White Kits + Red Mud = Battle Scars

2016 Ore to Shore
When we revealed the 2016 kits, the first thing everyone said was "that's not gonna work out so well at Ore to Shore." I saw it as an opportunity, a blank canvas if you will, for battle scars. Race tails. War stories. Anyway, on to the race...

We started making the annual pilgrimage to Marquette in 2010 and honestly, this was probably the toughest O2S we've raced to date. The rain may have tamed the sand, but it also filled the mud bogs higher, made the roots more slick, and greased the rocks just enough to make things interesting. Despite all of that, we put down some record finishing times!

Hard Rock
Jeremy Daum - 2:41:31
Brian Miller - 2:48:29
Steve Poirier - 2:49:38
Jon Roobol - 2:51:15
Greg Giles - 2:52:40
Scott Walter - 2:52:41
RJ Meske - 2:57:54
Jeff Poirier - 3:04:07 (Mr. Flat Tire returns)
Jack Lee - 3:05:36
Chris Molnar - 3:07:05
Bruce Slowey - 3:20:05
Steve Wickham - 3:26:44

Shore Rock
Brendan Giles - 58:43
Jodie Giles - 1:12:40

Jr. Rock
Anna Giles - 22:15

Ride Bikes. Check. Drink Beer. Check. Win. Check!

2016 Tree Farm Relay
We entered 6 teams this year, (24 riders!) and put down some serious results... and beer. Sunny skies turned gray and the air got cool as the storms rolled in, but that didn't stop our expert team RJ and the Dadbods from starting out hot! Brandon Thielen and RJ Meske were relentless on the competition. By the time the torrential rains moved in, they had the team out in front by a minute! Sketchy conditions and monsoon like rainfall leveled the playing field a bit and after a couple of lead (and bike) changes the results were in. RJ and the Dadbods took first place out of 27 teams in Advanced Men.

Not to be overlooked was the repeat performance of our coed team Smells Like Team Spirit, who took first place out of 6 teams in Advanced Coed!

JTree Bike Chicks took 4 out of 5 in Sport Women
Gears N' Beers took 12 out of 27 in Advanced Men (bonus points for only having 3 riders)
JTree Geriatric came in 17 out of 27 in Advanced Men
JTree #2 (come on guys....) took 25 out of 50 in Sport Men

It was a tough day, and everyone busted A$5 out there in the mud and rain and eventually, sun, heat and humidity. A huge shout out to our main squeeze, Wheels in Motion for getting our gear back in order after the race. Brake pads, shift cables/housing and everything in between.

Also, thanks to Chelsea Ale House for hooking us up with libations for the day, because without them, we wouldn't have that check mark next to 'drink beer'.

And that energy has got to come from somewhere - that somewhere is Infinit Nutrition and Honey Stinger. With Infinit, we just keep going and going. And Honey Stinger is like a nectar from the gods... but it's really just from bees. Mmmmm.

2016 Mid-Season Race Update

Here's a brief recap of races we've put our stamp on so far this year:

2016 Fat Bike Series
We sent riders to all 5 races this winter. Competition was tough but we put down some good results - and had fun doing it!






Waterloo Grit and Gravel Road Race
Several racers took on the inaugural edition of this race and a couple of us even ended up on the podium! Scott Walters took 4th in his age group racing the 100K, Anderw Sics picked up a 1st place finish, RJ Meske landed 3rd and Brandon Thielen finished 4th in their age group in the 50K.

Barry Roubaix
We sent close to 30 racers to BR this year - maybe it was the weather, maybe it was us... but we crushed it out there! Tons of personal bests - and in the team competition we took 4th overall!













Mohican 100K
MIki Razo took 7th overall! SWEET!

Team JTree 2016 update.
We've been so busy riding bikes that we forgot to update our blog! We'd like to welcome a couple new sponsors this year:

Honey Stinger is helping us ride strong with their great line of all natural products. Organic honey waffles. 'Nuff said.

Kali Protectives is keeping our brains safe with their kick-ass helmets.

Chelsea Alehouse hydrates us AFTER the ride.

Stay tuned, we'll be back with race updates in the future. Woo!

Team JTree rider Jon Roobol gives us the scoop on his race from earlier this month!

Michigan Mountain Mayhem Gravel Grinder – 45 Mile
October 3, 2015

After a long summer learning how to ride a bike with drop bars again, I was finally able to ride my new Trek Boone 9 in a timed setting (that wasn't Strava), and I had great weather and a fun course to do it on. The Gravel Grinder is in its second year and this is my first first time racing it. The turnout was fairly small, but the group start kept the roll-out engaging. The start to this race was unlike any I had done before. As a mountain biker, most races that I do are races of attrition; the first guy sets a hard pace and everyone holds his wheel as long as they can or until they think they have the legs to go around and stay ahead. This rollout was an easy 15-16 mph for the first 4-5 miles, on paved roads. Yes it was into the wind and yes having a tight group to draft in was nice, but it was excruciating to go that slow on a cross bike on paved roads. Chitchat in the group had many of us voicing our consideration to get out front and drive the pace. Well, I finally did.

