Mountain Biking – Page 4 – WSI Cycling Team

October 25, 2016

Dave and Danny Share More Race Reports From The Weekend – Mountain, Gravel and a Pair of Running Shoes

Dave’s Peak 2 Peak

On Oct. 15th I did my first Peak 2 Peak race. I was totally surprised by such a great little race (800 racers) this was. Race started at the beautiful Crystal Mountain ski resort and finish at the resort! Post race celebration was awesome. The coerce was mostly flowing single track with VERY challenging hills near the end! The Fall colors were absolutely beautiful. Definitely a race I will do again.

Danny and Dave’s Lowell 50

On Oct. 22nd I did the Lowell 50 Gravel Road Race. Once again this was a great race, with a fairly large crowd. Weather was a little cool, but perfect for racing. The roads were in great condition. As always the hills were non stop and very challenging. It was great to see several WSI team members. Can wait to do it again in the spring!

Hope to see many WSI members at ICEMAN !!!! ~Dave

I have never done the fall Lowell race before but since I missed the spring version I thought I would do this one. This is a fun race-less crazy than Barry and the fall colors were amazing. The roads were in great shape and fast. I raced the 50-54 age group for the first time and started in the back of the wave. Took a bit to get through the initial throng of people but was able to weave through and ride with a small group. With about 4 to go and left that group and finished 13th. Same time as last year (1.47) and had a great time. ~Danny

Danny’s United Way 10k in Marshall

10k – I woke up Sunday feeling good so entered the Halloween hustle 10k in Marshall. First time for this one and it was a beautiful day. I started with a small group of 4 and while it spread out we were all in sight of each other. I felt good and starting catching a few people and with about 2 to go ended up running with a cross country kid from Marshall. I would pull ahead and then he would. With about 200 yards to go, I pushed the pace a bit and figured I could beat him but then he unleashed a pretty fast sprint and I could not answer. Got second and close to my PR (41 minutes).

October 17, 2016

Dan’s Endoman Promotion’s Founders Peak 2 Peak Mountain Bike Race Report

WSI Knobby Tread aficionados Dan Frayer and Jeff Cachero took a road trip this weekend to throw down at Endoman Promotion’s Founders Peak 2 Peak Mountain Bike race. Looped up, down and around Thomsonville’s Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, the 12 mile loop provides everything a dirt bag mountain biker loves.

Flat trails, quick turns, teeth rattling slick roots and one ball buster of a climb. We are talking bleeding out your eyes, ears popping from pressure switch back climb.

While standing in line with 30+ fat bikers I watched Jeff’s group be counted down from ten seconds, and like being shot out of a cannon I watched his WSI jersey disappear into the woods. The start looked painfully fast so I made sure I scooted up real close to the timing mat before gunning it for the hole shot.

The announcer (Grand Rapids Single Speed Legend Jeff Jacobi) called “ten seconds to start” and the next thing I know I was raging third wheel into a tight sandy turn hearing only the deafening sound of 4 inch knobby tires around me and the sound of my own near death asthma attack wheezing.

Two laps at 12 miles each was on the menu for today’s pay to play excursion. My neighbor and training partner Nick and I worked together for the first lap sitting third and fourth keeping the top guys in site. My plan was to deliver him to the base of the big climb and I would hang on if I could.

Lap 2 was faster without all the traffic. I lost Nick up the big hill but he was still in the crosshairs as I was now sitting fourth, with the third place guy picking all the good lines for me. He had a beard so I trusted his judgement.

I held the wheel to the base of the hill with Nick long gone battling for the top spot. The 5th place fat biker came from out of nowhere making a move up the hill and the guy in front of me giving chase. My gas tank was empty and I could not match it. Now sitting 5th, I was alone to work my way up the kill hill. When I came around a blind corner I heard the announcer say “We have a fat tire race on our hands” and I saw the 3rd and 4th place riders cresting the hill and dropping into the single track descent to the finish. I dropped two gears and stood up giving it what I had left which wasn’t much.

“Focus, No mistakes, focus, no mistakes, focus” was what I said to myself as I decided to take some risks on the decent hoping to pull the two riders back. As I railed around a sweeping turn I came up on the 4th place rider wrapped up in some trees on the side of the trail. I made my way around his wreckage and didn’t touch the brakes again until the finish line. 4th place finish, with my neighbor on the podium in 2nd and Jeff finishing 10th in the Sport category.

A Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale never tasted so Good.

