1st Annual Michigan Off Road Championship (M.O.R.C.) season review

 

Many people around Michigan will remember the CPS that the MMBA used to put on. It has been many years, but that series made things interesting. With the rise of gravel events we could see the mountain bike scene take a back seat. 

Yankee Springs Time Trial

First race of the year is always the biggest. There were 27 people in the Sport Clyde race. Knowing so many people show up, I was just going for my best result. I missed my goal time by just 1:33. I landed in 11th out of the 27, missing the top 10 by only 6 seconds. This was a great finish for me to start the season! 

Fort Custer Stampede

Home course advantage is always good here. I know this course better than most. With 7 of us lining up I knew it was going to be tough. I was able to make the lead group hitting the woods. I held on as long as I could, and pressed all the way to the finish. I landed in 3rd, for my first podium in many many years. Great race for me. One item of note here....the guy in 2nd place DID NOT look like a Clyde. But, it is what it is. 

Island Lake Challenge

I was not able to attend this race. I woke up sickly and didn't risk further health issues. 

Maybury XC

I did not attend this race. Its too bad too, only 2 finishers. Had I been able to race I would have had a higher finish and possibly would have moved up in the points series. 

Luton Park Time Trial

Another course that I know very well. I was able to get off the line early and stay in high speed mode for the entire race. I took that pace to the 2nd step for my highest finish of the year! Love the course and the event was good overall. 2nd out of 7 is a great race for me!

Addison Oaks Summer Classic

I made the trek across the state to Addison, on a course that I had not ridden in many many years. I was prepared for the race, but it didn't go as good as I had hoped. I started and hit the singletrack in 5th place. A few poor decisions on my end had me trying to bridge gaps on the first lap. I ended up tanking and landing 9th out of 14 on the day. This was my worst race by far. Started hard, tanked, and suffered for the 2nd lap.

Traverse City Trails Festival

This race was a ton of fun. It did have its own set of issues, but those just sound like excuses now. I mustered a 7th place out of 14 on the day. I was hoping for a better finish here, but some odd circumstances (excuses) left me reeling back in the pack a bit. Still, super fun event and I am confident it will be better next year. 

Custers Last Stand Time Trial

The series finale was also my season finale. With a goal of podium I was excited to get started. I was really hoping Chris wouldn't show, but he did and killed me for 1st overall. I finished in a solid 2nd place to wrap up my series. I felt great and had a strategic race to end up where I did. Good day! 

So to recap my finishes.....

11th

3rd

2nd

9th

7th

2nd

The 11th place finish got dropped off because only your best 5 races count. The points I gathered were enough to land me in 3rd place for the overall series. I was only 4 points behind 2nd place. I needed a top 5 and I would have been there, but this was a really fun season. While Chris was way ahead, Charles and I had a battle right to end. I will take this season and try to build off of it. 

Here are some stats that I find interesting....

Total Races: 6

Average Finish: 5.7

3 Podiums (2-second place, 1-third)

Finish place in top 45% of all races. Meaning I was better than average.

5 Top 10 finishes

Overall races in the series: 8

Total different racers in the events: 66

Average racers per event: 11.3

Total different winners: 5 (Chris won 4.....and took 2nd in his 5th)

Different people on the Podium: 15 (this is a good mix over 8 races)

There were 8 people signed up for Sport Clyde, with 5 of them qualifying for the overall series.  

Big thanks to Dale and rest of the group over at MORC for putting this series together. I know there are countless hours that go into the planning of something like this. It was a lot of fun to be part of a MTB series where I could compete and not just donate my money. The gravel series was basically a donation from me. lol. I prefer the woods anyway, so I am thankful for all of your efforts to make mountain biking fun again! 

Custer's Last Stand TT (my season finale)

 

The morning started with a relaxing bowl of cereal. I was up earlier than I planned, but not early by any means. I ate, and threw the bike on the car. I was out the door by 7:50 to make the drive over to Augusta. I rolled in to Fort Custer and made my way back to Eagle Lake. The sun was feeling warm and the sky was spotted with clouds. I picked up my number plate packet and chilled until my start.

I saw Chris pull in. He is the fast guy in my class. Honestly I was hoping he wasn't going to show. lol. He is a beast and my chances at first dropped dramatically. With only 5 people signed up my chances of podium were still pretty good. Charles rolled in a bit later. I chatted with some old friends and headed out for my warm up. 

After some easy spinning I rolled to the start area. I was starting right behind Charles, who at this point is 2nd in the series standings. Being my home course I joked that I was going to catch him. I figured I would because I am relatively quick on a course I know very well. Plus I was feeling pretty good overall. Legs were a bit heavy feeling, and had a chunky feel to them....but were feeling good after my spinning.

Then it was time to go. Dale sent me off and I was instantly in attack mode. I rolled across the road into the trail and was feeling confident. But my legs were not cooperating. The little rollers here were hurting and my legs were angry. Knowing this would get better I pressed on and kept going as hard as I could. With Charles 30 seconds ahead of me I had that carrot to chase. 

The miles ticked by pretty quick. Before I knew it I was on the long stretch of open trail heading to the Yellow connector to red. The problem was, Charles was out of sight. I should have been able to see him here and I just didn't. Not giving up, I pressed on and my legs were finally starting to feel better. 

I passed a few people here and there. And I was settled into my rhythm. As I got close to end of the Red loop (and end of 1st lap) I thought I spied Charles ahead of me. When I made the turn onto the open yellow trail I could see him. That was my incentive to push and close him down. Now I was feeling better and was comfortable. 

