Keweenaw Chain Drive 2012

The Keweenaw Chain Drive is the kick off to the 2012 Upper Peninsula MTB race scene.  The Upper Peninsula has developed some great races and the Chain Drive is the front runner.  I would love to see all the Upper Peninsula races create a UP series but that is for another conversation.

All UP races are special to me, even if it is not in my back yard of Ishpeming. When I'm on the UP race course I feel at home.  With that, I put the extra pressure to represent the UP and my sponsors on my home turf.

Besides the great competition and incredible course one of my favorite parts of the Chain Drive is the neutral roll out.  It is rare in MTB to be moving and not racing.  Its enjoyable and a nice change of pace.  The competition is highly competitive.  In the past it has seen Professionals in B. Matter, C. Peariso, M. Anderson, and D. Braun.  Along with other regulars in T. McFadden, T. Carpenter, and A. Swanson.  The combo makes for an incredible scene.

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The Race  

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They flipped the course this year to introduce some new trail.  The biggest change was the first 1/4 of the race where it is mostly 2 track and steady climbing.  B. Matter and R. Baumann took the jump at the KOM prize so I followed them into the first single track.  Baumann led us to the 2 track and I quickly took over and put in a small dig up a hill.  No response from the field so I allowed it to come back and stayed on the front at tempo.  Eyes and mind forward I tapped the pedals and when I did take notice it was only Brian and I on the 2 track climb.  I upped the pace a bit to solidify the gap.

With a pure and natural grin on my face from the single track we were cutting I rode the front until the about the 1/2 way point.  I was feeling decent and kept a cool pace in the single track and dug a bit at each incline.  With the legend, B. Matter, on my wheel I gave up the front to monitor his efforts and get a feel for how he was feeling.  I was not under pressure so I didn't worry about any hard efforts by letting him take control.  He controlled the same pace up to 4 miles to go where we entered the final single track.  It drops you down to the bottom of the river and you climb back out until the finish.

Rewind:  Brian and Chris P. dropped me on a downhill last year at the finish of the Copper Harbor Fat Tire.  I took some constructive criticism for it and made an effort the remainder of the year to better my handling so it wouldn't happen again.

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Fast forward: I figured Brian might do the same on the final single track and he did, making his dig.  He put small 3-5 second gaps on me as he handles technical trail so smooth.  You can see the experience with every turn.  Unlike last year the gaps were manageable and I would pull them back on the incline.  We got to the river bottom and Brian washed out as we crossed the river.  I made my dig to see if I could create a gap but his experience and strength kept him calm and he shortly pulled in back.  Feeling good I kept the speed high as I figured we were in for a game of cat and mouse.

The leadout:  I didn't want a straight 1 on 1 sprint so when I got to the pavement I made a move but shut it down quick seeing his response.  Hindsight, the strength of Brian in the sprint I wish I would have put all my cards in on that move.  I didn't and peaked over the should anticipating his move.  With no sign, at 250m he shot forward creating a 1 sec gap.  He kept and and I rolled through 2nd.

The After
The race was over but a lot to look forward to.  All my nephews raced in the Jr. Chain Drive.  Each one of them road a different distance but they all rode single track.  It was an awesome scene and keep my motivation high to see them follow in such an incredible sport for a lifetime.  The look of determination on their faces will keep me pedaling forward for a long time to come.

Sunday morning I joined up with Brian Matters JR. MTB camp for some Tech Trails single track.  Brian has a great thing going with this camp and it is encouraging to see so much particiapation and even more encouraging to see such talent at a young age.  After the camp concluded we (Brian, Ryan T., and Billy S.) got our time in at being Jrs.  A lot of fun and a great way to end the weekend.
      




Pictures:  Photos marked with brockit.com are pictures courtesy of brockit.com.  Please do not print or produce these phots without the permission of brockit.com.  If you would like to purchase Chain Drive photos visit their website.