Ice Chips
Packet Pick-Up
The 2010 packet pick-up and Ice Cycle '10 Expo will be held
in the Governor's Hall at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa on
Friday No vem ber 5 from 12 noon until 11:00 PM
Each racer must pick up his or her own packet. You will be
required to present your driver's license or another appropriate
form of ID when you pick up your packet. Oth ers may not
pick up pack ets for friends, etc.
Iceman packet pick-up on Saturday morning has also moved
from Kalkaska Middle School to the Municipal Parking lot in
downtown Kalkaska. You can find Nancy and members of the
Northstar '94 soccer team in the old Village office building.
That building is located at the corner of Walnut St and Fourth
St. It is right next to the starting line so you can't miss it.
Packet pick-up will open at 7:30 AM.
You will be required to show your DRIVERS license or
another appropriate form of identification when you pick up
your packet. You may not pick up other riders' packets.
Results
Results will be posted on the results board
located in the Timber Ridge Ball Field just
100 feet east of the finish line. Results will
be tacked to the board as quickly as possible
and updated as riders finish throughout
the afternoon. Please take the time to
ensure that your results are correct before
you leave Timber Ridge.
If there is an error or omission, please
report it as quickly as possible to a member
of the timing crew. It does happen every
year that riders forget their chip, use a different
chip than the one they were originally
assigned, or the chip simply does not
register. To research any errors or omissions
(believe me, it's not intentional) takes
approximately 20 minutes per error. Given
enough time to research the results, the
Gaults can find the problem and correct it.
However, all results will be considered
“FINAL” fifteen minutes after the last finisher
crosses the line and his/her results
are posted on the board (approximately
4:30 to 5:00 PM). The results that get
posted outside the Governor's Hall in the
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa just before
the Awards Ceremony will be final results.
If there is an error or omission with your
results at that point, it is simply too late
to accommodate requests to correct them
(unless, of course, you have already informed
the Gaults about the problem).
All Iceman and Slush Cup categories will be timed using GUN TIME – the clock for your wave starts when the first rider in the wave crosses the start line.
Riders starting in an earlier wave than
their assigned wave will be automatically
disqualified. Riders starting in a later wave
than their assigned wave will be timed as if
they started in the correct wave.
During the Iceman race and awards presentation,
open alcohol is only permitted
on guest campsites and that being served
within the enclosed Ice Capades Celebration
Zone. The special event liquor license
does not allow for alcohol in the common
areas within Timber Ridge Resort during
the event and will be enforced.
The weather in Northern Michigan during November is often very volatile. Seven of the past fifteen Iceman events have been held in very snowy (sometimes up to five inches) and cold (19 degrees) conditions. Hands, toes, and water bottles are likely to freeze. It may be 50 degrees and sunny, but it is best to plan on gnarly (dude) conditions. Appropriate fall/winter cycling clothing is strongly en cour aged. You won't go wrong with cycling tights, long sleeve jerseys, long fingered gloves, outer wear, shoe cover booties, and something to cover your face. DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET, YOUR SHOES, OR YOUR BIKE!!!
Please remember to take the necessary
pre-cautions with your cycling equipment
throughout the entire Iceman weekend. If
you have to leave your bikes on top of your
car, lock them. If you are heading out to
celebrate a strong finish, leave your bike in
your hotel room for the evening. Traverse
City is still a classic Midwestern town where
you can leave your car unlocked while
stopping at the grocery store, but bikes
and other cycling gear can walk away very
quickly if left unattended.
The one exception to this rule is that you
can check your bike into the Bike Corral at
Timber Ridge and have confidence that the
Traverse City Central High School Trojan
Softball Team will take excellent care of
your machine in your absence.
The Iceman Search & Rescue team was given that title last year as a kind of tongue in
cheek expression to describe the group of volunteers who render medical attention to
injured riders during the race. lend a hand to help fix broken bikes, and/or extract riders
from the trail. Iceman Search & Rescue is a branch of the Iceman Medical Team led by
Mark Baranski. Mark oversees and coordinates several EMS units from local and regional
departments.
The most common reason for riders abandoning the race is a mechanical problem. Flat
tires and broken chains account for the majority of mechanicals due to riders forgetting to
carry a spare tube, chain tool, and/or a master link. A simple saddle bag kit with those three
items will dramatically improve your chances of riding to the finish line.
If your problem is more serious (or you omitted the three essential tools from your saddle
bag), there will be two locations staffed with a mechanic to assist you with your repairs. The
mechanical aid stations will be located at Steve's Secret and Broomhead Rd. (Hint—Most
bicycle mechanics love to be tipped with beer).
If your situation is beyond repair and you need to abandon the race, do so at one of the
road crossings manned with marshals. They'll be able to contact Search & Rescue to provide
you with a ride to the finish line at Timber Ridge. All riders who abandon must inform
finish line officials. If a rider fails to do so and creates a bonafide search, that rider will be
responsible for the cost of the search.
And, oh by the way... 27 miles of hard riding, especially if the weather is nasty, is
not only hard on your ride, but physically demanding as well. Ride your bike regularly for at
least eight weeks before Iceman. Drink lots of fl uids before and during the race. Dehydration
and cramping are not a pretty sight; nor, for that matter, an experience you want to encounter.
Save the beer for the Ice Capades Celebration Zone after the race. Don't worry, even if
you're dead last, Gordon will have a cold one for ya when you are done….he never runs out.
If you see a volunteer with the Search and Rescue team, know that we're there to help
you if you need it. But we would rather see zero riders who need help and then join you after
a successful Iceman for a cold one and wild stories. But just in case... we're there for
any rider who needs assistance.
Roger Putman
Iceman Search & Rescue
2011 Iceman Registration
Registration for the 2011 Iceman Cometh Challenge, Saturday November 5th, will open on Tuesday March 1st at 10:00 AM. The opening two hours of the 2010 online registration system was a bit rough but once SwiftEntry was able to boost the power of the servers, things straightened out and registration flowed very well after that. With the knowledge learned from 2010, 2011 should be much smoother for all involved. Once again registration will be limited to the first 3,700 Iceman riders and 300 Meijer Slush Cup riders.
