Iceman Cometh Challenge News

Nina’s Iceman Recap

The last race of dirt season turns also into the biggest party in the woods . I haven‘t been at any other bike race yet that has this very special “Iceman atmosphere”. There aren’t many opportunities out there to ride your bike with 5000 passionate cycling friends and have a party together after.

This year marked my third Iceman Cometh Challenge and for the first time in my “racing career”, I had the privilege to start with the CAT1 women. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about this. I don‘t see myself belong in a pro wave at any bike race but I appreciate these opportunities and I took it as a great learning experience. I also hope to be an inspiration for other women out there, to sign up for a bike race, enjoy this amazing cycling community and maybe find your own limits. I didn’t have any expectations or goals for the race, other than not coming in last.

My bike of choice for this year’s race was a Specialized Epic Hardtail. In retrospect, it was probably not the best choice for me personally. It’s the first Hardtail I’ve owned and I was not used to the bike. With the fresh cut Single-track, I‘d probably would‘ve been better off on my Full Suspension Mountainbike. I have definitely seen more people on Full Suspension bikes this year, than in the past two years.

While all wave starts leave Kalkaska airport in the morning, the Pro waves didn‘t start until 3pm on Saturday. Honestly, I was very happy about this, as it was a cold morning and it took some time to warm up. When the sun came out, I think it was clear for everyone at that time: We‘ll have another “Niceman” ahead of us.

I was ready to race! Lining up at the start-line with 25 incredible strong and super fast women was a one of a kind experience. Very different from a wave start with probably about 100 people. The last few seconds before a start are the worst for me. I was very nervous and had all kinds of different thoughts running through my head. Will I be able to keep up at the start? Will I race on my own the whole time? Am I going to finish last? And so on… But as soon as the countdown is done and the gun goes off, it’s just the focus on pedaling a bicycle.

The start was, as expected, fast from the line, but I have to say, less chaotic, due to less people around you. I was able to hold position in the mid-pack and to my own surprise, was also able to maintain this position all the way out of the airport into the two track. After following the lead-group through the two-track for about a mile it was clear to me, I couldn’t keep this pace for the entire race. I had to let go and rode by myself for a few, before I caught up to another rider in front of me and we traded pulls for a while. A few miles into the single-track, we caught up to Trainer Road’s Ivy Audrain, who let us pass instantly. I thought, she must have had a mechanical or some kind of problem, as she is a professional cyclocross racer and there is no way I would be able to keep up with her. Turns out, she just really enjoyed the secretly famous Iceman handups 😉

Riding up the famous Anita’s Hill is always a challenge. Being on my own this year didn’t make it any easier. I remember my first time seeing the hill and pushing up my bike in 2020. I thought to myself, how in the world are people able to ride up a hill like this. Turns out, with a little bit of training, it is possible, but I still wouldn’t say it’s fun. But the fun starts after you made it up and over…

Iceman is also the race, that gets you more excited the closer you get to the finish. Not because of the finish line, not (only) because of what position you’ll finish the race but mostly because of the insanely loud crowds waiting for you on both sides of Woodchip hill, Icebreaker and all the way to the finish. I’ve never experienced any other race, where the only noise you can hear is the crowd cheering you on while your heart rate is maxed out going up the last two hills of the race. You even start to wonder if you’re still breathing. This year, my friend Samantha and I went into this section together and it was a great feeling having all our friends waiting for us and cheering us on.

I finished the Iceman Cometh Challenge 2023 in 2:09:28, which got me 23rd out of 26th female racers. I’m more than happy with this result and I’m already excited to improve this time next year in my 4th (N-)Iceman 2024 😊

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Cometh Ambassador Nina Waschenfelder @ninasmtblife

Tobi’s Iceman Recap

As the mountain biking community in Michigan eagerly anticipates the crisp fall air and colorful leaves as we roll into November, one event stands alone waiting for all of us – The Iceman Cometh Challenge, affectionately known as the Catalina Wine Mixer of mountain biking. This year’s race not only lived up to the hype but exceeded my expectations.

Having spent most of the season tackling 200+ mile races, I approached Iceman with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The morning was perfect and the 15 minute wave shift was welcomed for additional daylight at the airport. The race was fast from the start and I had a huge smile on my face as we hit the new singletrack sections before Williamsburg road. As I rolled into the Vasa and the familiar last few miles, the vibes were felt as I crested Mount Gary. Rolling through the new finish was a bit slower this year with some slippery corners, but it was a race where I left it all out there!

