This past weekend, Detroit Lakes celebrated the 75th Northwest Water Carnival. Twenty years ago I participated in the 55th water carnival, competing in one of my first mountain bike races.
The race started at the old Evans grocery store and ran through town out towards Detroit Mountain. Did a lap out there and came back to town to finish at grocery store. Quite a undertaking considering all the city streets involved etc. Bob Romaine was the organizer who used to have the Cyclery in Detroit Lakes. After that year, the race was moved to Dunton Locks where it ran for 12 years I think and last one we did was in 2002 which was organized by Bob's son Aaron. The race was always on Saturday and seemed to fall before Welch and was a good tuneup for Sunday. There was also a road race with the water carnival that drew nicely. For a few years, it was part of the Tour De Zorbaz which was a 4-5 road race series all starting at the Zorbaz in lake country. During those years there were also road races in Perham, Battle Lake, Brainerd etc. They were not sanctioned but still some good racing. All the road races I did, I always used my mtb and most of the time just pumped up the knobbies til they started to bulge. Now there is nothing in the area unfortunately.
The past few weeks we have had raccoons come pretty much every night on the deck. Get in to the bird seed and climb on the bird feeders and amazing the bird seeders don't fall down. They come like clock work. Once we turn off the lights, 20-30 minutes they come. From what I can tell, there are two adults and 3 youngans. The other night the adults bolted, leaving the young. They don't know what to do so they just sit there. You can get pretty close and you hear the parents making a noises. I yell back "what did you leave them than" Not the smartest animals. Disclaimer: Never approach wild animals.
The race started at the old Evans grocery store and ran through town out towards Detroit Mountain. Did a lap out there and came back to town to finish at grocery store. Quite a undertaking considering all the city streets involved etc. Bob Romaine was the organizer who used to have the Cyclery in Detroit Lakes. After that year, the race was moved to Dunton Locks where it ran for 12 years I think and last one we did was in 2002 which was organized by Bob's son Aaron. The race was always on Saturday and seemed to fall before Welch and was a good tuneup for Sunday. There was also a road race with the water carnival that drew nicely. For a few years, it was part of the Tour De Zorbaz which was a 4-5 road race series all starting at the Zorbaz in lake country. During those years there were also road races in Perham, Battle Lake, Brainerd etc. They were not sanctioned but still some good racing. All the road races I did, I always used my mtb and most of the time just pumped up the knobbies til they started to bulge. Now there is nothing in the area unfortunately.
The past few weeks we have had raccoons come pretty much every night on the deck. Get in to the bird seed and climb on the bird feeders and amazing the bird seeders don't fall down. They come like clock work. Once we turn off the lights, 20-30 minutes they come. From what I can tell, there are two adults and 3 youngans. The other night the adults bolted, leaving the young. They don't know what to do so they just sit there. You can get pretty close and you hear the parents making a noises. I yell back "what did you leave them than" Not the smartest animals. Disclaimer: Never approach wild animals.
2 comments:
Ah....how great it would be to have the those road races back in the lakes country. As much as I like MTB there is something about the crap shoot of a road race that is a blast. Maybe it could be the same thing that makes pull tabs fun. You just never know when you'll be in the right place at the right time.
What would it take to get something going again?
Definitely. Probably five guys to handle the logistics and some work with the local authorities for road closures, marshal etc. Would not have to be USAC sanctioned unless insurance was difficult. Just doesn't seem to be the roadies in lake country like there used to be. More mtbers it seems.
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