Winter Youth Spin Classes…

4 11 2009

The Tri-City Cyclists have organized a youth spin class that will meet at Smitty’s Iron Works gym in Midland.  The class begins January 2nd at 8:30am.  Kids will need to be able to fit a standard stationary bike.  Adults are welcome to join, however, the kids get first dibs on the bikes.  Adults can BYOBikes and trainers, if necessary.

If you want to begin the 2010 bike season in prime form, contact Steve Weckle at (989) 839-2024 or <srweckle@chartermi.net> and get signed up!

…I forgot to mention that there is no charge for this class.





Iceman Prep Ride…

2 11 2009

This is the final week of preparations before Saturday’s 2009 Iceman Cometh Challenge. A group Rail Trail ride is planned for Wednesday Nov. 4th at 5:15 pm sharp.  Meet at the Sanford main trail head (where the bathrooms are).   Bring a light if you have one.

Good luck to all of the “Iceman” participants! The weather forecast looks promising.  I hope that their calculations are accurate.  Stay safe, have fun!

If you are planning to be in the 2009 Iceman, click on the comments button below and post your name and any tips that you may have for first time Iceman riders (like myself).  It would be interesting to see which of our chapter members (and/or followers of this site) will be competing. See you in the beer tent at the finish!

Here is the “Iceman” Schedule of Events

Or see link: http://www.iceman.com/raceinfo/schedule/schedule.php

Friday, Nov 6, 2009

12:00n – 11:00pm  Packet Pick-up (Grand Traverse Resort & Spa)

12:00n – 11:00pm  Concessions Open (Grand Traverse Resort & Spa)

12:00n – 9:00pm  Ice Cycle Expo (Grand Traverse Resort & Spa)

Saturday, Nov 7, 2009

7:30am – 11:30am  Late Iceman Packet Pick-up (Downtown Kalkaska)

7:30am – 11:30am  Late Slush Cup Packet Pick-up (Timber Ridge)

9:00am  ICEMAN START (Downtown Kalkaska)

9:00am  SLUSH CUP START (Timber Ridge)

10:00am  Food Tent opens (Timber Ridge)

10:00am  First Slushie finishes (Timber Ridge)

10:30am  First Iceman finishes (Timber Ridge)

11:00am  First Bus to Kalkaska leaves Timber Ridge

2:30pm  ICEMAN START – PROs (Downtown Kalkaska)

3:15pm  SNO-CONE RACE (Timber Ridge)

4:00pm  Pro’s Arrive  Last Bus to Kalkaska leaves (Timber Ridge)

6:00pm  Ice Capades Awards Party (Grand Traverse Resort & Spa)





Busy October!

26 10 2009

Sorry readers, it has been a busy October.  My MMBA NE Chapter postings have really petered out. That’s not to say that there is nothing going on. Everyone (but me) is still hitting the trails hard before the snow starts flying. Last minute preparations and training sessions for Iceman are happening all around us.  Get on Steve Hoffman’s email distribution for regular group ride notices <stevehoffman813@gmail.com>.  Yes, I am registered for Iceman and yes, it is going to kick my a- -!

Safety concerns:  We were notified recently by IMBA/MMBA to dismantle any teeter-totters on MMBA sanctioned trails.  This is due to some discrepancies in their insurance coverage.  We believe that the teeter-totters will be re-installed as soon as the issues are resolved.  Please do not try to “fix” them, just ignore them for now and forge ahead.  Thanks.  Also, be careful riding during the Fall season. The combination of slippery wet leaves and hidden tree roots can really kill your buzz quickly.

Several have been asking about the trailhead location at Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC).  As you enter the main parking lot at MMCC from S Clare Ave (old 27), you will find the trailhead about 100 ft (across the lawn) from the NW corner of the lot.  You will enter into a wooded area between the school and the road.  The 10.1 mile loop will conclude  on the South side of the same lot.  We hope to work with MMCC to develop some trail signage in the near future.  This is a wise ride destination during the rainy season, as it is on high ground and sheds water quickly.

Thanks to those who participated in the Pain Haven race and our 1st annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.  Both were successful events and we look forward to growing them in 2010.  Thanks to the City and County of Midland for their help with both events.

Glad to see so many familiar faces at “Race Across the Sky” the other night in Saginaw.  This inspiring documentary movie is about the Leadville 100, a now legendary mountain bike race in the sleepy mining town of Leadville, CO.  The Leadville 100 is an out and back race that begins at an altitude of 10,200 ft and climbs to 12,500 ft.  It challenges all riders from the elite level like Lance Armstrong, to those only competing against themselves for a chance to say that they completed the “Leadville”.  It was cool to see mountain biking on the big screen and learn of the riders who had to overcome many challenges to finish this race, not to mention seeing Lance’s feeble attempt to fix a flat tire.  Maybe we could consider creating our own “movie night” and show some mountain bike flicks at a venue of choice?

As we get into the hunting seasons, keep in mind that you may be sharing the woods with others, less visible.  I know that Midland City Forest and MMCC are posted “No Hunting”…probably others too.  I will try to get clarification on this and post an update.  May as well remove the whitetail from your riding tights until next year, just to be safe.

