2012 Mud Bowl - WORS #12 Sheboygan

What would a 12 race mountain bike series be without an annual mud race?  A 12 race mountain bike series!  The WORS series seems to have an epic mud race every year and this year did not disappoint.  Ironically, we had one of our driest riding seasons we have had in a few years but raced in the rain more this year than prior.   4 of the 12 races were raced in the rain this year, Iola, Rhinelander, Suamico, and the most recent Sheboygan.  As any champion would it saved its best for last and WORS did that with WORS #12.

The weather watching started early in the week after rumors of cold and rain emerged on the iPhone, iPad, and even the iMac, each device spreading the same rumor.  In the 4 hour drive down south on Saturday it never stopped raining, rumors confirmed.  The next morning we woke up to sideways rain and a 30 minute rain delay which would do nothing but allow the course to be stirred and mixed with each drop of precipitation. 

We sprinted out on pavement for 100 yards shooting into grass and that is where the challenge started.  The first blade grass sucked your wheel in as if we were fighting dropping into a black hole.  We were around the first few corners and the bike, kits, and bodies were covered in mud.  Sliding down the first single track I was in 5^th position and the literally slid into 4^th when Nathan G. was forced into a line that threw him and his bike overboard.  It didn’t take each of us long to realize that bike handling would be overshined by any fitness a rider displayed.  Each section had its own and new type of challenge.  Off camber mud slides, uphill tire slips, buried roots, flooded trail, brakeless log jumps, and river crossings that were quickly turning into lakes.  I will allow the enclosed pictures to tell the story rather than making up descriptive words that don’t do the conditions justice.

With each mile of trail the more skilled riders took ownership and rode a race of their own.  There wasn’t much more you could do than just race what you could manage.  Cole H. was immediately up the trail alone and Marko L. was close behind.  The way they were displaying riding skill they were sure to stay away the rest of the race.  Darrin B. and I were behind.  Not so much in chase but riding what could be managed.  Darrin would put small gaps on me in the more technical sections but I allowed my patience to stay intact on the first lap and would bridge them back.  Starting the 2^nd lap I allowed my race management and my patience to disappear.  I attempted to put a move in on a drier part of the trail and pushed my pace.  My chosen pace put me outside of my technical limit and soon thereafter I was sliding, slipping, and falling.  I slid into a tree and caught my hand the wrong way causing an instant throb.  From that moment I lost patience, confidence, and enjoyment.  All huge “no noes” in XC racing.  I knew better but with each wheel rotation the course got worse and I was exposed each time.  By the end lap 2 Darrin had put a gap on that put him out of reach. I was joined by Nathan as he made his way up from his 1^st lap fall.  He too put a gap on me that put him out of reach.  With ½ lap remaining I had another racer ride up and it was Mike P.  We switched spots a few times but he took control in the last ¼ mile as I allowed my mind to beat me ruthlessly. 

I came in 6^th place after riding in 3^rd and 4^th for most of it.  It was disappointing to drop a few spots but after having time to reflect I’m the only one to blame.  Not my fitness, not my skill, but me.  At first I wanted to blame the weather as anyone could blame the weather and conditions for a poor ride but I was exposed just as every other rider was.  I allowed my biggest competitor beat me, my mind.    

The beautiful thing about WORS racing, even in the midst of a Midwest monsoon, is the people involved.  As I allowed my mind to beat me Darrin was yelling encouragement to me the whole time.  My competitor, the one I was racing against to claim a 3^rd overall series spot with was yelling for me to keep going, to keep with it, to stay focused.  I am grateful for what we have even if I’m still cleaning mud from out of my ears. 

WORS #11 Bear Paw

The WORS season is quickly approaching its final races.  As sad as it is to see the season and year reaching its end it is always a great day to be at the final 2 WORS events.  They are 2 of the best courses we do all year and timed perfectly with the best time of year, fall.

White Lake, WI was the race site for this past Sunday and only being 2 1/2 hours from home I was able to sleep in my own bed the night before which is always an advantage.  The ride down south was one of the brightest I've seen in quite awhile.  The yellow on the leaves were vibrant and the air temperature perfect creating a must smile attitude.  Perfect before lining up.


