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		Points of View Wynn Johnson June 30, 2002 Guest Column © 2002 Wynn Johnson. Published with Permission. Bike race photos © 2002 Michele Anderson. Photo of Wynn Johnson © 2002 Brian Parmeter,  published with permission.

Keweenaw Chain Drive offers mountain bike challenges

By Wynn Johnson

HOUGHTON -- One of the most anticipated events at the recent 15th annual Bridgefest was the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival of mountain bike races. This year's contests consisted of two adult races (16 and 32 miles), a technical time trial and children's races.

The events began on June 15, a rainy Saturday morning that dampened the trails but not the spirits of racers, ages 5 to 50+, who gathered at the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton for the Kids' Cup Races and the time trial. 

Undaunted by rain and a slippery trail, the under-9 bikers start off on their 1K race at the Michigan Tech Trails on June 15 during the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival.

Saturday's kids' races were "just for fun," with no named winners, but the three age groups (under 9, 9-10, and 11-12) were serious about completing the 1K run, made even more challenging by the weather. The determined young bikers donned their helmets, braved the rain and set out along the slippery Tech Trails.

Shawn Oppliger of Hancock, cheers on her daughters Louise, left, and Ruth as they head toward the finish line ahead of other 9-10 year olds during the Keweenaw Chain Drive 1K race at the Michigan Tech Trails on June 15.

After the ages 11-12 competition, one racer, Jay Woodbeck, 11, of Hancock, said he had fun and that the course was, "very muddy and wet."

A young (so far unidentified) biker  crosses the finish line during the Keweenaw Chain Drive 1K race at the Michigan Tech Trails on June 15. In the foreground are some of the obstacles used in the technical time trials, which followed the kids' races.

Besides many supportive parents, two of the sponsors, Cross Country Sports of Calumet and Downwind Sports of Houghton, were on hand with tents, liquid refreshment and encouragement for the racers.

Preparing for the time trial on Saturday, June 15, Caleb Wendel, right, of Houghton, changes a bike tire (for a mud situation) in the tent provided by Keweenaw Chain Drive sponsor Cross Country Sports of Calumet. Also pictured, from left, are racers A.J. Hegg of Cook, Minn.; Ryan La Bar of Marquette; and Steve Vizanko of Houghton--all of whom participated in the Keweenaw Chain Drive time trial and Sunday races.

The kids looked forward to a drawing for a brand new mountain bike, donated by Arnie Ronis, owner of Downwind Sports. Karen Oppliger, 12, of Hancock, was the lucky winner of the bike.

Kelly Ellerbruch, 9, of Negaunee, admires the new mountain bike donated as a raffle prize for the Kids' Cup races by Arnie Ronis, right, owner of Downwind Sports in Houghton. Karen Oppliger of Hancock was the winner of the bike.

Shortly after the younger racers finished up, the technical time trials began. The course, now almost purely mud after a rainy morning, posed a greater challenge for the riders than just the A-frames, hills, sharp turns and picnic tables by themselves. Racer after racer crossed the finish line, faces dotted in mud, chains and gears fouled and the distinctive brown skunk stripe down his or her back (the sign of a truly hardcore mountain biking enthusiast).

After finishing the race by jumping off the last picnic table instead of using the ramp, Adam "Hilly" Hill, 22, of Houghton, said of the course, "[It was] good but really muddy."

Two local women, Lori Hauswirth of Houghton and Christine Young of Hancock, completed the time trials with 25 men from Michigan and Minnesota. Hauswirth and Young also competed in the 32-mile race on Sunday, June 16.* (See link below to race results.)

On Sunday morning, the 32- and 16-mile races began with a five-second countdown and a police escort from the Best Western - Franklin Square Inn parking lot, through downtown Houghton to the Maasto Hiihto Trail in Hancock. This race had participants of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels.

Mountain bikers head toward the finish line of the Keweenaw Chain Drive 32-mile race at Maasto Hiihto trails in Hancock on Sunday, June 16.

Sara Riley, 22, of Marquette, first-place winner (in the 19-29 age group) of the women's 16-mile race, said that she was in the race "for the speed."

Dean Woodbeck of Hancock noted the first- and third-place finishers in the men's 32-mile (Expert level) race were from Texas. Jason Sager of Austin, Texas, finished the course with a time of 2:12:24, while Nathan Phillips of San Antonio finished with 2:24:42.

"They were at a race in southern Wisconsin that ended on Friday and searched around the Web for a race they could do on Sunday," Dean Woodbeck said. "They found us, drove up here, arrived in Houghton about 11:30 p.m., then entered the race the next morning and placed one and three!"

Unsung heroes of the race are the many volunteers who worked on the organization of the event as well as monitoring the trails during the race.

Jan Klemp of Laurium and Dennis Garver of Houghton, recognizable by their bright orange vests, were two of the volunteers who served, respectively, as roadside guide and medical aide on Maasto Hiihto.

Fortunately there were no serious injuries, noted Garver, a retired firefighter.

"We didn't have anybody get hurt, but that's what we're back there for," he said. "We didn't encounter any (serious) problems at all."

Klemp, who occasionally chatted with bikers along the last stretch of the race, said the participants from Texas loved the race.

"They loved the roughness of it," she said.

Roadside guide Jan Klemp of Laurium, left, monitors the Maasto Hiihto section of the Keweenaw Chain Drive races on June 16. Racer No. 14 in the foreground is Chip Ransom of Houghton.

Dan Dalquist, volunteer coordinator, riding along with Garver, noted the visitors had a scenic trail to ride in Hancock.

"It's a tough, epic race," Dalquist said," but it's visually stunning."

Besides providing contests for mountain bikers, the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival serves another purpose.

"[We] are a group of bike riders that are interested in generating funds for the preservation of trails for non-motorized sports," said Bill Marlor, one of the committee members. "A lot of land is being bought up by private individuals, and securing trails and pieces of land for people to recreate on is important. That's our goal."**

Go to "More photos of Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival."

Learn more about the author of this guest column, Wynn Johnson.

Editor's Notes:  * See complete results of the Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival bike races on the Chain Drive Web site.    ** See the recent article "Bids Going Out; Ski Trail Improvement Begins," on the MTU Web site, concerning improvements on the Michigan Tech Trails, used by bikers, hikers, runners and cross-country skiers.

Note: Views expressed by our guest columnists are not necessarily the views of Keweenaw Now.