Author Topic: Icebike races Winter '08-'09  (Read 15299 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« on: December 04, 2008, 11:06:26 AM »
I brought it up at the meeting last night that I was interested in planning an Icebike race for around February, if people were interested (the amount of interest dictating the amount of formality at the event).

Yost, if the snow is sucky, we can always have the race on the river itself.  I'm not sure why I forgot about that last night.

I'm going to add some information about nearby Icebike or winter cycling races to this post as I find it.  Those of you who know what is going on in MN, please help me out.

General Icebike articles For those who have never tried

Ice bike racing and five more ways to have fun riding your bike in the winter
Have you tried ice bike racing yet?

Race calendar Nearby races

18th Annual World Championship Human Powered Ice Races January 24, 2009
Straight top-speed TT on ice, drag race on ice, 5-lap crit-style race on almost ice, and more.
Location TBA (in the past at Rogers Lake, Anoka Co., MN).

Arrowhead 135 mile Winter Ultramarathon February 2, 2009
Sorry, registration is closed.  If you didn't already know, you aren't hardcore enough to race anyway.
International Falls, MN

Icebike 2009 Sunday, February 1st, 2009
1-3 laps, course changes by year depending on conditions.
Winnipeg, MB

Chilly Chili by MORC TBA (Sunday Feb 3rd last year)
I believe this race is a standard course rather than a crit as the flyer suggests, but I am not sure.  New info will be up at http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/, but keep in mind their threads run backward.
Bush Lake, Bloomington MN



That's all I have time for right now, keep checking back!
« Last Edit: December 10, 2008, 04:26:48 PM by Sal Atticum »
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2008, 04:50:08 PM »
Even the Herald is publishing stories (from Canada) about cycling through the winter.  Also, a photo from UND campus (Herald photographer Erik Hylden).

Quote
Biking in the cold? In Winnipeg, why not?
Steve Lambert, Canadian Press
Published Saturday, December 06, 2008

WINNIPEG — Even in the dead of a Prairie winter, when the thermometer dips below -40 F, the streets are covered by a sheen of crackling ice and breathing brings a frozen sting to the lungs, Lindsay Gauld will get on his bicycle.

The former Olympian, now 60, is one of a growing number of people who cycle even in conditions that would drive most people to hibernate.

“There are no bad days, just bad clothing choices,” laughs Gauld as he takes a break in downtown Winnipeg on what he considers a relatively mild day. It only feels like -4 F with the wind chill.

“You’ve just got to keep your feet warm, your hands warm, your head. I mean, I’ve got three layers of clothing on. I’d maybe add one more.”

Gauld’s love for cycling is literally full-time. He retired comfortably a few years ago and now works as a bike courier — for the exercise more than the money. He enjoys battling traffic and the elements as he covers more than 100 kilometres on an average day.

It’s not just former athletes like Gauld — who was on Canada’s cycling team at the 1972 Munich Olympics — who pedal year-round.

Growing concern about the environment, fitness and the high cost of fuel have persuaded students, office workers and others to abandon cars for two-wheeled transport, even in Canada’s coldest cities.

“My family is really prone to obesity, and I was finding when I had a car that I was putting on quite a bit of weight,” says Meghan Bodner, a 33-year-old web developer who commutes 20 minutes to work each day.

Bodner gave her car to a relative a few years ago, determined to get in shape and do her part for cleaner air.

Winter cycling can make it harder for motorists and cyclists to get along, as they share streets narrowed by piles of snow, Bodner says.

“Once I had a Pepsi can thrown upside my head. It just takes one or two really rude people to ruin your day.”

Winter cyclist Steve Andersdon says he’s gotten some sideways look from friends and co-workers.

“People often, when I get to school, think I’m crazy: ‘You know... you must be freezing’ ,” says Andersen, 28, who rides his bike for about 15 minutes to and from classes at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton.

Andersen says his biggest challenge comes on days when he faces a stiff north wind as he crosses the city’s High-Level Bridge which spans the North Saskatchewan River. A balaclava, extra mitts and a few layers of clothing allow him to get through it. He even works up a sweat, taking off a layer or two as his ride progresses.

“You’re not cold the way you are when you stand around waiting for a bus,” Andersen says.

Winter cycling is not nearly as hard as most people assume, Andersen says. A sturdy bike, good tires and extra lubrication to protect bicycle parts from the bitter cold will get people through snow and ice.

