Midwest MTB Report
Another gorgeous weekend in the books with crisp morning temps leading to beautiful days for late fall riding. Can't recall a fall like this one with so many weekends for primo fall mountain biking. This week's special report includes a full recap from the Black's Grove Crossing mountain bike race and a couple other mountain bike related items to note.
Black's Grove Crossing
Co-race director Thad Schulz reports from Black's:
The 6th annual Black's Grove River Crossing Race started out with a nippy sub-freezing morning, but by race time temps were already above 50F. This was the best turnout ever with over 50 racers participating in the 3 classes: kids, citizen, and sport. The Black's Grove trails where as clean as humanly possible having been blown twice by the Black's grove trail riders twice in the past week.
The kids race had four kids participating 2.5 mile course. The top male finisher Marcus Olson finishing in 16:56 and top female finisher Ellie Hale finishing in 22:16
The race organizers tired decided to use a more accessible course the the citizen race, since last years course was a little too challenging for some beginner riders. This year's course was a 2 lap 3.5 that was 30% ski trail and 70% single track. There were 11 citizen racers with Jacob olson posting best male with a time of 41:03 and Heidi Olson finishing with a time of 45:56.
The sport race had 40 participants racing on the entire Black's Grove singletrack trail system consisting of often rooty and rocky trails, steep technical climbs, and tight switchbacks. This year's course was 13 miles with top male Mike Schroden finishing with a time of 1:09:30 and top female Gracen Hardy finishing with a time of 1:43:15. Honorable mention goes out to Jeremie Van Ryswyk who was the only rider to complete the Black's Grove hillside switchbacks without unclipping.
Rider David Jenson race report:
Now in its 6th year, the Black's Grove River Crossing Mountain Bike race drew record numbers this past weekend. Some attribute it to its later date on the calendar. Some attribute it to the picture perfect conditions. However, if you ask me, I would attribute it to the work of six or seven highly devoted local riders who work tirelessly to maintain this secret gem-of-a-trail nestled in West Central MN.
I rolled in about 30 minutes before race time, which was perfectly acceptable for a low-key race of this nature. I was pleased to see riders of all ages and all abilities. Even the popular Minneapolis-based LCR race team had a strong presence. Add to that six or seven Maplelag racers, and I almost felt like I was at an official MMBS race. That was until I stopped by the registration table to pay my extremely modest $10 entry fee. Despite not doing any mountain biking this season, I still expected to be a strong competitor – especially with local elite rider Ben Olson sitting this one out in order to help officiate. After a five minute warm up and pre-race meeting with local legend Denny Barry, we were off. Having raced here several times before, I knew what I was in for. Black's Grove is what you might call a "pure" mountain bike trail. If you're looking for finely polished single track with highly manufactured trail features you better ride somewhere else. However, if you're not afraid of natural trail features and crazy steep river bank climbs, Black's Grove is the trail for you. I was forced to dismount at least a dozen times over the course of 15 miles.
Out of the gate, I was able to watch and learn from a young rising star, Isaac Hale, who calls Blacks Grove home. He and I kept pace with race leader, Mike Schroden, for the first 5 miles or so. However, when Issac got hung up on a tree and I took over 2nd position, both of us fell behind and ended up finishing in that order. Now three days after the race, my legs are fully recovered, but my arms are still a little sore from the massive upper body work-out. All in all, it was a tremendous day. The local riders/race coordinators did a terrific job marking the course and designating routes for beginners and experts alike. As always, the post-race festivities were a hit too with hot dogs and burgers hot of the grill. Being from Fergus Falls, I was one of the fortunate few who live within an hour of Wadena. However, I can honestly say that it would've been well worth the trip if I had driven three. I don't know what I'll be doing this time next year, but I'm going to do everything I can to make it back to Black's Grove!
Full Results are hosted on the race website at:
Chequamegon Video Footage
If you haven't checked out the video coverage provided by Trail Genius, visit their web page for the recently added 2015 Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival video footage
More Trails
New trails continue to be built throughout the Midwest including some really sweet looking trails at Falcon Trails just across the border in Manitobal Canada definitely worth the trip to check out.
This spring I had a chance to check out the Falcon Ridge Resort near West Hawk Lake, Manitoba Canada for a spring skiing trip. The Sought Whiteshell Mountain Bike trail group has been busy building some trail this fall and recently added me to their Facebook page for an update (thank you very much). Hoping to get up there this fall yet and check out the sweet trails!
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. |