The Keweenaw Chain Drive took a rather brutal turn, this year. There were some sections of trail that were excluded and replaced with brand new singletrack. The singletrack was masterfully built and offers some different views and some interesting riding opportunities.
My race started off well for the 16-mile competition. I began climbing, as is always the case, and kept climbing. There was an occasional downhill, but it was usually short and quick. The climbs, on the other hand, lasted forever. At one point, towards the end of the race, I thought to myself, “Okay, this isn’t fun, anymore.” The Keweenaw Chain Drive transformed from one of my favorite and most highly recommended races to a not-so-favorite personal hell. There was simply too much climbing, and I spoke with several riders of varying abilities who agreed.
Contentious Hill was removed from this year’s Chain Drive course, which raised no objection from the riders. However, it was replaced with a lot more grueling climbing.
To really understand my frustration, you must first understand what it is about mountain bike racing that I prefer. Unlike road racing, which is predominantly an aerobic competition where constant uphills make more sense, mountain bike racing encompasses so much more. Sure, you have your brutal climbs, and nothing less should be expected, but fast descents are equally as important in a race. Not everyone can descend well. In fact, many people can’t descend well.
The perfect mountain bike race has a pretty equal mix of smooth and technical, up and down. The Keweenaw Chain Drive was just about the perfect race. Now, while it still has a phenomenal mix of smooth and technical, it smote the downhill element and shifted favor towards those who aren’t necessarily well-rounded riders. In other words, I prefer a race that focuses more on varying skills rather than one ability, such as climbing.
To be fair, I will freely admit that I am not a strong climber. Even if I were a strong climber, I still wouldn’t enjoy it. What makes mountain biking fun for me is riding on the edge of control, something that is very rarely done by anyone riding uphill. I like the adrenaline rush I get from traveling at high speeds through the woods. THAT is fun. This year’s Chain Drive course took a lot of that fun away from me, this year.
Tags: Keweenaw Chain Drive, Mountain Biking, Racing