2009 Iceman Cometh Report: The Season Dénouement

grass roots
Function: noun
Date: 1901
1 : the very foundation or source
2 : the basic level of society or of an organization especially as viewed in relation to higher or more centralized positions of power

The Iceman Cometh Challenge has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon! Celebrating its 20th anniversary this season, the race boasted an all time participation high, seeing 4000+ racers voluntarily brave the 28 mile, rolling hill course and the Frankie Andreu described condition of “lactic acid up to your eyeballs”.


The ceremonial lemon pledging of the steed pre-race


This year’s race brought about much enthusiasm, excitement, and preparation for the race. I myself, hosted the second annual Ice Ice Baby ride designed to equip racers with the gumption necessary to face the arduous task of subjecting your heart rate to its redline for 1.5-2 hours. To win at Iceman, much less to even podium at Iceman, no matter what category you are in, seals your name in the races rich history. I am pleased to report that we had 7 riders this year that participated in the Ice Ice Baby ride and also stood atop the podium. I was very happy and content to report that I was one of these racers, finishing 5th in the singlespeed category. In addition, we had four participants that placed in the top 20 in the Pro field. The big wheeled steeds also proved dominant as the two Gary Fisher/Subaru racers JHK and Sam Shultz respectively claimed 1st and 2nd!

JHK and Sam Scultz atop the Pro Podium Photo: © Amy Dykema


What makes Iceman special is the races dedication to its grassroots foundation. What started as a mass start race of just over 30 or so racers has grown into a 4000 plus rider race while still maintaining that Mid-Western laid back vibe. Steve Brown, race promoter, can still be seen milling around the field talking to each rider and thanking them for their participation and commitment to the sport. It seems only natural that Gary Fisher is the main sponsor of such an event. The race oozes what Fisher Bikes is all about, bikes by the people and for the people.
The Mayhem!


Furthermore, if the event in and of itself is not enough, the after party is well worth the price of admission despite your race result. It’s a celebration of shared passion, oat sodas, big wheels, beards, and genuine laughs that will have you telling stories for weeks and months to come on your local group rides. I’m already dreaming about next year’s race! If you haven’t made the obligatory pilgrimage to the Iceman Cometh, see to it that it falls onto your schedule next year…it is well worth the price of admission.

MyNorth.com Video: Video: The Iceman Cometh Race Gets Perfect Day for 20th Year

Gratitude

Undoubtedly this has been one of the toughest years of my life for myself as well as my family. When I reflect on it, I can say that it has been filled with my lowest of lows but also my highest of highs.

In the midst of my grief I have been able to whole-heartedly depend on several members of my team for strength and stability. My gratitude for this community is immense and it is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Last week was our team banquet at Dick O’ Dows. My eyes welled up as I received this award from the team for my accomplishments this past season. I’m at a loss of words to describe my elation other than that this was one of my highest of highs.

Thank you Wolverine Racing Team!

Ice Ice Baby Officially Goes International!

Fresh off the plane from Deutschland, Sven Baumann planned his entire vacation to the states around making a pilgrimage to the weekly slugfest of the Ice Ice baby Series. Sven clearly displayed that he was a juggernaut force to be reckoned with early on in the ride with his audacious and powerful pulls and his attacks on the climbs that had the field seeing stars. His efforts paid off as he sealed his victory in the final mile of the Final Ice Ice Baby race after putting himself into the winning selection of a 5 rider breakaway. Thanks for coming out Sven! You’ve officially made this thing an internationally attended event!

Left-Right Bill Clikeman, Myself, and the German Victor


For all the other Ice Ice baby patrons, we will have one last ride this upcoming Wednesday that will be more focused around socialization and mental preparation for the Ice Battle to ensue. Also, stay tuned for further information on a post-Iceman Ice Ice Baby awards party and celebration.

My sincere gratitude goes out to everyone who came out to brave this season’s Velo Fight Club, you all made training for this event fun and exciting!

Ice-Weapon.

My sincere gratitude goes out to the generosity of Mr. Cullen Watkins for providing this B.A. steed! I will try my best to live up to it's potential.

A resurrection of the “Who cares I’m Flying Award”

Every once in awhile a racer snags a well-deserved “W” that warms your heart. Usually it comes from a racer that has been persistent in his endeavors and has persevered with his goals despite whether or not his efforts had led to instant gratification. Scotty Fab has been honing his craft for several years now. He’s dedicated himself to his team and his personal progression. This past weekend that dedication paid off as Scotty rolled across the line first at the Mad Anthony Cross race.

