Midwest MTB Report
Warm and dry weather has returned making for great mountain bike conditions the past few days. What a spring! Going down as one of the best April's on record. Can't help but think of 7 years ago when some places in the Midwest received upward to 20" of snow, making us wonder if we would ever get out on the dirt! This weeks report includes recaps from the Decorah TT, a special report from Dale Valiencourt who attended a skills camp out west in Colorado, a quick review of the new flow trail at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis and a look ahead to the first series races in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Skills for Thrills
Dale Vaillancourt from the Twin Cities area made a trip out west to Fruita, CO to partake in a skill clinic put on by Dirt Smart MTB. All facets of mountain biking were covered with the mountains in the back ground as Dale and others improved on bike handling skills. Dale reports the clinic "was worth every dime and then some. I have been trying to add value to my time spent with regular practice on skills and drills both before and during each ride. My riding has improved (maybe not visibly to anyone but me) and I have a lot more confidence." Dale provided us with a detailed recap of his clinic adventure.
(Photo: Mountain Bike Trail Colorado)
Decorah TT
Samantha Olson was one of many riders who used the Decorah Time Trials to tune up for the upcoming race season. Great weather greeted riders for a hour or so of flat out mountain bike racing. "Sams" full report:
It has been 25 years since the inaugural Decorah Time Trial took place and with every year, more riders come to gauge their abilities against the early season temps and demanding trail conditions. Personally, I first heard of Decorah five years ago, when a fellow racer [Kaleb Himli] mentioned it during the Salsa 2-4. I remember thinking "Iowa?? Iowa has hills?"
Whoa, does it ever.
My husband and I pre-registered right before the cutoff...by mail. It's been a few years since we've had to physically mail a race registration, however, it was the first glimpse of what would turn out the be a phenomenal event; grass-roots and what my husband would call "old school mountain bike racing". I've only been racing six years, so when he begins stories with the words "Back in the 90s..." I never know quite what to picture.
We arrived around noon, with pre-registered racers being able to choose their start time before the day-of racers. Let this be my first reference to the top-notch volunteers that make this event possible. They were organized, efficient and friendly.
Shortly after, the kids race began. It is heartwarming and encouraging to see the support for the future generation of our sport. Much cheer and ample accolades were given to all the finishers - along with awards and some sweet prizes.
The pre-race meeting was sans megaphone, which gave the overall event this undeniable charm and down-to-earth appeal. The announcer directed all racers down the road, about a mile, to the start line. There is this quarry road that winds up next to the start of the singletrack. Many racers were warming up their lungs and legs with this climb. I rode up and instantly my legs felt uber displeased with my life choices. I meandered back down and stretched a wee bit. I had selected a time in the middle of the available slots. The only time trial I have ever done prior was Laddies Loppet in 2009. I felt just as uncomfortable then as I did at Decorah - when they hold you and your bike upright while you wait to be released. "Don't worry I got you" says the friendly man.
I'm the worse starter ever to be on two cleats. The adrenaline makes my knees shake so bad that I never feel comfortable until a mile or so in. Decorah was no different. However, after the first uncharacteristically-Iowan climb, I started feeling gel. I knew my husband was only a minute or two behind me on the start, so when I heard the tell-tale sound of a coasting hub coming up on me, I assumed it was him. "Hi Chad! Get 'round me on the left," I yelled over my shoulder. "Hi Sam!" yelled back this blur in a Fulton jersey as he passed. No clue who that was. Who are you, Fulton man?? I'll have to check the results...
Marian O'Donnell, Sho-Air Midwest rider, passed down some trail intel from her son, Sean O'Donnell, before the start. Apparently, there would be three big climbs. I'm the type of racer that checks things off in my mind as I complete them. So while on course, I knew I had two more lofty climbs ahead of me.
After the second climb - one so long and arduous you couldn't see the top from the bottom - the trail opened up to this wooded pine section. It was ethereal. Pristine. Twisty yet flowy. Throughout the course, I kept thinking I was at different trails. Each section reminded me of a different place. This part in the race reminded me of Lowes Creek in all its pine-needly goodness.
After a few miles, at what I could only gauge as the halfway point, there was this incredible descent. Narrow, steep...like White Tail Ridge on steroids. Second kudos for the volunteers and spectators, as there was a huge cheering crowd at the bottom. There's nothing like nailing a descent with everyone clapping and hollering. And then I saw the photographer. Finally, a photographer at the bottom of a hill instead of the top of a climb!
Then reality set in. I was only halfway through a 9.2 mile course. I knew I had one more big climb ahead of me according to my mental checklist.