My legs were good in warm up but I didn't know what to expect coming off of my worst week of the year 2 weeks prior.  I had a good week of training and some longer base miles to get my legs back under me.  The first climb came and I settled at the front until Cole took off.  I was happy to see this and knew I could respond.  At the top the attack took 4 of us with including myself, Mike P. and Nathan.  I enjoyed the pace up the climb which set confidence knowing my legs should be good. After the first single track  I let a little gap to to Mike and Cole.  On the next flat I passed Nathan and eventually by the end of the lap attached to Mike but Cole had another 10 seconds on Mike.  I always had them in sight but it took a full lap to get back on.  The course is technical and their skill kept them just out of reach until the two track.  At the end of lap 1 Mike clipped a pedal and was forced off the bike and I was chasing Cole alone.  The start of lap 2 I was with him.  He took the lead in all the single track and I did some work on the 2 track.  Each technical section he would take small lead but nothing I couldn't bring back on a hill or two track.  Although I believe this is where he noticed his advantage  On lap 3 he gave me the lead into some single track.  This ended up being my worst lap and I just couldn't find a rhythm on the bike.  By mid lap Cole took advantage of that and was off the front.  Ending lap 3 I noticed Nathan was coming up behind me with the momentum of a Porsche on a back country road.  He had found his engine and looked on fire.  We were together for a half a lap and I did work on the 2 track as he would shoot in front on the single track.  Eventually his skill rode away from me and left me back in 3rd.  I finished with a descent lap and felt good at the end.

I was happy to come away with 3rd place and some good points towards the overall series.  I wasn't completely satisfied though as I had the legs to win the race but not the skill.  On a course where skill outshines fitness it just wasn't my day up against some smooth riders.  The win would have granted by true wish so I could bring Copper up on the top step with me for his first ever podium visit.  Sunday was one of Coppers last days with us as cancer took the better of him.  I wanted badly to to win for him and show him off on the top step but in true Copper fashion he was just as happy on the 3rd step as he would have been on the top.

National Article

UPCX Iron Cross

This is always a great time of the year, UPCX comes back.  The UP has a growing following which has allowed the series to bring 9 races to the UP this year.  9! CX races in the Upper Peninsula.  The organizers and volunteers have really done a great job bringing this to us.  The best part of it might be that it is only $10 and you still get all the dirt, sand, mud, grass, pavement, and barriers that any other cross race offers.  

I won't be able to make a majority of the races because of my MTB schedule but I'm taking advantage of everyone I can when I can.  The first was this past weekend at Al Quaal.  It sure is nice to be able to roll out your back door and be at the race venue in 2 1/2 minutes.  Makes for a special and enjoyable race experience.  

I didn't have much of a goal going in other than to stay safe and up right so that I could race another day.  Especially that I had WORS #11 the next day in White Lake.  I kept the up right portion of the deal but gambled with the safe part in the 2nd corner.  Only doing 1 warm up lap and not knowing the speed into the 2nd corner I overshot it with Colby just ahead of me.  I ground his rear cable in my spokes which might be the only thing that kept us upright.  The crash averted I was back on the attack.  I quickly moved out front and by the top of the first run up I had a small gap.  I hit the first lap and second lap at top speed giving myself some breathing room for the ramainder of the race.  I put it in cruise control until the last lap where I challenged myself to put out my best lap time.  My first lap was 5:59 and my final lap was 5:53.  I came away with the win but I was just as happy that my effort was still solid by the 10th and final lap.  

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

Courtesy and Rights: skinnyski.com

I love amusement parks.  Better yet, I love amusement parks with fast roller coasters that have big climbs and huge drops.  The ones that give you a permanent smile as you fly up, down and around.  It sounds like I’m talking about Great American but this past weekend it was the Cheq 40.

My first attempt at the coveted Cheq 40 was this past weekend.  I have heard about the event for years.  How could you not?  It is a staple in the Midwest cycling scene and part of the Midwest Triple Crown.   I’ve tried in the past to get an entry into the race but I have gotten drawn.  This year I earned an entry from the director himself, Gary Crandall, after winning the Cable Classic earlier in the year.  I was happy to get the win in the Cable Classic but the personal invite from Mr. Crandall was a highlight of that weekend.  It was an invite into the largest mass start race with the strongest riders from the country.  I’m in!

I pre-rode the last 13 miles of the course on Friday with the eventual 2^nd place finisher Mike Anderson and 4^th place finisher Mike Phillips to get familiar with the infamous Fire tire climb and the Birkie rollers.  They were not so scary in the warm-up but I could tell they would both bust your legs and pound your heart after 30 miles of racing.  My next recon session was the morning of the race as I rode across Rosie’s field and over the first couple of climbs.  All of the advice led to the conclusion that you needed to be in the right spot here or you won’t be in the right spot later.