As mentioned before, I would welcome others to contribute to this site.  It is easy to get you authorized to become an author.  Or submit a story to me and I will take care of getting it posted. Or if you can capture any ride imagery or a post-ride video of Steve H singing karaoke at Ruckles, I would gladly post that too.  Send to: <thadhallberg@gmail.com>

Until next time, keep the rubber side down and your extremities warm!





Pain Haven Photos…

10 10 2009
Pain Haven 2009

Pain Haven 2009

I have posted photos from the Pain Haven race to our Flickr group.  It is possible to download these images as well as order prints.  Thanks to Doug Fowler for providing us with his photographs.  If anyone else has photos from the race, please consider sharing them on our Flickr (or some other means).  If you have a free Flickr account, you can post images to the MMBA NE Chapter Flickr group.  Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/935398@N20/

Update:  Above link is now correct.





Movie Night (in Saginaw)

6 10 2009
Coming to Saginaw for one night!

Coming to Saginaw for one night!

A documentary movie of the Leadville Trail 100, called “Race Across The Sky”  is coming to the Saginaw Quad 8 theater on Thursday, October 22nd.  There will only be one showing (8pm) and tickets can be purchased online… CLICK HERE.

If you don’t know about the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, check out the link to the movie trailer.  http://www.raceacrossthesky.com/

There should be plenty o’ NE Chapter riders in attendance.  We’ll see you there!





Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day!

30 09 2009
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

This Saturday, October 3rd, is our first (hopefully annual) Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Midland City Forest.  The free event will be an introduction to mountain biking and is open to kids ages 6 – 16 years.  All that is required is a bike (capable of riding in dirt), a helmet and probably some warm clothes.  I hope that the weather will cooperate for us!

More information, including the waiver form, a printable flyer and possible notice of cancellation (due to weather), can be found here… http://mmbane.wordpress.com/special-events/

We welcome all of the young riders, experienced mountain biker chaperones, bike shops, bike mechanics (for simple tune-ups and air filling) and anyone willing to provide a post-ride snack.  Please contact: thadhallberg@gmail.com (or 989.430.6265),  if you are interested.

Don’t worry…we will wrap it up in time for you to watch football.  Join us!

UPDATE: We will be there, no matter the weather conditions.  The Chalet will be open for shelter and we will have some snacks and hot chocolate.  Rain go away!





2009 Pain Haven Race Results

28 09 2009

Click the link below to see the results of Saturday’s Pain Haven Race.  I don’t have the photos yet, but Jennifer is working on it (possibly tonight).

PainHaven2009-RaceResults





Pain Haven 2009…

28 09 2009

Thanks to Jeff and Jennifer Adamcik for organizing another great race event at Pine Haven Rec Area.  The course was a perfect blend of well groomed singletrack and roller coaster 2-track.  We managed to keep the rain away until after all of the awards and prizes were handed out and the cooler temps were refreshing.  Thanks to the many sponsors…Glaceau Vitamin Water, Founder’s Brewing, Dark Horse Brewing Co, Sanford Lake Bar & Grill, Lumber Baron’s Brew Pub, Civil Engineering Consultants, B-Xtreme Cycle & Sport, Ray’s Bike Shop, Bicycle Headquarters and Lake Express (High Speed Ferry).  Also thanks to the Midland County crew for helping with preparations.

Pain Haven race fans stay tuned…as soon as I get the pics from the race, I will post them on our Flickr site.

The race results will likely be posted here (be patient)… http://michiganmasher.googlepages.com/results.html





Items of interest…

21 09 2009

Join the group ride at Pine Haven this Wednesday Sept 23rd at 5:30pm sharp.  Get yourself prepared for the Pain Haven race!

We’ll have a Trail Maintenance Day at Pine Haven this Thursday Sept 24th at 5:30pm to prep the trails for Saturday’s Pain Haven Race.  We need leaf rakes and leaf blowers for the singletrack and a few garden rakes to smooth out some of the gravel hills.

Get registered for Saturday’s 30 Miles of Pine Haven race NOW.  Go to http://michiganmasher.googlepages.com/

Also, please spread the word of our first (possibly annual) Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day on Saturday October 3rd.  The event is to introduce kids ages 6 – 16 to the sport of mountain biking. We need participants and volunteer riders/bike tuners. More information can be found here… http://mmbane.wordpress.com/special-events/





Skills Park Prank (Not Funny)…

13 09 2009

Warning! Someone’s idea of a prank (at the MCF Skills Park) resulted in serious injuries to two people.  One of the teeter-totters was intentionally propped from the underside, not allowing it to pivot.

One of the injured riders wrote…“From a near stand still, my front tire fell off the end (of the teeter-totter) and I went head first into the ground briefly knocking myself out and fracturing the C3 vertebrae in my neck. Broke a tooth as well. It will be a few weeks before I ride again, but I was lucky I received no neural injuries as it could have been much worse.”

Before riding, please inspect all features at the skills area for tampering. Please report any knowledge that you may have of this tampering or any that you find in the future…just call 911. If possible, please remove any tampering and/or immediately contact Jim Crissman (MCF trail coordinator)

email:  jwcrissman[at]gmail[dot]com.

My sincere apologies to the injured riders.  Get healed up quickly and get back in the saddle!








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