Chequamegon 40 | Mountain Bike Race

Chequamegon 40 Mountain Bike Race

The Chequamegon 40 is a point-to-point mass-start mountain bike race that runs from Hayward to Cable, Wisconsin every September, over the American Birkebeiner Ski Trail. It’s been running since 1983 and is one of the bigger mountain bike races in the country. The course is 40 miles of wide grass trails, forest roads, and doubletrack … Read more

Cuyuna | Mountain Bike Race

The Cuyuna race is part of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series — a multi-race summer series that runs at trail systems around the state from June through September. The Cuyuna stop is held at the Cuyuna Lakes trail system near Ironton, which is one of the best trail networks in the upper Midwest. The MN … Read more

Tioga | Mountain Bike Race

The Tioga race is part of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series and is held at the Tioga trail system near Barnum, Minnesota — a DNR trail network with a good mix of climbs and flow sections that makes for an interesting XC race course. It’s a smaller venue than Cuyuna but a solid race, and … Read more

Wilderman | Offroad Triathlon

Wilderman Offroad Triathlon

The Wilderman is an off-road triathlon in North Dakota. At a glance Location North Dakota Discipline Off-road triathlon Distance Full iron-distance offroad triathlon When June 2018 Results Steve 2nd place — 23 hrs and 43 min The Wilderman Offroad Triathlon was my first swim, bike, run triathlon and it is a full IronMan distance. I’ve … Read more

Grantsburg | Adventure Triathlon

Grantsburg Adventure Triathlon Race

The Grantsburg Adventure Triathlon is a bike-paddle-run race in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. At a glance Location Grantsburg, Wisconsin Discipline Adventure triathlon (bike, paddle, run) Distance 19 mi bike / 1.5 mi kayak / 8 mi run When July Results and Race Recaps 2018 · 2017 2018 Results Steve 4th place The Grantsburg Tri is a fun, … Read more

Frozen Forty | Fat Bike Race

Frozen Forty Fat Bike Race

The Frozen Forty is a winter fat bike race in Minnesota — 40-plus miles of all singletrack. As Steve put it, not many fat bike races are entirely singletrack, which makes this one pretty unique. At a glance Location Minnesota Discipline Fat bike race Distance 40+ miles, all singletrack When Winter (February) 2016 Results Steve … Read more

Solstice Chase | Fat Bike Race

Solstice Chase Fat Bike Race

The Solstice Chase is a fat bike race I’ve done twice — once in 2015 at Big Rock Creek, which was actually my first ever fat bike race, and once in 2017 on the Woolly Bike Club trails. The race and venue has moved around over the years. Check the race website for current details. … Read more

Freezer Burn | Fat Bike Race

Freezer Burn Fat Bike Race

The Freezer Burn is a winter fat bike race in Minnesota. At a glance Location Minnesota Discipline Fat bike race When January 2017 Results Steve (15 mile) 13th in 1hr 34min The Freezer Burn Fat Bike Race was a small low key race that turned out to be a fun little event. The race fields … Read more

Fat Vasa | Fat Bike Race

Mora Fat Vasa Fat Bike Race

The Fat Vasa is a fat bike race held in Traverse City, Michigan in February on the VASA trail system. Multiple distances. I did the 18-mile option in 2020. fatvasa.com At a glance Location Minnesota Discipline Fat bike Distance ~18 miles When February Official site fatvasa.com 2020 Results Steve (18 mile) 16th in 1hr 16min … Read more

Mammoth Gravel Classic | Gravel Race

Mammoth Gravel Classic Gravel Ride

At a glance Location Wisconsin Discipline Gravel Distance ~100 miles Results and Race Recaps 2016 Results Steve (104 miles) – It was a ride with no results, but we sure went out like it was a race. Bike setups Steve Bike: Felt Edict NINE 3 Mountain Bike · Wheels: Stock WTB Wheels · Tires: Stock … Read more

Epic Bike Fest | Mountain Bike Race

Epic Bike Fest | Mountain Bike Race

Epic Bike Fest — formerly the Borah Epic — is a mountain bike race in Wisconsin. Steve raced it in 2017, an under-the-radar event he was surprised more people do not talk about. At a glance Location Wisconsin Discipline Mountain bike race Distance ~25 miles 2017 Results Steve 39th overall I had actually heard very … Read more