I can speak on behalf of the entire WSC when I say that this win was well deserved and that we are all proud of Scott.

So let’s all raise our mild manners to Mr. Fabijanski…you are the newest recipient of the “Who Cares, I’m Flying” Award and also one of my favorite racers to see win.

Ice Ice Baby!

When you’re a kid, virtually anything can become a finish line…a trash can, a stop sign, the end of the street, a telephone poll, etc. Your propensity to want to beat your fellow peers to a designated line is quite intense and it doesn’t take much coercing to get your engine revved and a race sparked. There is no such thing as unofficial or official, sanctioned or not, prize purses, race licenses, etc. It is a special time in life when measuring your speed, ability, and gumption against your friends and local click is highly valued and embraced. What is on the line…what are you racing for? All those elevated heart rates are for nothing more than territorial bragging rights accompanied by a wealth of stories to tell in your future. There are unspoken rules and undisputed respect that this all entails.

Everyone once in awhile, I find thoughts of resentment start to slowly seep into my psyche. I try to dismiss them quickly, but alas I cannot deny their presence. These thoughts of resentment are directed toward my most intense passion…the bike. It’s usually a cyclical thing; introducing it’s ugly self around October and November. Some call it “burn out”. Too much of anything, even good things, can eventually become destructive I guess. Usually when I start to recognize these feelings I try to take concerted steps to stop them.

Gary Fisher and a handful of other people, pioneered the great sport of mountain biking by simply pushing some clunkers up a dirt hill and riding them back down as fast as they could. It was a social endeavor; they were doing something new…creating stories and memories. Their focus wasn’t commercialization of the sport, nor was it training for a big audacious race event.

The Iceman Cometh is an annual celebration of mountain biking that takes place in November in Northern Michigan every year. Over the race’s history it has grown almost exponentially in popularity, attracting some of the most talented riders from all over the country. The race usually serves as an end of the season motivator but also as a way for all of us fat tire addicts to celebrate our shared passions of mountain bikes, but also the well-earned oat sodas that accompanies a season of dirt, sweat and gears.

Last season I decided to start a local group ride called “The Ice Ice Baby Ride” in preparation for the Iceman. The focus of the ride was not to simply train for the event but more importantly to take that ever-important step of ensuring that I don’t resent my two-wheeled companion. The idea was to get back to that kid-like mentality of racing your friends for the camaraderie of it but also the lactic acid induced bonding that comes from trying to best each other on a weekly basis.

The rides usually drew 10-15 riders of elite caliber. Much to my surprise, this season there has been a great deal of increased excitement and enthusiasm circling around this ride. I have seen an upwards of 30+ of the “who’s who” of Michigan Mountain Bike racers attending consistently the past few weeks. Best of all, being from the Midwest and all, it seems 26 inch machines have become the minority as big wheels have prevalently dominated. The ride is becoming known as a weekly ceremonial slugfest. Many participants have commented to me that it is the highlight of their week. I’ve received several messages the following work days after the ride from participants sitting in their cubicles dreaming about bombing down double tracks at 28mph guided by nothing but the glow of their high intensity lights and the shadows of storming riders all around them. These sentiments really alleviate any of those fleeting thoughts of resentment that resonate with me and recharge my velo batteries.

Just because we grow up doesn’t mean we have to leave behind that childlike enthusiasm to go fast for no other reason than the rush and elation it brings. Thanks to any rider that has showed up to this MTB territorial pissing contest…you have made my late season and delivered me from the banes of resenting my bike.

See you in November...Viva Le Iceman Cometh!

Where? Never heard of it?

One day prior to 24 hour worlds this summer a mandatory rider press conference was held to review rules and regulations, introduce the racers, as well as announce the location of the 2010 World Championship.

I was amazed at how many Australian racers represented the overall field. After a few days in Canmore I was actually beginning to feel like a minority being from America and being on big wheels.

Stuart Dorland, race director, saved the 2010 location announcement for the end of the meeting. With great pride, he finally announced that next year’s race was not only going to be void of North American Soil, but also not even in this hemisphere! As he started to announce “Australia”, before he could even finish the room erupted with a choir of surly Australians screaming “Aussie, Aussie, AUSSIE…OI…OI!” for about the next ten minutes.

Eventually the loudness settled down and Alan Smith turned to me and in a sarcastic tone belted out a boisterous, “WHERE?...Neva heard of it!!!”.