One highlight of the event was witnessing my daughter’s impressive performance in only her second Slush Cup, securing a well-deserved 3rd place age group finish. I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before she’s urging me to pick up the pace, and ride faster.

The unique charm of Iceman lies in its ability to blend the thrill of racing with a fun, festival-like atmosphere. Where else can you witness kids and juniors tearing up the course alongside world-class pros, all in a single day? The energy from the crowds, amplified by the ”niceman” weather this year, created an amazing atmosphere that added an extra layer of excitement to the race.

As we raise a virtual toast to a fantastic weekend in the mitten, The Iceman Cometh Challenge remains not just a race but a celebration of camaraderie, passion, and the sheer thrill of conquering Michigan’s trails. Cheers to the riders, the spectators, and the organizers who make this event a highlight on the mountain biking calendar. Until next year, keep those wheels spinning and the adrenaline flowing!

Rob Meendering Photography perfectly captured the essence of the weekend in the first two photos.

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Tobi Tungl @tobitungl

“Why am I riding Iceman?”

Can you answer the question, “Why am I riding Iceman?” Really. We all signed up for this by choice, so there must be a reason. I think it’s worth keeping that reason in mind, especially as November 4th nears. Let me explain.

I have two young sons. They are 1 and 3 years old, and will soon be taking on their 1st and 3rd SnoCone races, respectively. My older son has his medals from his two prior SnoCones hanging on hooks in his room (I didn’t stage this photo; this is what it looks like right now), but they aren’t on display just to look at the way I keep mine near my trainer in the basement. These are daily-wear items around our house.

In a few years neither kid will remember much, if anything, from Iceman 2023, so they’re not signed up for the memories. Sure, it’s cute and it’s fun and I’ll probably remember it as a parent, but those reasons aren’t why my kids are signed up either. They’re signed up because of the pride my son felt when someone hung a medal around his neck at the ScoCone finish line in 2021 and 2022. A bunch of grown-ups said he did a good job and gave him a symbol he could wear that made him feel like a superhero. And now he can go put on that medal any time he wants, and even though he probably doesn’t remember the ride itself, what the weather was like, or how terrified he was by the hundreds of adults cheering his name, he does remember that he EARNED that medal, and he still has the pride that came with it.

Kids make the story simpler because they wear their emotions on their sleeves, but the same logic applies to me or you or anyone else you’ll encounter between Kalkaska and Traverse City. Some details will be remembered and some won’t. There’s no way to predict what will happen ahead of time, nor what parts of it you’ll remember in 2 years or 20. So when you find yourself questioning whether you’ve trained right, or what the weather will be like, or how you’re going to handle all the new singletrack, remember one thing. Iceman is an experience no matter how it goes down, and all you have to do to get it is show up and ride.

Have a great race everyone.

~Martin

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Martin Harris @uncle.martin

2023 Iceman Course

The Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association has been riding, racing and assisting with Iceman course prep for many years, but 2023 marks the first year that NMMBA has officially taken the course reins for this iconic event. Tom White, trail development lead and NMMBA board member could not be more excited. We tapped into his insights and designs for the 2023 course and beyond. We got an earful and lots to share with racers, volunteers, spectators and weekend trail users.

In the continuing evolution of the Iceman course, NMMBA’s first move was to talk to the founding father of the Iceman, Steve Brown to get his take on how the course and the race has evolved over the decades. The goal of NMMBA is to maintain the Iceman legacy while keeping up with forestry plans, weather patterns and ever changing forest users and uses. Thirty years ago the forest between Kalkaska and Timber Ridge was a seldom used network of leaf covered logging roads with some classic Northern Michigan sand traps along the way. Today, we are sharing the woods with so many other users and it is a great thing but presents challenges for those pedaling under their own power. These realities shaped our goals into three buckets: a safe/rideable course, a sustainable course and a more mountain bikie course. Roadie body suits, slicks, drop bars and aero helmets are cool and all, but we want to build a course where those things hang in the closet till spring.

So what does the 2023 Iceman course look like? It breaks down like this:

The start is largely unchanged. Getting 5000 bikes sorted out and moving rhythmically through the first 3 miles of the race is a huge challenge and keeping the start safe and preventing racer pile ups in the first two minutes is the goal. To accomplish this we brought in gravel and strategically pulled off sand and placed gravel to allow two lanes wherever we could. We also created a center mound between lanes to discourage spontaneous and sketchy lane changes that create pile ups. Nobody wins the race in the first mile, but crashing yourself or others out can lose the race and the ride experience in an instant.

