Midwest MTB Report
A quiet weekend of racing so to speak with not much cross country mountain bike racing going on other than a couple huge endurance events including the Chequamegon 100. A 100 or 62 miles of sweet singletrack riding in the Chequamegon Forest and CAMBA trails. The Wisconsin Endurance Series held an event and many Twin Cities riders took in the road race action with even a few mountain bikers racing. Brian Matter led a junior camp iding some of the favorite places in the UP that was well attended by riders all over the Midwest. This weeks report is void of first hand race reports but a couple interesting links relevant to the recent fathers day to check out including an interview with Tristan Schouten, a look ahead to the weekend as both the Wisconsin and Minnesota cross country series resume and a handful of Midwest riders out in Montana for the National cross country series.
Training With Tristan
Midwest rider and former WORS overall Elite Champion, Tristan Schouten was interviewed by one of his sponsors, Rolf Prima and we reposted the interview below from the Rolf Prima website:
Many know you as the "working man", but you also juggle a family with three young children. Tell us what your typical week looks like. Where do you squeeze in the training hours?
Tristan: Well, I work full time at Sargento Cheese as an industrial electrician, so I have a full schedule there of about 40-45 hours a week. I am usually up at 5am and home from work by 2:30. A quick snack and I get on the bike as soon as I can or my body goes into relax mode and it only gets harder the longer I wait. I am usually training 1-3hrs a day, so I am back home by about 5-6. Then its supper, home projects, family and kids. I try to be in bed by 9:30 if possible. It's usually just a matter of making sure I have the ride time scheduled in and just doing it. I don't have much time if I miss my opening.
When the schedule gets to be just too much, what keeps you going?
Tristan: Well, if I didn't race I probably wouldn't ride half as much. I'm not someone that would go out and just ride for fun on a daily basis when I have other responsibilities. I really enjoy racing and I also want to be competitive and win. So, it's my drive to be in the hunt for the win that keeps me motivated. I guess it's the motivation to stay at the front and be fit enough to win that keeps me going when I don't want to train because I know my training has to be consistent since I don't have a ton of volume.
We are seeing the new gravel adventure races popping up all over. Why do you think these are gaining so much popularity?
Tristan: Because just about anyone can do one on any style of bike and many of the events are just that - events. Sure the elite guys race, but maybe 75% of the people doing them are just out there having fun and trying to beat last years' time. Lots of people get into crit racing or mountain bike racing, but an adventure race for distance appeals to a lot of people and it's something they can work towards completing and train for.
(Photo: Tristan blog)
Mountain bikes for mountain biking and cyclocross bikes for cyclocross, what is your go-to bike for the new gravel races you've been entering?
Tristan: I go to my cross bike mainly because it's light, goes fast on the pavement and gravel and can get me through the dirt if it has to. I always run my Rolf Prima 4CX Disc carbon tubulars because they are the perfect wheel for that kind of racing. I use 33mm cross tires and it's an almost bomb proof setup for gravel. Fast and light on the road, almost flat proof on the gravel. It's basically my cross setup, but I feel it is the most advantageous of them all.
If I was just getting into gravel road races or events I would try to go with a good wheelset and tire combo because of the chances of flatting is much greater. For most people that might mean trying to get setup on a tubeless system in their current wheels so they can get away from tubes, which are easy to pinch flat on gravel. Tubulars are the more expensive option and for most people not ideal, but having a nice wide rim setup tubeless would probably be the best thing a new rider could do to improve their setup.
Do you have any fun rituals before race morning? Go-to foods, lucky socks...
Tristan: At this point, I just hope my socks match when I pull them out of the bag. Rituals ended when life got hectic, now I just try to keep organized and focused.
Chequamegon 100
(Photo: Kenwood Racing)
Unofficial results are yet to be posted but past participant Tim Ek provides a little insight on the Chequemegon 100:
The Chequamegon 100 is a quintessential endurance mountain bike race. The course is the stuff all mountain bike races should be made of, twisty, flowy, picturesque single track. Wait...there is a catch, each rider must navigate a seriously complex network of trails, including hundreds of intersections where decisions must be made in a split second in order to confirm that one is in fact on course and heading the right direction. Yes, the course is "marked", but not in the typical fashion (i.e. signs). The Cheq 100 is marked with spray painted arrows on the ground. So, imagine riding as fast as you can through tight, twisty single track, watching for arrows on the ground. To put it succinctly, they're easy to miss.
Kenwood Racing Blog Post on Chequamegon 100
Larry Sauber blog post on this year's 100
No One Said It Would Be Easy
Being a cyclist, raising kids, and keeping the wheels moving with work has different challenges for all. Raising kids is one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of a parent. The balancing act is a constant trial and error and life learning experience. All good and all amazing personally. Long time mountain bike racer and father, husband and all around good guy Devin Curran posted a nice blog entry on racing, raising kids and a quick recap of last weekends WEMS race:
Levis was hosting a WEMS race and I jumped into the two hour event, From the gun I put my head down and pinned it at the front with the hope of getting to first climb with no one in front of me.. This plan worked and I was able to get away for a minute or two till I was finally caught and ended up pulling two guys around until the last 1/4 mile. Nipped at the end for the line. But for a guy who does not race like he used to and does not Train... I'll take the place that I got,, and more important than that it was FUN.
Looking Ahead
The Cuyuna Lakes Chamber is partnering with the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series Race this year and hosting the 5th race in their Series, the Cuyuna Lakes Crusher, on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.This is the first time Cuyuna has been part of the Minnesota Series
Here is the schedule:
On Saturday, June 27 there will be Time Trial and Short Track events at the Yawkey unit of the Cuyuna Country State Rec Area from 11:00 – 4:30 PM. You are then invited to join us for the Cuyuna Lakes Crusher Happy Hour located at the City of Crosby's Main Street Plaza, 2 West Main St, Crosby, MN from 5:00 – 8:00 PM where we will have awards from the Time Trial and Short Track events, food vendors, craft beer vendors and live music provided by Jackson and the Roosters.
On Sunday, June 28 the MN Series Race Program takes place in the Mahnomen Unit of the CCSRA. The 6-ish mile Cuyuna race course will start at our new parking lot trail head at the Pennington location with a good climb to the top of over-look road where riders will then turn and head into Cuyuna single track hitting all the great fast flow trails that we have to offer no more snowmobile trails like past events held here. The course is composed of about 85% single track with great opportunities for passing on short sections of service road spread throughout the race course. This course is designed to challenge experienced and beginners alike with split options for different classes ensuring big smiles on every racer's face!
The popular course at the Eau Claire County Expo Center has been hosting races for 10 years. The weekend features a full plate of activities outside of racing including trail runs, pancake feeds, fireworks and possibly one of the most lively camping areas in the Midwest racing scene! Race organizers report on the course:
(Photo: WORS)
The course includes a little bit of everything that you love about mountain biking. We begin by giving you a long, fast leadout and then toss you onto the Whoops for your first taste of fun. Next up you will find a short pine forest with tall trees and flowy singletrack. From there it's a healthy mix of roots, rocks, punchy climbs, twisty sections and rolling ski trails to show off your passing skills. Add in the spectators sprinkled through out and the final sprint to the finish line to make it your best race for the season.
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. |