As I came around the leader, I wasn't going much faster than the group, and I had it in my mind the leader would grab my wheel and the pace would pick up. Next thing I know, I look back and I have a 50 yard gap on the field. Well, shit...What do I do now? After hanging out on my own for a few miles, a few riders fortunately also decided they had had enough of the pace and joined me out front. We drove the pace and established a gap, but after the first of the big climbs all but one of us was back in the group.

I sat near the front until the next climb, glad to had shelter from the wind for a bit. And then the climb came. This is a 2 mile climb with an elevation gain of 500 ft. As you approach, the road is straight, and right in front of you is a scar through the forest of a 2-track logging road that looks like it goes straight up the hill at about a 30% grade. The guys that had done the race last year took the opportunity to tell the new guys that we go straight up that 2-track. Jackasses. Fortunately the road took a right-hand bend and we stayed on pavement. Not that it was all that much better. The leaders launched an explosive attack a mile into the climb and I jumped out and did what I could to stay near the front. Small groups formed and dissolved as we continued the climb before reformed as we crested the top and started into the rough roads that started to lead back toward the finish line.

It was mostly downhill now and the pace picked up. I was well back from the leaders at this point but still sitting well somewhere near 10th. The race took us down logging roads at this point but it felt like singletrack as you had to use the entire road to avoid sandpits, sticks and mud. More than once I had to jump of the bike and push or carry it through sand that was too deep to ride through. I found myself alone when the road opened up again, but I was able to catch limpets of the group in front of me when the road straightened out. I put my head down and pushed to try to close the gap …. and soon regretted it as a woman in an SUV pulled up beside me and told me I missed a turn at the top of a hill a mile back :(

Around I went and picked up the course again after watching rider after rider make the turn I had missed while I climbed back up the hill. Adrenaline does interesting things to the body, and I'm quite sure I had pints of it coursing through my body by this point. It was an all out effort for the last several miles as I did what I could to pass as many riders as I could.

I finished the race exhausted and on the verge of cramping, yet giddy and excited at the same time. What a fun race! The course was fun and challenging, my Boone performed great, y Infinit nutrition was dialed in, and the competition kept me on my toes. I ended up in 17th overall and 3rdin my age group and ready to come back again next year.

Always Riding

We're always out riding – See where we've been!

Ore to Shore

Since 2010 Team JTree has represented at this classic summer race across the great north. The scenery, the trails, the beer... oh the beer... all make for a trip well worth the drive.


After crossing the finish line, we usually shuffle around the finish area dazed and exhausted, covered in a red dust, with a beer in hand, looking like we just returned from a mission to Mars. But this year was different. A slow steady rain Friday night kept the dust down and made for a fast, albeit slightly muddy, course. And left most of us splattered (or completely covered) with mud instead!

Jeff Poirier
2:52:53
20th out of 68 (35-39)

Steve Poirier
3:01:49
23rd out of 51 (30-34)

RJ Meske
3:05:08
35th out of 68 (35-39)

Scott Walter
3:08:50
51st out of 116 (40-44)

Bruce Slowey
3:17:35
32nd out of 76 (50-54)
 
Chris Molnar
3:20:44
47th out of 68 (35-39)

Steve Butler
3:28:09
69th out of 103 (45-49)

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O2S according to Steve:
2015, the year of the sheep. Also the year of my 5th Ore to Shore. It's been a strong year for me and having completed several races and many many training rides, I felt prepared for the race. The last time I raced here was 2013, and while it was a strong ride, I ended up on the side of the trail with 10 miles to go, trying in vain to fix my broken chain. I fixed it and carried on, but my time suffered. 

As I stood at the starting line with Jeff, Scott and RJ – listening to the national anthem and watching Jeff try to fix Greg's suddenly busted jersey zipper – I thought maybe, just maybe, I could break 3 hours this time. With the national anthem over, and Greg's zipper not fixed, the gun fired and we we're off. On and off Scott's wheel during the paved rollout, I was finally able to grab on and stick like glue once we hit the dirt. The usual red dust had been tempered by rain the night before, and we were moving fast. Jeff was gone – up ahead of us – and RJ had fallen behind. For now, It was just me and Scott.

Eight Miles in we were bombing down a rough road, dodging huge puddles and running through others like we were on slalom course. As I approached a puddle that was split down the middle by a 12 inch land bridge, I saw the tire in front of me take the middle, so I followed, as it seemed like the logical thing to do. Without a chance to react, I was sliding sideways.... aaaaaand I'm in the puddle. It was dark and sticky, like melted chocolate, and I was now covered in it. As I collected myself and got back in the saddle, Scott came running toward me yelling "Steve!" Now covered head to toe in mud, he didn't recognize me and kept running right past me!

