Midwest MTB Report
The mountain bike season is in full swing in both Minnesota and Wisconsin with series racing already underway and trail riding at it’s best—at least when not wet or raining! It has been a typical up and down spring, maybe more so this year, with extreme warmth followed by cooler periods and plenty of rain.
Diving into the report, this week's edition includes a few quick highlights of the recent racing action, the usual mountain bike related links to news and stories, and a look ahead to more events to have on the radar.
Finding my racing fix along the Sheyenne River for Race 1 of the FlatLands Cycling Gravel Series
Although I have yet to roll to the line in a mountain bike race this season, the FlatLands Cycling club's Gravel Race Series has been a fun way to get my racing fix with three races already in the books. The first two races were extremely warm with some incredible wind and two unique courses, and the turnout has been great with there always being a group to race against.
Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS)
The start of the Elite men's short track (Credit: Dave Reich)
WORS kicked off their season a few weeks ago with what was also the 3rd stop in the US Pro Cup. Over a thousand racers toed the line that Sunday across all the various classes, assuring cross-country mountain bike racing is healthy and sound.
The second race in the series featured the rolling course outside Lake Geneva with the Treadfest. Brian Matter, who took the win in the Elite men's race, recaps the first weekend, which also featured short track racing:
"Think I found the limit at Englewood this year. The limit of traction in the muddy grass and the limit of what I'm capable of cramming into 24 hours a day!"
Matter navigating a rock garden at the Englewood Open (Credit: Dave Reich)
"With Englewood only 5 days after Whiskey this year I'm ready for a little break! A huge build for Whiskey and a succesful weekend of racing following by packing up life, moving across the country for the summer and some hard, fast, racing that was pretty much exact opposite of an elevation course with 45 min long climbs! Add a little mud and a new dog(just slipping this one in here) and you've got yourself a party that I wouldn't trade for anything!"
"Racing itself turned into a couple days of ITTn for me. With a call up deep in a mud bog start line I felt like I was in chase mode before I even left the grid! I raced as fast as possible and pretty happy with that for both STXC (9th) and XC (11th)."
Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (MNMBS)
The Minnesota series kicked off in southern MN this past weekend with riders navigating the diverse course at Gamehaven Scout Camp just south of town. Like their neighbors to the east they had a solid turnout for the opening race with a very large kid's Comp class and one of the larger Elite men's races in recent years at nearly 40 starters. Taking the win in the women’s Elite race was junior rider Stella Swanson who bested the next rider by 7 minutes, remarking "Had some technical issues the first lap but ended good!"
Swanson racing in the Englewood Open early this Month (Credit: Dave Reich)
Fresh Look for CAMBA Trails
Fans of the CAMBA trails will be treated to a fresh tuning of six of the more popular trails this summer. CAMBA shifted its focus to emphasize high-end maintenance and rehabilitation of its older trails, with the oldest and most needy trails in its network the first to receive a refresh. As the years have passed, CAMBA has focused its attention on different trails with each new year.
Much of the rehab work involves improving or installing drainage, removing or adding rock, root removal, and grading. While the area is known for its rugged, hand-built trails, some trails have simply become too rough with years of use. Like many trail organizations, CAMBA began experimenting with machine-built trails a few years ago and will use a mix of machine work followed by hand maintenance to address many of its existing needs.
MAKWA trail, part of the CAMBA system (Credit: Scott Anderson)
This year CAMBA will focus on three popular trails — Ojibwe, Makwa, and Dirt Candy — as well as a few trails in the Ashwabay System.
Full Article on singletracks.com
Upcoming Events
Ride the Keweenaw
Ride the Keweenaw 2025 starts Friday May 23rd, and runs through Sunday May 25th. It includes the following events:
- Sport Enduro (Copper Harbor)
- Expert Enduro (Copper Harbor)
- E-Bike Enduro (Copper Harbor)
- Women's Enduro Pre-Ride (Copper Harbor)
- Family Enduro @ Michigan Tech, One Lap of the XC Race Course.
