Race Report by Tyler Gauthier
It is not very often in racing when your legs are screaming “go” and your body yells back “no.” It is most always the other way around. I suppose if you start to do this racing thing long enough your bodily experiences will find a new way to surprise you more often than not.
The site of Iola is always a good one. It is site of a new day, new opportunity, new goals, but the re-resurrection of MTB fun. Training and racing accumulates a bucket full of pain and frustrations but bring everyone’s same struggles to one venue and all becomes worth it. The unique thing about knobby tire bikes is we all share the same passion and love for the sport and no matter what ones experience in the past days or weeks WORS brings us together. Ahh yes, it is good to be back.
We were welcomed with a humid and hot 85 degree day. The sun was hiding but it didn’t decrease the intensity factor of the heat. I do not usually mention the heat and can fair well in it but bring a Upper Peninsula boy down from his unseasonable 40-60 degree breezy climate into 85 degrees of humidity and the body may react. I came in feeling good and not all that nervous about the challenge in front of me. I had a lot of excitement to analyze the fitness and skill. Although my analysis is not exactly what I expected I’m happy with what came from the first effort.
As most expected the lead out was tight and competitive. The elite field has a mass of riders that can stick the start effort making positioning a battle. The change to the Iola lead out extended this battle and the front group stuck together a lot longer than usual. I lost some aggression at the start but managed to jump on the lead group in about 8th/9th. Cole was off the front and Tristan lead the chase the majority of the first lap. The group winded around the smooth single track still in tact back to the start/lap position. The 2nd time up the start climb I made the decision to ease up on my effort to keep in site the finish that was still 1:20 minutes away. The group rode away and I my objective became “Peariso” power. Known to others as “steady” or “old man” power. Even at that, my legs felt the need to go but no response from the energy stores to allow them.
My red line effort on the first lap altered my decision making and started to show in my line choices. The start of the 3rd lap I recovered as Justin P. approached. I jumped onto his wheel forcing myself to choose a better line and bring my alertness back. He rode well and I felt like we gained some of the time back I lost on a slow lap 2. Most of lap 4 of spent solo and all of lap 5 until the last 500 meters. The last 1/2 mile of the course I allowed my guard to drop and didn’t take notice of 2 chasing riders. In no hurry I approached Michelle P. and she kindly gave me room to pass where I declined knowing 2 track approached. I sprinted the 2 track and felt someone on my wheel not knowing who. We went onto the last section of 2 track and out of nowhere the other Peariso contended me for hole shot into the last piece of single track to the finish. We ran it right to the last moment and he nabbed it. 9th to 10th in the last 500 m.
A number is a number but a result is not always the result. It was good to be back and to get a picture of the year. The late start to the WORS season leaves us with 3 straight weeks of racing. Saddle up, it’s going to be a fast one.
Race Report by Cooper Dendal
This past weekend a few of the Border Grill Race Team, powered by Quick Stop Bike Shop members headed down to the first WORS race of the season in Iola, Wisconsin. When we arrived at the course on Saturday for a pre-ride, it was muggy, despite the perfect temperature in the 70’s. After a cold spring in the U.P. that felt hot! Little did we know that the temperatures were still on the rise and would climb into the mid to upper 80’s for race day. Last year the course was unbelievably muddy, this year was a different story. After pre-riding the course, Collin Kytta was pleasantly surprised at how fast the course was compared to the ruddy mess of a course it was last year. It was nice to ride the course when the ground was dry and fast.
By Jeni Jewell
Nationwide cyclists took part in Bike to Work Day today, encouraging communities to consider this mode of transportation on a regular basis. May is National Bike Month and a few days before the first day of the month, I made a goal to try and ride my bike to work every day in the month of May. Unpredictable Upper Peninsula weather rained on my parade on May 1, literally. The awful rain/sleet mix and 32 degrees was a less than encouraging environment to start my month-long experiment. I’m not quite set up to ride in the rain, yet. But I’m not a quitter and on May 2, I made a very chilly decision to pedal across town to the library where I work.
My choice to commute by bike to work is mostly economical. It doesn’t make sense to drive my car on short trips around town that take the same amount of time on by bike as they would in a car. I could save $15 dollars a week in gas. But old habits are hard to break and I heard somewhere that if you want to develop a new habit, it takes a month of repetitive action. Hence my goal.
Race Report by Tyler Gauthier
We have waited, waited and have waited some more. For the mountain bike season that is. The Northern part of Wisconsin and all of the Upper Peninsula have been buried by late season snow and lingering fall weather. The inclement weather has prolonged the off season or the fat bike season, depending on how you look at. The mountain bike season has traditional come by this time of year and yet very few riders could claim any race results or effort as of May 11th. The RASTA Rally held in Rhinelander, WI was the first for many to seal up their tubeless knobby tires and feel the single track dirt beneath them.
By Jeni Jewell
It’s hard not to be drawn in when you meet her for the first time. She’s young, has an infectious smile and an easy going attitude. It’s easy to see her as a college student with a fun outlook on life. But look at her racing history and you’ll see a force that is quickly climbing toward mountain biking podiums across the MidWest.
In 2012 she finished first place in the 28 mile Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic in Marquette, Michigan and 7th overall in Iceman Cometh, as well as finishing top 3 in a few races in the Wisconsin Off-Road Racing Series, WORS, one of the most competitive series in the Midwest. Oh yeah, and she’s only been racing since 2010.
Raise money to fight cancer and spin your legs out at the same time at the Hope Starts Here Challenge, scheduled for May 11, 2 013. They have five events, three running races, one biking and one duathlon.
See below for more information or go to Superior Timing to register.
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The Hope Starts Here Challenge raises funds and awareness for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center (UMBTC). The UMBTC is a collaborative effort between Marquette General and Northern Michigan University. Its mission is to empower patients and families dealing with brain tumor through advocacy, research, education and treatment.
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