2014 Mountain Bike Festivals

With the bitter cold weather this week, my thoughts started turning to warmer weather riding and the
Spring mountain bike festivals.  Previously, I have attended festivals in Rapid City, SD,  Hayward. WI,  Crosby, MN,  Quad Cities IA/IL, and Wausau, WI.  Here's what I know now and those I will be watching for locations and dates.

Black Hills Fat Tire Festival (Rapid City, SD) has moved is dates.  The festival had been held Memorial Day weekend.  This year it is scheduled for June 20-22, 2014.  Rapid City Parks & Recreation returns as the organizers.

Today, I was able to confirm dates for the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival in Crosby, MN.  The festival will be held on Friday and Saturday June 13-14, 2014.  Headquarters is the Crosby Town Park (camping spaces available).  Explore that trails of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.  I have attended this festival since the ride center opened. 

I have not been able to confirm dates for CAMBA Festival of the Trails.  Previously, it has been held over the National Trails Day weekend except for 1 year when it was held over Memorial Day weekend.  In 2013, the festival was held the same weekend of the first annual Mt. Borah Epic Mountain Bike Race.  That race will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

The festivals in the Quad Cities were MidWest Mountain Bike Festival - held there for 2 years.  That festival moves every 2 years - I believe is is being hel in Brown County, IN in 2013-14.

In 2012 I attended GnomeFest.  That yeat it was held at Nine Mile Woods near Wausau, WI.  I have relatives in the Wausau area.  That was the only year it has been at Nine Mile Woods.  No plans to attend this year.

The best situation for me was last year - when I was able to attend Festival of the Trails in Hayward, WI the first weekend of June.  Play tourist in Superior/Dulth.  Then attend Cuyuna Festival.  If the 2014 Festival of the Trails is held the weekend on May 33 - June 1, I may have to skip that festival and revisit the possibility of making the 10 day trip adding Black Hills Festival.


Just for information (June is mountain bike month, it seems) Crested Butte (CO) Bike Week is June  25-29, 2014.

GnomeFest Photos

Photos I took at GnomeFest Nueve (Nine Mile Forest - Wausau, WI) have been posted on my events and race photo site. There are also photos I took that Sunday on the Mountain-Bay trail.

Comment: It is very difficult to contact the folks promoting Gnomefest. i would like to send them the link to my photos. The Gnomefest web site does not include any contact or "about" information. Facebook page is locked down so that visitors cannot post or comment, and the only contact info is the web site.

Link to photos: http://win-photo.photoreflect.com

Enjoy!

Bikes & Beer

Today was a day filled with Bike & Beer (with some singletrack thrown in). It was rough getting out of bed this morning. Had some breakfast at the hotel. The coffee did not seem to help.

Off to the festival, bringing the Fuel EX7. The first function was the Ladies Ride with MTB Hall of Famer - Jacquie Phelan. After the ladies headed out, the guys (me included) hit the trails.

I rode up to behind the chalet. Found number 4 singletrack trail. The area is full of Nordic ski trails. Many of the ski trails also had sing;e/double track trails down them.

From Trail 4, I turned right onto Trail 7. Rode this loop trail back to the intersection with Trail 4. Back on Trail 4 to the chalet. Was a good 2.7 mile ride. Most of the trail I was able to ride without problem - Blue trails. Had to walk sections where heavy rooted and specially rooty climbs.

Next, we met the Ladies Ride at another parking lot. That's where the Dirt Cat started (ending back to GnomeFest City Hall). After the group departed, I went back to the hotel. Picked up "good" beer for the Beer Pot Luck. (I selected Totally Naked by Glarus Brewing - figure the Penske truck)the name was at least appropriate for the function) Then some food at Texas Roadhouse.

Was thinking of maybe riding again in the afternoon - but we were hit with a shower so put the bike in the room and headed to Awards and Chili Cook-Off. The storms were brewing in the West, so moved things into the chalet (thanks to Marathon County for letting us use the chalet).

We got a couple of deluges just before and during the awards. Was a bit noisy in the chalet, but I suffered through. shot photos, ate some chili, drank some beer, and hoped to be a winner in the raffle. Winning a raffle prize was a bust.

Back to the main meeting area with the evening's bonfire. Chatted and took a few photos. Drunk O’Clock (dark) – The Dwarfcycle Figure Eight Death Races was on the schedule. This old body had just had enough, to headed back to the hotel. Downloaded photos and wrote this blog posting.

Watch for photos posted on my race/event photo site - Win-Photo.photoreflect.com

GnomeFest Nueve

The party is on!

About 6:30 I made my way over to Nine Mile Forest to register for the festival. When I got to the registration truck, I saw my FORC friends Carol & Dave. Visited a little while in the line. Stopped by their group campsite after registration.

Soon it was getting dark. The bonfire was lite and the first 2 kegs were tapped (Oktoberfest & Pilsner). (see photo).

Little tired from the driving, I called it an evening early (8pm). Folks were getting ready for a night ride. In the morning i will check on trail maps and recommendation for riding.

Its getting to be bed time. OH, in case you are wondering where the festivities are being held (where is Nine Mike Forest?), I am in the Wausau, WI area.