City of the Lakes Loppet

Results: time ovrall/div/sexpl
Evan Petersen 1:49 190/38/81
Robert Polking 1:55 282/15/70
Dwight Beavers 2:16 584/2/508

North Iowa Nordic Update

Andy O. and Jay F. were out for hours today trying to pack this latest snowfall. The snow was dryer than one may think…light and fluffy. Andy got stuck 4 times on the opening loop and was left to un-hitch the groomer and just drive the snowmobile over it to initially pack what had fallen.

Jay then took over and had to do the same thing. WE NEED OUR ROLLER! A ROLLER would have saved us hours today. It is ordered…just not here. Next year…for now were getting by due to dedicated efforts of many folks. THANK YOU!

Jay was able to make a grooming pass on all loops then as well.

Evan P. plans to attempt to groom again in the AM Tues before the winds pick up. Then it will be time to wait…let the wind blow its heart out…and regroom. I am sure we’ll have some drifting to then manage on Wednesday.

I know many of you have yet to groom yet have offered to. Maybe Wed might work to get another 1 or 2 of our “feet wet” so to speak. The fact is that most of the grooming as of late has been done in the later evening hours (between 8:30 and midnight) when the temps are falling and the trails are not in use. This allows the trail to set up to. Early AM grooming is appropriate if temps allow…but ideally should be done early enough to allow the trail to set up for 2-3 hours. This requires finishing the groom by say 5-6:00 AM…and many of us are sleeping then in order to get out the door to work.

I have received many nice compliments this year from skiers on the trails. If you all receive such comments we need to have those folks forward those comments to the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board. Remember, right now we just have a one year contract to groom. I foresee us being granted the permission to groom again next year…and plan to have this OK’d by the board early in 2010 so we can plan some fundraising, etc. for North Iowa Nordic (NIN).

Lastly, we have also been grooming Pilot Knob on Fri or Sat PM’s in hopes of skiing the next AM early before snowmobiles show up. We have been laying down a classic track there and have had many encounters with local skiers that LOVE IT! Deb Coates, park ranger, at the Knob has been very open and easy to work with. She has really enjoyed our efforts and reports that many people have been very pleased with our efforts there too. She also skis. This weekend we put in (counting loading time, travel time, grooming time) approx 6 ½ hours of time at the Knob…HOWEVER, each day the groom was ruined in 10 minutes by a pack of snowmobiles. This happens each week. It makes rejuvenating and leveling the trail there a much more time consuming process. If I were a recreational skier and not training for a race…I would no longer waste my time grooming the Knob. BUT WE WANT TO…SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO SKI.

NEXT YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO TRY AND GET THE MAIN ROAD PILOT KNOB DESIGNATED AS A DEDICATED SKI TRAIL ONLY. NO SNOWMOBILES. Based on the trails system there the snowmobiles could still access the park trails and avoid the road. I am currently gathering info from other State Park trail systems that have designated ski trails. If you know of any skiers, snowshoers, hikers, etc in the Forest City area let us know…we’d like to contact them to start to gain some momentum locally to get this done. I was even told by one of the locals that a lady who has been skiing the Knob for years reported to their City Council of our efforts and the great skiing.

Anyone may forward this to whomever they wish. I would like to get it out to NI Spin, NI Touring Club, “River City Racers” etc membership too.

That’s all for now everyone.

Thanks,

Todd Juhlin

North Iowa Spin contributed $500 to the Greater Iowa/South Dakota Chapter of JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We did this to thank Tracy Kading, manager of HyVee East, for allowing us to use the space for our indoor cycling classes. When you see Tracy, thank him personally.

Pepsi Challenge 48K Freestyle

Results: Age Group/Overall
Evan Petersen 17/63 2:47
Joel Yunek 6/78 2:56
Robert Polking 7/79 2:56
Todd Juhlin 8/84 3:08
Dwight Beavers 1/99 3:32

http://www.skinnyski.com/racing/

Story and Photos to come...

Running Clinic

When: January 21, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM

Presented by:
Mercy Medical Center
Physical Therapy Department


Information on:
• Basic Strengthening Exercises
• Stretching Exercises
• Running Shoe Selection
• Video Running Analysis: Utilizing Cheslea Creek’s new Sports Analysis Software
• Training Tips

If interested contact Mike Arnold at:
641-422-7498 or arnoldmr@mercyhealth.com

Santa's Helpers!