Tuscobia 80 | Fat Bike Race

Tuscobia Fat Bike Race

The Tuscobia is a winter ultra race held in northern Wisconsin in January. Multiple distances — the 80-mile option is what I did. It’s a self-supported fat bike race on snowmobile trail and it can get seriously cold. I did the 80 in 2021/22 and finished 4th male, 5th overall. tuscobia.com At a glance Location … Read more

Polar Roll | Fat Bike Race

Polor Roll Fat Bike Bike Race

The Polar Roll is a fat bike race held in February in Marquette, Michigan. It runs through the RAMBA trail system on snow — the same trails as the Marji Gesick 100. Multiple distance options. I’ve done this one three times. polarroll.com At a glance Location Marquette, MI Discipline Fat bike When February Official site … Read more

Shenandoah 100 | Mountain Bike Race

Shenandoah 100 Mountain Bike Race

The Shenandoah 100 is a 100-mile mountain bike race held every September in Stokesville, Virginia, in the George Washington National Forest. It’s considered one of the classic American 100-milers — serious climbing, mixed terrain of forest roads and singletrack, and a well-organized event that’s been running since 1999. The Shenandoah Valley in fall is a … Read more

Wilderness 101 | Mountain Bike Race

Wilderness 101 Mountain Bike Race

The Wilderness 101 is a 101-mile cross-country mountain bike race held every July in the Rothrock State Forest of central Pennsylvania. It’s one of the original American endurance mountain bike races — been around since 2003 — and it covers genuinely technical terrain with a lot of climbing. Pennsylvania forests are no joke: rooty, rocky, … Read more

Lutsen 99er | Mountain Bike Race

Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race

At a glance Location Lutsen, Minnesota (Superior National Forest) Discipline Mountain bike race Distance 99 miles (39-mile option) When June Official site lutsen99er.com Results and Race Recaps 2017 · 2015 · 2014 2017 Results Best finish, but wet and cold race. Steve (99 mile) 42nd in 6hr 49min Bike setup Steve Bike: Felt Edict NINE … Read more

Marji Gesick 100 | Mountain Bike Race

Marji Gesick 100 Mountain Bike Race

The Marji Gesick 100 is a 100-mile mountain bike race held in the Marquette area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every September. It’s not a normal 100 miler — the course is brutal, the cutoffs are tight, and the buckle is legitimately hard to earn. You’re riding through the RAMBA trail system and surrounding terrain, which … Read more

Ore To Shore | Mountain Bike Race

Ore To Shore Mountain Bike Race

The Ore to Shore is a point-to-point mountain bike race that runs from Ishpeming to Marquette, Michigan every August — 48 miles for the long course, 28 miles for the short. It covers a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, snowmobile trails, and fire roads through the UP terrain around Marquette. It’s more mountain bikey than the … Read more

Copper Harbor Trails Fest | Mountain Bike Race

Copper Harbor Trails Fest Mountain Bike Race

The Copper Harbor Trails Fest is a mountain bike festival and race weekend held every August at the tip of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The trail system up there is genuinely world class — technical, rooty, rocky, with elevation changes that don’t mess around. The race has a 30-mile long course and a shorter option, and … Read more

Salsa Spearfish Deluxe — 2025 | Bike Review

Salsa Spearfish Review

2025 Salsa Spearfish Deluxe – Full Ride Review Jump Ahead Video Review Overview & What’s New on the 2025 Spearfish Deluxe The 2025 Salsa Spearfish Deluxe we tested began as the stock XO Transmission + Flight Attendant build. For our Bentonville trip and the Little Sugar race, we swapped several components to match our preferred … Read more

Cervelo R5 — 2026 First Look | Bike Review

R5 Road Bike Review

2026 Cervelo R5 – First Ride Review Jump Ahead Video Review What’s New on the 2026 R5 Cervelo focused heavily on weight reduction for this generation. Nearly every component was trimmed: frame, fork, hardware, cockpit, and seatstays. The bike ships just under 15 pounds with TPU tubes. With both TPU tubes installed, it is slightly … Read more

Salsa Spearfish — Eagle 90 T-Type Trail | Custom Build Review

Salsa Spearfish SRAM 90 Custom Build

Build Overview This Salsa Spearfish custom build is set up as a more all-around, trail-focused version compared to the XC-oriented Spearfish build we shared previously. Fall is the season where we get creative in the shop — sifting through takeoff parts, leftover pieces from other custom builds, and mixing them with new parts to put … Read more

