Iceman Cometh Challenge News

5 Mistakes Rookie Cyclists Make

Biking down a mountainous trail is nothing short of an adventure sport. For those who love to get on that saddle and get their adrenaline pumping, there is virtually nothing that can stop them from achieving their goal. However, biking unprepared can be quite dangerous. You may think that as long as you have your helmet, it will all be okay, but in reality, there are many other safety concerns that rookie cyclists often overlook.

Today, we will discuss some of the common mistakes that rookie cyclists make and propose measures to correct them. This guide lets you go from rookie biker to pro cyclist quickly!

Overtraining

Amidst the thrill of riding your bicycle, what you may overlook is how much you are exerting yourself. Overtraining is a serious problem for many athletes and sports enthusiasts because they believe there is no end to training properly. Unfortunately, the body can only take so much stress, and after a point, you risk muscle fatigue and other serious health issues.

Just like any other sports activity, biking would require you to have specific recovery days in your schedule too. Make sure you rest up and perform lower body exercises on these recovery days. If anything, this will only improve your performance.

Skipping Bike Fitting

This is something even many pros are guilty of. Usually, if you purchase a bicycle, you get it online or from the store and fix the saddle as per your height. You eyeball it, and everything looks good. But then every part of your body hurts after just one session with your new bike. Ever wondered why?

This is a bit hit-and-miss, but it is worthwhile to note anyway. It is always better to see a professional fitter before you get a bike- especially if you are looking to bike across uneven terrain. A fitter will consider aerodynamics and give you the best of both comfort and performance. This way, you will be able to avoid some of the most common injuries cyclists face.

Riding Without Hand Gloves

Hand gloves are more than just a protective feature for cyclists. Professional cyclists never leave their homes without hand gloves. Wearing these allows you to have a good and proper grip on the handlebars, which improves your performance. Moreover, they also make you far

more comfortable by absorbing sweat and keeping your hands dry. And of course, in case you fall, they shield your hands.

Not Wearing Sunglasses

It sounds like something you usually won’t forget, right? Believe it or not, many cyclists often forget to take their sunglasses with them. Firstly, these protect against harmful UV rays from the Sun while cycling in hot and sunny weather. Cyclists can also experience irritation in their eyes from dust, insects, small particles, or even sweat or rain. Having the right pair of sunglasses will shield your eyes against all this and help you perform better.

Not Adjusting The Saddle

Something many cyclists fail to do is adjust the saddle on their bikes to their height. The height of the saddle will depend on the height of the cyclist. The right saddle will allow for greater efficiency and help you maintain your balance, while the wrong saddle will make you exert more force, tiring you quickly.

Make sure that the saddle is at length with your hip when you stand straight next to your bicycle. Your toes should touch the ground while you are on your saddle. This is the ideal cycling position.

If you want to improve your performance without overexerting yourself, make sure you have made a note of all these points. After all, it is all about enjoying the ride and making memories as you go by.

A gracious thank you to our author Michael Singleton, the Content Editor at BarBend.

Get comfortable off the trail!

Spring is one of my favorite seasons in Michigan cycling. Everyone emerges from their winter basement “pain caves” and heads out to hit the trails. Then, there’s a damper (literally)–the trails are wet! In West Michigan, we have some sandy trails that drain well, but many of our trails are a clay base that can take weeks to dry out. Throw the “April Showers” that actually extend from March to May in the mix, and trail closures abound. Going back to the basement isa tough sell after a solid four months of trainer riding. You know what dries out fast and never closes? That’s right, road and gravel.

Spring is a great time to start getting friendly with that other bike that’s been hanging out in the garage. If you don’t have a gravel bike, never fear. I’ve found that some 42 slicks on my mountain bike adapt it to a very capable gravel rig. My favorite way to hit the road or gravel in the spring is in a group ride. The greater Grand Rapids area has an abundance of group rides come spring. It can actually become tough to choose between groups! Group riding is a great way to become acclimated to surges that you aren’t expecting. In solo training and riding, you may plan for those 1-5 minute hard efforts. However, there is something to be said for having that “option” taken out of your hands. I find I am much more comfortable racing and responding to hard segments the trail throws at me after I have spent some time having my heart rate elevated by moves I didn’t plan.

Another benefit of group riding is the social aspect. Riding with friends is always more fun! Sometimes a road ride can feel like it drags on. Usually if Igo out with a group, I am so busy chatting that I feel like I’ve only been out for forty minutes when we pull back into the parking lot.

