Tag: Registration

Save the Date(s)

2023 is just around the corner and we wanted to make sure that you added some dates to your calendar!

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 – Registration opens to the public at 9:00am for the 2023 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge. Any participant that was registered for the 2022 race will receive an email earlier that week that inviting them to register. Be sure to add “Icemaninfo@iceman.com” to your safe senders list so you don’t miss these important announcements!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 – Ice Cycle Expo at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Pick up your race packet, Iceman Gear and shop all the local bike shops in one place, plus other gear from companies all over the country!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 – This is the DAY! Join your friends and family as you ride the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by Trek from Kalkaska to Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City. Celebrate at the BISSELL Celebration Zone with your favorite Bell’s Beer and cheer on the racers as the finish!

33 in 22

Join us for the 33rd edition of the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by TREK in 2022 on Saturday, November 5. Registration for riders that were registered in 2021 will open Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:00am MIDNIGHT (watch for a link in your inbox closer to March 1) and open to everyone starting Friday, March 4, 2022 at 9:00am.  

New Wave Placement System!  

You spoke and we listened. After spending the last few months researching other large races (such as the American Birkenbeiner) and how they place waves; we have a new system for the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge.  You can choose any wave that you qualify for and waves will be filled on a first registered first placed basis. Register early. Keep reading to learn how to qualify, what times you need to ride in which waves and quick FAQ to help with any questions out of the gate.  

How to qualify: 

Pull your results from the last 5 races (2021,2019-2016). Choose the best three and average them together. This average is your qualifying time.  Be sure to hold on to all of this data as you will be asked for it during the registration process. And to save time during the registration process, please determine your best times and average before you log in to register. You can find your results here.  

What times standards for each wave:  

Below are the qualifying time standards for each wave. Please note that whichever wave you qualify for, you can also request any wave after that. For example, if you qualify for wave 10, you also qualify for waves 11-48.   

Wave Place Wave Time Requirements   
Wave 1 Faster than 1:51:38   
Wave 2 Faster than 1:55:31   
Wave 3 Faster than 1:58:44   
Wave 4 Faster than 2:01:50   
Wave 5 Faster than 2:04:25   
Wave 6 Faster than 2:06:49   
Wave 7 Faster than 2:09:01   
Wave 8 Faster than 2:11:13   
Wave 9 Faster than 2:13:14   
Wave 10 Faster than 2:15:15   
Wave 11 Faster than 2:17:10   
Wave 12 Faster than 2:19:03   
Wave 13 Faster than 2:20:59   
Wave 14 Faster than 2:22:46   
Wave 15 Faster than 2:24:57   
Wave 16 Faster than 2:26:56   
Wave 17 Faster than 2:29:03   
Wave 18 Faster than 2:31:13   
Wave 19 Faster than 2:33:16   
Wave 20 Faster than 2:35:19   
Wave 21 Faster than 2:37:32   
Wave 22 Faster than 2:39:45   
Wave 23 Faster than 2:41:57   
Wave 24 Faster than 2:44:09   
Wave 25 Faster than 2:47:36   
Wave 26 Faster than 2:51:03   
Wave 27 Faster than 2:53:51   
Wave 28 Faster than 2:56:42   
Wave 29 Faster than 2:59:47 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 30 Faster than 3:03:12 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 31 Faster than 3:06:52 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 32 Faster than 3:10:46 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 33 Faster than 3:15:24 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 34 Faster than 3:20:03 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 35 Faster than 3:25:34 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 36 Faster than 3:33:43 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 37 Faster than 3:44:34 Or First Time Rider 
Wave 38 3:44:35 Or Slower Or First Time Rider 
Wave 39 First Time Rider     
Wave 40 First Time Rider     
Wave 41 First Time Rider     
Wave 42 First Time Rider     
Wave 43 First Time Rider     
Wave 44 First Time Rider     
Wave 45 First Time Rider     
Wave 46 First Time Rider     
Wave 47 First Time Rider     
Wave 48 First Time Rider     

FAQ – Wave Placement  

What happens if I qualify for a wave and its full?  

