How The Mud Had Won

Revenge for some, just fun for others.  Everyone has their reason to do the Iceman Commeth.  The METAL Loaded Motors use the weekend trip north to Traverse City to close the mtb racing season and have some fun.  But true to it's name this year, Iceman brought with it some of the worse weather conditions to race in.  The rain, sleet, snow and hail all started the evening before the race and never really let up.  The team knew it was going to be a tough Saturday.

Friday to Saturday weather (Race Day)

Quick recap: Skylar set the table that morning.  She was to go off earlier than the guys as her wave started around 12:30.  Due to the conditions being less than favorable, her along with many others were pulled from the race at the half way point.  You had to cross the check point at a certain time in order to keep going.  What I will say though, even though she was pulled, Skylar rode the toughest part of the course as it was clear to many who raced that the first half of the course was much tougher than the second.  The boys are proud of Skylar for lining up at the start and giving it all she had.  In fact, it was well know the only reason why Aryn decided to follow through with doing the race was because Skylar was already out there racing.

Aryn and Mitch getting ready in the 30 degree rain

The boys nice and clean before the race

(Jon, Mitch, Aryn and Brian)

As for the boys.....the course was a disaster.  Imagine riding a trail after 18 hours of rain, snow and sleet and 5000+ people going over it.  Pirate lines were cut into the woods well off some of the trail because some places were not passable by bike.  Times really didn't matter as it was clear 10 minutes into the race that the challenge would be crossing the finish line.  Here's some random pix of the course well before the METAL Crew went through:

Mitch, Aryn, Jon and Brian toughed it out and were fortunate enough to finish without any major mechanicals or injuries.

The diesel engine, Brian.  Rode the entire course without unclipping.  2x10 set up on his fully rigid Santa Cruz Highball.  Impressive!!!!  And looking good in the new green METAL knickers.

Jon had to run a few hills but only because he was badass enough to do this race on his fully rigid Gary Fisher Superfly Single Speed.  Check out the pop on the ESI Grips.  One gear and no suspension.  True Grit!  

Aryn's set up was his fully rigid Felt Nine-C 1x10 with a fully Loaded cockpit.  Had to run two hills due to loosing traction because he didn't have a bail out gear.  38f/36r was his lowest gear.

Mitch rode his Focus Raven to team glory with what appeared to be the best set up for the day.  A 2x10 with front suspension and back pockets filled with plenty of GU Energy.  He wins best bike set up and best legs for the weekend.  But don't let the set up fool you.  Mitch worked his ass off for every mile.  

Post race.  Mitch was probably smiling here because he was about to cramp.

After the race the team headed over to Kamp Kahuna for a warm shower and some snacks.  The Matthews, Frosts and Freds we all there swapping stories from the race around the campfire.  Big thanks again to you all for the post race hospitality.  Not to long after the team went out to dinner and then headed back to the hotels to soak in the warm tubs and get some shut eye.

Next morning there was a few moments of calm

Before having to drive home in this

and eventually deal with this

Big thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this a mountain bike season to remember.  Twin Six, Loaded Precision Products, ESI Grips and GU Energy!  Thanks again to everyone at Kamp Kahuna and of course all that were involved in making this year happen....especially Danielle, Sue, Laurie and Becky!  You ladies are the best support crew ever!

From an outsider's perspective, great article on Pinbike.com of the race by Matthew DeLorme

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/harbinger-of-winter-the-iceman-cometh-2014.html

Who we had the pleasure of chatting with briefly

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-bikes-of-the-iceman-challenge-2014.html

(Still three more CX races on the schdedule for 2014)