Towards the end, the trail shoots you out onto a paved road. Volunteers directed racers into another tunnel of singletrack that descended down near the river. All of a sudden, I was at Maplelag by the Lakeside Drops. I was half expecting a boat with spectators to be floating near the shore. It was a pristine ending to an incredible race course. Fast and beautiful right up to the line.After that ascension, there was more fast, flowy singletrack. The course was, in its entirety, quite technical - which is my forte. I may not be able to climb like I used to, but I can fly through rocks and roots and drops. Sometime during this section, Kim Eppen passed me. I only know of her from her tandem queendom at the Chequamegon. I've never met her in person, but when she came up on me, she spoke to me like we were bike besties. That's the beauty of an event like Decorah - everyone is just so happy to be racing on dirt in April. Thanks for saying hello to me as you blew by, Kim!
All in all, the trail was tacky and technical. Brian Eppen rode to the win and a course record at 45:38. Right on his wheel, Jeff Hall finished with a time of 45:58. Josh Bauer brought home the podium with a 49:28. Hall had this to say about the race, "Course was fun, very technical...very fast downhills. Love the rocks. Ran a new bike [semi fat tires] and it was great."
Kim Eppen took the female overall win at 54:48. Local legend Nicole O'Gara finished second with a time of 1:07:08. Another local hero, Josie Smith, took home third with a time of 1:15:03. I have no idea what time I finished in. I know by this point in the recap, I'm sure you desperately want to know. Results should be posted sometime this week at decorahtimetrials.com.
I would also like to give a shout out to the volunteers who prepped, taped and marked the trail. That's always a huge undertaking that rarely gets a proper thank you.
I have also resigned all my preconceived notions about Iowa not having hills.
Samantha Olson is a 28 year-old mountain bike racer from Star Prairie, WI. You may remember her from such excellent racing as Red Wing Memorial Classic in 2011, when she was hauled out by ambulance after complaining about velociraptors near the course (head trauma). She rides for Cox Motors, CarSoup, Osceola Auto Sales, and Cyclova XC in St. Croix Falls, WI. She is a member of Crank Sisters, ambassador for Fast and Female, member of the Herr Bati race team, and loves spending time with her husband and fellow racer, Chad, and their future-racer/daughter, Emma. Check out her blog
Theodore is Worthy
This past weekend I was in Twin Cities for hockey tourney action, watching of my hockey playing boys lace it up with hundred of other kids from the state of hockey, Canada and Wisconsin. A full plate of watching games but I did have a chance to sneak over to the Theodore Wirth park to check out the mountain bike trails I have not ridden on before. I didn't do my homework on where to ride specifically knowing there were some fun trails there and used the cycling app Strava more as a guide. I have always been impressed with the Theodore Park it's proximity to downtown Minneapolis and some fantastic terrain for Nordic. To be honest, I did not know of the new southwest loop located in the park, almost called it a morning but decided to check it out after seeing it pop up on the map. I was glad I made this decision. The southwest loop was by far the favorite loop out of the three segments I checked out. The trail is definitely is in the "flow/purpose built" classification but had a different "taste" to it compared to other flow trails I have ridden.
The loop had a very nice feel to it and I can honestly say after all the flow trails I have ridden, and this includes Cuyuna, Copper Harbor and the North Shore to name a few, it felt the most natural. I can't put in to words why but to me this was a perfect location for a flow trail and included a nice mix of manufactured and natural flow, especially like the gully berm action. The trail used all the available terrain nicely which included some nice gradual climbs, and some big time berms making for a fast ripping ride. I am all for new trail and means to get more people on the dirt but a flow trail that has a middle of nowhere feel that covers up thousands of sweet rocks and roots doesn't feel as natural as what I experienced at Wirth, in my opinion. Nice job to all those involved bringing more mountain biking trails to a metro location.
Bell Built Trails
Once again Bell Helmets is awarding $100,000 to a mountain bike park to improve it's trail system and a Minnesota location is currently in the lead on votes! Spirit Mountain, which offers some of the best lift-served riding in the Upper Midwest, is up against two areas in New Mexico; Red Rock Park and Cedar Creek downhill trail. "The proposed new descent will up the ante by taking advantage of the mountain's abundant bedrock for steep rolldowns, hucks, and rock gardens"
To vote for Spirit Mountain or the New Mexico trails, visit http://www.bellhelmets.com/bell-built
Looking ahead
As highlighted in last weeks report, both the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series and Wisconsin Off Road Series kicks off this week. Minnesota racers will be racing at the legendary Buck Hill for World Cup style action and Wisconsin riders at the trademark first race at Iola Winter Sports center in Iola. On a related note, the first Penn Cycle Buck Hill series will kick off the following week on May 7th.
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 25th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races. |