First, we are going to do our best to update waves as quickly as possible so we can communicate which waves are still open.  However, it is manual process so it may take us a few days to verify times and place you in your correct wave. If the wave you qualified for and wanted is full, you will be automatically placed in the next available wave.  

What if I only have one or two races completed out of the last five years?  

Please average the times you do have from 2017-2019 & 2021 and use this number as your qualifying time.  

I’d like to ride with my significant other, best friend, aunt, 3rd cousin twice removed, etc. Can we do that?  

Yes, you can all apply for the same wave as long as you all qualify for that wave. In other words, base your wave request off of the person with the slowest times in your group.  

I am a first-time rider. Any advice?  

Spots are available in wave 29 and back for first time riders.  Please choose the wave you’d like to be in. If you feel that you should be placed in a faster wave. You will have an opportunity to reach out in the late summer/early fall to request a placement change. This will occur after the transfer out/transfer in period has concluded.  

My son/daughter is riding in Iceman Junior, can I ride with them?  

While Bell’s Iceman Cometh, Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge Pro Race, and Iceman Junior may all follow the same course; they are separate races. Your child should be comfortable with the 30 mile course before taking to the race. If you or your child is not comfortable with the race course, we can easily transfer them to the Meijer Slush Cup.   

We are here to answer your questions. If there is something you think would be valuable for us to share please comment on the blog or email icemaninfo@iceman.com and we will get your questions answered.  You’ll also be able to find this information at www.iceman.com/waves .

Get Signed Up, Then Get Riding

Step one, sign up. Step two, get riding. Registration for the 2021 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge opens up on March 5, and while we can’t get together for our traditional in-person events, we’re meeting up on Watopia for a ride. 

Normally, we’d be hanging with dedicated riders at 7 Monks and Bell’s Eccentric Cafe to kick off the season. That may not be happening, but we’re really looking forward to helping the thousands of generous riders who donate or deferred their entries from 2020 to this season get locked in to race on November 6. If you are one of those kind-hearted riders, thank you! Make sure you’re furiously hitting refresh on your inbox for information on how to use your code to claim your spot in this year’s race! 

This year, we’re also offering a year-long Virtual Training Challenge through Strava. By committing to hit 500, 1,500, or 3,000 miles, you’ll be setting yourself up for your best Iceman ever, plus a chance to win monthly prizes from sponsors like Bell’s, Meijer, Trek, and more. 

You can get your training kickstarted with us on Saturday, March 6 Zwift. First up, join Race Director Cody Sovis 75 minute, no-drop ride at 8 am EST. Can’t quite get out of bed for that? Join 2019 Iceman winner Alexey Vermeulen for a 75 minute ride at 11am EST! 

For both events, make sure you sign up at the correct link and follow the leader on Zwift for an invite. Meet-ups are limited to 100 riders, so get locked in. 

Cody’s Ride
8am EST
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/qJfcGRcKDbxLvBzbA

Alexey’s Ride
11am EST (9am MST)
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/UozwZttiXZUZ8jSU8 

2021 Is Here…and November Is Coming!

Oh, hello there strangers. 

 

We’re finally through 2020 and things are slowly looking brighter, happier, and healthier. We have a long way to go, but thanks to the hard-working medical professionals, essential workers, and everyone who has done their part to stay safe, we can start to look at getting together in November! 

 

Every single edition of the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge is special for its own reason, but we understand that this one, well, this one is going to be different. We’re hoping that November 6, 2021 serves as the family reunion we all didn’t get in 2020 and the one we’re all desperately hoping to bring our mountain bike community together. 

 

We wouldn’t even be talking about a 31st edition of the race without the thousands of riders who chose to defer or donate last year’s entry, so when you line up this November, make sure you say thank you to the guy or gal next to you; odds are, they helped to make this year’s event possible. 

 

Those same folks will get the first crack at registration. If you donated your entry, you’ll receive a link in your inbox that will allow you to get signed up. You can start feverishly hitting ‘refresh’ on your email account the week of February 15. 

