2003 Chequamegon

[viv]

Anyone excited?

[yetirider]

Doing the final coordination right now!!!

Struggling with tire selection though for the 40...? Any thoughts? (Maxxis Minataur???)

Can't wait!

[tmac]

Bring back some pictures!

Those of us who have never been out that way demand pictures!

[viv]

I debated aplenty. Finally settled on the Hutchinson Python 2.00 Pumped up to about 50psi they roll faaast and still grab on the Birkie and float the sand. Thought about some 1.8 fire XC pros but they are bad in the sand and I know there is sand. Id use something that rolls fast for sure.

[Crash]

4 days and counting!

I am getting exicited, but also a little nervous. I don't think I am in as good of shape as I was last time I rode it, so I am already trying to think up excuses for a slower time :cheesy:

Knowing my luck, it is going to rain for 3 days straight and it will be a mud fest. I know we need rain bad - but if it could just hold off a couple of days...........

Is anyone staying overnight or is everyone driving up and back on Saturday?

[viv]

Its not gonna be a mud fest....right? Im headin up tomorrow and stayin till Sunday. I take the wife 2 kids and the mother-in-law. I checked the Hayward forcast and theres a 30% CHANCE of SCATTERED showers which translates into Bring your dust mask.

[SickBoy]

I'll probably be running 2.0 Michelin Comps on my hardtail for the race. Nice and wide but the tread is fairly low profile, not to mention they're old so they are a little worn down.

[viv]

Anybody shooting for a particular finish time or are you all gonna try to beat Tilford or overend

[JayT]

Goal: being a year older and to finish a bit higher than the year before.

[yetirider]

Finish time??

Considering I cracked a rib at 24 hrs. of Afton and the Dr. just gave me the go ahead to ride this weekend...

Finish is my goal!

[mtnbykr]

"Anybody shooting for a particular finish time"

less than an hour....

i do the s&f and the crits the next day.

k

[SickBoy]

My goal last year was top 250. Since I flatted 3.5 miles from the end and had skewer issues (was off the bike for 20 mins) my goal remains the same and barring disaster I am almost sure to beat it.

If all goes well, 2:45 should hopefully get me there on a dry course. Last year 2:57 would have got me there.

If I flat again... be prepared for the first trail-side suicide ever at Chequamegon. Death by insertion of spoke into ear. ;)

[Sully]

Can't wait, a guys weekend for me and all those trails! I ride the short and fat so I can ride everything else down that way. Leaving Friday at 5:00am, camping and riding, life is goooood.:cool:

[BrightYellow]

It should kick ass! Looking more like rain all the time though... arrgh! If I bust 3 hours, I'll be estatic!

[Bob]

What do the racers typically bring with on a longer race like this in the area of bike repairs? Do they need a spare chain and tube, like I have read from other places, or will just a patch kit do? And as far as tire pumps go, do many people use the pressurized cartridge type or stick with a pump?

[SickBoy]

For this race I carry a pretty comprehensive kit. I know there are a lot of people around and I'd likely be able to get a ride back somehwhere but I'd rather be self sufficient.

I carry:

a Big Air CO2 cartridge which will fill 2 tires
1 spare tube
extra patches and tire boot material (these are light and carrying a couple is just insurance)
Chain tool
Allen wrench kit

Most races I just carry a tube and C02.

[SickBoy]

164th place in sex. 165th overall. 2:38 something. 15.5 MPH average speed.

I had a good day.

[mtnbykr]

70/overall 13/age 1:03 very good day for me also.

results are at www.cheqfattire.com (http://www.cheqfattire.com)

k

[JayT]

All I can say is <b>Holy S***!!!</b>

Doug Swanson smashes the course record by something like 3 minutes AND beats the 2nd place finisher by nearly <b>8 minutes!</b> That's what I call having a "good day".

Race details and results can be found here:

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival (http://www.cheqfattire.com/)

SkinnySki.com (http://www.skinnyski.com/racing/results/2003-2004/chequamegon.html) has some great race action photos & video.

The Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival is a blast. I try to explain it to the un-initiated like this: it's kind of like the Sturgis of mountain biking. The energy that's in the air in Hayward Friday night (and Sat. morning) as almost every vehicle and every motel is brimming with mountain bikes and riders is awesome! Then there's the mass start with 1800 bikes with knobby tires rolling down the main drag before they hit the trail - the sound is unreal!

The 2003 C40 was number 14 for me. I also had a "good day" besting my best by a good margin and doing it at age 40! But there's no time to slow down now... my kids, who have grown up watching their old man do this race are asking me when can they get into the action. My oldest will be eligible in 2005! I'm already planning out her race bike...

