Keweenaw Chain Drive

Courtesy of XMATIC

The Keweenaw Chain Drive has done a spectacular job creating a mountain bike event. Combined with a great town and awesome trails the race is set up for sure success. It has become one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

Erin and I were adopted by the Peariso family and the Adventure 212 crew for the weekend. Along with the McFaddens (Chain Drive regulars), my teammate Ron Williams, and our new friend Ann we had incredible company for the weekend. We all met up on Friday and pre-ride the course, more goofing around, on Aunt Flow and the River Trail. We did have enough of an attention span to realize the course was running backwards this year and also picked out a few spots to one up Brian M. from his forever reign of the top step here.

Courtesy of XMATIC

As mentioned, the race was run backwards. For the most part you would never know because it was just as fun always keeping us smiling. Not many trails can be run both ways and have as much flow as the KCD trails. The event organizers did an incredible job with the changes. Oh the race, we did race. But another great feature I love about the KCD is I never feel like I'm racing. It hurts, we go fast, we compete, but I enjoy the ride just as much as the race. It was almost an identical replay of last year on the start but this time around it was Brian that pushed the start pace rather than me. I wanted the cemetery KOM but did not match the jump the others had. I went into the single track 4th wheel behind Jordan W. and Pete K. Jordan dropped a chain and soon after I went around Pete to bridge to Brian. Brian and I tempo'd the first few miles and created a gap but soon after Pete bridged back with a great effort and then Jordan and Chris bridged just as the single track started. Things became quite uneventful for awhile as I rode on the front just allowing the trails to be enjoyed.

Courtesy of XMATIC

Just over Midway Brian switched to the front and added some juice to the pace. Jordan and I stuck for the 20 plus minute attack!! I told him that 2 minutes more and he would have had me ;) He mellowed again until 3 miles left. Just as we crossed the river Brian made another jump and off he went not to be seen again. I didn't make much attempt to chase it knowing I couldn't. I allowed Jordan to come around and figured I'd stay steady maybe to slowly bring it back during the last 2 mile climb. It was not in the cards and I stayed in my 3rd spot to the finish. Cooked but not fried. It was so much fun this year and I'm so glad I'm learning to smile during races and have fun. The KCD keeps the grassroots in all of us and that is where we all started.