 

If you deferred your entry to 2021, you’ll get a link that will allow you to register for the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge or Meijer Slush Cup. We were hoping that we’d be able to just squeeze everyone in automatically, but our legal team reminded us that waivers are kind of a big deal. 

 

If you’re waiting to see what the COVID-19 situation looks like over the next few months, don’t worry; the link for your deferred or donated entry won’t expire until September 1. 

 

There will be questions. Jessica will have all the answers at icemaninfo@iceman.com so don’t hesitate to reach out! 

 

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to host our traditional in-person registration parties at 7 Monks in Traverse City and the Bell’s Eccentric Café. However, you can have a party all your own at 9 am on March 5, when all available spots are open to new Iceman riders! It’ll feel like the good ol’ days of hopping on right at 9 and registering because there aren’t many spots available!

 

Since we’ve had an awful lot of time to come up with some cool things to do, make sure you’re checking out a few neat things we’ve added to registration this year. 

 

Iceman Registration Donation. Last year, generous Iceman racers raised over $16,000 for Michigan Mountain Bike Association by adding just a few dollars to their registration. This year, we’re hoping to raise just as much for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. GTRLC protects and preserves natural areas all over northern Michigan including Arcadia Dunes, Bullhead Lake Natural Area, and Glacial Hills Pathway. They also helped to save the Sand Lakes 160, a 160-acre parcel of the Pere Marquette forest that serves as a critical point of intersection for dozens of Traverse City trails, including the heart of the Iceman course itself! 

 

Virtual Training Challenge. One of the toughest aspects of the past several months has been finding the motivation to get up and get moving without some of our favorite rides, races, and events. We’re hoping to recreate your riding community and help you nail your best Iceman Training Challenge. Join the 500, 1,000, or 3,000 mile Challenge groups and rack up the miles from March 5 to October 30. Along the way, you’ll earn milestones, get coaching tips from your favorite Iceman pros, and have a chance to win prizes from Iceman, Bell’s, Trek, Clif, and more. Each challenge group will have its own club on Strava, and if you hit your challenge goal, we’ll move you up to keep you riding! Watch for more on this next week! 

 

Donate A Sno Cone Entry. Every kid deserves a chance to shred. This year, we’re making it easy to donate a free spot to the Sno Cone race at checkout. We’ll give the spot you donate to any kid who wants to race but whose parents can’t swing it. No stress, no questions asked. Let’s build the next generation of mountain bikers today. 

 

We’ve also been working on an Iceman Zwift Meet-Up to give riders from across the country a chance to ride together, get in a tough workout, and connect! Watch for a Meet-Up calendar, instructions on how to join, plus links to the official, always-updated Iceman playlist and workouts for each ride!

2020 Registration Details

To view this information in the original email, please click here

Onsite Registration
Anyone can register at either one of our onsite locations for the 2020 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge whether you are a first time rider, a 20th time rider, riding Meijer Slush Cup or racing in the 30 mile Iceman; all are welcome to come and celebrate with us. 

Come see us at the Bell’s Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo or 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City on March 6.  Details are below:

Friday March 6, 2020
2:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Bell’s Eccentric Café
355 E Kalamazoo Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
 
Friday March 6, 2020
2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
7 Monks Taproom
128 S Union St
Traverse City, MI 49684
 
Online Registration
 If you raced in 2019, early registration will open for you on Friday March 6th at 9:00 am.  On Thursday March 5th, you will receive a link to the registration page and an early access code that you will need in order to register early. Online registration will be open to 2019 racers only until Monday March 9th.
 
If you are a new racer or if you raced any year other than 2019, online registration will open for you on Monday March 9th at 9:00am. 
 
Racing Age
Please remember when registering that your “racing age” is determined by your age on December 31.
 
Questions?
 Email us at icemaninfo@iceman.com or visit us on Facebook!
2019 Photos
Looking from some great photos of you on the trail in 2019. Check these out from Rob Meendering! 
SEE PHOTOS

New Year New Info

(To view this email in its original format please click here)
Happy New Year! 
 