As racers pass through the Dockery Road intersection the course and soil transitions into more luscious loam and delicious single track flavor. At this point the starting line butterflies are gone and riders are well into their groove and should be traveling with their race day mates. The single track pieces in this section are mostly flat to down hill and should allow racers to flow and even take advantage of a little recovery. It should be noted that no single track was added simply for the thrill of it. Every piece of single track eliminates hub deep sand sections that are no fun for anyone. Make it Stick is back after the forest management of last year and is in excellent shape. Be sure to listen for the drumbeats as you climb through that section. The Hero Section gets chopped into two halves with the first half being replaced by the downhill berms of Uncle Tom’s Cabin as you skirt around the newly and artistically harvested section of beech, ironwood and maple. The second half of the Hero Section now incorporates a unicorn of a grassy two track with a single hot line through it. Finally, the Hero Section finishes with a new downhill/flat section of single track known was Tighty Whitie as it glides between two large white oaks as it takes racers off a busy and sandy ORV trail.

After Broomhead Road the course picks up speed as racers turn left into the newly added Time Saver Two Track. This is a sand-free two track with a mild hump and drop off that is just enough to make you smile. The Time Saver 2T transitions into – you guessed it – the Time Sucker Single Track. The Time Sucker ST is 100% flat and full of turns as it routes racers around a nearly impassible section of sandy gas line trail.

The next sections are known as the Three Sisters with one sister that is more popular than the others. However, we added a Step Sister to the mix this year and eliminated a major wash out that would have required most to push their bikes. The Step Sister is only half the length of a football field, but infinitely better than pushing a bicycle in the lead up to the Williamsburg Road crossing.

As the echoes of the announcer at Williamsburg Road fade racers will notice mile 18 on the dashboard and feel the comfort of the familiar 25K classic Iceman route and the final 10 ish miles until racers get to dance with Steve Brown’s perennial serpentine finish. Be sure to leave some legs before that for the hills of Boonenberg, Anita’s, the Ice Crusher Climb (CC climb), Wood Chip Hill and the final Icebreaker Climb.

The Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association is honored to be partnered with the absolutely fantastic Iceman group of volunteers, the Michigan DNR, the racers, event sponsors and the Cherry Festival Foundation. Without which this incredible event would not be even remotely possible. It must also be noted the entire race from Kalkaska to TC travels entirely on public/state land. This is the only way this race could exist. Only the first 60 seconds at the race start and the final 2 minutes at the race finish are on private lands. Every other inch of the course takes place on shared use public land where hunting, motorsports, hiking, horseback riding, camping and forestry management are ongoing. Please enjoy the entire 2023 Iceman event while keeping in mind we are all sharing a common space with many other equally important users and uses.

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How to have a successful first Iceman race!

Iceman is a race unlike any other mountain bike race in the country. As the largest point-to-point mountain bike race in the US, Iceman is truly a unique experience. First timers to Iceman may be surprised by some of the logistical challenges that can arise. Here are my tips to having a great day!

1) Prepare for a long day. One of the biggest mistakes one can make in preparing for Iceman is assuming that you will be riding your bike for less than 2 hours. Certainly, many folks will have sub 2-hour races. However, if you are a first time Iceman participant, you will likely be seeded back in a later wave. This means that the single track will likely be congested, and you may end up out on course longer than you expect. My very first Iceman, I failed to realize this and only brought one gel and one bottle of water. While this would have been adequate for a sub 2-hour finish, it was not nearly enough for a late wave start on a muddy race day! Be generous with your nutrition preparations!

2) Prepare for variable weather. This race takes place in northern Michigan in November. Weather is variable and the forecast can, and will, change rapidly. Race days in the past have been below freezing or a balmy 55 degrees. There have been dry days, snowy days and absolute mud fests. Don’t look at the forecast on Monday and choose your wardrobe. Pack for all the possibilities.

3) Plan ahead for the finish. This is a point-to-point event. Unless you have a very patient spouse/parent/child/friend driving from Kalkaska to Traverse City, with your fresh clothes and gear, you will need to prepare a drop bag. Drop bags will be delivered to the finish line. There are showers at Timber Ridge, so pack some bodywash and a towel. Pack plenty of layers so you stay toasty–you won’t want to be too cold to enjoy the afterparty!