Courtesy and Rights: skinnyski.com

The rollout was good for me.  I started 1^st row and stayed in the front for the first left and right hand turn.  Rolling onto Highway 77 I got shuffled around a bit but for the most part was always in the top 20.  Rolling into Rosie’s field I got sucked down in the spongy grass which moved me back just a bit.  Not too panicked as I was still on the defending champion’s wheel.  Entering the climbs I was amazed at the amount of riders fighting for the front group.  There had to be 30 or more fighting for wheels.  Just as the course turns downwards I was slightly disconnected and this is where my first tactical error and lack of course knowledge hurt me.  I figured the downhill would bring be back to them but the hard tempo by two world class road riders kept me off the back.  Rather than risking a redline effort and a possible blowout later in the race I decided to establish with the 2^nd group on the trail. 

The 2^nd group was about 10-12 riders including the strong Eppen tandem.  Funny thing, I ate dinner with them the night before and joked how I didn’t like to ride their wheel because of the power they put into the bike and here I was 4 miles into the race sitting on their wheel.  The lead group was only about 20 seconds up and the Eppen's and I wanted to dig to catch.  We put in our efforts but the others in the group either didn’t have it or did want it because a real effort was never combined to catch back.  The Eppen’s and I continued to pull and push the pace for most of the 1^st half.  Eventually the strong climbing and the Eppen’s extreme fast descending broke the group down little by little and every so often we would catch a rider or two that was disconnected from the blistering pace of the lead group.  The significant catch for me was when we caught Isaac Neff and Matias Perret.   A move was attempted with Isaac to split the group right before Fire tower but was unsuccessful but it showed me that Isaac wanted nothing to do with the large group as I was also starting to get uncomfortable in it.  We started fire tower and Isaac and Gregg Brandt pulled away.  The horror stories of the Birkie rollers to come kept my pace below what I was capable of, tactical error #2.  Reaching the top I realized I should have went with those two and pushed hard over the top.  I dropped the group in my effort but was not connected to the 2 wheels I wanted and was now sitting in no man’s land.  I put in a huge effort to catch them but never did catch back on.  In my effort I realized I was keeping a good gap to the chasing group.  Whether they would catch me or not, I was not going to make it easy because I didn’t want to pull around a group anymore.  I attacked by myself just as the Birkie rollers began.  Eventually during the relentless climbing I was joined by Pat Lemieux.  This is also where my permanent grin was developed.  Even during a time when each hill was tearing my legs apart I found time to smile as the each up and down felt like an amusement ride.  Approaching the last 3 miles I put my head down and kept forward knowing that the Eppen train could possibly roll towards us.  At 2 to go they did.  I caught the wheel and figured I would get them on the few hills that remained but both the Eppen’s and Lemieux rode away as the Birkie rollers and the tempo that followed proved to do me in.  I took the time to enjoy my entry into the spectacle that the Cheq 40 has created.  I was riding in 15^th place and gave one last dig to delight the massive crowds that you only see at a few races around the country.

I had goals for a bit better result but for my first attempt I am very pleased.  The course, the race, and the hype all stood up to what I had been told.  I enjoyed every moment of my Chequamegon experience.  The changing colors during the ride west, the pre-ride hand waves to familiar faces, the early morning rise to race prep, the rollout, the race, the hills, and the finish.  It all made up one of the greatest race experiences of my career.  Gary Crandall has truly started and continued an event that is made for everyone.  For us professionals all way down to the mom’s and dad’s introducing their child to their first race.  A must attend.  Is it September 2013 yet?

Tyler Gauthier

Professional Mountain Biker

Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision

www.letsbikemqt.com and www.culversracing.blogspot.com

UP...ing the fun - Riding a low

My days feels like seconds, my weeks like minutes, and my months like hours.  Even more than true in the months of August and September.  It seems that my weekends are stringed together with no time in between. By the time I unpack and wash and service my bike its all back in the truck ready for another weekend of racing.  Since the Ore to Shore I'm on my 6th straight weekend of racing and 3 of them included back to back Saturday/Sunday racing.  It may be the reason for the "low" in the title.

I love racing my bike....so this is a great time of year, but I also enjoy my training. Even though my training has went steady I don't feel like I've had a solid training week in awhile.  It gets jumbled up when you are racing so much and trying to recover from the weekends efforts.

UP...ing the Fun
In order to split the hectic race schedule I opted to join my 212 friends in Copper Harbor this year for the Fat Tire Festival.  Chris dragged me up there last year and showed me how to laugh while racing my bike.  Ever since then I knew going back year after year wasn't going to be a hard decision.