A Note from your Race Director, Cody Sovis: 
For the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge crew, there’s a lot of excitement in flipping the page to a new year, and we’re deep into planning the 31st edition of this legendary race. November 7 is going to be here in a flash. We’ve put together a few important dates to circle on your calendar, plus a couple of tidbits to chew on.

Registration
 Details 
You have to train for the after party somehow, so why not right when you sign up? On-site registration takes place on Friday, March 6, 2020 at Bell’s Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo and at 7 Monks in Traverse City (times to be announced).  New and returning riders can register for the 31st Iceman Cometh Challenge while enjoying some Light-Hearted fun and comradery.  Keep an eye on your inbox for additional information.

On-line registration for returning riders opens Friday, March 6th at 9:00 am; if you raced last year, you’ve got all weekend to jump into the race of your choice. For those who didn’t race in 2019,  registration opens Monday, March 9th at 9:00am. Get signed up, get committed, and get your riding buddy to register, too!

Registration costs for 2020:
Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge: $110 
               Junior Riders:     $70
Meijer Slush Cup: $80
               Junior Riders: $50
Meijer Sno-Cone: $5

Website & Registration Platform Overhaul 

Coming in late February 2020, we’ll unveil a new website and registration platform! If that sounds scary, don’t worry; it’s all good stuff.  What’s different? Here are some FAQs to let you know about what we have going on.

Where will my past results be held? All known past results will be uploaded to the new registration platform.  You’ll have to “claim” your information which can be done with your email and other identifying information.  In order to make this process smooth, please update your Ice Society Account on the current website (www.iceman.com) before March 1 so we have your correct information when everything migrates over. 

Will there still be an Ice Society? Yes…in our hearts. There will always be an Ice Society, just not a digital one on the Internet. Instead, we’ll be focusing our updates and information using the Iceman Strava Club, on our social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and on the trails.

What about Strava Training Points?   You might have noticed the Training Leaderboard isn’t updating. Due to new Strava API settings and costs, we won’t be syncing data from Strava anymore. You can still see how you stack up against other Iceman athletes using the Iceman Strava Club. 

How will waves be determined? Waves will continue to be determined by your top three Iceman Cometh Races out of the last 5 years. We’ve thought a lot about the best way to place riders, and while there were a lot of perks to using the Strava algorithm, it did have some drawbacks. As a result, we’re taking out the other variables. Think you’re Wave One? Prove it; by taking times on the course, riders face the same hills, same mud, same traffic, and the same roll of the dice. First-time riders will be placed in waves based on age or race category.

What else will be new? New this year, friends and family will be able to track you on Race Joy.  With Race Joy, you can transmit your location and current speed in real-time to friends and family.  Race Joy will also help search and rescue better located you in an emergency situation.  Your spectators will be able to track you from home or from the finish line.  This does require an app download and racers will be required to carry their phones. 

Also, there will be some newly designed Light Hearted Ale merch and new merchandise items!
 

Along the way, we hope you’ll stay tuned to news and updates from of the woods, and enjoy every pedal stroke of training, racing, and riding between now and race day.

See you in the woods, 

Cody Sovis

Don’t Give Up: Transfers Are Open

Don't Give Up: Transfers Are Open

Sold out! The Bell’s Beer Iceman Cometh Challenge is full, but if you’re as determined as this little guy, don’t worry. Transfers are live and already processing. Head to the site, hit the Register tab and find Transfers. Once completed, you’ll be added to the queue of folks looking to get in. As riders transfer out, you’ll get in on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Note, the rider opting out will pay a $20 fee, which will be donated to Norte Youth Cycling and Grand Rapids Dirt Dawgs!

We work hard to make sure every single spot of the race gets into the hands of someone who wants to race. If you think you need to move your spot, the sooner you put it up for grabs, the better! 

Questions? Let us know how we can help. 

Under 200 Spots To Go!

Under 200 Spots To Go!

We’re under 200 spots to go, and we’ve got a challenge for you. 

Steve “Iceman” Brown has been trying to get in plenty of miles before we get really, really busy this fall. With registration taking off, we were talking about just how long it’ll take until the long race is sold out. So, in true Iceman Cometh Challenge fashion, we’re having a race. 

