Arrowhead 135

[jitterjepp]

I just got home fromt the Arrowhead 135. I missed the halfway cutoff time because I stopped and took a 12+ hour nap. I've been pretty worn out since the beginning of January. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to keep it together and when I went to sleep and woke up over 12 hours later I knew I wasn't going to put it together. I had a number of bike issues that took some time to deal with like my bike rack falling off about five times and having to carefully commandeer screws from other areas of my bike. Still, if a guy cant get 70 miles (even if it is on a snowmobile trail) in under 30 hours... Well, I didn't. The winner crossed the finish line in under 16 hours which is absolutley amazing. Who ever you are? That is awesome.

By the way when we started I think my buddies car outside temp said -19. Frozen cables, gummed up chains and non-functioning disc brakes. One guy told me he pried them open and took the pads out because they were just sticking.

I'm going to give it a go again next year with a little more training and rest. I would certainly recommend giving it a try to everyone who likes to ride in the snow. It was absolutley beautiful up there with all the snow on the pines.

[waitabit]

Where was that?

[Paul Swenson]

Wow. My hat off to you for competing in that race.

What kind of bike were you riding?
How cold did it get at night?
How deep was the snow?
Are you going to do the Death Valley race?

You sir have balls.:banana: :banana: :banana:

[Paul Swenson]

Where was that?

It goes between International Falls and Tower. It's a pretty amazing event.

http://www.arrowheadultra.com/

[daveyp]

My gosh a fairly brutal 135+ mile hilly race at -20F start and again below zero overnight Monday. Especially when forecast was for only -5F at start.

Luck and experience play a big part in success/enjoyment of this event and I was fortunate to have both this time.
Previous experience training back when winter was real here and racing (200 mile Iditabikes) at -20F helped with simple, minimal equipment (one v-brake, one front chainring, medium-size rims and tires versus monsters) worked really well for the trail conditions and bitter cold. Results (likely posted later this week) probably indicate most of the top folks were very experienced (and lucky) in serious winter.

Sorry for your bad luck Shawn as the entire trail was probably as hard and fast as it can get without being dangerous on the zillions of bomber downhills. Really beautiful with numerous wolf signs, deer, other sordid wildlife and minimal sled traffic.

One carrot I dangled in front while climbing the unending hills (this course makes the Birkie/Chequamegon trail look like the Bonneville Salt Flats) was getting to the end at Bayview Lodge on Vermillion before bar closing time. I did but the dang place was closed. Was saved by the beautiful Kathy Evingson (wife of winter bike guru John Evingson) having top notch whiskey at the finish cabin. Oh Ya! Minnesota Riding at its finest and we didn't even need a skyway. ;)

Now if I can just figure out where these little blister on my cheeks came from....Thanks to Pierre and Cheryl Oster for the fine event. Hope to see a few more of you next year.

[TML]

Big props to you guys for tackling the event.

A good friend of mine, Josh Peterson, was doing it as well. I haven't heard how he did yet.

Congrats again. I'm sure the trail was absolutely beautiful, as you both said.

[jitterjepp]

Thanks to Pierre and Cheryl Oster and all the other race staff (snow mobilers/trail crew, folks at the cabin who were hillarious...everyone) and the two people at the gas station. I really like the format for the race. Due to the location, time of year and terrain it requires that you are able to deal with the elements (a -19 below start anywhere is an element especially on a snow mobile trail) and required to use your brain rather than just peddle on and grab water bottles when passing through a gate. (Not to dis those races though. I love them too.)

I was thinking that the conditions up there were really good. I can't imagine it getting any better than that. I was just too tired before I even started.

You looked pretty strong at the beginning. When you went by at the turn around I was pretty sure you were going to get there first. Congratulations. That's pretty amazing. Just finishing it is amazing.

[jitterjepp]

Big props to you guys for tackling the event.

A good friend of mine, Josh Peterson, was doing it as well. I haven't heard how he did yet.

Congrats again. I'm sure the trail was absolutely beautiful, as you both said.The cut off time at the finish is 7pm tonight. There were still people on the second half of the course when I left. I'd probably still be out there but I missed the cutoff time. If he raced at Afton in the solo cat. last year then i know hwo you are talking about and he made the halfway cutoff and was on the course.
A few guys came out of the halfway point and took a wrong turn and did a five mile loop going the wrong way. Which would be pretty easy to do because I think we were all just following the tracks of the person or people in front of us. I probably would have done the same thing.

[Death Rider]

Hey Shawn I know what it was like .Last year I tried the Arrowhead on a crappy bike that didn't work all that well, my body wasn't working all that well either. I bailed out at the check point which at that time was Myrtle Lake,mile 85 ,after spending the coldest flippin night of my life outside on the trail at mile 47. Be thankfull you made it to the cabin.
This year I started my training in October hitting the snowmobile trails as much as possible. It paid off ,I finshed on Tuesday at around 7:15pm . I made it to the check point by 6:50pm on monday with another rider (Dave Simmons) and stayed untill morning. I didn't go to this race to win ,I went to finish, I had a great time and enjoyed most of it.I even brought my own REAL arrowhead for the trophy.Good luck next year, I will most likely be there freezing with you.

Are you by chance an ice Climber as well, and even a fellow Sheet Metal Worker?

[jitterjepp]

Are you by chance an ice Climber as well, and even a fellow Sheet Metal Worker? Yep,thats me.