To all my fellow Iceman riders, this is it! What we’ve all been working toward is finally upon us. We’re only a few weeks away from taking off at the airport. In my final post before the race, I’m going to share my bike setup, along with my day-before and race-morning routines. Remember why you started and how far you’ve come. The hard work is done; now it’s time to enjoy the ride.
“Meet My Trail Partner”
First, let’s talk about my bike setup. Everyone, I’d like to introduce Betty. I’ve named my bike after my late grandmother. Grandma Betty was someone who didn’t mess around. She loved her family more than anything and would fight for them no matter what, whether they were right or wrong. Looking back now as an adult, I’ve always referred to her as a powerhouse woman, and my bike is a powerhouse on the trail.
I ride a full suspension Orbea Oiz that I’ve had for about two years. This is a custom bike from Spain. I just replaced the seat post with a new Envy carbon post, and with pedals, it weighs in at 25 pounds. I have DT Swiss hubs paired with the Oquo carbon wheelset. The lightweight carbon frame is a beast on climbs. It’s incredibly efficient without sacrificing strength. The 120 millimeter travel front and rear strikes a perfect balance, plush enough to handle rooty, bumpy terrain, yet tight enough to stay snappy and responsive.
One of the features I love most is the Squidlock remote with three-position suspension settings: open, medium, and lockout. This allows me to switch on the fly depending on whether I’m climbing, flying through two-track, or tackling single track.
The KOM saddle bag carries two CO2 cartridges and a tool to fix flats. I’m using the Revgrips Pro Series grip system, which always makes me feel in control. I’ll keep some GU gels in the top frame bag, though I may remove this by race day. My Garmin 1040 head unit keeps me on track.
For tires, I’m running aggressive options this year: a Vittoria Mezcal 2.4 in the front and a 2.4 Vittoria Peyote in the rear. If the course turns into a mudman, I’ll switch to the Vittoria Barzo XC Race 2.4.
A big upgrade this year is my drivetrain. I installed the new Shimano XTR Di2 last week. I was hesitant about the old Di2 because of crash mode, but the new design allows the derailleur to pivot and spring back if it’s hit. Shifting is smooth and precise with no guessing. Whether climbing Make It Stick or transitioning from single track to double track, getting into the right gear quickly makes a huge difference. The new battery holds a charge for up to four weeks, and I’ll carry a spare on race day just in case.
I won’t have bottles on the bike because I’ll run a pack. I’ll carry Skratch Super Carb along with Skratch Hydration Mix, which works best for me in taste, carbs, and sodium. Everyone is different, so use what works for you. If I need to rinse my palate, I’ll grab water on the course instead of carrying extra weight for something I might not even use.
One special thing I’ll do on race day is wear white sun sleeves with a personal touch. The day after Iceman is my daughter’s first birthday, so I have arm sleeves in hot pink that say “Lucy’s Dad.” If you see a middle-aged man with those sleeves riding, that will be me.
The Eve of the Epic Ride
The Friday before the race feels like Christmas Eve. Enjoy the expo, grab your number plate, and check out the vendors. You can find some great deals, and I’ve been known to make a few purchases myself (always with the wife’s approval). Grab a Bells Beer and soak in the moment. We’ve all worked hard for this. But once you leave, get focused and prepare.
I highly recommend riding the finish if you can. If you raced in 2022, you know about the last corner where Tyler Orschela lost the race. Pre-riding the finish will give you confidence and help you anticipate corners, pump tracks, and other technical sections. I’m lucky to have a good friend nearby, so I can park at his house and ride down to scope it out. Depending on time, we’ll ride the Slush Cup course for a few extra miles.
After the ride, eat well, fuel up, and rest as best you can. I try to stretch and use leg compression boots whenever possible.
Taking a Little Ride Through the Woods
The morning race has arrived. Stick to your morning routine and eat something easy to digest; I stick to a simple peanut butter and jelly. While getting ready, I listen to my Iceman playlist. Being born in 1981, I’ve been exposed to a wide range of music. On my playlist, you’ll find Bob Seger, Metallica, Bryan Adams, Nelly, Imagine Dragons, Eminem, Lil Nas X, and more—anything to get the adrenaline flowing. I’ll have a bottle of water and one of Skratch on the drive over.
Once at the airport, get your legs ready. The first part of the race is about positioning. I spend about five minutes in Zone 1 heart rate, about the same time in Zone 2, and then two 30-second threshold bursts. I like to get into my wave corral early, usually in the second row, for a good draft out of the airport.
During this warm-up, I have a “go song” playing. In the 1996 movie Twister, there’s a line, “Taking a little walk through the woods,” followed by one of the best guitar riffs I’ve ever heard (that is, until I came across Seven Nation Army). The song Humans Being by Van Halen is on repeat until my wave gets called. Then I shut the music off, start RaceJoy, pack my phone, and focus on the start line and taking a little ride through the woods…
Two Wheels, One Epic Day
In closing, have fun and ride within your comfort level. Remember to communicate when passing or being passed. This is racing, and sportsmanship matters. Pedal hard, pedal fast, and give it your all.
See you at Timber Ridge.
Thank you to Chris Mutnansky @the_racing_ref for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer.