End of Season Team Dinner

We started a new tradition this year with an End of Season Team Dinner at Gus O'Connor's in Novi. Most of the team who lives in the Metro Detroit area was able to get together for some drinks & dinner and to get to know some of our new team members. Our comrades who live too far away were there in spirit as we celebrated the end of another AWESOME racing season.

Here's to all our accomplishments in 2008 and a healthy, successful 2009 season!

2008 Iceman Cometh

Another great showing by the Dark Horse Ladies in the always challenging 27 mile point to point Iceman Cometh mountain bike race from Kalkaska to Traverse City on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Sounds like the weather cooperated, and the snow/sleet held off until later in the day.

Results:
Susan Schubel - 6th Place Pro Women
Janet Grimm - 6th Place Sport/Expert Women 45+
Kerry Block - 12th Place Expert Women 35-44

Congrats, ladies!!!

photo by Mike Connelly

Fall Riding Cont'd...Drainpipe Loop Ride

Five Dark Horse Girls joined in on the annual Ann Arbor Drainpipe Loop ride on 11/2/08. Billed as an old school mountain bike ride and color tour, we managed about 12 miles before the rain foiled our plans for 25+....



The colors were a little past peak, but still spectacular:


Jody tears up a leafy downhill! Is that a lime green miniskirt, Jode?


Andrea follows not far behind!


Lynn navigates a truly old school half rotten bridge...could cyclocross be in her future?


What a great way to say goodbye to Fall!!!

And here's a shout out to everyone going up to Iceman next weekend! GOOD LUCK!

Dark Horse On The Podium at Peak 2 Peak

Dark Horse Racing grabbed 3 podium spots at the 2008 Peak 2 Peak Mountain Bike Classic at Crystal Mountain on 10/18/08. It was a crisp day with temps at race start around 45 degrees, but the sun was out and the course was fast, flowy and incredibly scenic as the Fall colors up north were at their peak. The ski hill climb at the end was a challenge, but the sweet downhill singletrack afterwards made it all worth it. Thanks to Dark Horse Brewing for sending up some extra special recovery drink!



Results:

Susan - 3rd Place Pro/Elite Women
Janet - 1st Place Expert Women
Lynda - 3rd Place Sport Women 42+
Jody - 7th Place Sport Women 42+

At the awards ceremony/after party, we managed to catch up with Erin Vicary, who will always be a Dark Horse Girl to us.




Congrats to all racers!

Next up -- ICEMAN!!!

Massive Fall Out Ride 10/11/08

Four Dark Horse Girls, including new teammie Gabby, headed to the east side for the 3rd annual Massive Fall Out Ride, an MMBA benefit ride connecting 5 east side trails, Stoney Creek, Paint Creek, Addison, Bald Mountain and Bloomer. The weather was unseasonably warm, the colors were just starting to turn and we had an awesome day in the saddle getting about 42 miles in before heading back to the car (and the cooler!).

Before heading out:



Lunch Stop:



Bridges of Macomb County:



Heading back for some well-deserved refueling (aka BEER)



It was a long day with lots of pedaling, but one thing is for sure -- Fall riding in Michigan is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Janet Tops the Field at Pando and Wraps up 3rd Place in the MMBA CPS Series!

Janet won the Fun Promotions Pando XC race in the Sport Women 40+ category on 9/28/08! Thanks to the Founders team for that special post-race recovery beverage at the top of the last ski hill climb!

Her win moved her into 3rd place final standing for the MMBA CPS series!

Way to go Janet!

Goodbye Summer!

A weekend of bike related events were a great send-off to summer!

TRIPLE TRAIL CHALLENGE
Saturday 9/20, was the annual Triple Trail Challenge trail benefit ride for the MMBA Poto Chapter. The TTC uses part of the Waterloo-Pickney hiking trail that is only open to bikes once a year for this event. It connects the Poto, Waterloo-Pinckney and the Lakelands Rail Trail into a 42 mile scenic and challenging ride. Complimentary chili & beer awaits at the finish and everyone walked away with some good swag. Four Dark Horse Girls flew the colors at this ride and enjoyed the post-ride activities.





CHERRY ROUBAIX CRIT (Traverse City)
Road or Mountain Susan rocks, finishing in 1st place at Cherry Roubaix crit in TC. Congrats, Susan!

ADDISON OAKS XC RACE
Kerry and Janet chalked up 2 more podium finishes in their Iceman warmup at the Addison Oaks XC race on 9/21, with Kerry finishing 2nd in Sport Women 25-39 and Janet finishing 4th in Sport Women 40+. Way to go, ladies!

PLYMOUTH CRUISER PUB CRAWL
For those of us who chose to crawl rather than race on Sunday, the last day of summer was spent cruising around downtown Plymouth on our cruiser bikes and sampling different brews on various outdoor patios. This was the 3rd annual Plymouth pub crawl and proved to be another excellent adventure. Thanks to our sponsor Gary at South Lyon Cycle for the Fat Tire Ales and swag at the end!





So after a busy biking weekend, Dark Horse Racing says goodbye Summer and hello to Fall, Peak to Peak, Iceman and Cyclocross Season!