The Iceman Cometh Challenge Returns To Kalkaska

Northern Michigan is home to the largest one-day mountain bike race in the the country, and you can watch it all happen in your backyard! 

The Iceman Cometh Challenge, a point-to-point mountain bike race of roughly 30 miles from Kalkaska to Traverse City, is a staple for outdoor enthusiasts all over the region. A stape amongst locals, the event draws people from all over the United States and a few from Europe, Australia, Asia and even South America. Five thousand racers make the fast, sandy trek from the village of Kalkaska to Timber Ridge Resort, located on the east side of Traverse City. 

It's an event that appeals to athletes of all skills and abilities, with time ranging from 90 minutes to over four hours! For most, it's all about making the journey, while others seek to break the two-hour mark or even win their age group. 

The Iceman Cometh Challenge highlights the miles and miles of trails that sit in the Pere Marquette forest. The Vasa Pathways and Vasa Singletrack combine with over fifty miles of unmarked trails that look like a spider's web between Bunker Hill Road, Supply Road, and Broomhead Road. 

A major factor of the race is weather. Scheduling an event for the first Saturday in November, unless the first Saturday is the first, is asking for the unpredictable. Racers have seen events in the 70s and sun, and in the single digits and snow, with everything in between always on the table. Most simply embrace the additional challenge, although there are plenty who'd rather stay home and hear the stories from cold, wet, and tired racers afterwards! 

To learn more about this race, head over to the race's website. The first waves of riders leave beautiful downtown Kalkaska at 9am on Saturday, November 4. Get downtown and cheer them on and enjoy one of Michigan's coolest events of the year!