Racing & Weather

[Tomg]

Excuse what might be a dumb question from a racing noob... but, do the MSCS races run rain or shine?

Current weather forecasts are rain, rain, and rain so I'm wondering if Steeplechase is in jeopardy.

[Heuy]

Traditionally its He// or high water.

[Matthew]

We will run unless the conditions are a danger to the participants. Lightning is a definate no go, but heavy rain and high winds would shut it down as well. The current long term forcast for the rochester area gives us about a 30% chance of rain all week and sunny on sunday. Pretty good conditions overall.

[mtnbykr]

too bad more thought isn't giving to the condition of the trail after the race if the conditions are less than favorable, especially if the race course is on public land.

[Matthew]

Lots of thought is given to the conditions of the course after the race. Unfortunately this is still mountain biking and sometimes that means dealing with less than favorable conditions. Steeplechase is on Private land and is professionally managed. If the course were to get beat up, the trail would be closed until the great group of trail workers we have are able to get it back up to tip top shape. Luckily it looks like the rest of this week only has a chance of some scattered stuff forcasted and sun even calls for a chance of some sunshine, so we should have excellent conditions.

[obro2]

Thats why they make mud tires. With a good set on a bike with less expensive parts, muddy conditions are a blast. (just be willing to replace your drivetrain when its all over). I talked to a guy up in Maplelag this year and he said his bike weighed 50lbs at the St Cloud race last year from all the mud caked on his bike.
A hardtail is the way to go because on full-suspensions the linkages hold more mud and make the bike heavier. Use a good lube to combat chain suck since this is the most common problem that can ruin a muddy race. Alot of people have been turning to motorcyle lubes.

[Heuy]

Anyone in Rochester or close to Steeplechase have any updates weather wise?


Did it rain yesterday down there like it did in the cities?

I need to know if I should run out and buy a Pugsley with money I don't have so that I can trash it.

[MisterClaw]

Anyone in Rochester or close to Steeplechase have any updates weather wise?


Did it rain yesterday down there like it did in the cities?


http://www.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KRST.html for what has already happened.

and

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Rochester&state=MN&site=ARX&FcstType=graphical

for the hourly forecast.

[mtnbykr]

Thats why they make mud tires. With a good set on a bike with less expensive parts, muddy conditions are a blast. (just be willing to replace your drivetrain when its all over). I talked to a guy up in Maplelag this year and he said his bike weighed 50lbs at the St Cloud race last year from all the mud caked on his bike.
A hardtail is the way to go because on full-suspensions the linkages hold more mud and make the bike heavier. Use a good lube to combat chain suck since this is the most common problem that can ruin a muddy race. Alot of people have been turning to motorcyle lubes.

or just have a rain date so the trail and your bike aren't ruined...

[RedSquirrel]

or just have a rain date so the trail and your bike aren't ruined...

It's hard enough to score approvial to attend races as is.... Rain dates, naw. In this case.....race directors and/or private owners are good with "race on".

Tires are switched and drive line ready for tourture. When legal...road open. Mud is part of mtn biking, just like driving a car on snow & salt ridden roads part of driving. FUN!

I'll pay and I'll support this race! Thanks race directors!

[Matthew]

or just have a rain date so the trail and your bike aren't ruined...
Unfortunately it isn't as easy as just having an alternative rain date. There are permits that need to be pulled and registrations that might have to be mailed back if the participant isn't able to make it on the alternative day. You have to rerent the timing and loudspeaker equipment. You also have to line up around 40 volunteers for another weekend. If you haven't ever planned a race it is hard to make you understand just how much work goes into pulling off a race. You can't just reschedule it. The trails are fixable. I can't give the people who make the drive down their sunday back. At some point you have to put the riders and athletes ahead of the trail. I realize this sounds like the exact opposite frame of mind from morc and IMBA, and it is, the other 364 days of the year we go by those guidelines. On race day its all about the racers. We will fix the trails if they get rutted up. Hopefully we get some dry weather over night. It was dry out there all day today until about 3. Then we started getting a little rain, but it looks like it will be sporadic. I walked the entire course and it was slick but very firm.

[Stonehenge]

Anyone in Rochester or close to Steeplechase have any updates weather wise? Did it rain yesterday down there like it did in the cities?

I need to know if I should run out and buy a Pugsley with money I don't have so that I can trash it.

Hell yes! Awsome in slippery conditions....you can climbe where others cant and the tires dont collect alot of mud.

GO FOR IT !

[egoo]

Hey, does a dns count the same towards points as a dnf? I pre-reged, but am basically looking for an excuse to stay home...

[Trevize1138]

Hmm, I'm thinking rainy conditions like this are a reason you only need 6 of the 10 to get a series standing. I'd preffer not to contribute to the degredation of the trail and my bike if I can help it.

[gus man]

Unfortunately it isn't as easy as just having an alternative rain date. There are permits that need to be pulled and registrations that might have to be mailed back if the participant isn't able to make it on the alternative day. You have to rerent the timing and loudspeaker equipment. You also have to line up around 40 volunteers for another weekend. If you haven't ever planned a race it is hard to make you understand just how much work goes into pulling off a race. You can't just reschedule it. The trails are fixable. I can't give the people who make the drive down their sunday back. At some point you have to put the riders and athletes ahead of the trail. I realize this sounds like the exact opposite frame of mind from morc and IMBA, and it is, the other 364 days of the year we go by those guidelines. On race day its all about the racers. We will fix the trails if they get rutted up. Hopefully we get some dry weather over night. It was dry out there all day today until about 3. Then we started getting a little rain, but it looks like it will be sporadic. I walked the entire course and it was slick but very firm.