The normal culprits of Chris and Brian were there.  Along this year was the returning Fat Tire stud, Big D (Darrin B.).  He is the only 180# rider I know that can sing to you while going up hill at race pace!  Damn him.

As I expected, the 4 of us were off the front after descending the Flow trail and heading back up hill to the lodge.  Along with us was a Canadian rider that could rip downhill.  Chris only knows 2 big downhill rippers that can climb and one was with us, Big D.  He pounded the pedals and sure enough it was back down to the 4 of us.  Wait.. that was until the bottom of the red trail when the Canadian downhill ripper was back with us.  Dang, this guy could descend.  Thiss time I noticed my teammate Pete K. coming back to us.  I was on the front and slowed the pace a bit to let him back on.  I was stoked to have one of our Jr's in the front group.  Climbing back up to the lodge I felt the need to race... yup race.  I think I broke the rules with that, racing in Copper Harbor.  Anyways, once again it cut the group down to the 4 of us.  Descending the Red Trail to the finish Darrin and I created a gap but lapped riders kept bringing us back together.  Chris made the right move and called it truths until we were off the Red Trail.  It was the right call, it was getting dangerous with lapped riders.  We popped out on the road and Big D went.  I bridged, countered, sprinted, and crashed.  A hard right hand off camber turn to the finish sucked me down as Chris took the perfect line to the finish.  Down and bruised but not out.  I got up and finished 4th.

Riding a low
This past weekend I was back in Munising.  I say back but it has been 4 years since I raced the Tour da Woods.  It has always conflicted with other racing in the Midwest.  I came back and others came for the first time.  I figured they would.  4 of the 6 top 6 finishers were on the start line for the Tour da Woods!! Dang.  Add the eventual winner of the 2012 Tour, Mike Anderson, and we have whats called a stacked field.

We started fast, it got faster, got faster again, and then I popped.  I guess there is no easy way around it.  The pace was too high for me.  Mike Anderson made the first move. The way he rides I figured he would be gone off the front and not coming back so a good one to follow.  I bridged up, using a huge effort.  Got to his wheel and along came Cole and Brian.  Cole countered as soon as I bridged.  I pounded on the back to stay on.  Over some steep climbs I got disconnected a bit.  Jordan W. worked his way back and passed me.  Just before the single track I was back on the group.  The single track was twisty and Mike A. hit each twist with power.  I was at my limit from the effort to get back on so the power out of each corner was too much. 5 fee became 10 and 10 became 20.  I was off the back.  Onto the gravel road I was gaped by 40 seconds.  Right before entering the woods I had it down to 20 seconds but never closer.  Nearing the end did what I never do and regret, I gave in.  I rolled solo and slow the last few miles and finished 5th.  Quite disappointing to me.

A less than stellar result left me with 2 decisions for Sunday.  Stay home to train or drive to Geneva for some racing revenge.  Being a racer, I opted for the race.  3 hours down to Cole's house, a quick nights stay, and 3 more hours the next morning and I was sitting on the start line for WORS #10 Lake Geneva.  Standing on the start line might have been the fasted I moved all day.  Immediately during the start I knew power was not coming from my legs.  The lead pulled away like I had a string attached to my post pulling me backwards.  I went into defense mode the whole race.  Darrin chauffeured me for a lap until I caught Isaac and then he acted as my chauffeur.  I was passed in the last 1/4 mile and finished 11th.  My worst result of the year and broke my goal of not wanting to finish out of the top 10 in 2012.

The only thing to do. Take your humble pill and move onto the next week.  Realizing that the racing is taking a toll on me I took 2 days off in order to find my legs for a race this weekend.  Oh... its only the largest race in the Midwest. Cheq 40!  Stay tuned.  

  

WORS #9 Reforestation Ramble

I am in the dead center of a hot bed of racing.  Time fly's this time of year and with every passing weekend I cannot believe it is the next.  Quality training comes early in the week in hopes to be rested for the weekend and before I know it its Monday and I'm still without a race report, from 2 races ago!  Along with training and racing life still moves around you so the hustle of life keeps any free moment occupied.

Two weekends ago or the day after my victory at the MTU Ronde I took the line in Green Bay at WORS #9 Reforestation.  Unlike the beautiful weather we were dealt the day before the rain greeted us all morning creating a slippery mess for the first part of the race  This may be the rainiest year I've experienced for racing and the ironic thing is we are having a dry summer.  3 of the 9 races have been a muddy mess.  Anticipating the rain I made a front tire change the night before.  It paid off because our first lap was about staying upright.  The succeeding 2nd and 3rd lap were great as the the rain stopped and firmed up the sandy course allowing my semi wet tread tire to grip into every turn.

