Minnesota State Championship Series

Here we are 5 weeks out from the first race of the MNSCS. If that last sentence scared you, it’s probably because you just realized you have 5 weeks to find your legs. Of course with Mother Nature not cooperating this spring your definitely not alone. All is not lost however. Despite the knobby tired riders aversion to pavement there are still plenty of fun ways to get out and enjoy your bike and find that form before the first races.

The first suggestion is to find the dirt roads or low maintenance roads and ride them. While not being the same as single track, dirt roads this time of the year tend to be plenty rough from the winter of freeze thaw cycles and they tend to offer steeper grades than the surrounding pavement. An added benefit is that the traffic is usually lower on these roads as well. For fun see how many dirt roads you can link together with as little pavement as possible.

The next best thing is paved trails. The temps are still low enough for a little while to keep the hoards of walkers, cell phone gabbers, and leash less dog masters from using these trails at all but the warmest times of day. Generally with a little exploration you can find paved trails along lakes and rivers that run all over cities and can give you a welcome break from the traffic on the streets during your base mileage.

If you want a little intensity but are having a hard time finding the motivation why not join one of the local group road rides with your mountain bike. All the local clubs have started them already and they almost all include several groups going at different speeds so you don’t need to worry about being shelled on the first hill. The extra drag of your low tire pressure and knobbies will make you work extra hard on the hills and you can give your system a real anaerobic shock by going shoulder to shoulder with your roadie brethren at the town line sprints. An added benefit of the group road rides is meeting new people you might lure to the dirt side as well as discovering the best roads and road routes in your area.

If you’re someone that just has a problem getting themselves out the door after a long day working than this suggestion is for you. How about riding to work? You get a great workout in and if you’re anything like me you have to throw a little intensity in there because you got out the door 5 minutes later than you should have. Most of you have thought about, now that the weathers warming up, it’s time to give it a try. You’ll have energy all day, plus you’ll feel superior to all your coworkers that drove in. You won’t even need to worry about getting a ride in after work, because it’s the only way you’re getting home. That’s motivating.

Spring is a rough time to be a mountain biker in Minnesota. It’s important to stay flexible. Some days your won’t be able to ride but don’t be afraid to try something new. Maybe it’s one of the ideas above. Maybe it’s cross training like weights or running. Either way the trails will be dry before you know it. Hopefully you’ll be in good enough shape to enjoy them right away.