Race Reviews
12 Hours at Blue Mound
Blue Mound,WIThis is a 12 hour event.
This event is a qualifier for the 24 Hour World Championships
Previous Reviews
| Reviewer: | Walt Hougas |
| The year reviewed is: | 2008 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| It is the toughest course in the Midwest. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| A full suspension bike with 5" travel and 2.3" tires is not too much. The downhills will beat you up. Lightweight tires are an invitation to pinch flats or sidewall tears. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| The race was well marked and competently run. The trail took a beating from the June flood, but it has been patched up reasonably well. | |
| Advice: | |
| Put more air pressure in your tires than anywhere else. Walk the steep hill in Holy Schist or it will break you. | |
| Reviewer: | |
| The year reviewed is: | 2008 |
| Reviewer competed: | On a relay team |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| If you want a fast and flowy roadie race go somewhere else! It is tough and technical. Ride it if you think you are up to the challenge. A badge of honor to finish. Well run event with lots of swag and prizes. The coarse was in perfect shape. With the weather this year, it took a ton of prep work to have the trail in such great shape. Good job CORP!! Awesome start/finish area. Lots of room for kids if you bring the family with swings, observation towers, etc... | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Suspension is your friend. That said a lot of people seem to enjoy the challenge of finding the sweet lines through the rocks on a single speed, though most put on a front shock for this race. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| This is real mountain biking! Lots of rocks, roots and tough climbs. And just for fun the last mile is a slow grind to the finish on top of the mound. | |
| Advice: | |
| Suspension and high tire pressure are your friend. Flatting issues are legendary. Bring spare tubes and tires. Pre-ride course if possible. If not, hone your technical skills. | |
| Reviewer: | Peter Chrapkowski |
| The year reviewed is: | 2007 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| One of the toughest races in the WEMS series. Compared to "other" endurance events outside of the WEMS series this race is a value at $35. Well run! Great Raffle! Cash payout to competitors! | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| I did this race on my Waltworks Full Rigid SS and it was bone jarring at times. Very challenging to find lines which ended up making it alot of fun. I may invest in a front shock for next year. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Great, well run event. Blue Mounds are not for everyone but if you want to polish your technical skills this race gives you 12 hours to tighten em' up. Theres a pool and a swingset onsite if your bringing the family. A pool pass is included in the race packet. I thought that was pretty cool. | |
| Advice: | |
| Make sure your bike is tuned properly. Maintain good tire pressure and have spare tubes/tires on hand for repairs. Duct tape is your friend. The singletrack is narrow in spots and the slighest diversion from it may send you OTB so pay attention and have fun. | |
| Reviewer: | Coleman Retzlaff |
| The year reviewed is: | 2007 |
| Reviewer competed: | On a relay team |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| Good course direction and support. Raffle prizes where good. Well organized. Good people. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Full suspension and fat tires a must for this rocky, rooty, rocky, log laden single track. Pinch flats where popular so an extra tube was a must. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Great time, great people, great course. | |
| Advice: | |
| If you have not ridden Blue Mound, be prepared for technical rocky terrain. I experienced much gratification in seeing a tri-athelete pack up and go home after one lap because of how technical it was. I live for this stuff! | |
| Reviewer: | Carlos Haeckel |
| The year reviewed is: | 2007 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| It's my favorite place to ride in wisconsin | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Please comment on equipment selection for this event (tires, suspension, etc.). | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Please provide any other comments on this event. | |
| Advice: | |
| The course is very thecnical, you gotta have a lots of skills to ride it, it's very rocky. That's why I have fun. | |
| Reviewer: | Jeff Kerkove |
| The year reviewed is: | 2007 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| 1. Awesome value ($35 for all races) 2. Easy logistics with parking and getting set up. 3. Good prizes and payout 4. Easy going WI folks make it a good atmosphere. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| 1. Bring spare tubes and some tires 2. Ride a FS bike. Course is very demanding. 3. Pre-ride if you can. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| 1. One of the best endurance venues ever! 2. It's not easy...get ready to suffer a bit. 3. I'll be back! | |
| Advice: | |
| 1. Be willing to suffer. 2. You'll have to pay a fee to get into the park. 3. Enjoy! | |
| Reviewer: | Jason Higgins |
| The year reviewed is: | 2007 |
| Reviewer competed: | On a relay team |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| First 12 hour race. Only traditional XC type races done up til now. Event was well organized with a great MTB vibe all day long. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Anything less than a 2.1/2.2 size tubeless tire and full suspension is asking for trouble. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| What an excellent initial impression of 12 hour racing. WORBA is doing great things for racing in WIS. and the midwest. | |
