Race/Trip Report: Keweenaw Chain Drive

Eric and I headed up for the umpteenth annual Keweenaw Chain Drive this past weekend. I didn't rightfully know for sure how long the drive would be, but had heard that the race was pretty cool. That was enough for me, and was enough to lure Eric away for a weekend of piratical skullduggery.
I think it would be apt to say that the 16 mile race is the Short and Fat on steroids (or something like that). There was a sweet cop lead roll through downtown Houghton. Some insanely fast and TERRIBLY rocky two-track. AND some pretty sweet singletrack, though I would put the course at 5% paved, 60% doubletrack, 35% singletrack... maybe. Starting in the very back, and spinning a SS meant getting stuck behind a ton of slowpokes in the first singletrack. Things got better though, and by the midpoint of my race I was mainly going at my own pace. Eric was caught behind a few people, but still seemed to be happy with the race all in all. The 32 miler I think was much more epic feeling - more singletrack and less crowded once the course split.

Notes:

1) Fun event, definately one to think about for next year. I am fairly confident that both Eric and I could podium in the 16 mile race with a few adjustments. I would be inclined to do the 32 though if I head up there again.
2) Houghton seems like a pretty cool town actually. I was pretty surprised by the vibe I got.
3) The drive up, if you are smart, isn't too bad, though the time change is stupid.
4) The Ojibwe Trail is sweet.

Thanks for a fun weekend Eric! We'll have to try and do more SPH roadtrips similar to this. Definately a great way to spend a weekend.

(How do I post pictures?... I'm just a stupid pirate)

Boy Afton is sweet

Nice finish by Eric the Red, but the rest of the swarthy bunch had a rough day. Blackbeard was walking most of the bigger hills on the second lap, and Scraggs made it about .25 miles before a flat tire ended his day early. Bring on the 24 hour race.... gar.

BLACKBEARD SUSPENDED!

Today Blackbeard was suspended for one day, due to not showing up for a Friday lunch. Rule 209.

Avast Ye Mateys

It's been a rough week of racin' for Blackbeard (aka me). Rough but pretty fun. Braved the dreaded "steps o' doom" that would make a land-lubbers yardarm go a twitchin at the Wooly Race up in St. Croix Falls. Finished dead center middle of my first Sport race at Steeplechase. The bookends to the week of racing were the Route's Tuesday night races. Twas a good time for certain when I finished one spot ahead of the sandbaggin Scraggs while navigating the treacherous Rivers Falls singletrack. The performance at the Badlands was less than impressive as ole Scraggs decided that losing to a chump such as myself really isn't that advisable. I think he only finished 2 spots ahead of me (so we're close in the series standings if there were such a thing), but the total time looks a bit rough for ole Blackbeard. There is some controversy about whether the results should truly stand as I wasn't racing under the SPH banner.... Next up: Afton baby. Yargh. For sure. Yargh!

Grass and hills

Not that kind of grass! Tuesday night of racing. Blackbeard finishing y + 10 min behind Scraggs, while Eric the Great finishing strong in the b race. Look forward to next weeks finishings. Thanks to the asian express for closing the shop.

Ole Scraggs and a Critter

Yargg so it was an alright Sunday for Scraggs. Up north two clicks in St. Paul Scraggs participated in the Capitol Classic. At the beginning he felt great, dressed to impress in the new SPH jersey. There was a point in time, call it the middle of the race, he decided to take off. With a 30 second lead on the pack he looked back and saw no one to help him. So he went back, once back with the pack it was decided that he made the wrong move! With 3 laps to go Ole Scraggs felt the end. With only a couple endurance races under his belt and the wrong training he dropped back with only two laps left. In the end he muttered f'bombes and snakes onto himself as he felt defeat.

Welcome

This is the home of the famed SPH cycling experience! If you have randomly found yourself here, please leave or you will be bombared by ugly pirate hookers. Here you will find diaries from famed SPH riders. Beware once your in, you never come out!