NI SPIN Tri Team @ the Cy-MAN

By John Johnson

North Iowa SPIN Tri team members Steve Schurtz and Madi Johnson participated in the Cy-Man Triathlon in Colo. The Cy-Man is sponsored by the Iowa State University Triathlon club.

It felt like Fall on Sunday morning and the temperature gauge on the truck read 58 degrees when we arrived at Hickory Grove park near Colo. Many of the participants had their wetsuits in hand at check-in but Madi does not have one so she was set to go in her tri-suit. After her warm-up swim she reported “gross, but warm” water.

Madi was in the fourth wave which was all women under 40 and competed in the ‘Women, 19 and under’ age group (Madi is 14!). She has become more aggressive in the swim event and goes out fast instead of fighting through the crowd. She was third out of the water in her heat. Hunter Callanan (Soon to be a NISPIN Member!!!), another North Iowan and Steve’s niece, was first out of the water a full minute out front – a very impressive swim!

The bike portion was a three loop circuit (15 miles total) around the park and included some nice rolling hills. It was nice for the spectators as we were able to see the racers out and on each circuit. There were some interesting moments and one very close call with vehicles on the course as they were not allowed to close the roads. Madi suffered a bit on the bike as her mileage has fallen off with the start of High School swimming but managed a respectable 18.6 mph average.

The run portion circled the lake and, I was told, was very scenic.

There were approximately 360 participants in the event and was well run from my point of view. Like always, the transition area was very crowed but everyone managed through the process and was accommodating.

The North Iowa SPIN had another good showing. Our only mistake was not packing Madi’s NI SPIN jersey to wear after the event. However, she did enjoy wearing a Hawkeye shirt during the awards ceremony! (I am sure Steve will be adding some comments as well.)

Women:
19 & under: Madi Johnson - 1^st Place
30 – 34 Hunter Callanan - 3^rd Place
Men:
55 – 59 Steve Schurtz - 5^th Place

Cy-Man Photo Set

$1300 for the Cerro Gordo Trails

NORTH IOWA SPIN RACING TEAM DONATES $1,300 to CERRO GORDO RECREATIONAL TRAILS ASSOCIATION

The North Iowa Spin bike racing team, based in Mason City, donated $1,300 to the Cerro Gordo Recreational Trails Association to help with improving bike trails in Cerro Gordo County. The proceeds were raised during the 2007 Bicycle, Blues and BBQ Road Race held in Clear Lake on July 8, 2007.

Cerro Gordo Recreational Trails organization greatly appreciates the contribution from North Iowa Spin and its members. The funds will be used to pay for the extension of the Ventura trail which is currently under construction and should be finished by September 1^st,” stated Casey Martin, President, Cerro Gordo Recreational Trails Association.

Tim Putnam, President of The North Iowa Spin, said, “The Bicycle, Blues and BBQ Road Race was a tremendous success this year, and with the help of 13 race sponsors and over 50 volunteers, allowed us the opportunity to give back to an organization that is helping to grow the sport of cycling and give the residents of North Iowa a beautiful and safe place to ride their bikes.”

Bicycle, Blues and BBQ Road Race sponsors included: Dr. Daniel Burgmeier, D.D.S., P.C., Cabin Coffee, Graham Manufacturing, House of Sports, HED. Cycling, Hy-Vee, Larson Printing, Lehigh Cement Company, Metalcraft, North Iowa Oral Surgery, North Iowa Eye Clinic, P.C., North Iowa Tire, Ollenburg Motors, Splash Multisport, Wayne's Ski and Cycle, Williams and Associates P.L.C. and Woodharbor.

The North Iowa Spin racing team is part of the North Iowa Touring Club, whose mission is to promote a positive image of cycling and to encourage riders to develop their racing skills and abilities in a pressure-free environment. The team currently has 25 members. The North Iowa Spin will be adding a Juniors program in 2008 designed to introduce the youth (13-19 years of age) of North Iowa to the sport of cycling and to provide opportunities to learn from and train with North Iowa Tour Club members with the goal to participate in bicycle racing.

The Heat Was On at Welch

By Seth Bell

2007 MNSCS #7 - Metric Auto Parts Welch MTB Jam

Sun, August 12, 2007

Welch Village, Welch, MN

Heat and humidity greeted the participants of MNSCS race #7 at Welch Village Ski Area on Sunday, and the race course was.... gooey.... from the previous night's rain storm. Since Welch Village isn't open to mountain bikers regularly, there isn't much for actual single track trails, and most of the race was fought on the grueling, steep and shade-less slopes of the ski runs and wide, washboard access roads. The combination of heat, hellish climbing and glue-like mud in some areas made it quite a challenge for everyone.

The men's Sport class race was 2 1/2 laps, approx. 12 miles. The race was a mass start, all 94 of us, and the opening climb up one of the ski runs did a fine job of sorting out the crowd. There was a bit of single track with some logs to ride over and under in between climbs, but time for recovery was very minimal. There were a few places on the course where short, steep climbs were too greasy to ride, and some of the ski run climbs were too much for many to ride up, singlespeeders and geared riders alike; and I did a lot of running (and swearing) up some of those. Team NI Spin landed a podium place with my hour and thirteen minute struggle for second place (both in the singlespeed class and overall).

Also of mention, my good friend and former co-worker Mike Campbell from Rockwell raced in the Sport class as well, and finished 76th overall and 24th in age class, respectively. He also drove to and from Welch, allowing me to doze off and drool all over myself on the way home, and was patient enough to stop for me to get coffee a couple times.

Photo Set

Over All Results

A life-saving bike ride

Dan Schueller was one of the first on the scene on the 35W bridge collapse and helped rescue a number of people.

Star Tribune Video Montage of Schueller's Story

Story Borrowed from SkinnySki.com and Star tribune

CAMBA's Newest Singletrack Trail

New CAMBA Trail - Photo Set

On Saturday, July 21, Tim Putnam, Dave Frederick, Mike Hummel, and I rode the new Hatchery Creek Trail near Hayward, WI. The new trail is part of the CAMBA (Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) Hayward Cluster and is the newest singletrack in the CAMBA system. It’s my favorite trail in the Cable/Hayward area, not nearly as technical as Rock Lake Trail.

The trail is 100% singletrack, intermediate in difficulty, and is 8 miles long. It is basically parallel to and crosses the Birkie trail several times. It’s a looped course, with trailheads at the Fish Hatchery near Rosie’s Field and at Mosquito Brook Road. There are tight corners, a few rocks, and constant climbing and descent, requiring attention all the time.

CAMBA plans to extent the trail to Gravel Pit Road this summer, with a return trail next summer; the goal is to have the trail extended to the Ojibwe Trail, so that there will be singletrack all the way from Hayward to Cable.

We all had a great time. Tim and Mike led the way, and periodically waited for Dave and me to catch up. Dave and I each took a few spills, but no major injuries - only a few scratches. I was the only one that bled. Each of us could have done more, but time constraints made us stop for a beer at Tim’s van, then to the Moccasin Bar (Home of Cal Johnson's world record muskie -- 67 lbs 8 oz ) for a Bloody Mary. That was followed by the afternoon on Frederick’s pontoon on Lake Nancy. All in all, not a bad way to spend a beautiful summer day in northern Wisconsin!