As we got back to the beach I had nearly closed him down. We crested the hill and cross the finish but I just couldn't reel him in. As we crossed the road I caught him. I had been chasing him for 9 miles. Because this is a time trial I knew I had him beat just by being on his wheel. Chris was LONG gone (more on that later) and I was confident we were sitting in 2nd and 3rd. 

He asked if I wanted around. Part of me did, but part of me was content to just stay there. Instead of pulling away I just pushed him into every corner and closed him back down after some of the climbs. My legs, which were doing alright, were feeling on the verge of cramping. I didn't want to push super hard and end up losing my finish spot. So I just stuck to his wheel like glue.

We passed a handful of riders on that lap. Felt like we were flying. My damn gopro quit halfway thru the first lap, or I would have had some great footage. Dangit. We pressed on and on and then we hit the green 2 track. I was feeling good enough to go.....but I didn't. Legs were still finnicky and I felt better just holding his wheel.

Into the red and then we reached the last sections. We burst onto the beach area and I was excited to see the finish. He put 2 seconds into me on the final climb, but I beat him by 29 seconds. Yes he crossed the line before me, but I got him in time. When we stopped he was super red faced and breathing heavy. He thanked me for pushing him that 2nd lap. 

While I figured it would take a major mechanical for Chris to lose 1st.....I was racing for 2nd place and win over Charles. In our four races together we split the results. He beat me twice, I got him twice. Good dude, a lot of fun to race against. And this race was fun to stick to him like glue and push him into the finish.

The unknown was where we actually finished. Well.....

Thankfully my strategy worked and we ended up in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Chris was way ahead, but I was super happy to end up my season on the podium. It was a great day in the woods for sure! 

Photo Courtesy of Brian Bartzen



The podium was a repeat of the Luton Park TT. 

Thanks to Dale and his team for a great time trial. It was a good day for me and I am thankful for the opportunity to ride bikes. This year was one to remember. 

Race Week: Custers Last Stand TT

 As we roll through October I have my final event of the season approaching. The leaves are starting to fall, the hunters are starting to take over the woods, and the weather is turning cooler. Temps are still pretty warm, but the feel of the air is different. 

Many people will finish their season at Iceman in November, but mine will conclude at Fort Custer where I will take on Custers Last Stand Time Trial. 

Funny thing about this event....I have been signed up, but I have never raced. I don't even remember what year it was, but I have a shirt.....lol. Weird.

Anyway....

This race is at the one and only Fort Custer in Augusta, MI. A relatively flat course overall. Solid mix of open trails with a few tight sections. Might as well dive in.

The start is from the Upper Pavilion at Eagle lake. A common start spot with the Fort Custer Stampede. The difference here is that the event is a Time Trial, and is run in the opposite direction. You take off out of the parking lot and loop around the pavilion before crossing the entry road and diving into the Green Trail. 

This first section is flowy with some small uphill root sections. You loop around and take the descent down towards the boat launch on Eagle Lake. Pretty fast first mile. Stick along the lake for a bit before diving back into the woods and finding some of the first climbs. Nothing terrible.

Continue on the green trail with a few minor roots and smaller climbs. Eventually you reach the second creek crossing and this is where the climbing is condensed. There is a short punch climb, followed by a sandy climb right out of a corner. Once that is cleared you get a breather before the switchback climb out. This is probably the hardest section of the whole course. Each corner feels harder as you finally reach the top and can settle back into pace.

The minor climbs keep coming until you end up at Erin's Rock. Take the switchback carefully and smash the last singletrack before you spit out on a 2-track. This is a good passing spot (if there are people around you). If you can work with someone here that is even better. It is only half a mile long, but it trends uphill so your legs are screaming. Any help is appreciated here!

As the trails converge, take a left up a sandy climb. This is the Yellow trail connector that will dump you into the Red trail. This is where the speed comes in. There is really only 2 climbs in this entire section. The first one is a bit longer with a minor kick. The second is before the camel humps, and if you carry speed its not a bad climb at all. 

After the camel humps, it is hauling ass all the way towards the parking lot. Hold the right line and you can carry speed to the Yellow/Red intersection. Here is another passing spot if needed. Its a wider part of the trail taking you back towards the road. One narrow section and you are next to the road and heading back to the Start/finish area.

As you ride behind the building you can see the last climb on the lap. Not awful, but after riding across the grass it can hurt a bit. Smash the small climb, hang a right, and you are done with your lap....or your race. Strava says 9.21 miles with 573 feet of climbing. Seems pretty close.

I have ridden the race course twice in the last 3 weekends. I wanted to get a good idea of what I am facing. While I know Custer very well, I haven't ridden there in a while so I wanted to ensure fresh knowledge. A few weeks ago I turned in a solid second lap. Last weekend I went out solo on a race style ride. No stops, just letting it rip for the entire time. I set my PR and 2nd overall times on the segment. So that is good leading into a race. I have a good grasp on the course. I am feeling pretty good.

My goal is simple.....PODIUM. I don't care what my time is, as long as am standing on the steps at the end of the day. Based on finishing times from last year, my last training ride would have landed me very close to 1st place. I do believe that Chris is coming, so unless he has a mechanical he is likely the winner. His time last year was 15 minutes faster. lol. 

I will go into the race fresh and hope for the best. I am guaranteed 3rd in the Michigan Off Road Championship series, so there is no pressure there. I simply want a 3rd podium for this season. This is not only my last change, but it is my best chance. As of this post there are only 4 signed up. Chris is not one of those guys. So at the moment I have a 25% chance of podium. If he shows, that drops to 20%. All I can do is what I can do and hope for the best. 

See you Saturday.