Another aspect I appreciate about group riding is the increase in bike handling skills. While we may not be racing iceman in a pack of thirty riders, riding in a group on road or gravel is still very beneficial. Group riding lets you find the “sweet spot” of drafting, and become more comfortable with this skill that will save energy on the two track or forest road sections at Iceman.

So how do you find a group ride near you? Luckily, Facebook has made it easy as many groups will post “events”. If Facebook isn’t your jam, I recommend checking out your local bike shop. Many host a group ride, or sponsor a team that does. Your local bike shop has their finger on the pulse of local rides and is an excellent resource for you! Don’t forget to buy your gear there, too. Our local bike shops deserve our support!

Thank you to our 2023 ambassador Elaine Sheikh @elaine_muskrat

Iceman Etiquette

Growing up, my dad would always leave my brother and I on the start line with two pieces of advice. As we fiddled with our gloves and gave our tires a final pinch, he’d slap us on the shoulder and say, “Hey, remember; it’s a race. But don’t take any chances”. Being punk kids, we’d nod and sort of shoo him away, rippling with pre-race nerves and a teenager’s embarrassment of having our dad hanging around on the start line.

Now, in my old age, I get what we he meant. This isn’t a spin in the County; this is the biggest race of the year for thousands of riders, and if you’re lining up, you’re there to try. Try to win, try to place, try to finish, try to have fun. The goals might be different, but there’s an effort that goes into getting from Kalkaska to Traverse City, and you owe it to everyone else on the course to respect that. There’s nothing for you to do but empty the tank and see what happens.

Of course, that sort of respect pairs with some basic etiquette that most mountain bikers are all too happy to practice. Cycling is a sport that lives and breathes because of countless unwritten rules and learn nuances. There are things you do, and there are plenty of things you don’t. It’s now, just as the jitters start to multiple and the nerves tighten up that it’s worth taking a deep breath and a step back to remember a few of those more concrete practices that are going to keep this race fun for everybody.

On Your Left. With 5,000 people in the woods, we can promise you two things. First, you’re going to pass a few people. Second, a few people are going to pass you. Knowing that, make an effort to overtake slower riders carefully and respectfully, and help those passing you by moving over whenever and wherever the course allows. Announce your approach, verbally indicate which side you’d like to pass on, and wait for the slower rider to verbally call you through. If you’re in a bunch, communicate how many riders might be passing with you. If everyone talks, stays calm, and does their level best to cooperate, then both the faster and slower riders are going to have a faster time in the long run. Do you know the best $8 you can spend this week at your local bike shop? It’s $8 on a nice, loud bell. Seriously.

Walk It Out (or Over). Some of the hills out there are brutal. Loose sand, big bunches, and the grind of a tough day in the saddle can turn these short, sharp inclines into formidable ascents. If you do need to walk, it’s cool. Once you’ve got your feet on the ground, make an effort to move as far to one side of the trail as you can to allow other riders with momentum to keep riding. Most walkers tend to move to the right, but use your best judgement about where to go to keep both yourself and other athletes safe.

Play Fair. We’ve got 55 waves slated for Saturday, and you’ve found a happy home in one of them. Start in that wave; as you know, starting early will get you DQ’d. Starting in a later wave is still not great as your time starts when your wave does. We understand things happen just know that you timing starts when your wave crosses the start line not your bike. Additionally, don’t try to line up in an earlier wave and then linger in the chute, assuring yourself a front row spot. There was a rash of this in 2018, and I’ve been deputized to put an end to it. If you’re caught, you won’t just get held back for your wave, you’ll be held back with me listening to stories about how fast I used to be. That’s a miserable way to spend a morning, just ask Steve Brown. Remember, riding with someone else’s number plate puts our medical and search and rescue team in a bad position. Doing so gets you banned for life, so don’t even try it.

Drop Out, Shout Out. Look, sometimes it just isn’t your day. If you do drop out of the race for a non-medical emergency, let us know. There’s a phone number on the back of your number plate to communicate your DNF. We can help you get to the finish by car, or you can make your way to the nearest aid station for extraction. You may have to wait a little while, but there will be snacks and a blanket for you, so it isn’t all bad.

