Midwest MTB Report

by Jay Richards
July 2, 2025

The summer portion of the mountain bike season is flying by (like it always does) with racing and riding in full swing. This week's report highlights some of the events in June, including two of the biggest festival races of the year, Epic and Lutsen, with first hand reports from both. Closing it out are a few cycling related items of note, and a look ahead as we roll into July.

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99 Miles at Lutsen

One of the biggest mass start races in Minnesota took place this past weekend along the north shore in Lutsen, MN. It wasn't quite as muddy as in recent years, but brown water conditions still gave riders and bikes a good coat of dirt. I checked in with the women's overall winner, Jenna Rinehart, for her breakdown of how the race went and how her season has been going so far as she once again focuses on the Life Time Grand Prix series:

1) First off, congrats on the Lutsen 99er win! You had quite an impressive result, mixing it up with the top men. What made you decide to race Lutsen this year?

Thanks! It was a fun day out there! We have a pretty big break in the LTGP this year between Unbound and Leadville so I knew I wanted to add something else to my schedule to keep me motivated. I took a couple easy weeks after Unbound to make sure I fully recovered this year and was feeling good so I decided to add Lutsen. It was a good opportunity to do a bigger day on my MTB before Leadville. Spending some time up the North Shore is always fun and Peter and Christina put on such a good event.

2) How did the race unfold? Any key moments? Any special set up for your bike? How and what did you do for nutrition?

I haven't done any mass start races with the men's field for awhile so it was good to get comfortable with that again. The race always starts out super hard with a long almost 20 minute climb up Caribou Road. It's hard not to overdo it in this section because it's so important to get in good groups for drafting. I managed the effort pretty well and found some guys to work with. Most of the course goes in and out of double track and then some long gravel road sections. I had a bit of a low point in the middle of the race and found myself riding solo for a while. I got a bottle with some caffeine at the mile 65 aid station and started to come back to life feeling really good. All of my Unbound fitness really kicked in those last 30 miles and I started moving up through the men's field. I think I passed around 10 guys in the last 20 miles which was pretty fun and motivating. We hit a snowmobile trail with some big mud pits and steep climbs with about 15 miles to go and I was able to put some skills to use which was fun! I led a group of about 8 or so into this section and exited with just 2 others. The 3 of us worked hard the last 10 miles all the way to the line.

I didn't do anything too crazy for the bike set up for this course. I rode the Specialized Epic 8 with Flight Attendant. I changed the seatpost out to a high post instead of a dropper and put a 36t chainring on the front. A drop bar on the mountain bike would be a nice setup that I would consider for this race in the future. For nutrition I used all Maurten products. The 360 drink mix and the 160 gels. I added some Caffeine the last third of the race and try to get in about 100 grams of carbs an hour.

3) I've been following along, like many others in the Midwest this season, as you tackle the Life Time Grand Prix series again this year. How has it been going? What you went though at Unbound had to be something else, I'm really impressed with how you faced and pushed through adversity.

This is my third season racing in the LTGP and it's definitely been the hardest yet. The competition is getting faster and more competitive than ever. The first race, Sea Otter Gravel, was a bit rough for me. I just didn't feel my best that day, which is hard to race at that level if you aren't 100%. I was finally feeling good going into Unbound but unfortunately luck was not on my side that day. The beginning of the race was super sketchy and I got taken down in a crash less than 5 miles into the race. Thankfully besides some road rash my body was ok. My bike however, took the brunt of it. I got back pedalling and realized my front rotor was severely bent. I chased and got back to the main peloton until mile 40 but quickly realized my day of a good result was probably gone. I rode 65 miles with the front brake rubbing and wearing away at my caliper until I was able to get a new front wheel at the mile 70 aid station. I got back going and worked my way through some of the field. The last 20 miles were pretty rough though with the heat and the efforts from earlier catching up. I'm proud that I never gave up and was determined to make it to that finish line, but it definitely stings to have the day ruined so early after putting so much work in. That is part of the Unbound experience though. Luck is a huge part of it. My past experiences at Unbound helped me prepare that something will probably go wrong out there or you'll have a low point. I just wasn't expecting it only 5 miles in. It's a very long season yet with some of the best races suited to me in the fall so anything can happen yet in the series!

4) How has this year been different in regards to training, nutrition, and your whole approach to the Grand Prix?

The first 2 years I did the LTGP I was self coached. That worked pretty well but I definitely dug myself a bit of a hole the second half of last year and struggled with recovery. This year I am working with Momentum Endurance and have TJ Woodruff coaching me. It's been a big change but It's nice to have some more guidance instead of questioning if I'm doing the right work. I've been putting in some bigger back to back days this season but also really emphasizing rest. The harder days are harder and the easier days easier.