Bike To The Future, a Winnipeg advocacy group for cyclists, recommends taking several steps to avoid slips, falls or frozen fingers. Studded tires offer extra grip. Ski goggles can be used to prevent eyes from tearing up. Antiperspirant applied to hands can offer extra protection on the most frigid days.

Avid cyclists say their mode of transport is not as hard as it seems, even if it does look crazy to some people.

“I think the reason that a lot of people don’t cycle in the winter is because of misconceptions — they think they’re going to wipe out all the time,” Andersen says. ”But I hardly ever wipe out.”

And if the road is too crowded or icy, there’s always the sidewalk.

“At that point in the year, I share the sidewalks with nobody,” laughs Gauld.

“There’s no one on them.”

JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2008, 01:18:55 PM »
How does Valentine's Day sound?
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2008, 04:27:24 PM »
Lovely  :lol:
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2008, 10:56:59 AM »
Lovely  :lol:

UND Cycling's Krazy Kupid Winter Bike Race
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2008, 01:09:46 PM »
If on Valentine's day, why not do a couple race, man and women as a team?
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2008, 01:13:54 PM »
If on Valentine's day, why not do a couple race, man and women as a team?

Relay style, points, or third wheel?
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2008, 02:26:08 PM »
Relay sounds pretty interesting. I'm not quite sure what you mane by third wheel.
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2008, 04:26:14 PM »
Sorry, I meant something to the effect of a TTT, where the time for the team would be the second person crossing the line.  Or, so it doesn't sound so cutthroat, we could do total times (person A time + person B time = total time for the team).

I'll change the top post, but I wanted to point out that Icebike 11 in Winnipeg will be Sunday, February 1st.

JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2008, 07:46:45 PM »
Okay, so to throw something else in the mix, the Frozen Feat is on Feb 14th this year as well (Mario and Tiff), not to mention the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Winter Carnival (which is new, I believe).  There are two options:
1.  Change the date to one that doesn't clash with these events, or
2.  See if we can get integrated into the Winter Carnival thing. 

I'm thinking the second option is better, if anyone is serious about having an official winter race.  This would probably mean being able to backpack off the paramedics that would be on duty for the winter carnival (I think they would be required), AND having a potentially huge audience to watch people get down and dirty with their mountain bikes in the snow, to showcase the event itself and the UND Cycling Club for hosting it.

Of course, this depends on the rest of the club wanting to sponsor such a thing in the first place, which would be good to hear.
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2008, 02:37:55 PM »
I've requested some information from the Greenway people about what it would take to do such a thing officially.  Don't worry, I haven't committed anyone to anything.

Here is the announcement for the Winter Carnival:
Quote
Carnival on the Red set for February
James Johnson Grand Forks Herald
Published Tuesday, December 09, 2008
By James R. Johnson

Herald Staff Writer

It’s been almost four years since anglers and augers took to the Red River for the Frosty Bobber Winter Carnival.

On Valentine’s Day 2009, there will be a replacement to the former American Red Cross fundraiser.

In the past several months, a group has explored the idea of a winter carnival in downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Plans are beginning to take shape, and the Feb. 14 date is a go. The event hasn’t been named, but suggestions are being taken.

A new event has been on the minds of organizers since the Frosty Bobber froze up.

“Every year, it’s been discussed,” said Kim Greendahl, Greenway specialist for the city of Grand Forks. “People are hungry to do something in February.”

Greendahl said confirmed events include a 100-mile snowmobile race sponsored by the United States Cross Country Snowmobile Racing Association. The course will begin in East Grand Forks and wind south on the river.

For those who prefer to race on foot, there will be the Frozen Feat 5K race and cross-country skiing. Among ice events are hockey, broom ball and curling, including a small bonspiel along the boardwalk. The Dakota Science Center is planning hands-on exhibits. There also will be a food tent, portable heating and sledding hills.

“We hope this will become a signature event,” Greendahl said. “We have winter. We might as well embrace it.”

A planning meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in East Grand Forks City Hall, 600 DeMers Ave.

Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1262; (800) 477-6572, ext. 262; or send e-mail to [email protected].

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=96571&section=News
« Last Edit: December 13, 2008, 02:39:08 PM by Sal Atticum »
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2008, 05:09:49 PM »
Update:

I sent an email to Kim Greendahl, asking about scheduling an icebike race to coincide with the Winter Carnival.  It looks like we're in if we want.