Santa's Helpers!
Originally uploaded by NorthIowaSPIN

We had a great turnout for this years Yule Ride to collect gifts for our adopted family and to enjoy a few GI beers with good friends. The generosity for our Adopted family was overwhelming. We raised enough money to purchase our 10 year old boy a very nice Trek MTB from Wayne's, a Super fast Flexible Flyer Sled, a bunch of presents and nearly $500 in gift cards! What a great feeling knowing this family will have a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you, One and All!

Meet our newest recruit!

SMETICS YULE RIDE & ADOPT A FAMILY

YULE RIDE 2008
Originally uploaded by NorthIowaSPIN

Please join us at the SMETICS Indoor Cycling Class for our SECOND annual Yule Ride to collect gifts for a family in North Iowa. The Yule ride will take place on Tuesday, December 22nd and will be a free ride for everyone who attends. Please wear any and all Christmas clothing you can find. Bring your gifts or donation, and we will wrap and prepare the items for delivery.

Class time: 6:00PM. Hunter will be leading, starting at that time, but come whenever you can. We have a lot of extra trainers; just bring your bike. Class is free for everyone.

Social: 7:00 pm. North Iowa Spin and MC2 will supply all the beverages and snacks for an enjoyable post-ride Christmas celebration. Join us just for the social if you'd like.

Location: SMETICS Indoor Cycling Class is located in the old HyVee East DrugTown, the same as two years ago. Enter through the old Allstate location. The door is marked with NISPIN and MC2 signage

We'd like to see anyone and everyone join us (NITC, NI SPIN, MC2, NIBU and the Clear Lake spinners) on Tuesday night.

The family is being adopted through the Crisis Intervention Center. The family would be grateful for anything you have to offer. Ann from the Crisis Intervention Center said, “The family would appreciate anything. She cried when I told her why I was calling.”

Boy, age 10: Size 10/12 in shirts, size 10R in pants, size 5-6 in shoes. He is in need of shirts, socks, pjs and boots. He likes books, drawing, hot wheels, lego’s and toy knights and horses. He'd like a sled.

Mom: Size M in shirts, size 10/12 in pants, size 6 in shoes. She could use anything for clothing. She is in need of bed pillows and some twin and full-size blankets. She likes books (Christian, self-help), Christian music, and candles (any scent). A few people last year donated gift certificate and that was very kind!

Please bring gift wrap and essentials for wrapping or you may pre-wrap the gifts.

See you on Tuesday, 12/22, at 6:00, 6:30, or 7:00PM. We'll have fun and celebrate the joy of giving!

XC Ski North Iowa!!! AWESOME!

Trails at Pilot Knob
Originally uploaded by NorthIowaSPIN

Hey everyone!

UPDATE: Lime Creek is now groomed - think snow!

We took the sled and groomer to Pilot Knob (map) on Saturday in hopes of being able to pack some trail to last for a good long time given the recent snowfall. Worked for about 4 hours I’d say. The long and short of it….WE HAVE AN AWESOME MACHINE!

It was a great experience with regard to getting our feet wet with the snowmobile and groomer. And frankly I think we groomed a much harder trail than Limey. There were some wind blown near bare areas on the road that we shoveled to create a lane. There were also some VERY drifted areas too. It is amazing how the groomer can create a pretty good level surface with repeated runs over the surface.

The road in the Knob is groomed. Some skied it this AM and reported back that the trail was “the best I’ve ever seen it.” We hope to continue to be able to get to the Knob as well…with some more snow…and grooming this trail could last all winter. We also found that if we can pack it down the effect of recreational snowmobile “damage” to the skate trail is much less.

If you are skiing over there encourage the local folks to let the Park Ranger know how much they are enjoying this “new” grooming that is being done.

Have fun ya’ll,

Todd Juhlin

Cyclocrossing Nirvana

Field Reporter: Don Maschka

The Carousel Volkswagon Jingle Cross Rock Cycloscross Races were held in Iowa City November 27, 28, and 29th. I went down to watch the pros and partake in the festivities on Saturday and give it a go myself on Sunday. It is a UCI sanctioned cyclcocross event and is the highlight of the Iowa 'cross season. It certainly lived up to it's advanced billing.

