In his "first-ever mountain bike race," Don Kilpela gives the 16-mile Chain Drive his best shot, two days after his 50th birthday. (Photo © 2004 T & S Foto Forge and courtesy R. Scott Steube. Reprinted with permission.)***

Sandy Aronson completed the 32-mile race. "It's the first time I've been in a mountain bike race," she said. (Photo © 2004 Adam Johnson)

Arlyn Aronson, front, of Hancock, and Dave Watkins of Houghton were the only tandem riders in the race. Aronson and his wife, Sandy Aronson, are co-owners of DaVinci Designs, a tandem bike company. (Photo © 2004 Tom Lindley)**

Unicyclist Joshua Hotai, 19, of Sault Ste. Marie demonstrates what the French would call "un équilibre formidable" on one of the Technical Time Trial challenges. Photographer Bill Marlor caught this photo and still won first place in his own age group (40-49) for the Time Trials with a time of 0:08:38. The Time Trial interval start allows all participants an opportunity to watch others race, Marlor explained. (Photo © 2004 Bill Marlor)

From left, pictured here are Annie Magnuson, Lori Hauswirth and Kari Dalquist, just coming back from pre-riding the Technical Time Trial course. (Photo © 2004 Adam Johnson.)

Scott Wanhala of Grand Rapids takes a jump at the end of the Time Trial course. Wanhala, 18, was first in his age group with a time of 0:09:04. (Photo © 2004 Michele Anderson)*

Shortly after the start of the Chain Drive race on Saturday, June 19, bikers head under the Portage Lift Bridge in Hancock, on their way to the Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids trail system. (Photo © 2004 Tom Lindley)**

Tom Lindley took this bird's eye view of the racers from the Portage Lift Bridge. (Photo © 2004 Tom Lindley)**

Adam Johnson captured Tara O'Connell's great smile during the race. The Minneapolis racer finished second in her age group (19-29) and sixth overall in the 32-mile race. (Photo © 2004 Adam Johnson)

Sam Raymond of Copper Harbor, owner of the Keweenaw Adventure Company bike and kayak business, pictured here in the 16-mile race, represents silent sports on the Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee, working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on future management of the state's recently acquired Keweenaw Tip area in Keweenaw County. (Photo © 2004 Tom Lindley)**

Caleb Wendel, left, of Eagle River, Mich., represented Cross Country Sports in Calumet, and Arnie Ronis of Lake Linden represented Downwind Sports of Houghton at the Chain Drive races. They are pictured here on Sunday, June 20, at the MTU Trails. Wendel also participated in both the 32-mile race (third in his 19-29 age group and 19th overall, with a time of 2:42:09) and in the Time Trials (sixth in his age group, with a time of 0:09:15). (Photo © 2004 Michele Anderson)