4.) Embrace the two-track and seasonal roads. Many folks will plan to use the wider two-track and seasonal road segments to pedal easy and catch their breath. However, if this is your first Iceman and you are in a late wave start, this isn’t the best strategy. Again, this is a 5,000 person bike party. The later waves will suffer congestion on the single track. I promise, you’ll be able to catch your breath on the singletrack. Use the gravel road riding segments to make your passes and relish that quad burn!

5.) Keep perspective. If this is your first Iceman, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of people out on the trail. Remember that we are all just people who love bikes–don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. Practice courtesy and respect in passing and being passed. Finally, don’t forget to enjoy the ride!

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Elaine Sheikh @elaine_muskrat

Other races I like to use to prepare for Iceman

I like to schedule in at least one long event in the summer each year. I like endurance racing in its own right, and summer is the perfect time to spend long hours on a bike. But endurance events also provide a benefit to late-season races like Iceman-it’s easier to stomach the 2ish hours of pain at Iceman when I have memories of 6-12 hour efforts that are fresh enough to conjure up! Here are 3 of my favorites from over the years:

A selfie I took with Tobi Tungl! We both raced Coast to Coast, so we actually met in person for the first time during the race. We got to ride together for a few miles and then saw each other occasionally throughout the rest of the day!

Triple Trail Challenge: This is a fundraising event for the Poto MBA that covers 50-ish miles of the Potowatomi, DTE Energy Foundation, and Waterloo-Pinckney Trails. This includes a huge variety of trail styles, so it’s a ton of fun and it lives up to the “Challenge” moniker. I also grew up right in the middle of the area so there are lots of fun memories baked in along the way. If you’re looking for something totally unique to test your mountain bike skills in a low-stress environment, you can’t go wrong with the TTC.

Lumberjack 100: A legendary Michigan event. If you’re into endurance and mountain biking, LJ100should absolutely be on your radar. This race takes on its 100 miles of singletrack in 3 laps, so you passthrough the start/finish area twice in the middle of the race. This makes it really fun if you have friends, family, or teammates to share the experience with as you can see them intermittently for laughs and support as you slowly transition from nervous and full of energy to exhausted and (hopefully) full of stoke!

Coast to Coast: As I shared earlier in the summer, the 204-mile gravel race from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan was my new endurance endeavor this year. Many aspects of this race really go without saying. It’s long. It’s hard. It feels really good to finish. But more so than probably any other rave I’ve done, Coast to Coast really is about the journey it takes to reach the finish line. The course is masterfully designed, and it traverses a huge variety of terrain. Thus, it’s not only a big test of both physical and mental endurance, but also a test of adaptability across all flavors of “gravel” from smooth hardpack all the way to rooty ATV trails and long stretches of deep, dry sand. Time will tell whether I notice any impact on my Iceman experience in 2023 after racing Coast to Coast, but for now I’m feeling as confident riding through sand as I ever have in my life, so maybe that’ll pay off if we have a dry fall!

As much as I love each of these races, one thing I strive for is to try at least one new event each year. There are so many out there-what event do you think I should try in 2024?

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Martin Harris @uncle.martin

How I use other races to prepare for Iceman

For many riders and racers in the Midwest, Iceman is the last race of the season. Training is planned for this one race in (sometimes) questionable Michigan fall weather. I like to prepare for this big event not only with structured training, but also in participating in two races earlier in the season to see where I’m at with my fitness.

One of these races is Ore2Shore in Negaunee, MI. The Ore2Shore Hardrock is a 48 Mile Point to Point race from Negaunee, MI (where Iron Ore was first discovered) to the shoreline of Lake Superior in Marquette, MI. It is a similar format as Iceman, with some added technical sections aka “The Powerlines”. This race is fast from the start and leads through the beautiful scenery of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’ll be heading back this year with the goal to improve my last year’s finish time of 3:13:34.

Peak2Peak is another great “warmup” race for Iceman. It usually takes place at the 3rd weekend of October at Crystal Mountain, MI. The course is a 12 mile loop with a mix of two-track, singletrack and a fun downhill to the finish. 2022 was my first year racing Peak2Peak and I was able to finish on the top step of the podium for the Women’s Sport cat. I’m excited to race three laps on this fun course this year.