| Advice: | |
| These are true MTB trails that will make you a better rider. The terrain is unlike anything I have seen around here. Jagged moon rocks and roots comprise 90% of the course with a ball busting climb at the end of the lap had racers suffering all day long. Be warned, after riding Blue Mounds your local trails will seem ordinary and mundane! | |
| Reviewer: | kelly Longtine |
| The year reviewed is: | 2005 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 4 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| Biggest challenge put on myself at any race I have ever done. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Loosen up brakes levers a little in case you smack a tree like I did. By doing so you might not bend the lever like I did. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| This was an awesome venue and trail system. | |
| Advice: | |
| Bring the full suspension rig unless you are up for some pain or very young. | |
| Reviewer: | Eric Nelson |
| The year reviewed is: | 2005 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| This course does not compare to any other course in the state.it requires competent bike handling and is unforgiving of mistakes. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| i did this race on a rigid singlespeed. rigid is good if you like getting beat up. i ran a 32:18 gear.considering my fitness level this year i think a better choice may have been a 32:20. last year i ran an 18 but i also had a shock on my single and my fitness was better | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| i have ridden all the 12hour races but one in the past and this is one of my favorite races. i love the climb and the rocky descent. | |
| Advice: | |
| ride solo and bring plenty of spare tubes. maybe tubeless would be the way to go.i plan on going to tubeless wheels next year | |
| Reviewer: | Paul Potter |
| The year reviewed is: | 1 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| I just started racing this year and truely enjoyed the technical nature of this course. I would race this every weekend! | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Next time I will go with tubeless. I wouldn't ride this w/o full suspension. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| A must race for anyone that enjoys technical riding! | |
| Advice: | |
| Reviewer: | Kelson Danielson |
| The year reviewed is: | 0 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| Prizes, both the raffle merchandise and the cash for the actual race podium (with minimum participation of course) were amazing. The course was the funnest most "mountain bike" like course I've raced all year. That single track will chew you to hell, and the climb will spit you right back out. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| I ran a hardtail and it worked fine for the shorter event. Tire choice is key, I was the only person I saw without a flat (65 psi front and rear, 2.0 Hutchinson Scorpions, tubed). Even running tubeless, many racers puntured tires. High pressure, while not the best for traction and handling will certainly help. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Great race all around. The course couldn't be more challenging while still remaining fun. This was a very well organized, professionally run race. Everything went off smooth, the course was well marked, marshalled and stationed appropriately, tech support was near at hand and I didn't hear one complaint all day. | |
| Advice: | |
| Run high tire pressure, bring lot's of tubes, and brush up on your single track skills. Don't miss thios race next year, you'll regret it! | |
| Reviewer: | Ann Casamassa |
| The year reviewed is: | 2005 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 5 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| Very relaxed atmosphere no hype just riders riding. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| I rode a c'dale f1000 with suspension seatpost. I would consider tubless tires and full suspension for next time. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| this is the most technical race course i have ridden in WI. It blew the doors off all wors courses. | |
| Advice: | |
| my advice would be ride steady and try to let the rough sections roll as much as possible. | |
| Reviewer: | Tom Miller |
| The year reviewed is: | 2004 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 5 |
| Value rating: | 5 |
| Course rating: | 4 |
| Logistics rating: | 5 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| This course is very tough, it requires a high amount of techinical skills. Many rocks on the course, but every rocky section has a good line if you can find it. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Have some front and rear travel, no fun on a rigid bike. Only one big climb but it is the road lead out. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Fun event. Different than others due to real singletrack trails. | |
| Advice: | |
| Take it slow and find the right lines if you plan on lasting more than a few laps. | |
| Reviewer: | Spencer Fulkerson |
| The year reviewed is: | 2005 |
| Reviewer competed: | Solo |
| Overall rating: | 3 |
| Value rating: | 3 |
| Course rating: | 3 |
| Logistics rating: | 4 |
| Comparison to other events: | |
| Please comment on how this event compares to other events you have done. This event is for the person who is a specialist in riding rocks. | |
| Comments on equipment selection: | |
| Please comment on equipment selection for this event (tires, suspension, etc.). These rocks have sharp edges everywhere. Shreaded tires are the norm here. | |
| Overall comments on the event: | |
| Please provide any other comments on this event. This course is comprised Entirely Of Rock. | |
| Advice: | |
| Please provide one or two tips for anyone doing this race. You will love it or hate it. | |