Well said. Right on man.

[gopherhockey]

In this case.....race directors and/or private owners are good with "race on".

I think thats the key. You're not going to find these types of races scheduled on most IMBA/MORC trails as the more public land managers know their investment (as do the volunteers) - we don't design trails like Leb or Murphy with racing in mind and thats ok. A land manager like Dakota County won't issue a permit thats unconditional. (not to a race director or even a vendor holding a bike demo)

I just hope that the typical racer will respect trail closures on trails that are not meant to be mud fests... and at the same time I'm sure land managers who don't care about their land getting a little messed up don't need to be sold on the IMBA ways.

Its a slightly conflicting image of mountain biking, but there is no reason it needs to be a point of contention I don't think.

[mtnbykr]

If you haven't ever planned a race it is hard to make you understand just how much work goes into pulling off a race.

i was president of coggs for 3 years. that's 3 dirtspankers, 2 powdermonkeys, 3 central park cx races and 3 running races. i do know what it takes to put on races. i was doing it before the mnscs came to be.

i am still for rain dates.

[mtnbykr]

I think thats the key. You're not going to find these types of races scheduled on most IMBA/MORC trails as the more public land managers know their investment (as do the volunteers) - we don't design trails like Leb or Murphy with racing in mind and thats ok. A land manager like Dakota County won't issue a permit thats unconditional. (not to a race director or even a vendor holding a bike demo)

I just hope that the typical racer will respect trail closures on trails that are not meant to be mud fests... and at the same time I'm sure land managers who don't care about their land getting a little messed up don't need to be sold on the IMBA ways.

Its a slightly conflicting image of mountain biking, but there is no reason it needs to be a point of contention I don't think.

so it would be ok to run the eriks race at harmon in 6" of mud??
after a week of rain??

[gus man]

From the coments I heard along the course nothing could make it any worse.

[gopherhockey]

so it would be ok to run the eriks race at harmon in 6" of mud??
after a week of rain??

No, I was saying exactly that it would never happen there or on any primarily MORC/IMBA built trail. I don't thnk the land manager would give a permit that would allow that. (at least I know that in Dakota's case) If they did, then MORC isn't doing their job. I know the racers and sponsors would respect a re-schedule in that case .

[RedSquirrel]

All this love is funny. Cause we all bike right!?

Although I applaude some for chirping in and taking oppoutunity to educate over & over & over & over & over again....it does get old. It's predictable and perhaps not needed on topic string.

qoute"I just hope that the typical racer will respect trail closures on trails..."end quote. Assumes negitive, be positive. I think we (in this string) support each others thing. I know no one trains in the mud!

Anyway....this is not about one organization view, it's about a local biking event. Support it like all posters here all support morc.

Come on shiny bike and single speeder!! I know I'm a minority for liking a mud race occasionally, but I'm going to support with attendance.

Personally, I'm going to bring my boy and we're there. I'm going to pay the fee, pay for anything I wear out AND we are going to have fun!

Matt, thanks. Since Duncan is in, I'll be available for any mission between races. Peace all. Good night.

[gopherhockey]

qoute"I just hope that the typical racer will respect trail closures on trails..."end quote. Assumes negitive, be positive. I think we (in this string) support each others thing.

I could have said it in a more positive way I suppose. (I went both ways with my statement, so I didn't pick on either) It was just a general comment with nothing negative meant.

Don't let the education thing get old Heath ;) ... and don't take every comment from a trail builder to be pushing an agenda.. :D

[Trevize1138]

The forecast says 60% chance of rain but the radar's looking favorable. That can change by tomorrow morning, too. I think I'm going to drive down reguardless and just have a look-see even if I don't race. :cool:

[Matthew]

It's dry this morning and we haven't seen an precip since about 8 30 last night. Hopefully it will hold off until this afternoon. The radar looks like we won't see anything till later anyway.

[Trevize1138]

Well, I'm glad I went and raced now :cool: . It was definitely greasy all-over in the singletrack and at least one short ascent required dismount and hike-a-bike due to lack of traction.

A couple of the other hills required hike-a-bike 'cause even a 34:20 ratio was too much for me to handle. :shocked:

[MisterClaw]

Well, I'm glad I went and raced now :cool: . It was definitely greasy all-over in the singletrack and at least one short ascent required dismount and hike-a-bike due to lack of traction.

A couple of the other hills required hike-a-bike 'cause even a 34:20 ratio was too much for me to handle. :shocked:

I was doing a lot of hike-a-bike at 32:18 - i definitely should have put that 20 tooth cog on.
The mud tires I got worked wonderful on the greasy parts, but damn they roll *slow*.

[hockeynut]

There was some definate greasey-ness but overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be with all of the doom and gloom predicted in this thread. I probably would have done a bit better with a 34-20, but I made it up everything but the greasy double switchback with my 36-20 (on a 29er). Now... what gear to run at Afton....