Having been waylaid by my detour into the cesspool, RJ caught up to us and we got back into a grove, eventually making up ground that we'd lost. I couldn't wipe the sweat out of my eyes because my gloves were covered in mud. So as we trudged through the power line roads and up misery hill, I squinted, closed my eyes tight and used my camlebak tube to rinse things off so I could see. Because seeing is important. Adding insult to injury, I had lost a full bottle of Infinit Nutrition, and with only a 1/4 of a bottle left and some water in my camlebak, I needed to start rationing.

With me in survival mode, Scott, then RJ pulled away. I was forcing Bonk Breakers down my throat every 20 minutes to keep the electrolytes up and slowly sipping my Infinit custom blend like it was liquid gold. Thinking I was destined to ride the remainder of this thing on my own, I saw Scott up ahead of me. He'd slowed down for me and was now pulling my tired ass across the Dead River Basin on 510. We linked up with a group and started gaining on RJ. I could see him. We needed to catch him. Scott handed me his bottle of perpetuem and I took a big pull of it. I was recharged!

Thirty-three miles in, with RJ in our sights, Scott was looking tired. I asked if he wanted to make a run with me (he'd saved my ass this whole race!), but he declined. So I powered forward and caught RJ with about 9 miles to go. "Come-on RJ, you're slowing down!" I yelled. "I'msogksdljsfiafr dsfafd tired fdsafjk cramps" (or something) he replied. I was tired and cramping too. It was brutal. So I started to equate distance left to known trails. "Only a blue loop at Island to go." or "Almost there, just a Maybury without the twisties!". It was working, but the cramps got worse. I was pedaling squares. Up. Forward. Down. Backward. Repeat. 

Pavement. I'm so close. I think I can break 3 hours! Nope. I propelled myself across the finish line without an effort. I had nothing left in the tank. Three Hours. One Minute. Forty-Nine seconds. I was pumped about that. 34 Minutes better than my previous best. I'll take it.

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Check out RJ's version of events:
While 2015 marked my first Ore to Shore experience, it has been a race that I have been wanting to complete for quite some time. The stars finally aligned this year and I was both excited and nervous to give the 48-mile, Hard Rock race a shot. Actually, I was a bit more nervous than excited. Before this race I had yet to race anything longer than the Barry Roubaix 36-miler and that doesn’t have anywhere near the same type of course challenges that the Ore to Shore Epic does. Sprinkle in a little downward trend in saddle time over the past couple of months, and you have a recipe for an extra bit of anxiety leading up to the race.

The morning of the race was beautiful, nothing like the overcast skies and steady rain most of the day prior. Unfortunately a combination of nerves and tent camping left me with a lack of sleep from the previous night and I was already feeling tired during our warm-up ride.  Once we were in the corral, anxiously awaiting the start of the race, things started to change. While still anxious, I started to get more excited surrounded by my fellow JTree teammates: Scott, Jeff and Steve and several hundred other racers. 

The rollout was fast, faster than I expected. I saw Scott trying to catch Jeff’s wheel, but Jeff was on a mission and nobody on our team was catching him that day. About a mile in I finally got on Scott’s wheel, but soon lost it as we left the pavement and hit the infamous red dirt. Actually, it was more mud than dirt for the first mile or so, the rain from the day prior sure would be a presence throughout the race. For the next several miles I was doing my best to keep my heart rate and pace in check. My tendency to go out strong and struggle towards the finish was at the forefront of my mind throughout the first half of the race and I was doing everything I can to make sure that didn’t happen.

After losing my teammates in the first couple miles I was sure I would not see them until the finish line. To my surprise, Steve’s bad luck and Scott’s sportsmanship invalidated my assumption. Around mile 8 or so, Steve took a spill and Scott stopped and turned around to make sure Steve was ok. That’s when I caught up to the two of them and was able to keep them in sight for the middle half of the race. They stayed in front of me for quite some time, but Misery Hill and a fair amount of hike-a-bike kept me close behind and feeling ready to start the second half push.

The second half of the race is a tale of two experiences. Miles 24-36 were great, I felt strong and the general downhill course profile was exactly what I needed. I managed to get out in front of Scott and Steve by attaching myself to a large group of 10 or more riders. At this point I really thought I was going to break 3 hours and have a very successful first Ore to Shore. Unfortunately my legs did not share the same sentiment and started the slightest twinges of cramps around mile 36 and went to full-blown, leg-lock at mile 42. I actually had to get off my bike and attempt to stretch, unfortunately when I tried to stretch my quads, my hamstrings would seize. Standing on the side of the trail with only 4 miles to go, I actually thought I might not finish. Then, two bikers came roaring by and one shouted, “suck the fucker up!” This gave me just enough motivation to hop back on the bike, polish off my remaining Infinit Nutrition bottle and push through to the end.

Crossing the finish in 3:05 was bitter sweet. My time was respectable, but I felt horrible and was disappointed that I did not break three hours. It was a good learning experience and I will definitely change a few things next time, because there will most certainly be a next time.


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Here's what Scott had to say:

This was my 2nd time racing at Ore to Shore. I flatted last year so I expected a much better result this time around. Shooting for under three hours, I took a wrong turn at mile 37 and lost 5-6 minutes. After that I lost my motivation.