I'd like to know if the rest of you guys are interested in doing this as an official club event.  It would be some great exposure, some great training, and should net us some money.  If enough people want to be involved, I can call Kim back and talk logistics.  It looks like we need to have an idea of the following:
Quote
logistics like route, set up needs, whether you would like on-line registration, race time, etc.

- The Frozen Feat run is scheduled for 10 am somewhere downtown near/on the Greenway.  To allow for that to happen I think a start time of Noon would probably be good, right?  I'm not sure of the run course but we can ask Stacy Kusler of the Red River Runners.

- I think I was talking to some of you about route at the last meeting, but Yost planted the idea in my mind of having the majority of the course be to the North of DeMers rather than the South.  This would allow for more corners in the field between the dike and the river (think about where University would intersect) that spectators could watch and fairly easy access to the river (the ice should be good and thick by then).  Since I'm back in VT I can't put a more specific map up yet, but if anyone has any specific ideas we should talk.  I think a 4km look should be good.

- If they could do online registration, that would be good, yes?  I'm not sure how important it would be.

- I'm going to need help from the more experienced racers on what we actually need to set up this course.  It would be nice to have some tape up on the corners, but we definitely would need space for registration and awards and such--and we'd need awards, I suppose.  Door prizes would be good too.  I'm even more off-topic here, but shirts would be awesome if we got a decent number of early registrations.  Maybe I'm thinking too big for this year.

Anyway, let me know if you're on board and I can call Kim and see what we can set up.
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2008, 11:08:25 AM »
i,m in. I'm not sure if people will check the message board to often over the break, so you might try to e-mial them or send PE. I will post some more thoughts about it a little bit later. I g2g now!
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

Offline Toaster

  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 510
  • Karma: -102
  • Gender: Male
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2008, 10:51:13 AM »
This all sounds great. Beak let me know what I need to do to help. Also, I'll try to come up with some ideas for a possible course.

I know that Dave Sears has done Icebike before, and I'm pretty sure he's going to do it again this year. So it might be a good idea to talk to him for suggestions.
Just try and step to UND Cycling if you wanna test your luck.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2009, 05:30:59 PM »
Stuff to do:

0. Race style
1.  Course location
2.  Course preparation
3.  Numbers
4.  Registration forms and waivers
5.  Registration area/facilities
6.  Awards
7.  Door prizes?
8.  Shirts?
9.  Volunteers - timers, course marshals, registration
10.  Promotion
11.  Post-race followup - official times posted, email list of racers, feedback from participants
12.  Name of race

My thoughts:
0.  Race style
- I've been thinking about this by modeling it after the Icebike race in Winnipeg:  One 4 km loop with 4 km, 8 km, or 12 km races, male and female categories.  Any ideas on how to make this race "our own" are appeciated.

1.  Course location
 - Thinking on the Grand Forks side of the river, North of DeMers on the Greenway.  This area has a lot of open space and some large trees to provide relief, and access to the river itself shouldn't be too difficult.  If there isn't enough area there, the course could be extended south of DeMers with one side of the loop on the pedestrian underpass and the other on the river itself.  I think this part of the Greenway is close enough to downtown (and to other activities) to get people out to watch the race.

2.  Course preparation
- I haven't been in GFK since Dec 19th, but it looks like there is still a lot of snow in town.  It's probable that whatever course we decide on will have to be prepped to break trail for bikes and to set up directional and warning signs.  I'll be back in town this Thursday and will check out how much work this is likely to be, since that's going to dictate the course we can have (unless someone has a snowblower or a tractor we can borrow).

3.  Numbers
- We should have 'em.

4.  Registration forms and waivers
- Kim Greendahl is offering online registration for the race; I'm assuming the Greenway office will supply paper registration forms and waivers for day-of registration.

5.  Registration area/facilities
- I guess we can get a tent too (brr...).  Another option might be to talk to downtown businesses who want to let us set up in a corner in exchange for some business (I'm thinking Dakota Harvest).

6.  Awards
- If we do awards, a minimum of six (4km, 8km, 12km, male, female).  If we do age groups, what is that, potentially <15, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60< = 7 age groups X 3 races X 2 classes = 42 awards?  What is our normal procedure at this point?

7.  Door prizes?
- What do you think?

8.  Shirts?
- I think shirts would be great, but it might be a little late to provide them to pre-registered people, and I know we can't afford to buy a lot of shirts and then hope people show up to race (and pay for their own shirt).  Oh well.