[SickBoy]

Originally posted by JayT
Then there's the mass start with 1800 bikes with knobby tires rolling down the main drag before they hit the trail - the sound is unreal!

Yeah, not to mention the sound of about 40 riders screaming "Oh F***" and narrowly missing losing my skin on the pavement in a MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE..... grrr....

[yetirider]

Great job guys, your times are amazing! Andy, were you near that pile-up on the road just before turn into fields? I was about 100 yds. behind that...

As far as time goes... I finished, healing rib and all. Next year though, I would like to cut an hour off my time (that should give you an idea of where I finished! :hit: )

This was my first time since I am new to the area, and it was definitely one of the better events that I have attended! I will definitely be back.

Anyone that is thinking about it, go aheand and send in your app next year, you will have a blast!

[SickBoy]

Originally posted by yetirider
Andy, were you near that pile-up on the road just before turn into fields? I was about 100 yds. behind that...

Precisely what I am talking about. I was about 20 feet behind it. Some dude cut into me and almost knocked me over. I'm glad that my crit experience has taught me how to be able to handle being cut into like that and not fall over.

[yetirider]

Glad to hear you made it though unscathed, it looked pretty ugly from my point of view... luckily for me, it was just "apply the brakes"...

Never been a big fan of starts like that, and seeing that just made me a bit more uncomfortable! (no crit experience for me! Just got my first road bike this summer!)

[Crash]

Originally posted by SickBoy
Some dude cut into me and almost knocked me over.

This always brings back to mind the opening scene of Gladiator where they are charging down the hill into battle on their horses and Russel Crowe is screaming "HOLD YOUR LINE"!

I passed by a little after that and the pile-up looked nasty. There were some real pissed off riders laying on the ground :hit:

After 40 miles in the mud, I can now justify a new drivetrain

[TrailPatrol]

My idea of a good day is the fewer riders who get hurt, the better. There were a couple of collarbones, and the usual assortment of knee and shin/calf lacerations and abrasions, but nothing really serious. We had 19 patrollers from four NMBP units: North-Central, Backcountry, NMBP-Wisconsin and Barmy Dogs, and the teams on the 40 kept busy.

I saw everybody on the Short & Fat because, when I headed down the steep drop at the top of the hill on the Birkie Trail, I blew a spoke and had to turn back to the food/aid station. Next year, I make sure I have a spare in the pack!

Thank all of you who said something to the patrollers on the trail, or gave us the applause at the awards presentation. We appreciate your encouragement, (Even you, Kurt! :D ) and we're glad we could help some of you out.

See everybody again next year!

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[Beaner128]

I have to admit that I had a good day also, but certainly not because of my time. I had some medical problems in the spring and ended up with a Pacemaker/Defibrilator implanted. I was happy just to finish the race, even though I've only raced in the short and fat for 6 years now. I enjoy getting done quick enough to see the first place finishers coming in for the 40, and having a few barley pops. This year however I was done maybe with 5 minutes to spare, lots and lots of walking. I especially enjoyed one comment I heard from some young guys, "I can feel my heart beating in my head", that comment sure put a smile on my face. Hopefully next year I will be able to race hard again...

[ssbeeritual]

I had a great Chequamie; besides Ned and Tilford I was the 3rd 40+ guy. Set a new PR time and was 27th overall; 2nd in age class behind Tilford. Very pleases to say the least.

I heard the crash on 77 and dared not look but simply held my line to Rosie's Field, then rocked. It was virtually all big ring and no brakes thru the Birkie sections up to Martell's Pothole. After that section I usually torch and ten simply try to hang on.

I love that soft, damp, morning racecourse; you can just fly and trust everything. Pre-rode it 2 weeks prior late on a hot afternoon ad it was dry and rock hard and kicked my butt. Fast though... A wet Chequamie is a fast Chequamie.

Singlespeed category next year!!!...? That will undoubtedly bring some more of the real dogs out.

[ssbeeritual]

I had a great Chequamie; besides Ned and Tilford I was the 3rd 40+ guy. Set a new PR time and was 27th overall; 2nd in age class behind Tilford. Very pleases to say the least.

I heard the crash on 77 and dared not look but simply held my line to Rosie's Field, then rocked. It was virtually all big ring and no brakes thru the Birkie sections up to Martell's Pothole. After that section I usually torch and ten simply try to hang on.

I love that soft, damp, morning racecourse; you can just fly and trust everything. Pre-rode it 2 weeks prior late on a hot afternoon ad it was dry and rock hard and kicked my butt. Fast though... A wet Chequamie is a fast Chequamie.

Singlespeed category next year!!!...? That will undoubtedly bring some more of the real dogs out.