Iceman Start
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Starting LineThe 2009 start line in downtown Kalkaska proved to be a big hit with riders and spectators alike! Riders loved the new mile of pavement as it allowed everybody to spread out and find their rhythm before hitting the dirt. The Kalkaska start venue also provided more room for spectators to mill around and check out the exhibits, listen to local music, maybe buy a little maple syrup, or have breakfast at the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast before their friends took off. So the 2010 start line will be located in the exact same location at the corner of Walnut Street and 4th Street. Look for the starting corral on Walnut Street just west of the Municipal Parking Lot with the entrance to the corral located in the parking lot. Kalkaska Middle School ParkingPlease continue to park at the Middle School and High School parking lots and ride your bike to the start line (it’s only about 5 blocks from the schools to Walnut St). Kalkaska KPTA will be running shuttle buses to and from the start area all morning so spectators can easily get from the schools to downtown to see the start. Spectator Start Shuttle BusesRide the Kalkaska Trolley or one of KPTA’s buses to downtown. It is a quick 3 minute trip (but would be a 10 minute walk) and you’ll be dropped off right next to the staging corrals for the start. Pick-up the shuttles at both the High School and the Middle school and head to the start area in style! Start Times and WavesEach wave will have ap prox i mate ly 80 riders (4,000 divided by 48 equals 83.3). Some may have a few more, some a few less. We will have almost 2 1/2 hours of starts! BE SURE YOU KNOW WHICH WAVE YOU ARE IN!!! Check the rider confirmation system for your start wave assignment beginning October 29th. StagingPLEASE STAGE ACCORDING TO YOUR AGE CLASS & CATEGORY. It is each and every rider’s responsibility to start in the correct wave. Once the first wave has started, ONLY the next wave will move up to the starting line. ParkingPLEASE! No parking on Walnut Street or Division Street as they are "on the race course." |
An Open Invitation to the Start Party in the Village of Kalkaska
Every race has two distinct and very important phases; the start and the finish. In the case of the Bell’s Beer Iceman Cometh Challenge, the finish of the race is at Timber Ridge near Traverse City and the start of the race is about 20 miles away in the Village of Kalkaska. In fact most of the participants and spectators will have already passed through Kalkaska on their way to the Grand Traverse Area.
The Village of Kalkaska in the County of Kalkaska is the “gateway and part of” the Grand Traverse Area. Over half of Kalkaska County is within the Pere Marquette State Forest and its recreational lakes, rivers and streams. During spring, summer and fall, the Pere Marquette State Forest supplies miles of mountain bike, hiking, motorized vehicle and horse trails full of the enchantment and color that only deep for- ests can provide. Winter snows open the Pere Marquette State Forest to snowmobile trails that seemingly go on forever. The Kalkaska area is truly a natural wonder of Michigan.
Kalkaska is very proud to be the starting site of the Iceman Cometh Challenge. The Village is well equipped to easily handle 4000 riders and their spectators for the start of the race. In fact, the start consists of numerous wave of approximately 100 riders per wave starting at 9 AM until Noon and then the Pros start at 2:30 PM. It is quite a sight to behold hundreds of riders blasting out of the starting gate every few minutes. They race approximately a mile through the Village and then head straight into the forest for the grueling journey to Timber Ridge Resort.
Race day, traditionally the first Saturday of November, can have a wide range of weather. It can be warm and sunny to cold and snowy. Last year’s participants year surely remember the snow and 20 degree temperatures in the morning of race day as well as the warmer temperatures and mud as the day progressed.
To accommodate the wide variation in weather, the Village of Kalkaska opens its old city garage to the public. The building is adjacent to the start line so that spectators can watch the start in comfort. The large building provides cover and warmth if the weather is nasty. Additionally, The Kiwanis Club of Kalkaska hosts a pancake and egg breakfast in the garage. Breakfast starts at 7:30 AM. and runs to 11 AM with plenty of warm food, coffee and hot chocolate for the riders and many spectators. Last year there was entertainment and displays of arts and crafts for the enjoyment of all as they waited for their rider to start the race. The start is open to the public and Kalkaska welcomes the riders’ guests and friends.