Midwest MTB Report
Conditions couldn't of been much nicer throughout most of the Midwest for Mother's day weekend. The racing action was light but the riding was about as good as it gets. Personally one of the best times of the year to mountain bike with pleasant temps and no bugs! Rain on Tuesday was welcomed in many areas as it was getting very dry. This weeks report includes a recap from the Thursday night races at Buck Hill, mountain bike news and notes and the look ahead including an opportunity for trail work in northwest Minnesota.
Thursday Night at Buck
Buck Hill kicked off another season of Thursday night racing with 240 racers toeing the line. John Sandberg reports from the first go:
Last Thursday marked the kick-off of the 25th Annual Penn Cycle Thursday Night MTB Races as Buck Hill in Burnsville, Minn. With temperatures in the low 70s and the extra excitement that seems to infuse early season racing, 240 racers turned out for some truly enjoyable racing.
Brendan Moore stamped his ticket to win the 4-lap Advanced class for the umpteenth time in his career, with Brendan Bellew running close in second. Relative newcomer Sonia Pond won the women's class; Chace Russell and Martha Flynn each won their respective classes in the 2-lap Rec category, while Mason Heimkes won the 1-lap Beginner race.
It's evident that High School competitors are getting faster than ever, as Sam Elson, Nick Fillipi and Cal Sandberg finished in the top-20 of the Advanced class. These events are perfect training for the High School league.
We're celebrating 25 years of Thursday night races with a unique theme at each event this season. The first week was Cinco De Mayo. The theme for May 12 is Vintage Apparel, so racers are encouraged to wear their old Finish Line Finders, Pedros, Habanero, and other assorted old-school Minnesota jerseys. Go to penncycle.com for all the details.
Crushing Cancer
Jen Hanks, a two-time breast cancer survivor and professional mountain bike racer, explains how a commitment to physical fitness empowered her to overcome, compete and Be More Human.
(photo: Jen Hanks)
From Steel to Stoke
As Duluth, Minnesota's Director of Recreational Lands for the Minnesota Land Trust, Hansi Johnson has helped raise essential money, preserve natural recreation sites, plan and create single-track trails, and grow interest in the city far and wide. Johnson was recently featured in QBP's "Call Up" to have him as a guest writer to fill folks in on the city's rich storied past, its wildly exciting future, and how mountain biking played a crucial role in not only reviving the city, but transforming it.
(Photo of Double black riding in the Duluth area)
Baby on Board
When Allicia Fisk rolled to the line to race in the Elite women race at the first MNMBS race, she did so carrying a child! The baby will definitely be born to shred! Alicia's blog post: A Woolly Baby Recap
Spectator saves the day for unlucky Gila racer
So what happens when the team car isn't there, and a racer can't get a spare bike after a crash? Zack Allison found himself in that unenviable position on Wednesday, four kilometers from the finish of stage 1 at the Tour of the Gila.
"I took my shoes off and shouldered the bike and walked for about 500 meters in sock feet and realized it was a real long way to finish, and my situation sucked really bad," the Elevate Pro Cycling rider said.
And then, help arrived. It wasn't a team car, or a teammate with a similarly sized Giant bike. Instead, it was a local fan and his old Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bike ...
Group Rides
Lifelong Detroit Lakes resident Bryan Shoenberger has picked up mountain biking in recent years and is lucky to live in between two mountain bike trail systems, specifically calling Mountain View Recreation Area (MVRA) "his baby he wants to protect" Bryan has started a Wednesday night group ride starting out with rides at the MVRA and anyone local looking to get riding on the next MNMBS series course and Maplelag which is the traditional Labor day weekend, this is a good opportunity. Bryan provides the details:
(Photo of connector trail between Mountain View Recreation Area and Detroit Mountain Recreation Area)
"Hey Lakes area mountain bike friends, I am organizing a Wednesday evening ride club. The plan is to meet every Wednesday evening at Mountain View single track trails, and when open; the Detroit Mountain trails. The next ride will be May 11th. You will need basic riding skills, a dependable mountain bike and a helmet. All ages and genders welcome, the trails are technically & physically challenging; be prepared to work. The mission is to develop skills and friendships; hopefully expand to some trips to other local trails, Maplelag, Wadena, Cuyuna, and beyond. If you're interested show up at Mountain View around 6:15 or so, we depart at 6:30.
Movil Maze Trail Work
The popular Nordic ski area in Bemidji, Movil Maze, now has a very nice mountain bike trail thanks to the hard work of the North Star Mountain Bike Club who has not only put in some fast sweet flowing singletrack but a "playground" for riders to test their fre-ride handling skills. There will be a community "trail dig" this coming Thursday. More information on their Facebook page.
(Photo of new trails at Movil Maze)
Looking Ahead
WORS Opener - Iola Bump and Jump
The Wisconsin Off Road Series kicks off at the popular Nordic ski center, Iola Winter Sports Center in Iola, WI. The Iola Bump and Jump race course evolves a little each year based on racer input, rider and spectator safety, and the condition of individual sections of the track. However, the overall character that makes this course a favorite of many remains constant. The start loop that takes racers up and around the back side of Iola's 40 & 60 meter ski jumps and then drops back down past the lodge into the jump bowl may be the best lead-out in all of WORS. In addition, several minor singletrack modifications have been made to improve the racing experience for all. For the youngest novice racers, the Bump & Jump's Kids Race course provides an opportunity for them to expand their skills.
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/LaMere/Paramount/Jake's Bikes mountain bike team and enters his 26th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races. Have an event or mountain bike related information to share from the Midwest? Feel free to contact Jay at |