Racing The White Stuff (Info/Video Dump)

Winter has come to the land of XXC Mag (central Michigan) and to much of the world. I hate the cold and have survived most of my almost 20 years of riding by hunkering down in the basement on the trainer. But now that I am a Michigander I am not permitted to complain about the cold (except while in my own personal panic room deep in the recesses of XXC Magazine HQ). Now I pretty much have to embrace the cold and snow. Which I am doing. Kicking and screaming the whole way, but doing nonetheless.

While I am not ready to embrace and or purchase a "fat bike" anytime soon, I have been having a blast getting out on some wintry, snow covered trails on my 29er. Just like night riding is a different beast from riding trails during the day, riding in the snow is also very different. Just as fun. Just different. I am also getting ready to do some cross country skiing this weekend with a couple of local endurance racers who also XC ski race. I am not a great, or even a good XC skier, but these guys are willing to drag me along with them. Believe me, I could use the fresh air and calorie burn (curse you Dogfish Head!), so I am not going to complain (except while in the aforementioned XXC Panic Room). XC skiing is a blast, and since I'm so bad, I burn like double the calories.

The next issue of XXC Magazine- Issue #10 will be out in late January, and is sure to have at least some coverage of snow riding or racing, and/or making the best of the white stuff to build endurance for the coming season.

But hey, that's all stuff about me (lame), and I am no expert on snow riding and racing, but a bunch of folks out there are, and eat this stuff up with a giant sized snow shovel like spoon. So here's a big azz info and video dump about snow racing for you (NOT lame!). There is a lot of info, but 'tis the season to time waste.

Racer roll over frozen Alaska during the 2010 Sustina 100.
Photo by Sustina 100.

For those fat bike loving snow loving enduro freaks, there are some events coming up to look out for; The Arrowhead 135 on Monday, January 31st, The Sustina 100/50 on February 19, and The Iditarod Trail Invitational (350 or 1,100 miles!) starts Sunday, February 27th.

Here's some pretty freaking epic and amazing footage from the Iditarod race. Complete with Eye of The Tiger soundtrack which continues to endure its own Rocky like self after 25+ years. Check it out!

And here is some video via the NY Times from back in 2008.
Worth watching for sure. (SPOILER ALERT: There is no Eye of The Tiger).



What you want OLD school? Here's some footage from 1988 (I was a Jr. in H.S. at this time with not thought of riding my bike at all let alone riding it in the snow).

Part II is HERE.

If you want to race in the snow, but aren't exactly ready for hundreds of miles in it, there are some other choices that range from 12ish to 25ish miles of snowy goodness.

First there is The Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Race Series:

The East Side Epic - January 22nd
Tennessee Pass Night Jam - February 19th
Mineral Belt Mayhem - March 5th

Then there's this Wisconsin fat bike freak fest-

Click the HERE for more info!

Here's a cool video from endurance athlete Dave Byers.

Dec 11, 2010 Snow Bike from Dave Byers on Vimeo.

Speaking of Dave Byers, he is behind the not for profit Togwotee Winter Classic Series.

Togwotee Race #1 - January 8th

Togwotee #2 - March 12th

For location, course, and start info check out the T.W.C.S. web page.

There seems to be a ton more snow races out there, and like I said, I am no expert, so feel free to post more in the comments or e mail me at xxcmag at gmail.com. Also check out the Fat Bike MTBR.COM forum for more info.

There are also a few other other races other there for regular old mountain bikes. Conditions for these races could range from frozen dirt and mud, to a few inches, to a few feet. Distances aren't exactly marathon, but when racing in the snow and slop of winter, it all gets epic, right?

Snotcycle: January 29th, Leesburg VA

The LOHS Winter MTB Race Series

The Chilly Willy Moonlight Madness (night) Race - January 22nd
and another one day race scheduled for Feburay 5th.

There are plenty of other winter slop and potential winter slop races coming in 2011 too. Including Southern Cross and The Barry-Roubaix (BTW registration is open for the Barry, so get on it!). The XXC staff (OK that would be me) will definitely be on hand at the Barry-Roubaix, and maybe the Moonlight Madness races. See you there!

I am kicking around the idea of a winter riding photo gallery for the next issue. I will keep you posted on that. Maybe some prizes for the top 3? Hmmm... lots to think about over the Christmas and Holiday break.

Jason Mahokey
XXC Magazine