I arrived at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in plenty of time to get some good photos and scout out the course the pros would be riding. The atmosphere was charged by amplified music and racaus fans. The Specialized Team was set up near the start/finish line as was the Planet Bikes Team. The recent rains made for a muddy course, but the day's mild weather attracted big crowds as did the opportunity to see National Champion Todd Wells and cycling legend Ned Overend compete in a stellar elite field.

I made my way over to a muddy descent and was treated by the sight of a male fan at the edge of the course with a dollar bill in his butt crack. The dollar could be had by any rider skilled enough to make the descent and brave enough to pluck the bill from the aforementioned crack. Eventually the dollar was indeed taken, but at great psychological cost to the rider.

Next, began the ascent up the infamous Mt. Krumpit. It is here that dreams of cyclocross glory go to die by unprepared 'crossers. This is no ordinary run up. It is 100 yards of pure torture. The difficulty lies in the severity of the grade and the horribly muddy conditions of the ground. If one wants to win Jingle Cross Rock he or she must come to grips with Mt. Krumpit. The spector of Death literally looms above the riders as they try to take the hill.

For the fans the summit is cyclocrossing nirvana. At the top are hundreds of cow bell clanging, 'cross fanatics. Scott Sumpter and his crew were good enough to bring up a keg of Fat Tire beer for all to enjoy. Everywhere along the course the riders were offered a friendly beer hand up and for the lucky few a kindly summer sausage hand up. As the race wore on desperate riders hungry for carbs and protein took from the offerings to the roar of the crowd.

It was here I was able to meet up with the first couple of North Iowa Cyclocross Ben and Katie Fistler. Katie and Ben raced on Friday and Saturday with great results. Katie went up to Cat. 3 and promptly got 6th place. North Iowa Spin recruit, Ben "The Reverend" Fistler had his best result of the season on Friday with an outstanding 17th place in a deep CX 4 field. We were able to enjoy the race from here together as we watched Wells and Overend power up and through Mt. Krumpit. The Grinch proved he is indeed a mean one as he scared little kids and the riders alike. I made my way back down the mountain in time to watch Wells throw his hands up in victory as he crossed the finish line.

On Sunday I lined up in the 5th row in the staging area for the CX 4 race. I would estimate another 20 riders were behind me bringing the total numbers of starters to 70 or so. Only 53 of us would finish. I was warned by Ben that the starter was very vague and to be alert. In spite of this I was caught fiddling around with my watch as the starter casually said. "Ok you can go." I promptly got slammed out of the hole shot and had to make up a lot of ground on a few straightaways before the first barriers.

After the barriers there was a nasty little run up followed by on off camber, muddy section. This caused a bit of angst in the field with back wheels spinning out all over the place, but I was able to get through it and make up a bit more ground on another straight section before we entered the Whoville Whorl. The Grinch's Lair featured a sand pit that I was only able to make it through cleanly once in our five laps. The first two laps riders crashed in front of me and the fourth lap I went down taking the rider behind me as his pedal got caught in my back wheel. I was able to get through it all, but lost more time.

We were spared the most difficult run up the riders had to do on Saturday, but the course was still very muddy. The combination of mud then onto pea gravel destroyed dozens of derailleurs. It was technically the worst race of the season for me, but the most fun I've ever had racing a bike. In the end I was able to stay on the lead lap and finish a respectable 13th.

I stuck around to watch the single speed race and was shocked to see Iowa City powerhouse Brian Eppen riding in nothing but a Speedo in the 39 degree weather. In spite of the vasoconstrictive effects of the cold on muscle and other body parts Eppen won the race by over a minute. Another group of guys in Speedos and girls in bikinis followed, but did not have quite the same motors as Eppen. Two of the girls actually completed the race in their bikinis on a tandem!

I have to say a big "thanks" to all of the sponsors and organizers of this great event. For all of the North Iowa Spin racers I would highly recommend going if you get the chance. Mark your calenders for next year.

Now Taking Orders

Cycling kits, Tri kits and Running kits are available in either Green or Pink.Cycling kits have a variety of options to choose from. Please see the order form for more details

Nordic Orders Due by Dec 10

All other Orders Due By DECEMBER 21, 2009

See Order Form for details: Pricing, placing orders and options available.
Order forms are available at the NISPIN Indoor Cycling classes and upper right corner of this blog.





Tri kits and running kits are very similar and a pink version is available



Nordic kits: Nordic Orders Due by Dec 10