Happy Trails Ahead for All
Last November, I decided to immerse myself in the mountain biking culture. So I signed up for my first-ever bike race. Of course, it had to be the Iceman Cometh.
I have always been a "roadie" cyclist. But, since working at Norte and riding bikes with kids, I've caught the mountain bike fever. So, I decided to give it a go.
When the morning arrived, my good friend, Noel Peters, offered to drop me off in Kalkaska. Like many at Iceman, Noel is an experienced Iceman racer but was taking the year off from racing. As he wished me luck, he handed me a pack of energy blocks and told me to lick and stick them to my bike frame for easy access. I chuckled and threw them into my back pocket, thinking, "this can't be that bad. Twenty-eight miles isn't that long."
As I rolled to the start line, I was in awe. This was huge. There were thousands of riders. Volunteers were guiding the way to the start line. Trucks lined up at the ready-to-take riders' belongings to Timber Ridge. There were breakfast items for sale, hundreds of porta-johns, and emcees standing above the start line cracking jokes. The waves took off every three minutes like clockwork. I was inspired and tingling — from the cold and excitement.
“I needed sugar, yet I didn’t want to stop or get passed. I was having too much fun and wasn’t thinking straight. The competitor in me was rolling.”
As my wave got started, it was an instant joy. I passed many riders on the streets and two tracks. They flew by me when we hit the sandy parts. I had little sense of keeping my pace or knowing what to expect. At the halfway point, I was bonking. I needed sugar, yet I didn't want to stop or get passed. I was having too much fun and wasn't thinking straight. The competitor in me was rolling. I started fumbling with my back pocket for those energy blocks. I remember wishing I had listened to Noel's aphorism — lick and stick.
A few seconds into my fumbling, it went wrong. I flipped over my handlebars and landed on the side of a hill. I immediately popped up laughing. I waved on the riders who now passed me and then tore into those energy blocks. I shoved three of them in my mouth and meant to save the rest. But I ended up devouring all six while scrambling back onto my bike.
As I neared the finish line, the cheering became louder and louder, and the crowd denser and denser. Cowbells rang from every which way, and bonfires warmed the spectators. Hundreds of people handed out snacks and offered first aid. The final stretch was full of joy and laughter.
I was fortunate that my first Iceman had ideal conditions — overcast, low 60s, and hard-packed trails. This definitely helped my self-esteem and fed my desire to compete. And, thanks to Noel, I finished the race strong. One race, and now I'm hooked!
This year, I am looking forward to racing again. I will pull out my bright orange Norte jersey and put my well-earned biking skills to the test. I can't wait to see old friends again and, once I finish, to cheer on the hundreds of Norte riders — you can't miss the bright orange and blue jerseys.
See you Saturday — let's do this!
Lauren Dake
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
PS: I'm also as excited to run alongside my 4-year-old daughter as she rides in the Sno-Cone race. She has been practicing her stride at the VASA Bartlett Skills Park and is ready to roll. So join me in cheering on the little ones in the Slush Cup and Sno-Cone race!
