Fall Happenings

The past 22 years I have attended a mountain bike race during the long race season which you could say runs from late April to November, in the Midwest. To me, there is no greater thrill than cross country mountain bike racing. Mountain biking for 1.5hrs to 2.5hrs full throttle weaving and flowing slicing and dicing on singletrack is a challenge like none other. Through the end of the September, the streak was in jeopardy of being broken.

 It has been a great year of biking, putting more miles on this summer than the previous three and probably more than the last summer I raced hard, 2009, when I contracted Lyme disease. 2010 was a rough year health wise and a good chunk of 2011 it was still hard to ride much over a hour without being gassed and having tightness and stiffness in the upper back/neck area. I prefer to ride short and hard vs long and easy and get fit by making most bang for the buck. But there is nothing like racing to see if you are for real and to whip you in to shape.

 Jens was itching to get one more race in after Laddies and I had the itch as well. A window opened up to hit the last race in the series, the Woolly race in St Croix, Falls WI so we decided to go. It meant a lot to me Matt and Alicia Fisk, race director of the Woolly made the trip to Maplelag so it was a priority to return the favor. Also on the table was to see Jake, bring him his early season/rock skis and maybe check out the new dh flow trail at Spirit Mountain which was getting some buzz in recent weeks. The mostly full race report is on skinnyski with more photos from Spirit mountain but some other highlights below.

Jens nearing the finish in the Kids Comp race. Another great battle with Minnesota's finest. Hoping to do a few more next year. Had a blast with all the kids that have been coming to Maplelag year after year and looking forward to watching them progress.

Rolling through the changed leaves with Barry Tungseth (A. Tungseth photo) Not having raced in three years, to jump in the Expert class and pin it was a bit of a shock to the system but found the legs on the third lap and was content riding with Barry and Justin Rinehart.

Rock garden section 3rd lap that sliced the sidewall on front tire. (Josh Stamper photo) Bit of a gamble to run the tubulars with 1350 miles on them but wanted to try and get a race on them but fourth lap put a end to that. All good and no regrets. Will keep running the rear the rest of this season until the snow flies.

  After the race we bolted up to Duluth to meet Jake for supper and catch up.

 

Jake is fitting nicely in to St Scholastica and going full on with the Nordic ski team, training hard and stoked for the racing season not having raced much the past four months or so.

Monday morning we stopped by Spirit Mountain to check out the new downhill flow trail. We hooked up with Hansi Johnson, IMBA regional director, for a detailed tour of the bottom half which he hadn't seen being gone since recent work. Some good tidbits on the construction and dealings in Duluth between mountain bikers and Superior Hiking trail users. His biggest concern is the hikers having issue with this "huge" trail with hauled in dirt for berm and jump action. He shared some stories about hikers and mountain bikers squabbling over trail rights including cutting trees across trails and near fist fighting. I made the comment pretty nuts considering you have two groups that both love the outdoors and trails but can't get along. Coexist?!?!

Hansi gave us the thumbs up to ride the upper half even though the trail is closed. Hard to keep riders from checking out the scene when there are photos posted online of people riding!!  I was on running and hiking mode which was just fine with me as Jens went back and forth, back and forth as we worked our way to the top. Riding the high berm...Jens had a blast!!  The fall colors were peaking and pretty much a perfect day.

More berm action

Berming, pumping and flowing!

The new trail is a thing of beauty, no doubt, but I have fond memories of the old course and xc race that used to be held at Spirt mountain which was my favorite in the series and probably ranks in the top five overall from Mt Snow Vt and races out east to courses out west. Even raced twice in one year when they had the hippie Green man festival and won some pottery piece. The above pic was a rocky section, now covered in leaves that traversed a super rocky section that you probably wouldn't ride just riding but went for it racing.

Checked out as many sections of trail that we could and give Jens a taste of "real" mountain biking. Upper level singletrack.

 The last recent years the finish was near the chalet, nice short steep pitch. Best was a crashing finish with Chris Fisher in 2007 when Jake won the Sport overall.

 

Headed straight to the high school to catch Homecoming coronation where Jon was the male Freshman attendant. Parade was canceled on Friday due to "inclement" weather. Caught second half of football game. Flakes flying in the air, nice wind. Classic late fall Friday night football game. 

Thursday morning waking up to heavy snow that accumulated by 10am to provide just enough snow to sneak a ski in. 

Ending the weekend with some great duck hunting and nice late season, fall ride with Jon. 

The duck hunting, compared to the last 5-7 years, has been great. We have been out four times, including this weekend past, getting some nice action even  though the time avail, for me, was limited to a hour each morning. Jon and his buddies out most of the day both days. Some falling in and good memories...good to see. All the local ponds have dried up resulting in more birds hitting the large body water which favors us. Hitting it on a day with a nw wind makes for some exciting hunting.  "We should of had more" confirms the action was good.