aren't seniors next year. And I'll extend this to the league as a whole, every single racer, or even rider on a team, you guys just rock! This isn't any easy sport by any means and this is the best group of people I've seen when it comes to keeping a smile on your face and keep pressing on. And I think it's obvious I have to stop and thank the league and all who work with it for all you guys do. This year was a huge success and it’s a great way for me, and many other seniors, to leave the racing part of the MNHSCL. I hope to see everyone at the awards banquet because I have so many people to thank, but there will not be any goodbyes!

Minnesota High School Cycling League 

WI High School Cycling League - Cascade Mountain

On Sunday, Oct. 19, over 120 riders from 16 teams came to the line at Cascade Mountain for one last race of the WI high school league inaugural series.

Kathy Mock reports:

The day began with a chill in the air, but the sun broke through and the conditions were perfect for a mountain bike race. Racers were warming up on trainers, coaches were getting into position along the course - and when the air horn sounded - the races were underway.

Varsity/JV girls started the day off and gave the crowd an unbelievable race. Hanna Mork (106) Wausau United Ride and McKenna Dwyer (101) Cam Rock Composite, once again, were matching each others pace throughout the whole race - but in the end Hanna pulled ahead and crossed the line milliseconds ahead. Although Hanna took the win at Cascade, Hanna and McKenna were tied for the Overall Win in the JV Girls Category.

Middle School Girls race gave the crowd another photo finish. Throughout the series, Katy McDicken (1007) Hortonville HS took the win at each race. However, Lorissa Thorpe (1014) Wausau United Ride had Katy looking over her shoulder. But, Katy kept her pace and beat Lorissa at the line by just 12 seconds for the win! She also earned the overall leader medal for the MS Girls. Lorissa captured the 4th place in the overall medal run.

Girls races wrapped up just in time for the Varsity Boys races to get under way at 12:30pm.

Varsity Rider Nolan Steig (50) Janesville Comp has been posting points at every race this series. At Nordic Mountain, Race #3, he got the win and held onto the Leaders Jersey. Fletcher Arlen (53) Wausau United Ride pushed the pace and crossed the line with over 3 minutes to spare. Fletcher took the win, with Isaac Wendt (54) Independent in second and Nolan taking third.  (Photo: WI HS League)

Sophomore Daxton Mock (520) Cam Rock Composite has been a constant presence on the podium. Cole McDicken (507) Hortonville HS took the lead at the start. Daxton took over the lead and Cole and Tristan Hauser (511) Wausau United Ride kept their pace to follow across the line behind Daxton, who took the win. Tristan took second and Cole taking third.

"Cascade Mountain delivered for our racers and our spectators," said WI League Co-Director Kathy Mock. "What a tremendous finish for the 2014 inaugural race series and an incredible start for the WI League."

Woolly New Trail Celebration

The Woolly trails just outside St Croix Falls, WI and host to one of the Minnesota Mountain Bike series races, had a trail day celebrating the opening of 3 new miles of single track. The new trail is a flow type trail rated intermediate. Griff Wigley posted a report and some photos from the day on his blog.

Tucker Hibber Off-Season

Many professional motor sport athletes, in particular from the snow cross and dirt bike scene have used mountain biking for off season training. One of these athletes includes Tucker Hibbert who also hit up a few races during the summer. Hibbert was at Maplelag Resort near the end of the summer, filming an evening of shredding as part of a series of off-season activities for the multiple winter X-Games gold medalist champion.

Fat Biking Madness

Fat biking has exploded the past few years. The Midwest is particularly a "hot" spot as the our weather makes it challenging to often times ride the road bike and even mountain bike, in particular on snow covered trails and roads. The fat bike has opened to door to a whole new world of cycling adventure. Personally I dragged my feet on the fat bike thing but it has provided some great fun during the winter months when skiing may be less than ideal. To me, there is never a bad day of skiing as long as there is some type of snow but it is fun pushing the limits of a bicycle, riding on frozen ponds, staying afloat a hoping non breaking crust as a result of a multiple melt freeze cycles. Bike Rumor recently published an interview with 9zero7 founder along with some interesting comments.

Outdoor Czar

Duluth area is becoming one on of the top mountain bike destinations in the Midwest. The explosion of trails as put the city as one of the top outdoor places to live including a #1 vote by readers of Outdoor magazine. Hansi Johnson has recently been named as the new outdoor czar or Duluth to help further the area as a destination hotspot for mountain bikers and silent sport users alike. The Strib ran an a nice article featuring Hansi.

Act Your Age

Bicycling Magazine recently published an article on defying your age. Keep the wheels moving!!

CX

Cyclocross season has hit full stride with many mountain bikers transitioning to the intense form of racing for a racing fix. One race that was brought to our attention in between LaCrosse, WI and Winona, MN is the Dahl-GMC Winona Cross Cup Cyclo-cross. The event encourages all types of bicycles. Brian Burns reports:

Negotiate high and low speed turns, gravel, sand and grass with beautiful fall colors and bluffs as the backdrop. Barriers and sand, cheering fans, and a killer climb will get the lungs burning and the heart pumping. The race is several laps of a closed 1.8-mile off road loop with the race length based on time and race level. The course is wide with easy passing opportunities for the entire loop.

This isn't a single-track race or a grass Criterium. There is no "death spiral", just classic Cyclo-cross elements in a pastoral setting well suited for cowbells, coffee and caramel apples!

Nearly any style off road bicycle is legal as long as there are no forward facing bar ends. So whether it's a Fat bike, a Cyclo-cross race bike, your hard tail 26er, or a ten-speed with balloon tires, come out and give it a go. Tires wider than 32 mm are highly recommended but there is no upper limit.

Signing Off

With the final report of the 2014 season in the books, a big thanks to all riders, racers, promoters and photographers that contributed to the Midwest Mountain Bike report. Have a great "off season"! Think Snow and ...

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/Podiumwear mountain bike team and enters his 24th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races.