ICEMAN 2009

The race was perfect 60 deg sunny day.
Mike Anderson finished 5th (top MI racer) Joberon 15th, Lummis 62nd (after a horrible wreck 500' off the start line).
John Meyers won his age group again =0) and also won his age group the next day at the CX race.
The party was incredible fun thanks to Jim Parks and the rest of the Bells Brewery family for giving us the chance to celebrate in style. Jim also brought up the 8ft tall Oberon bottle for the beer tent at the Iceman finish line.
Another year of great times racing bikes, enjoying custom brews and custom bikes. Many wins, podiums and great efforts where made by all the team mates ! 2010 will be the 10th year for the Bells Brewery sponsored team, we look forward to making it the best.




Mike Anderson 5th place:

2009 Iceman

5th place. Not as good as last year, but a good result still. Them fisher boys brought some "A" game this year, pretty fun to race with them guys. Carl Decker wins the style award, for the best 2 wheel drifts through the turns and just being a badass, guys gots some skills on a bike.
heres a race report:

The start was just like any other paved road mountain bike start, kind of scary and pretty fast. Decided to pull so i didn't get taken out in the chaos. It was a pretty long train of guys until about Smith Lake Rd about 5 miles in or so. But then the gaps started to form, had to be kind of attentive and stay at the front. Can't really remember who was pulling through that first section of single track, might of been Sam Shultz or JHK, but right after that JHK grabbed the reigns and it was fast as hell for about 20 minutes. 6 of us were gone and the race was set. JHK, Shultz, Tristan, Matter, Decker and myself. A few miles before Williamsburg road JHK put in big attack, I got on his wheel immediately and hung on for dear life, it all came back together at some fresh single track section. Seemed like everyone took some pulls for a little while, right when we got on the VASA JHK had another go, but it was the same deal, this race was coming down to the last hill. There was some more attacks in between there and the end but no one could get away, not really much point in trying. Right when we got to the last wood chip climb the final surge came, not a good time for some chain suck, and thats just what i got. I got off and ran and tried to get my bike back working. I had my chain back on at the top but those guys were long gone in front of me. I got around Tristan but ran out of time to catch Decker. I think I might have been able get Decker, but those other guys were gone.

I'm pretty happy with my race, its always cool to get to race with the big dogs, and really cool to hang in there the whole race. Would have been nice not to get that chain suck, i hate front derailleurs... I'll be back for blood next year, and maybe with a single chain ring too. The crowds at the end were awesome, really cool finishing like that. Thanks to everyone who was cheering along the course, all the people is what makes this race so cool.
MA.

BELL'S MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM presents: The 8th Annual SUNSET ON THE SEASON PARTY!

HEY THERE BOOZE HOUNDS !

Come join us at the Loading Dock after the Iceman awards starting @ 8:30 pm (21yrs old and over $5 cover) SWAG, FUN and a great Beer selection





Video by: the Brzuchanski Bros.
Music by: The Orbitsuns
Starring: JOBERON, ERACER and the Bells Brewery/Quiring Cycles MTB team

HERE IS THE BEER LIST FOR THE PARTY !
1. Bell’s Best Brown Ale 1 ½ Barrel

2. Bell’s Amber Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

3. Bell’s Oberon Ale 1 ½ Barrel

4. Two-Hearted Ale 2 ½ Barrels

5. Bell’s Christmas Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

6. Bell’s Oarsman Ale 1 ½ Barrel

7. Bell’s Poolside Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

8. Bell’s Winter White Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

9. Bell’s Double Cream Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

10. Bell’s Pale Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Tall

11. Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale 1 ¼ Barrel Short

Mike Anderson reports !

Mike Anderson checks in after the Boyne "State" championship race and the Peak to Peak races:

Boyne "State Championships" and Peak to Peak wrap up

After another disappointing Chequamegon I was eager to get back to the races. The Boyne Mountain Michigan State Champions was the next race on the schedule. There was a pretty descent field for a soggy day at Boyne Mountain, I took the lead early and never looked back, and came away with the Brent Walk state championship. Boyne is great course and we need to have more races there.


START of Peak to Peak



Manderson vs Simonster !