Ride the Keewenaw Registration
Great Deer Chase Incentive for Junior Riders
"The Great Deer Chase presented by Rhythm Bike Shop and Level Up Branded Apparel Specialists of Houghton is excited to announce that this year's race on August 16, 2025 has some special prizes and age group awards for youth racers! Presenting sponsor Rhythm Bike Shop/Level Up Branded Apparel Specialists of Houghton is going to be giving away a Free Agent Lumen bike to 1 lucky youth registrant in the A-1 General Contracting 2-mile or McGann Building Supply 8-mile race!"
Junior rider Aunders Anderson getting some early season riding along the Michigan UP (Credit: Kyia Anderson)
"With a newly constructed flow trail at Swedetown, new smaller age groups being called up to the podium and some awesome prizes for youth cyclists, the event will be a great way for juniors to experience racing in a fun and supportive atmosphere. There will also be a free 50 yard tots race for the youngest of riders. With the event being the same day as Pasty Fest in Calumet there will be fun and entertainment for the whole family. Registration is now open for the event and the first 80 registrants will get a commemorative event T-Shirt designed by local artist Chris Schmidt of Studio 13 and produced by Level Up Branded Apparel Specialists."
Enduro Continues to Gain Traction
Enduro racing, a combination of more old school riding/trails with a focus on gravity, is gaining popularity in the Midwest. Enduro mountain biking is a type of race where riders are timed on timed downhill stages, with untimed, mandatory "transfer" stages (uphill sections) between them. The goal is to have the fastest combined time across all stages, not the fastest time on individual sections.
Enduro racing action on the Piedmont Trail in Duluth
The Duluth Enduro series is fast approaching with Race 1 set to take place at Hawk’s Ridge on June 3rd.
The enduro-style MTB race is for COGGS members (a membership is required to compete). The series takes place every summer, and showcases the amazing trails across Duluth, MN.
Endurance Enduro
"The All You Can East Bluffet, presented by Cross Country Sports, is a healthy sampling of the tastiest trails that East Bluff has to offer. With 6 and 12-hour options, this endurance enduro is meant to be a fun way to push your limits on the epic trails at East Bluff. You start by pedaling to the top, where you spin a wheel that will tell you what trail you need to take down! We will have the expert class, which includes all the downhill trails, and the intermediate category, which includes only blue trails."
All You Can East Bluffet Sign-Up
Telemark Trails Enduro/Gravity
The new Telemark trails will be host to two events later this summer and fall, the Telemark Gravity Games on August 9th—
"Summer trail shredding at Mt. Telemark Village?! Don’t mind if we do! Introducing the Telemark Gravity Games Enduro!"
"The amazing Trek Trails Powered by OTM provide the perfect setting for a new race format to the Hayward/Cable area. Well known for its cross country singletrack trails, the Trek Trails Powered by OTM add a new element to riding in the area – downhills!"
Gravity trails at Mt Telemark (Credit: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation)
—and the MT Telemark Enduro on October 11th.
"Limited to 50 riders, this end of the season enduro will be a fun party with some of your closest friends that are looking for a fast, technical downhill challenge. Racing is the focus for this event, but we’ll be sure to have fun at the after party with Earth Rider beer!"
Standing Rocks Enduro
"The 3rd Annual Standing Rocks Enduro Mountain Bike Race at Standing Rocks County Park in Stevens Point, WI. The Expert category will have 8 Stages, the Sport category will have 6 stages, and the Youth category will have 4 stages (subject to change). Overall finish positions will be determined by the racer's total cumulative time after completing all 4 Youth stages, all 6 Sport, and all 8 Expert runs in their category."
Standing Rocks Enduro Registration
Racing action Standing Rocks Enduro, 2024 (Credit: Standing Rocks Enduro)
Gunflint Scramble
A 20-mile mountain bike race on Minnesota's Gunflint Trail featuring beautiful scenery and punishing climbs. The course is primarily on wide nordic ski and snowmobile trails. While not single track, most sections are far from smooth, and have a single tread running down the middle.
Riding on the Pincushion trails along the Gunflint
The course is fairly non-technical, but does include multiple steep fast descents, some of which are on loose terrain. Even very skilled riders while need to exercise caution on these sections.
Keep the Wheels Moving!
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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 mountain bike team and enters his 35th 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 |