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Nina Waschenfelder @ninasmtblife

How other races helped me prepare for Iceman

Michigan Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder is hands down one of my favorite summer races. This event is led by some fantastic local peeps in West Michigan. This event keeps my motivation high in the spring as this event is in late June pushing into the summer months of fun gravel and single track training rides.

From the moment I rolled into Au Gres on the Friday before the race, I’m fascinated by the breathtaking beauty of northern lower Michigan’s diverse landscapes. Several of these areas I would not have seen without this event. The stunning views along the route, from the lakeshore to dense forest and two track roads are an absolute delight. When you see Lake Michigan as you roll into Ludington, gorgeous!

This year was my 5th year rolling from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Everyone remembers and wants to forget the monsoon year (worse than an Iceman mud year I think!).

Michigan Coast to Coast pushes my limits, testing my endurance. The terrain is a perfect blend of challenging climbs and fast descents, preparing me for the Iceman Cometh. Did I mention there was sand too? Yes, there was sand…beach like at times! With the lack of any significant rain, this was expected.

With the sun beating down on a hot June afternoon, staying hydrated and well-fueled is paramount. Michigan Coast to Coast offers fantastic support stations across the state. I leverage the JDRF team (think F1 racing team support crew!) who are well equipped to keep me rolling.

I use this event as a significant summer milestone, a testament to my dedication and training to date. It serves as a reminder of my progress and motivates me to further fine-tune my skills and reevaluate as it is the halfway point of the year.

I carry the lessons learned from Michigan Coast to Coast, ready to tackle the trails of Iceman Cometh and other fall events. We have several great months ahead and I am looking forward to all of them!

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Tobi Tungl @tobitungl

My summer workouts

To be honest, many of my favorite summer workouts are done while biking either to or from work. I like the feeling of “hacking” my day by saving some gas, saving the time otherwise spent in a car, and getting a workout all at the same time. Of course, there are a few key things that make a commuting workout viable, but if you can get them in place, it’s a killer system. Here are my top points:

1: You need a “standard” route. Even if you only use it a fraction of the time, having a good default route removes one barrier to commuting by bike, and I guarantee it’ll result in you biking more often. A good biking route will likely be different than the way you drive, so it’s worth taking some time to explore the available roads, paths, and connectivity features. I would much rather ride 10 miles on quiet roads with safe intersections than suffer through 5 miles of dodging potholes and checking over my shoulder for approaching cars.

2: Consider the distance. The length of your “standard” commute may affect how it fits in with your other rides and the rest of your life. For example, I live about 7-8 miles from where I work. So, my typical system is to ride nice and easy along my standard route going one direction and add some distance the opposite way to build in a workout. However, when I worked further from home my standard route took a solid hour, so I’d often leave my car at work overnight so I could ride home one evening and back to work the next morning. When only riding one-way, it was then relatively simple to tweak my route as needed to allow time for whatever workout I’d like to fit in.

3: Minimize what you carry. Commuting with a bag on your bike or body isn’t a huge deal, but every pound counts. I can say from experience that when I switched from a 7lb to a 3lb computer, I suddenly found myself riding to work a lot more often. So, take stock of what resources you have and take advantage of them! I’m lucky enough to work somewhere with showers, so I store a towel and an extra pair of shoes at work, so I don’t have to pack or carry those items back and forth.

With these main topics addressed, you can free up mental space to focus on getting a good workout and enjoying the summer air!

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Martin Harris @uncle.martin

Keeping the “play” in cycling

I’ve had the good fortunate to spend several races riding in the company of my friend and local endurance cycling legend (first woman winner of the Iditarod Trail Invitational!), Jill Martindale. Jill is hands-down one of the most positive people to ride with. She cheers for everyone, giggles on the climbs and whoops on the descents. Riding with Jill, you’ll forget that you’re exhausted. You’ll be too busy having a hands-down good time! I’m not necessarily the most bubbly person on the trail. The last few tough rides I have had, I tried to embrace my inner Jill. I tried to laugh, crack some jokes, make a pun or two, and give some sound effects to the descents. Wouldn’t you know, I felt faster and had way more fun! If you’re feeling a little stagnant out there on the trail, tap into your inner adventurer and give yourself or someone around you a cheer out loud. You’d be surprised at the difference it makes in your mindset!

Thank you to our 2023 Iceman Ambassador Elaine Sheikh @elaine_muskrat