The Crystal Mountain Peak to Peak XC was next, this was a fun event last year and was great training before Iceman. it went down the same as last year with Derek Graham, the Simonster and me at the front. We swapped pulls through the insane lap traffic for a few laps until Derek and I got caught up with a lapper, throwing both of us to the deck. I jumped back on and bridged to the Simonster. We swapped pulls for another lap until the Simonster stayed true to his name and put in a good surge at the bottom of the climb. I let him go knowing i could close it by the top. The gap was about 10 seconds at the top going into the single track downhill. But there were still a few stubborn lappers in the way, this dude just would not let me by, and basically ended my race for me, kind of a bummer...
This is a fun race, but they have to change something to fix the lap traffic.

It was nice to have my Steel Quiring machine back and working, thanks Scott!
See ya at Iceman!
Mike

Get Ready To Get Rowdy... Again!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join us (post Iceman race) November 7th for the 8th Annual Sunset On The Season Party!

The Fat Tire 2009

I tell ya, these point to point races are truly special. The more I experience
them the more I realize how unique they are. Whether you're racing
B-Matter( www.b-matter.blogspot.com ) style for 1st or shooting for 501st, it's
impossible to finish without some great battle stories. I thoroughly enjoy blog
surfing the week after such events.

Erin and I set sail on Thursday morning for the long HAUL up to Hayward. Before we hit Chi-town we made a pit stop in K-zoo for lunch and stocked up on post race recovery beverages.
THANK YOU Bell's Brewery!

Not long after slogging through the big city traffic I received a surprise phone call from a old friend. Geri Lynn was back from some world travel and returned to her hometown of Hayward. Chequamegonville! The race weekend had now turned into a fun reunion as well. She and her family took great care of us and we can not thank them enough for their hospitality.

Friday, after a great nights sleep and a lazy lakefront morning, we packed up
for a little Fat Tire recon. Erin, who's still healing up, enjoyed a hike on some
of the sweet CAMBA trails while Geri and I rolled the first 10 miles or so.
Check out my new Quiring point-2-point assault weapon!

Memories from my first Chequam last year and nerves for this year started to
form as I bumbled along through Rosies Field, ripped up and down the Birkie and cruised along the dirt roads and trails towards Hwy00. The course was dry and hella-fast. The pre ride was followed by a quick clean up, race packet pickup and dinner at The Waterfront www.explorewisconsin.com/thewaterfront . Geri's family owns and operates this fine establishment. Try it next time you're in town. Be sure to ask for the twice baked potato's.

I awoke Saturday morning to a perfect morning on the lake. After breakfast I rode the 7 miles into town for a nice peaceful warm-up. I arrived to find swarms of eager cyclists. It's an incredible sight. I continued to roll around wondering if there'd be a spot for me at the start. I managed to squeeze in 3 rows back from the 4 wheelers. Similar to last year, some of the heavy hitters arrive fashionably late and roll up to the front next to the rumbling ATV's. Everyone nervous and white knuckled, the rollout parade through downtown Hayward began. I would guess I was in the 20's until we made the right turn towards Rosies and everyone hit the gas. We were roaring up the highway at 30+ with the Fat Tires-a-hummin'. I went from the 20's to the 40's and maybe even 50 riders back. I was struggling with the pace. There's fine line at this point. I may have had a little more juice to propel past a dozen riders or so but was it safe? It's insane! I held on and hoped for the best as we made the left into Rosies Field 40 back or so. Through the field and onto the Birkie it was full gas. I'd pass then get passed. It's war out there at this point and once again I don't remember much until we hit HWY00. I was with a group of around 20 that seemed to shrink with every passing mile. I could sense the Firetower Climb ahead and started to work my way forward in the group. I was in a good position at the base of the climb and immediately started to distance myself from other riders. Up ahead I spotted Mike Simonson(Fisher 29er Crew) and worked hard to bridge. Coming down the backside of Firetower it was myself, Mike and few others. A solid group that pushed each other to the end. In the final mile Simonson attacked hard and took the 3 others with him as I struggled. I rode smooth keeping them in my sights but couldn't get back onboard. Mike rolled in for that 15th spot with the other 4 riders grabbing 16th...17th...18th...19th and, finally, me just cracking the top 20 with 20th place.

I would say my performance was similar to last years Chequamegon (www.cheqfattire.com). I can't complain. I was, however, hoping to better my result which is only natural I suppose. I didn't do it though and that means I must try again. Since I managed to crack the top 20, it's a done deal. If a rider makes the top 20 here they are automatically registered for the following year. No hassle, no lotto. Which means I can start planning my trip to the north woods of Wisco immediately.

Thanks for reading. Have a great fall everyone!
And, I hope you enjoyed our Fat Tire "race" photos.

Joberon