9.  Volunteers - timers, course marshals, registration
- We will need them.

10.  Promotion
- We will get some promotion as part of the Winter Carnival package, but since things tend to stop at the edge of UND, we would really need to promote on campus.  We can also send stuff out to NDCF to get the Bismarck people as well as the Fargo Cycling Federation (is that right?).  Woodcock Cycle Works wanted to know when we decided on a date, since I asked them when Icebike was going to be so we could schedule around it.

11.  Post-race followup - official times posted, email list of racers, feedback from participants
- Possible to do all this using the message board or throwing up a race website quick at Campus Dakota.  I think it would be good to get some feedback and to get some email addresses so we can keep local people in the loop for events in the future--things like the Kids Race (is it going to happen again this year?).
« Last Edit: January 07, 2009, 10:38:38 PM by Sal Atticum »
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2009, 12:21:32 AM »
6.Awards
I think that the six awards will be sufficient for the first year race. It again comes down to money that we don'thave.
7.Door prizes
Again, money issue, unless we can get around it somehow.
10.Promotion
NDCF is right but it is Great Planes Cycling Club in Fargo. It is a good idea to let them know about the race.
11.  Post-race followup
Great idea. I think that we can use message board for that.The only thing is that you have to be registered to make a post (or do you?) and it means that all the participants that want to leave feedback will have to register.
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2009, 10:40:37 PM »
I added #12, Name of race.

"Bikecicle" as in a bike icicle.  I can come up with lots of corny things, but seriously folks, any ideas?

Mario, the followup won't be a problem.  I can set things up so there is a race page and a place for feedback that anyone can post to (and we won't get spam either).

Also, how could I forget the NDSU and the U of M cycling kids?  We wouldn't want them to feel left out.
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #17 on: January 16, 2009, 10:28:16 AM »
Alright boys and girls, we need a name for the race ASAP!  I need to send something to Kim Greendahl so it gets on all the promotional materials.

Some ideas (based on Guardrail's suggestion of getting the club name in there):
UND Cycling Club's Bikecicle Race
UND Cycling Club's Frozen Tundra of Death (thanks Guardrail)
UND Cycling Club's -40 Frenzy
UND Cycling Club's Arctic Extravaganza
UND Cycling Club's Hypothermic Holiday
UND Cycling Club's Icy Hand of Death Race (which is probably from Calvin and Hobbes)
UND Cycling Club's Snowblind Race
UND Cycling Club's Shivery Shifter Race
UND Cycling Club's Icy Rims Race
UND Cycling Club's Wicked Awesome Winter Bike Race (WAWBR sounds funny when you say it too, this might be my favorite)
UND Cycling Club's "This is really an average day in North Dakota, so why not come on out?" Race (TIRAADINDSWNCOO?R for short)

Or, there's always language fun to be had.  Mario and Dave, throw me some doggerel Polish and Italian.
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Sal Atticum

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 7121
  • Karma: 38
  • Gender: Male
    • Campus Dakota
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #18 on: January 16, 2009, 10:48:19 AM »
ALSO:  Who wants to contact Dakota Harvest?  I've spent very little time there, and I know there are others who have talked with them before.  We need to ask if we can use part of their space for registration and let them know we should be bringing in a fair amount of people who will be hungry.
JUST EXTRA POLISH. I DO SOME WORK WITH EXCELL SO I KEEP THE CAPS LOCK ON :-P

Offline Mario

  • Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired
  • UND
  • *
  • Posts: 1276
  • Karma: 10
  • Crossing around
Re: Icebike races Winter '08-'09
« Reply #19 on: January 16, 2009, 12:23:58 PM »
These are  my three favorite:
UND Cycling Club's Shivery Shifter Race
UND Cycling Club's Icy Rims Race
UND Cycling Club's Wicked Awesome Winter Bike Race (WAWBR sounds funny when you say it too, this might be my favorite)
The minimum number of bikes one should own is three.  The correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned.  This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

 

With Quick-Reply you can write a post when viewing a topic without loading a new page. You can still use bulletin board code and smileys as you would in a normal post.

Name: Email:
Verification:
Type the letters shown in the picture
Listen to the letters / Request another image
Type the letters shown in the picture:
What color is an apple, it starts with an r?:
What is 5 plus 5?:
Which Dakota has the city of Fargo:

realistic