I'm working with Maurten nutrition for my second season. I've really gotten to know the products and they work well for me. Also just taking what I've learned the last couple years and training my gut has been helpful. These long races are such an eating game.

As far as the Grand Prix goes. I'm not thinking about the overall standings too much. I'm more focused on each race individually and especially the races this Fall which suit me the best. I'm very excited we only have one high altitude race this season.

5) Looking ahead to the GP, you have over a month until the Leadville 100. Will you plan to race in many races leading up to this, or acclimate by training out west?

I'm mostly focused on getting some good quality training in before heading to altitude. I may add a regional gravel race in between then but will see how the training is going. I'm also really wanting to get some more days in on the mtb. It's been challenging with the wet weather we've had this last month. I plan to head out west about 2 weeks before Leadville to get some acclimation and time on course. It's always fun to spend some time in the mountains and definitely helpful to try and get a little acclimation with a race that starts so high.

6) You have a fresh look this year with a new title sponsor, tell us a little bit about that?

Yes! I'm excited to be working with Rene Herse tires as my title sponsor this season! My team from last year found out we were losing our title sponsor pretty late in the planning season but Rene Herse reached out and was really interested in doing more with me. They have been great to work with and make some really good tires with 4 different casings to choose from and 3 tread patterns. I'm also thankful to have the continued support from Specialized for bikes and equipment, Castelli clothing, Maurten nutrition, Wolf Tooth components, and of course Nicollet Bike and ski keeping my bikes dialed.

7) What has been your most memorable cycling experience so far this year, racing or riding?

Hmm... I'd say the most memorable or strangest experience this year was at the Midsouth gravel race in March. I went down to the race with a group from Minnesota. We went out for a pre-ride the morning before the race and things were looking good but the wind was really starting to pick up. A couple hours later we were driving down to the expo to get our packets and things were in chaos with the wind and it was just scary to be outside. We looked up and saw smoke in a couple directions close to town. Things quickly got really bad. Parts of the course we had been riding earlier were on fire and the air quality was horrible. Some hotels and neighborhoods were being evacuated and several main roads to leave town were closed and on fire. We sat in our hotel that wasn't evacuated and watched the news. It was really scary and over 200 homes burned down. The race ended up being cancelled which was definitely the right call. It was hard to travel so far and be all prepared and then have that happen but it was a good lesson in pivoting and making the most of a situation. Our group decided to stop in Emporia, KS since it was right on the way home and ride some of the Unbound course. We ended up getting a good 100 mile spirited group ride in.

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One of my good friends Ben Olson raced the 99er as well and I asked him a few questions as well about his race:

1) What prompted your decision to race Lutsen this year?

Ashley Schultz was registered to race, which led to my son Jacob deciding to race, and I decided I wanted to join the fun. I raced Lutsen in 2016 with this year being my first year back.

2) It looked like you had great preparation going in to the race? Did you have a specific training plan? Were you able to follow through for the most part? Your son Jacob also raced and it looks like you did a lot of training with him when you could?

No specific training plan. But after being coached by Elson Endurance in the past for a few years, I had a really good idea of what training rides leading up to the race should consist of.

4) How did the race play out—pre-race, morning of, and during the actual race?

One particular focus for this year beyond the endurance rides was nutrition, training the gut for an average of 120 g/hour of carbohydrates and using the same products in all our long rides. We found this to be helpful during the rides, but even more so, aided in recovery and not feeling so depleted afterwards.

Our lodging proximity was conveniently located to the start/finish which made for a much less stressful morning. After a quick breakfast we rolled to the start, arriving about 30 minutes before "go" time, leaving a drop bag with Lutsen 99er crew full of emergency supplies, and rolled to start chute about 200-300 racers from the front.

We followed the controlled roll-out until Caribou Trail where lead and chase groups formed. Jacob and I made our way up to the second chase group of about 20-30 riders.

As a group we caught and dropped riders throughout the race, but for most of the race we had a core group until mile 70 when a technical 2 track section split us up and the gap grew with the next gravel section. I realized Jacob was no longer in our group after rotating through on a pull. I spent the remainder of the race questioning whether to continue on with my race or hold up for Jake.

Our smaller group continued to work together until we reached the mud bogs in the 2-3 miles before Onion River Road where it was every man for themselves.

I rolled to the finish with nothing left in the tank and was happy to see Jake finishing not too far behind me.

5) Earlier this year you did a double LagChilada at Maplelag (all the trails times twice for 50 miles). How did doing that, which has similar elevation gain compared to the Lutsen 99er, prepare you as far as effort, etc.?

I had planned to do a double LagChilada as a major part of my lead up to the race knowing the effort would be similar, especially when it comes to the punchy climbs at the tail end of the race. Adding the old school singletrack with the majority of my long rides being gravel rounded out my training and gave variety. The total effort of a double LC felt similar to that of the 99er.