The race started fast as Cole H. had the idea of a solo race from the beginning.  A lead group of 7 broke into the single track and surprisingly stayed together for awhile as we twisted through the woods.  This course will usually break the group fairly soon because of the snake like turns.  The course turns so much it is tough to concentrate on the wheel in front of you much less 6 guys in front of you.  Mentioned because, as I floated on the back Cole broke away and was up the trail with a 45 second gap.  This explained our crazy fast pace at every opportunity, we were chasing.  I tried to move my way up the group before each piece of single track but didn't have it and got stuck on the back each time so every time we exited on to 2 track I was forced into red line to bridge the gap.  In a 2 hour race you can only burn so many matches before the legs tell you "No" if you want to survive.  A lap and half into the 3 lap race I let go of the group.  I spun into a short recovery and hooked up with Corey S. for the remainder of the race.  Nearing a 1/2 lap left I was recovered enough and riding smoothly to put in a last dig to the finish.  I was able to secure a 5th place with the effort.

I was pleased with my weekend of racing and happy to nab another WORS podium.  Things are going better than the goals that were put into place in the early season.  The racing season starts to get long this time of year so resting in training becomes more important each day.  I hope to keep finding the correct formula as I finish up this 6 week stretch of racing that started with the O2S.  I'll finish it up with the Cheq 40 in 2 weeks.  I'll follow that up with a short break and prep the body for the last 2 WORS races and some UPCX.    

         

Clean sweep at MTU Ronde for Culver's Racing

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

Houghton, MI 
Tyler Gauthier of Ishpeming and Cooper Dendel of Marquette captured the men's and women's editions of the 2012 Michigan Tech MTB Rondevous this weekend. Contested on the hilly and technical Michigan Tech Trails under hot and humid conditions, there was no place to hide. Downhills taxed nerves, uphills seared the lungs and the wide open fields in the lower reaches captured the sun's midday rays like a giant solar collector, delivering it's payload of photons onto the lycra clad bodies of the two-wheeled competitors.

An elite selection of three went clear early in the first of the two 12-mile laps. Pete Karinen (Atlantic Mine) set pace for fellow Culver's rider and team captian Tyler Gauthier. Also in the mix was defending champion Tom Carpenter of Marquette. The deck was shuffled several times before Gauthier made his move and set off for victory on his own early in second lap. Riding solo, Gauthier put over four minutes on his nearest competitor, Pete Karinen. Tom Carpenter finished third, just over three minutes down on Karinen. Jeff Squires, riding singlespeed, took fourth and is sure to be a factor in the singlespeed divison of this weekend's Bells's Beer Copper Harbor Trails Festival.

In the one-lap 12-mile race, it was Red Jacket rider Tim Kostner of Dodgeville who took the win. Michael Brothers of Houghton took second with Ken Wikgren rounding out the podium. Cooper Dendel of Marquette, riding for Culver's Cycling, made it 2 for 2 after her win in the Great Deer Chase with another victory. Second place in the women's division went to Kate Waring.

Story Courtesy of www.bikethekeweenaw.com

Tyler's Race Report

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

With most of the team on the line for the MTU Ronde it was my goal to include as many blue jerseys at the front as we could.  This was perfect day to throw the Jr's and woman's team to the front to gain some experience.

Our outstanding Jr. Pete K. and rising Jr. Cody M. were on the line.  I told them follow me and we will get to the front.  I also told Cooper, our knar shredding woman, to work hard to be with us.  Pete took the challenge serious and led the lead out for quite awhile.  I jumped in front to give his hard effort a break and then right before the single track Tom C. took the lead.  This stretched the group out a bit and Pete K. and I were the only ones of the team to make the break.   

Pete dug deep to stay with us but by the end of the 1st lap he was leading us through the single track.  It was an incredible feeling to see one of my Jr's at the front and wonderful to race with a teammate.  Starting lap 2 I went to the front to do some work for my guy and slowly noticed a gap was forming.  This was a good setup as it allowed Pete to learn how to race at the front with a teammate and then create a race of his own when a teammate has developed a lead.

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

On the 2nd lap I found a good groove and rode to a victory.  The win was good but I waited patiently at the finish line to see if Pete could make a race of his own.  Sure enough a few minutes later Pete rolled in by himself to secure 2nd place.

A perfect day!