Winter Cycling - MN Arrowhead 135 and NY Times Article

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.




zipster
02-02-07, 08:39 PM
Here are a couple articles and some video about the Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon race in northern MN. The race kicks off on Monday, Feb 5. These guys are my winter cycling heroes. :)

Local WCCO TV News Story (http://wcco.com/sports/local_story_033203710.html) (not sure how long the video will be posted)
Jan/Feb 2007 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer article on the 2006 Arrowhead 135 (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/janfeb07/ultramarathon.html)
Official Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon site (http://www.arrowheadultra.com/)

We also had a NY Times article about a few local racers and a recent race, the Chilly Chili in Bloomington, MN. I had a blast competing in it last weekend. There's also mention of races in Alaska and Canada.
Wheels on Ice: Slip-Sliding and Loving It (http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/travel/escapes/02adventurer.html?8dpc)

I always enjoy seeing winter cycling write-ups from other parts of the country. Just thought my fellow winter cyclists would have an interest in a few from this neck of the woods. Enjoy...


kuan
02-03-07, 11:22 AM
No kidding. Tomorrow we race the loppet. I'm having a few week moments here, starting the race at -10F isn't my idea of fun. I wonder how many will opt out.

zipster
02-03-07, 02:55 PM
Tomorrow we race the loppet. I'm having a few week moments here, starting the race at -10F isn't my idea of fun. I wonder how many will opt out.

Good luck to you and stay warm at the Loppet! Wish I could go (I really do), but I have a few other things going on. I believe the competition will dwindle a bit.

Winter sure has shown up in force around here. I rode my bike 10 miles to the gym to do some spinning this morning, -12F. And -18F is the forecast for my bike commute on Monday!!! Quite pale in comparison to the suffering about to take place up at the Arrowhead.

Ahhhhhh, Spring will be here soon. :)


kuan
02-07-07, 06:37 AM
Two people have yet to finish. One is Sarah Lowell from North Carolina. Brave girl. They're going back up the trail right now to look for her.

The Loppet was cold! -11F at the start!

ianjk
02-07-07, 12:35 PM
I wanted to do it this year, but wan't prepared. Maybe next year I will have the funds for proper clothing and gear.

One of my former teachers did pretty well this year.

CastIron
02-07-07, 02:51 PM
I've tossed the idea around myself, but after touring the area extensively by motorcycle last fall I'm thinking otherwise. What a beast.

zipster
02-07-07, 06:51 PM
An amazing feat for all the finishers and hats off to those who went down battling the elements.

My coldest 10 mile commute this year is -16F and they were trudging along in -30F. Wow!