6) Would you do the race again?

Yes, if I can combine it with another fun weekend (like this year) with family and friends.

We had dinner the night before the race with other Maplelag team riders, enjoyed post race festivities celebrating together, and really enjoyed the weekend as a whole rather than just focusing on the race.

Lutsen 99er Results

Related: Life Time Grand Prix Schedule

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Epic Biking in Birkieland

Early in the month of June, Wisconsin and the Birkie organization again played host to the Epic Bike Fast, a two day event featuring a mountain bike race on Saturday and gravel racing on Sunday.

One of the most inspiring stories to come out that weekend was the return to high level racing by Duluth rider Mason Bacso who shared his story on Instagram after the race:

"Last weekend marked a massive step in my athletic comeback story. After years of off and on injuries, most recently a 25 foot fall rock climbing, I toed the line of an xc mountain bike race! To say I was nervous was an understatement...I was terrified! Worse than an awkward group photo, I had no clue what to do with my hands or the rest of my body. But in mountain bike terms, sometimes you just have to "send it"! My only goal was to ride away feeling like I didn't embarrass myself."

"Morning of I went for a quick bike ride and then drove to the start to meet some familiar faces. We took a quick spin around the area and lined up for race time. I think I was physically shaking as Erik was trying to calm me down with Birkie fireball stories. Eventually, reckoning time came, and I needed to face the music. Music choice was heavy metal from the start, holy cow! I was really questioning my goal as everyone flew past on the ski trail roll out, ekks! But as soon as I settled in the single track, I took a deep breath and things started to click. I changed the music to more typical EDM and started rolling up the field. Early on I caught the one and only skinny ginge (Josh Bauer)! It was kind of weird how meaningful this was to chase him around the woods again as we have for the last 10 years!"

"The bike felt amazing thanks to The Ski Hut and I wore first skin suit thanks to Kuhl! The miles ticked by and I cracked many a smile to be back racing again. As we neared the tail end, I started to falter a bit, shouldering a tree and catching multiple branches into my bike. Got one last glimpse of Josh, but he decided he needed to beat me to the beer line. I crossed the line in 13th place and am so proud of how far I have come over the last year. I have more work to be done, but I easily accomplished my goal! It was beyond cool to see my name up in the mix with all of the big wigs of the sport again. Chatted away as friends finished and talked through the 40 mile adventure we all had. Now for the hard part, riding back to the start to get my car...this one hurt! Thanks everyone for the support, onward and upward!"

Epic Bike Fest Results

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Public Lands For Sale

Mountain bikers and advocacy groups that have enjoyed riding on public lands became alarmed this past May when the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” narrowly passed the U.S. House. In it was a provision to sell off 500,000 acres of public lands, which was removed largely due to the outcry of public land advocates.

However, when the bill hit the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah added a new, farther reaching provision mandating that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service sell up to 3.3 million acres of land over the next five years. Supporters framed the move as common sense to raise revenues and build housing, while critics (74% of Americans oppose public land sales) called it a land grab.

Full Article from the Mountain Gazette

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Vermont Ranked #1 for Best Mountain Bike Experience

A recent study ranked U.S. states for mountain biking by evaluating seven key factors influencing the quality and challenge of the riding experience. Each factor was assigned a specific weight based on its importance to mountain bikers, and data was collected for all 50 states.

The factors were scored on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing better mountain biking conditions.

Vermont topped the list for mountain biking with a solid balance of factors. It has 64.89 trails per 1,000 square miles and nearly 70% hilly terrain. The state offers 53.24 miles of trails per 1,000 square miles, with over a quarter marked as difficult. Vermont’s trails score well on average, and its moderate elevation of 1,210 feet adds to a varied riding experience.

Story on the Study in The Gazette

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Introducing The Garmin Edge MTB

The Garmin Edge MTB is the brand's first device designed specifically for mountain biking with rugged hardware and exclusive features trail, enduro, and DH riders will appreciate. Nearly 20 years after announcing their first cycling-specific GPS device, Garmin finally has a GPS designed specifically for mountain biking. The Garmin Edge MTB boasts a unique combination of hardware and software features to meet the unique needs of trail riders in a package that will be familiar to longtime Garmin users.

Singletracks.com Review

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Great Deer Chase and Ore to Shore Updates

The Great Deer Chase presented by Rhythm Bike Shop and Level Up Branded Apparel Specialists of Houghton is offering an award for the top male and female finisher in the Ore to Shore Hard Rock 48 Mile and Great Deer Chase 30 mile events. With the Great Deer Chase (8/16/2025) happening the weekend after the Ore to Shore (8/9/2025) this presents a great opportunity for travelers from out of the area to spend a week between the races enjoying all that the area offers!

Full Press Release

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Keep the wheels moving!