Barry Roubaix

It was a beautiful day for a race in Michigan. Cold, but beautiful. Startline temps were not much into the 20′s, and with a significant wind all day, they never really felt like it warmed up much on the bike. The course was dry and fast, Sager Road was all things considered, very dry and very fast with minimal sand this year. El Maya cut 14 minutes off his time last year, and Stiggity  suffered through a crash littered, bottle losing, very hard fought 4 hour slog to finish the 65er. It was a day well spent in the woods with some great cheering sections, slow climbs and ripping fast descents. The Bonebell tolls for Eric Box (Nativo-Pg-Devinci) of Ontario, Canada, and Samantah Brode (Carbon Racing) of Akron, Ohio on their victories in the Elite Race. Chicago notables include our friend Brandon Elliot (Iron Cycles) winning his age group for the 35 miler, and David Sachs (Vision Quest Coaching) for a top 10 in the Elite race. Chicago did well in the races. We represented well with some really great finishes and more than a few podiums. Some of us (or at least me had a harder time on some of the climbs), but man o man is that a fun ride. It’s no joke of a course and it is relentless, so to do well there really means something. We’re excited to see so many of the Chicago contingent got out there for a great time on the bike.

We are already getting stoked for next year. Great job to Rick Plight and his crew for another fine event.

Here’s some great helmet cam footage of Mike Simonson getting the holeshot on Sager Road and what transpired in the Elite Race.