2011 Michigan Cyclocross Races

**Edit: RESULTS through 9/19 and RunUp cyclocross races added (SW Michigan, Indiana).**

Michigan cyclocross has sure expanded since I raced my first 'cx at Pontiac Lake in 1998.  If you're looking for information on 'cross in the U.P., check THIS website.  For those of us trolls in the lower peninsula, we now have FOUR 'cross series to enjoy.  Back again for 2011 are the two big guns, Tailwind and Kiss Cross.  With changes in formatting for the national championships, Tailwind's USAC-based events may shake things up with the over 30 crowd, assuming the points get reported.  And on the other side of the state, Rick Plite always gets BIG crowds racing for beer.  But it appears his night race that started off Michigan 'cross for the past two years is scrapped for 2011.

In the minor leagues this year are two new series, one centered on the I-75 / I-69 corridor and the other in Traverse City.  Steve and Paul from the TCC have joined forces with Joe Lekovich, the godfather of Michigan road cycling, and Mike Babcock to make a series out of the SVSU, Midland, Mad Anthony, and Lansing races.

Lower Michigan 'cross schedule:

9/11 Kiss Cross Plaster Creek Park, Grand Rapids RESULTS

9/17 Tailwind Double Cross #1, Waterford
9/18 Tommy Tsunami Mid Michigan Community College, Harrison RESULTS
9/18 Tailwind Double Cross #2, Waterford
9/18 Kiss Cross Highland Park, Grand Rapids

9/25 Stomach of Anger, Lansing

10/2 Einstein 'CX Timber Ridge Resort, Traverse City
10/2 Kiss Cross Markin Glen Park, Kalamazoo
10/2 Tailwind (NIGHT), Munson
10/2 Twisted 'Cross, Petoskey

10/9 SVSU Red Zone, Saginaw
10/9 RunUp, Vandalia

10/16 Tailwind Linden Park, Linden
10/16 Kiss Cross Richmond Park, Grand Rapids

10/22 Mad Anthony, Detroit
10/23 Kiss Cross Manhattan Park, Grand Rapids
10/23 RunUp, Buchanan

10/29 Tailwind Vet's Park #1, Ann Arbor
10/30 Einstein 'CX Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City
10/30 Tailwind Vet's Park #2, Ann Arbor
10/30 Kiss Cross Caledonia Lakeside Park, Caledonia

11/13 Tailwind Stoney Creek, Rochester
11/13 Kiss Cross Cascade Park, Grand Rapids
11/13 RunUp, New Carlisle (Indiana)

11/19 Stomach of Anger, Lansing
11/20 Einstein 'CX Grand Traverse Civic Center, Traverse City
11/20 Tailwind Bloomer Park, Rochester

11/26 Detroit Invitational Cyclocross, Dorias Park, Detroit
11/27 Kiss Cross Holland Municipal Stadium, Holland

12/5 Tailwind Springfield Oaks (USAC State Championship)

12/11 Big Bad Wolf 'cx, Midland

Don't overlook the OVCX and CHICAGO races as well.  Both of those series start on 9/18.

And remember, put the Ithaca Grand Prix of Cyclocross on your calendar for 2012 (September 8)!

Logsplitter

Raced the Logsplitter on Saturday.  Apparently the course was new this year, as it started from the CCC museum on the north side of Higgins Lake and continued to Hanson Hills.  Overall length on my computer was right around 27.5 miles, but there was a shorter race option (22 miles) others did as well.  

The start was fast and the first fourteen miles of racing were on sandy two tracks and "dirt" roads.  Pretty early in the race a group of four separated themselves off the front, and I found myself in the second group of four chasing hard on the dirt roads.  Twice we got crossed up in the sandier portions of the sand/dirt roads, which brought me to a complete stop.  I was able to chase back on both times but not without big efforts.

Entering the singletrack the group of four were once again all together.  I have ridden both the new and old loops of Hanson but was very, very confused as to where I was in the park most of the time.  Some of the singletrack is so old I've never even seen it before.  And that isn't terribly fun since in some spots you could hardly tell where the trail went.  (Either that or I was so in the red I couldn't follow it...).  I think it was at about mile 18 or so that I realized I hadn't planned my eating quite so well and started to suffer for it.  I lost contact with the group.

So nearing the "normal" last downhill and uphill climb up the backside of Hanson I was chasing back hard to one guy and finally caught him towards the top of the hill.  But instead of the normal left turn down to the finish we took yet another hidden piece of singletrack down to the first normal climb (but going in the wrong direction).  I was counting the miles down at this point - my legs were exhausted.  We dumped onto a new beginner loop that was hardly broken in, which when you're not tired is difficult to ride anyway.  I tried my best to recover through the last few miles of singletrack and opened up a small gap on the "normal" two track used on the start of Hanson.  But it was too little too late, as with about 50 meters left the guy I was racing with came around me and snagged 10th spot.

Definitely put this race on your calendar for next year!

Full results HERE

Early Launch

This lineup looks pretty sweet...but I am a bit partial.

Tour D'Amico

Metric century today at the Tour D'Amico.  I haven't done a legitimate "tour" since the copper country cycling tour in 1998.  It was a good time but the support was a little less than desirable - running out of water at the aide station is never a good thing.  Joined Rob, one of the owners of KidZibits, for the ride today.  He made his own carbon bike...

Specialized Allez, comfortable over the long haul

The Dancing Bear

Lake Minnetonka, which will be packed with people watching fireworks later on.

A rest stop complete with lemonade, cookies, water, and bananas 

And your neighborhood ski jump...

Start order at nationals?

Saw this article on Cyclocross Magazine:

Wonder if that is going to shake anything up for the local races?