Midwest MTB Report
A pretty much awesome fall weekend of riding and racing. Bit chilly in the mornings but Sunday turning out top notch and continuing on through the start of the week. This weeks report includes highlights from the Salsa Oremegedon, links to a couple new items and the look ahead as the mountain bike race season starts to wind down.
(Photo: Great fall riding this past weekend)
Salsa Armageddon at Cuyuna
The Cuyuna Lakes trail system was host to the Salsa Oremageddon hosted by the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew and featured 50, 25 and 12 mile mountain bike events on the popular flow trail system. All funds from the event went back into the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails with 100% of the profits going right back into building and maintaining the trails.
Despite the chilly start riding conditions were ideal. Second place finisher Ben Doom provided a nice recap on his blog:
The start was fast but nothing ridiculous. I was able to enter the single track in the top 10 or higher...I think. They do spit us out onto some gravel roads or snowmobile trails every so often to offer some passing lanes. At the first passing lane I went around a few riders and closed in on the next a 100 yards up. Just before the single track I was able to pass him too. Of course this gassed me and the single track started to get a bit more technical and more hilly. I hate being the guy in the front. I don't want to slow anyone down or screw up. At the next passing section two people passed me as I fought to catch my breath and get some blood flow back into my hands.
Eventually we formed a group of 4. I was riding in 2nd position. Around mile 18 or so (of the first lap...two laps of 25) I pulled over at let the other two behind my go. I was getting gassed pretty good on the climbs and getting a bit clumsy in the single track. My legs were still heavy and tired. The back to back weekends of racing (this was race 3) were catching up to me. They got a gap on me and I was ok with that. The end of the lap dumps us out on to some snowmobile trails. They were a bit soft making the going hard. I caught back up to my group here. Once in the single track on the second lap they started to get a gap on my again. About 45 minutes into my second lap my legs finally stated to come around. I was flowing through the trails much better and able to pound up the hills.
From Mining to Biking
MPR featured an in-depth and well written article about the impact the Cuyuna trail system has had on the area and plans for expansion with hopes a 3.6 million grant is received. Although hard numbers are not provided such as sales tax revenues, the community reports a boost to the local economy and the area is hopeful the grant will be honored to build more trails.
(Photo: Cuyuna riders, Credit: Hansi Johnson)
Singletracks Link of the Week
The Singletracks.com link of the week goes to the two dudes that ripped down a waterslide. The video runs a little heavy on pre and post ride but the waterslide rip is pretty sweet.
Looking Ahead
The FM Trailbuilders are ready for a full weekend of mountain biking at the two main trail systems in the Fargo-Moorhead area which exist on the Moorhead side of the two cities that straddle the mighty north flowing Red River. The club has been working hard and very happy for the club that there was no flooding this year so they could expand and enhance the current trail systems. The weekend events are a big fund raiser for the group to provide funding for future trail build.
(Photo: Fast and flowy at MB Johnson Park in north Moorhead)
The Minnesota Mountain Bike Series will conclude it's season at the Whitetail Ridge trail system in River Falls, WI. After having to cancel earlier in the season because of rainy weather, the sport, comp, marathon and expert races will throw it down for one last time to secure or advance on the point standings. The trail will be hopping as there will also be a high school race going on that day.
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 |