It’s with a heavy heart we report that Steve Tilford, 57, the first US mountain bike national champion in 1983, died early this morning in a car crash on I-70 in eastern Utah. Tilford was an ageless bike racer winning multiple national championships and a UCI Masters World Championship over his decades long career. He was the Iceman champion in 1999 and 2000 beating riders almost 20 years younger. It didn’t matter if he’d been riding or training recently, if there was a race that captured his interest, he’d be there. He had an ability to focus his spirit and drive onto that particular event that set him apart from the rest of the field……and his “form” was always “coming around”. We’ll miss you, Tilley. Like (1) Dislike (1)
Specialized pro rider Howard Grotts won the 2016 Bell’s Beer Iceman Cometh Challenge with a time of 1:23:36 on a day that saw perfect “niceman” conditions.
He knows he got lucky with the weather but plans to return this year.
“No matter what the weather,” he added.
“I’d always heard about the race. Never had a chance to make it out, it’s kind of a fun time of year,” he said.
Coming at the end of the season he said conditioning is always varied amongst the pro riders, but the $6,500 payday for winning ensures the pros give it everything they’ve got when the tires hit the trail.
“Everyone is treating it as a fun race, but they put in a hard effort,” he said.
Grotts recently returned from South Africa and the Cape Epic stage race. He and his partner rode in support of Specialized Bike’s “A team”. They are allowed to help with a spare tire or bike in case of a mechanical failure. The team they were in support of finished the 7 day race in second place, 8 minutes down to the leaders.
Grotts is looking forward to a year of domestic races this year after racing UCI World Cup events in preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
“It’s a good time to step back from hunting UCI points,” he said.
He’s headed to events similar to Iceman to mingle more with fans in the United States.
“It’s an important aspect of being a pro racer, interacting with all the folks that are buying the bikes that I’m riding,” he said.
Entering his 6th year as a pro he’s still having fun and looking forward to races he plans to do for the first time this year, the Leadville 100 and the Breck Epic as well as the Epic Rides Off-road race series.
Grotts enjoys the early part of the race season.
“You constantly see results from training,” he said.
His weekly schedule includes two rest days, Monday and Thursday generally, sandwiched between rest days are an interval training day, tailored to whatever the next race is followed by a longer endurance day. For Leadville he’ll work on longer (30 minute) intervals, shorter races mean shorter intervals he said.
And yes, his job is still fun.
“Getting to explore new trails, whether they are in Africa or California, that’s probably the best part of this job,” he said.
Woodruff races to a 9th place finish at the Pan Am Championships in Paipa, Columbia
2015 and 2016 Iceman Pro Woman Champiton Chloe Woodruff traveled to the Pan Am Championships in Paipa, Colombia, where she finished 9th on her Pivot Mach 4 with Stans Valor 27.5 wheels set up with Maxxis Ikon 2.2s and a Fox Transfer dropper. With the race still being early season, Chloe went into the race with uncertain expectations as she is in a building phase for her upcoming season. “I’m used to coming into the race season full throttle. While my result wasn’t great, I felt good on my Mach 4 and had some fun racing in front of a fun Colombian crowd (and to see American Erin Huck win the gold medal!).” Chloe’s 9th place finish earned her UCI points, which is beneficial going into the later season world cups.
With the Sea Otter Classic (April 20-23) and Whiskey Off-Road (April 28-30) coming up, the Pan Am Championships showed to be a good opportunity to get back in the routine of traveling and racing
It’s finally warming up here in northern Michigan and that can only mean one thing! It’s time to hit the trails, pathways, and roads. As you gear up for a busy spring summer, and fall of cycling activity here’s a quick checklist for you.Bike? Check.
Helmet and shoes? Check.
Glasses? Check.
Every piece of cycling clothing you’ve ever owned? Check.
Ready?! – Well, Not quite.
Mountain bike riding can be a gear intensive sport and most of us feel like that should be end of our capital and personal outlay with our sport. Numerous people have told me that’s exactly how they felt until they got involved with their local trails and cycling organizations. Now they’ve found that giving back keeps their trails healthy and encourages others to swing their leg over a bicycle to new adventures.
Bikes change lives but occasionally they need a little boost along the way. I get that mountain bike riders are not “joiners” but we all need to support the following groups to ensure that mountain bike riding is a recreational experience that generations to come can enjoy. Do it now! You’ll feel better immediately!
League of Michigan Bicyclists
The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) works on behalf of all cyclists to make bicycling safe and convenient for everyone in Michigan. For LMB to meet its mission, we need active supporters like you. Membership aligns you with other bicyclists across the state, adding your voice to an effective grassroots advocacy group. LMB believes that a connected, engaged, and thriving cyclist community will lead to a stronger, more sustainable, and healthier Michigan. Whether you are a racer, recreational rider, mountain biker, touring cyclist, casual commuter, or social rider, join LMB and help move us towards a more bicycle-friendly Michigan. Learn more at LMB.org/join.
Michigan Mountain Bike Association
MMBA provides resource and advocacy support to the 11 mountain biking chapters within Michigan. Melissa Werkman is the Executive Director and works closely with trail managers, land conservancies, municipal, private, state and federal landowners, legislators and other key stakeholders on trail issues as well as facilitating mountain bike projects throughout the state. This fall the MMBA is hosting the first ever Michigan Mountain Biking Festival at Boyne Mountain August 25-27th. www.mmba.org
Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association (or your local chapter of the MMBA)
NMMBA is the regional chapter of MMBA here in Northwest Lower Michigan. Don Clewley and the team are dedicated to building, maintaining, and protecting trails in the area that provide recreational opportunities for locals and travelers alike. Their efforts have expanded to the winter months in supporting the Winter Sports Singletrack and the Cadillac Pathways, with grooming efforts supported by donors like YOU! For 2017, NMMBA is excited to bring you the Traverse City Trails Festival on July 22, a new race and tour that celebrates miles of singletrack just out our backdoor. Stay tuned for more details, and follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch.
Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association
Sean Warren reports that the MiSCA board is excited to announce they’re moving forward with the bid process to become a NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) Affiliate League. If the NICA board approves their bid, MiSCA would become an Affiliate League in the fall of 2018. www.miscabike.org
Here’s to a new season of adventures with good friends!
The 2016 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge was one for the record books. Warm sunshine greeted racers at TImber Ridge Resort as they finished their fast 27 mile trek from Kalkaska. What will 2017 bring? That’s part of the fun of the event and to help you get registered we’ve compiled a quick and easy breakdown of the paths you can choose depending on your past Iceman history.
Never been in the race?
Option one, come to Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo on Friday, March 3, 2017 at 11am and register in person. Everyone that shows up between 11-4 gets in. Done. Option two, hope there’s room after the 2016 riders register online when the non-2016 riders get their online crack at it on Friday, March 17th at 12 noon. Tips to speed along your entry. Register for an Ice Society account at Iceman.com and get a USA Cycling number (not a license) ahead of time.
Raced in 2016?
If you raced in the 2016 Iceman and want to ride this year you are guaranteed a spot in the race as long as you complete that entry between Friday, March 10 at 9am and Friday, March 17 at 9am. After that it’s first come first serve until the race fills up at 4,500 riders for Iceman and 400 riders for Slush Cup. You can also come to Bell’s, it’s a fun party and a great way to kick off the weekend.
While winter has finally returned to much of northern Michigan, allowing for the resumption of winter fat biking, we’ve been busy at Iceman HQ getting ready for the March 3 kick off for this years race registration. We’ll be at Bell’s in Kalamazoo that day, the party starts at 11am with in-person registration. Everyone that shows up to Bell’s gets in the race. Registration information has been updated at this link.
And new to the cycling calendar is the Michigan Mountain Bike Festival scheduled for August 25-27 at Boyne Mountain. Details are firming up but here’s what they have planned so far. This is a new event put on by the MMBA that they hope to move around to different areas from year to year. Registration should be up fairly soon.
Women’s Skills Clinic Advanced Jumps & Burms Clinic Hands-on Trailbuilding Class Demo Fair & Food Trucks Group rides on the new Avalanche trail Kid’s Skills Clinic Kid’s Movie Storytelling & Bonfire Under the Stars Shuttles to trails On-site childcare Chairlift Happy Hour on the Mountain Live Band Raffle and last but not least…
Beer Tent
Oh, one more thing, we strongly encourage all the members of the Iceman Community to support the Michigan Mountain Biking Association. Representing 11 chapters across Michigan the MMBA works to advocate for and protect trail access, collaborate with land managers, communities and other partners to build and maintain sustainable trails. With the huge growth of mountain biking trails in Michigan this year, your contributions are more important than ever!
With racers flying in from as far away as Alaska, the USAC Fatbike Nationals will be hosted in Grand Rapids, Michigan on January 26-29, 2017! According one of the organizers it’s not only for Pros but “Anyone can race!” There are fields for Pro/Open, Amateur and Juniors with age awards for Masters, Single Speed and Juniors. Register here.
Saturday is the USAC race and Sunday is the Michigan Fatbike State Championship! So 2 races in one weekend!
If you don’t want to race, go to Grand Rapids to spectate and enjoy the festivities listed below:
Thursday EXPO. Number Plate Pick Up, Onsite Registration, Course Open 9am-5pm
6pm Thursday Throwdown TT and Racer Reception- Indian Trails
Friday EXPO. Number Plate Pick Up, Onsite Registration, Course Open 9am-5pm
Biking Friends-We are running out of time for the Michigan Legislature to do something to make biking safer in Michigan. YOU CAN HELP WITH ONE SIMPLE CALL. HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO:As many of you know, the Senate passed a safe passing bill and a bill requiring bicycle laws to be part of all drivers education classes. The bills now need to pass the house by the end of the year, or our efforts for this two year legislative session will have to start over again next year. There is not time for the traditional committee hearing before a full House vote (because there are no committee hearings before the end of the year). The only way the bills will become law is if the House Speaker, Kevin Cotter, “discharges” the bills to the full House for a vote, which he has the ability to do. WE NEED TO FLOOD COTTER’S OFFICE WITH CALLS ASKING HIM TO DO THIS!! (Please understand this is not being rude. It is simply letting him know you care about something he controls, as a representative of your interests. It can, and should, be done in a polite and professional way.) Cotter’s phone number is 517-373-1789. Just tell Cotter (or his staff) that you are calling to encourage the Speaker to discharge the bicycle safety bills to the floor for a vote. Let him know you are a cyclist and care about bicycle safety on Michigan roads. (If you know someone injured or killed by a car while riding, let them know that too). It will take less than a minute.
The 2017 Bell’s Beer Iceman Cometh Challenge will be on Saturday, November 4th.
Registation for the 2017 Bell’s Beer IcemanCometh Challenge will open on Friday March 3rd at 11:00AM. Once again registration will be limited to first 4,500 Iceman riders and 400 Meijer Slush Cup riders.
