Changes for the 2019 Season!

Posted on by Rob Cook

I want to give a big shout out to Bruce Brown for the direction and stewardship of IMBCS these last several years.

Thank you Bruce!

From Facebook:

New for IMBCS 2019!

Season number seventeen (yes – 17!) for our mountain bike racing series here in Iowa is on deck for calendar year 2019!

As we remember the past 16 years under the helm of IMBCS former directors Thaddeus Neil, Cam Kirkpatrick, and Bruce Brown who have all volunteered their time to organize and keep mountain bike racing alive here in Iowa, 2019 brings a new director to lead the future of our series. I personally want to thank each and every race director, trail organization, volunteer, sponsor, advisory board member, donor, trail gnome, and racer that I have had the pleasure of working with during my turn at leading the series. Like Thad and Cam that came before me, life has a way of presenting some changes that meant it was time for me to pass the torch.

IMBCS is proud to announce that Rob Cook will be taking over as our new series director. Rob is a natural transition to becoming our next director as he has been instrumental the past few years in taking care of the points for the series, helped with decisions, was crucial in obtaining sponsorships, and also has served as an individual race director. Rob will bring new energy, ideas, and vision to IMBCS.

Please help me in welcoming Rob in his new role as our director for IMBCS!

 

Please keep an eye out for updates and information on the 2019 season.

— Rob Cook

2017 IMBCS Race Dates

Posted on by Rob Cook

IMBCS #1 – FORC Illiniwek Abermination – April 23
IMBCS Special Endurance Event – Sugar Bottom Marathon – May 13*
IMBCS #3 – Beverly Fat Tire Frenzy – June 3*
IMBCS #4 – Summerset Shootout – June 10*
IMBCS #5 – Sunderbruch Park – June 25
IMBCS #6 – Whiterock Conservancy – July 2*
IMBCS #7 – Lewis & Clark Crusher Border Battle – July 8*
IMBCS #2 – Ewing Park Kickback Classic – July 30*
IMBCS #8 – George Wyth MTB Race – August 12
IMBCS #9 – Sugar Bottom Scramble – August 20

IMBCS TBA – Make Up Dates – August 26/27

*Denotes a Marathon Race Category Included

Site Maintenance

Posted on by Rob Cook

The IMBCS.org website will be down over the next few days for some behind the scenes maintenance. For the nerdier of you out there we’re moving to a new VM host. We’ll be back soon, any ETA’s or complications will be posted to the Facebook page.

Can’t wait to get back on the dirt!

Rob Cook

Mid-Season Points Update

Posted on by Rob Cook

Half-way through the season, five races to go how are the points stacking up? Lets take a look and see where we stand.
olympic_medals_psd_b

Marathon: We have a tight race in the Men’s division, the top 4 places are separated by only 41 points. Current leader Jason Scholbrock is leading Mark Child by 27 points and TJ Fort is holding of Eric Roccasecca for 3rd by a single point! With only Ingawanis and The Mullet left who is going to come out on top? In the Women’s division we have a tight race for first, 34 points separating Joann Schmidt from Katherine Roccasecca (did I spell that right?), can Katherine take the win? Are the Roccaseccas in it for the long haul, can they tie the knot and put a ring on the first married series champions?

CAT1 Under 29 Women: Liz Van Houweling is going to be our CAT 1 29&Under Women’s champion as long as she races one more race, how soon until she wraps it up?

CAT1 30+ Women: It’s a bit closer with Emily Robnett holding off Karmen Woelber by a fair margin but with 5 races to go it’s still up in the air.

Continue reading Mid-Season Points Update

20…20…24… Hours to go-oh-oh…

Posted on by Rob Cook

As the Ramones said ‘Just get me to the airport, put me on a plane, Hurry hurry hurry, before I go insane’ It’s time to race!