Perspective. Look, we all want to do well, but remember why we’re all out here. For 99% of us, this is a hobby. That first place check spends quick, but how you act, how you treat your fellow racers, and how you represent your family, club, and community doesn’t go away. I couldn’t tell you what place I finished in a particular year, but I will never forget how I raced and the friends I spent an hour and forty minutes in the wood with. For the next year, you’ll remember what and how it all happened, not the digits on the results sheet.

Have fun, go fast, and most important of all, look out for each other.

Your Best Race Day: 7 Tips for Iceman Success

Your Best Race Day: 7 Tips for Iceman Success

By the Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center Physical Therapy Team in Traverse City, MI

1. Train Adequately in a Realistic Setting

As the weather changes and available daylight wanes with each passing day, it’s very tempting to hop on your indoor trainer. However, even if you have a solid indoor setup that can seemingly mimic hilly conditions, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an indoor environment that can truly simulate the Iceman course. We suggest logging in as many trail miles as possible – though not just on any trail.

“This race is full gas from start to finish,” cautions Johanna Schmidt, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center who has completed Iceman six times. “You’re breathing hard the entire time so you’re not really prepping yourself properly on a single track.”

The avid cyclist – who also co-founded the youth-focused, cycling advocacy organization Norte with her husband Ty – recommends familiarizing yourself with the actual Iceman trail itself if you’re local. Still, the most optimal training can happen right in your own backyard. Schmidt says she owes her best race results (placing 6^th) to combining both road racing and mountain bike training, including multiple treks up Wayne Street, a hilly road running alongside Ashton Park in Traverse City.

2. Train on Your Race-Day Bike

Just as important as replicating your environment is training consistently on the same bike you’ll be racing with next month. This will allow you to be comfortable and familiar with the fit, the gearing, and the control of your equipment. Another bonus? Training on your race-day bike may alert you to aches and pains, such as knee pain, that the bike itself may be causing. These physical warnings can signal a few needed tweaks, such as adjusting your saddle height. And if your own adjustments aren’t hacking it, you still have time to seek help from a professional bike fitter in your area who can better pinpoint any biomechanical issues.

3. Get a Tune-up

Perform a proper tune-up of your bike before the event. This includes checking the condition of the brakes, chain, and derailleurs. If you’re new to racing or just not mechanically inclined, it’s a good idea to have a professional do it.

4. Pace Yourself

It’s always critical to pace yourself according to your ability and the quality of your training. If you are new to racing or you are pretty certain you are not going to win the race or be in contention, then it’s probably not a good idea to start at the front of the line. “If you’re a first-timer or you’re not racing to win, seek out a group toward the back whose pace is more in line with your own,” says Physical Therapist Josh Thorington, PT, DPT, Manager of Rehab Services at Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center. “It will help you manage the race better. Plus, you don’t want to have to drop out of the race because you’re too tired from pushing yourself too hard at the start.” Regardless of your ability, remember that Iceman is a long race: don’t use all of your energy to the point that you can’t finish.

5. Dress Strategically on Race Day

It’s northern Michigan and you just never know what you’re going to encounter. Our advice? It’s easier to shed layers than it is to add them. Dress in clothing that you can easily peel off or slide down. Think vests that keep your chest warm but your arms cool, arm warmers (which you can slide down once you’re warmed up), and even clothing you don’t mind losing permanently should you need to lose a layer en route. Schmidt recommends underdressing, a tactic that has personally worked for her. “People tend to overdress,” she shares. “But when you’re overheated, it can be difficult to go fast. Even if it’s 40 degrees, a mile or two in, you’re already sweating.” In addition to a vest and arm warmers, Schmidt wears a jacket at the start line and gives it to a loved one right before start time. “Or bring something you don’t care to ever see again and discard it before you get going.”

6. Manage Injuries Now

As we mentioned above, pain can stem from something as simple as crank length. However, if you injure yourself or you’re experiencing pain such as a sore back or aching joints and muscles both on and off your bike, it’s important to manage your injury now. The rehab Team at Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center can evaluate you to determine the exact issue and provide interventions that will get you back in shape for race day. “Our goal is not only to get you back to racing pain free but to keep you racing pain free by creating a program that is tailored specific to you,” says Thorington.

7. And Finally…

Don’t forget your helmet!

Get access to our enhanced rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, to help you get back to your everyday amazing! Find a Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center location near you.

About Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center

Specialized, coordinated care is what you can expect through Mary Free Bed at Munson Medical Center. This unique collaboration gives our region’s athletes access to one of the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. Learn more here.