As of today, Iceman has 186 miles for the month of August, and there are now 167 spots remaining for the 28-mile race. So, will Iceman get to 200 before the race gets to zero? 

It won’t if Steve gives the new course a look! We spent the weekend putting in a big effort to take a closer look at a few changes at the start and final five miles of the race. Nothing is set in stone yet, but we’ve got a few wrinkles in place and a few favorite sections coming back in honor of the 30th edition of the race. 

All in all, the course is in great shape, although it’s at peak sand due to a very dry August. Things will firm up plenty after Labor Day, and we’re working with our pals at Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to do just a bit of trimming to keep the face-slappers at bay. The only spot to watch for is located in the Water Bottle Hill Bypass at roughly mile mark 9.7 from Kalkaska. There are two extremely big trees down that’ll need chainsaws and some very strong human to shift out of the way. 

Watch for more course updates AND to see if we can beat Steve to across the 200 mark! Let’s hope he doesn’t do his course inspection today! 

Moving Fast into March: No Hibernation for Iceman Cometh Nation

Moving Fast Into March: No Hibernation for Iceman Cometh Nation

Here at Iceman HQ, all this talk of March 1’s festivities has us itching for some riding. If getting signed up for the 30th edition of the Iceman Cometh Challenge doesn’t get you fired up to ride, then you’ve been cooped up inside for way too long!

Iceman athletes haven’t been hibernating. From Nordic skiing, fat biking, and even hopping on the trainer, our racers have been working hard to maintain and build fitness for a full season that seems to add more killer events every year. Remember the off-season? Well, that’s not really a thing anymore!

Around here, there is a fat bike race nearly every other week, and that’s a sport that’s grown to include races across the state. Some of the best Strava scores of the past two months have come from events like Fat Chance! at Crystal Mountain and the Big M Fat Bike Race near Manistee.

Activities on Zwift, TrainerRoad, and Rouvy count toward your Ice Society Strava score, and there are dozens of riders who have been raking in the points since November. New virtual events and races have made indoor racing a lot more fun and make it possible to ride with bike nerds from around the world.

Of course, some folks need to swap their pedals for skis to enjoy winter, and we’ve had a blast following the Michigan Nordic ski scene from Noque to Cote Dame Marie. This weekend, the 43rd Annual North American Vasa will start and finish in the same spot as the Iceman ends at beautiful Timber Ridge Resort. For Iceman racers, it’s got to be just a bit of a relief that they get to go down Icebreaker to start their 12, 27, or 50 km ski events, rather than finish up that short but cruel little slope.

There are also two fat bike races as a part of the Vasa’s Festival of Races, and it’s a testament to Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association that racing on their expertly groomed and simply gorgeous Winter Sports Singletrack draws so many rabid fat bikers. NMMBA also played a huge role in designing and laying out our 2018 Iceman course, and they do a great job incorporating their years of racing and riding in putting together a fun, fast, and exciting route that suits a wide range of abilities.

If you’ve had a hard time peeling yourself off the couch, we really hope that get yourself signed up for the 30th edition of the Iceman Cometh Challenge gives you the motivation to get moving, and maybe even try something new before winter fades into spring. The countdown to our 30th year starts in earnest in just a few weeks with events at 7 Monks in Traverse City and Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo. More details to come, but make sure you’ve got a plan in place to make this year’s race your best yet!

Bell’s Iceman Entry Giveaway!

Bell's Iceman Entry Giveaway!

Missed your chance to enter the 2018 ICEMAN????? Our good friend Chuck Grzanka , cycling advocate, and CyclingLawyer.com are once again giving away several entries for the best race in the USA!

Already entered? No worries. Use your winning ticket in 2019. Just visit CyclingLawyer.com and at the very end complete the “Contact Us” page with your info to be eligible for the drawing. Easier than riding your bike for 30 miles through snow, mud or whatever conditions Mother Nature and ICEMAN throw our way on Saturday. Be well. Be safe. Good luck. 

http://cyclinglawyer.com/