We’re going to do the opposite of sedate you though this is going to be an action packed weekend with great trails, food and beverage. OBOval

For those of you watching the weather, Whiterock is just skimming the north edge of the rain. Our man on the ground Andre ‘The Giant’ Rethman let us know that open areas are just damp and anything under tree cover is dry. Remember, short of a tropical storm, we are racing rain or shine so don’t let this bother you 🙂 

For the most timely updates please watch the Whiterock Conservancy Liberty Bell Cup race page or the Liberty Bell Cup Facebook page.

 

Liberty Bell Cup is coming up!

Posted on by Rob Cook

Liberty-Bell-FB-Image2It’s almost time, the Liberty Bell Cup featuring the Iowa State MTB XC races is on and ready — Rain or Shine! The race route map is attached, Cat 1/Comp/Cat 2/Marathon/Fat Bike is the red line, Cat 3/Juniors is the blue. We also have a contingency alternate route available if it rains (it wont), so plan on racing regardless of the weather!WhiterockRaceMap1

We’ve had many updates in the last few days so here is the summary: Camping is $12 per tent at Starfield, there are 13 official camping spots with fire rings — first come first served, but the entire Starfield has been made available for the race as well so there is plenty of camping available. There are real plumbed showers/toilets at Starfield as well.  There will be a community grill available for cooking Saturday night. On Saturday there will be guided rides on the trails and a night ride as well, bring your lights as it gets DARK there.

Please take advantage of pre-registering at USAC, we have special swag we will draw for if you pre-register. This helps us judge how much food and drink to bring so pre-registering is appreciated.

SUNDAY, Sunday, sunday!!! After the races be ready to have some hamburgers and hotdogs that were graciously donated by the Jefferson HyVee, in addition we’ll have cold Oskar Blues beer available! Also want to thank Communication Innovators for donating $200 for ice to keep the beer cold as well as some sides to go with the meats.
OBOval

We’ve made contact with our neighbors to the West and North as well so hopefully we’ll have some fun interstate competition with the racers from Nebraska and Minnesota, let’s show ’em a great time and who the best MTB’ers are in the Midwest 🙂 I can’t wait to see everyone at Whiterock, hope your week goes fast and we’ll see you at the races!

Please Welcome our Newest Series Sponsor

Posted on by Rob Cook

OBB_NoLocationLast week Bruce Brown and I met with Luke Johnson, the Iowa and Nebraska regional representative for Oskar Blues Brewery. Oskar Blues is the 14th largest craft brewery in the US and the original “craft brew in a can” brewer. The founder of Oskar Blues, Dale Katechis, is an avid mountain biker himself also is the creator of Reeb bicycles.dales_logo

The Liberty Bell Cup at Whiterock Conservancy will mark the beginning of this partnership, with Luke on hand to spread the word… and the beer! Please join me in welcoming Oskar Blues to the series, go pick up a 6-pack to celebrate and get ready to have a cold one after the races this year.

 

Seven Oaks MTB Race – 3rd time’s a charm – is set to go this Sunday Aug. 30

Posted on by Rob Cook
Hope you are ready for another great day of IMBCS racing. Please see start time details and other important info on the flyer and the race page.Bike Race_Revised_Aug30_v2-page-001
A couple of points to highlight:
1.  The course is in great shape, MUCH improved from early this spring.  Please come in time (Or Saturday) to pre-ride and see the new berms, switchbacks, revamped bridges…
2. Thanks to Seven Oaks for giving racers FREE camping on Saturday night!  The forecast for Saturday and Sunday couldn’t be much better for a campout so take advantage!
** If camping, just tell the staff at the lodge, or the camp host that you are racing and pick your spot. It is a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED campground so no reservations to make.
3.  PLEASE PREREGISTER if you can since we are having chip timing, and it will make getting number plates ready ahead of time much easier for everyone.  Preregistration is open until 12:00 noon on Friday Aug. 28.
4. The forecast, so far, looks to be chances of rain Thursday and Friday morning, then dry by Friday noon and through all of Sunday.  As usual though, stay tuned to the website imbcs.org and/or the imbcs facebook page for the latest updates.