A great day of racing with special thanks given to WSI Cycling, The Trek Store of Battle Creek and Velocity USA.

~Dan

July 18, 2016July 18, 2016

Ithaca 8 Hours Race Recap

Saturday, July 16th was the annual 8-hours of Ithaca endurance mountain bike race and one of our “northern” riders, Jeff Glynn, represented the team very well. With the course right in his back yard (almost literally), you could say he’s got the home-trail advantage living right there in Ithaca.

Leading up to the race, Jeff was able to put in several hours of pre-race trail time with several of the other local riders to get the trail in top shape. On Saturday, he raced in the two-person Expert division with a friend and managed to get in 22 laps, totaling 110 miles for the race. That was enough to take first place for the day, and while it was a long day on the trail, we’re excited to have Jeff represent WSI with top podium finish. Way to go Jeff!

May 23, 2016November 18, 2017

Fort Custer Stampede 2016

Michigan weather, May 1, you never know what you are going to get! The Fort Custer Stampede is a local favorite for obvious reasons, including the fact that it’s home turf! As opposed to the beautiful temps and sunshine that the race offered last year, this year brought cold, drizzle and more cold. WSI was in charge of the grill again and served up 300+ burgers and 400+ hot dogs provided by Team Active. Check out how our WSI members did this year.

Jeff

I was surprised how fast the course was despite the rain we got on Saturday. The trail was fast. The first lap through the reverse amusement park was another thing. There was a huge line of enraged racers waiting for slow fat bikers to clear the way. There was a couple of times where very slow fat bikers refused to allow passing much less communicate with the traffic jam they were creating. I am confused as to why they had the beginner/sport fat bike races lead the sport waves. I am sure the beginner racers were pretty turned off to racing after that.

Back to the race: After the traffic cleared, I felt pretty good through the rest of lap 1. There was a couple of close crashes but I stayed upright. Going into lap 2, I found myself alone most of the time passing occasionally and being passed occasionally. Having no group to work with, I found my second lap was considerably slower. I am pleased with my result and look forward to training on the trails as the weather becomes more agreeable.

Dwight

Raced Stampede on Sunday and did better than I thought I would! The course was nicely packed and dried by the Expert and Elite racers. Weather was chilly until the pedaling began. I raced Sport single speed and placed third with a time of 1:29:02 and I think that’s a PR for me! Not too bad for no real mileage this year. Let that be a lesson to y’all, rest is as important as the ride!

Peyton

Peyton, the youngest WSI member to ride at the Stampede, rode the beginner’s course for his second year in a row. Finishing about 8 minutes quicker than the previous year, he had a blast and is looking forward to more.

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Angela

Now, the question of the day for the race. Did I have fun? Yes and no. I tried to go easier on the first lap, knowing it was a lot of miles but found myself upfront with a small gap. I tried to keep my speed reasonable to keep them close and yet still have fun in the technical sections. Leading into the second lap and feeling the legs start to get crampy, I knew it was just a matter of time before someone caught me. I tried to purposely not look back at this point and j…ust tried to enjoy the course and keep my breathing under control. Then it was just trying to control the cramps. And not thinking too much of the riders behind (one already passed me) kept the nerves down which kept the pedaling under better control (this was a first).
Interesting. I can say I had a bit more fun because I was more calm and laughed at myself.
Not fun is apparently that I have no middle ground and ride myself into the ground no matter what.

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Jacque

First year on the team. First mountain bike race ever. 4th place in her age group. Enough said. Way to rock it, Jacque!

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April 28, 2016May 9, 2016

Yankee Springs TT 2016

Riders had a beautiful day for racing the Yankee Springs TT on Saturday, April 23. The overall consensus from the team was the weather coupled with a fast course made for a great day!

Jeff had a later start time and found himself constantly passing riders, until he was passed himself and ended up in the weeds for a short second. Stacy learned a hard lesson about sleep deprivation and racing, and Keith didn’t quite perform as well as hoped. Both Stacy and Keith, however, walked away with some sweet raffle prizes, including sunglasses and a set of 29ers.

Dwight seems to enjoy challenges and has constantly raced this year in either single speed or fat tire. For Yankee he opted for single speed and finished in 6th place with a time of 53:30. The great weather even brought his biggest fan, his daughter, out for the event.

Regardless of times, finishes or prizes, the time spent with fellow cyclists, on the trails, and in the sun resulted in a winning day!