Salsa Spearfish — SRAM XX Transmission XC | Custom Build Review

Salsa Spearfish SRAM XX Reserve Custom Build

Build Overview This Salsa Spearfish custom build is a dialed-in, modern XC bike with 120 mm travel front and rear, progressive geometry, and the latest SRAM XX Transmission drivetrain. Built for a customer, this one is already sold — but we’re sharing it to show what’s possible as we plan more Spearfish builds for next … Read more

Niner AIR 9 RDO — GX Eagle XC Hardtail | Custom Build Review

Custom Niner AIR 9 RDO

Build Overview This Niner AIR 9 RDO started life as a 3-Star build, which normally includes a GX drivetrain, Fox Factory suspension, and carbon touchpoints. For this one, we mixed in some 2-Star components from custom aluminum AIR 9 builds to hit an unbeatable price while keeping the core performance parts intact. The result is … Read more

Niner AIR 9 — GX Eagle XC Hardtail | Custom Build Review

Niner AIR 9 — GX Eagle XC Hardtail | Custom Build Review

Build Overview This is one of our custom-built 3-Star Niner AIR 9s — the aluminum version. Niner doesn’t offer this configuration, but we ended up with extra 3-Star parts kits from AIR 9 RDO carbon builds and realized we could create some really strong budget-friendly hardtails by pairing those kits with the AIR 9 alloy … Read more

TIME ADHX 45 — Campagnolo Ekar 13-Speed | Custom Build Review

TIME ADHX 45 — Campagnolo Ekar 13-Speed | Custom Build Review

Watch the full custom build walkthrough on the Maklin Bikes YouTube channel This might be Steve’s favorite build yet — a red TIME ADHX 45 custom built for a customer, running a full Whisky cockpit and wheelset with a Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed drivetrain. Here’s the frame, the wheels and tires, the drivetrain, the touch points, … Read more

Niner RLT 9 RDO — Apex/Rival XPLR | Custom Build Review

Niner RLT 9 RDO — Apex/Rival XPLR | Custom Build Review

Build Overview This 56cm Niner RLT 9 RDO was built alongside the 53cm version as a custom pair for a couple upgrading their bikes. This build lands at what we’d call a “2.5-Star” configuration—primarily an Apex drivetrain with some smart upgrades, including a Rival rear derailleur and a few component swaps that make the bike … Read more

Vittoria Mezcal Gravel Tire Review

Vittoria Mezcal Gravel Endurance Tire Review

Bikes and Wheels We’ve Ridden With These Tires Niner RLT 9 RDO TIME ADHX 45 Races We’ve Done On These Tires Quick Bullet Notes (Good or Bad) Our General Thoughts On These Tires These tires are great and that should be no surprise as they are based on the popular Mezcal mountain bike xc race … Read more

Challenge Strada Bianca Gravel Tire Review

Challenge Strada Bianca Tire Review

Bikes and Wheels We’ve Ridden With These Tires Niner RLT 9 RDO Cervelo Aspero-5 Bianchi Arcadex Jamis Renagade Quick Bullet Notes (Good or Bad) Our General Thoughts On These Tires We really like these tires for gravel. They are 1 of our favorites and always have a set mounted up. We’ve also ridden 33s all … Read more

Freedhem 76 | Gravel Race

Freedhem 76 Gravel Bike Race

We have raced the Freedhem 76 Gravel race a few times now and the boys (Kyle and Reid) did their first 100 miler this year with the Freedhem 106. It’s a nice grassroots event that has a great turnout. I feel like it has become one of the top gravel events in Minnesota.

Badlands Gravel Battle | Gravel Race

Badlands Gravel Battle Gravel Bike Race

We’ve been out to the Badlands Gravel Battle a few times, with the crew covering all 3 of the race distances (120, 80 and 40 miles) over the years. It was a mud fest this past year, but the crew still all had great rides, avoiding any tire punctures unlike my first year out to the Badlands.

Gomez Peak Mountain Bike Trails | New Mexico

Little Walnut Mountain Bike Trails

The trails around Gomez Peak are shared use and more like backcountry hiking trails than mountain bike trails, but they make for a good technical mountain bike ride with some hard climbing. The climb to the top is well worth the views and the mountain bike ride back down.

Redhead Mountain Bike Trails | Minnesota

Redhead Mountain Bike Trails in Chisholm, Minnesota are a really fun place to ride and race mountain bikes. The trails include beginner to advanced trails with everything in between. It is also one of our favorite trails to race in the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series.

Mt. Kato | Mountain Bike Race

Mt Kato mountain bike race

The Mt Kato Mountain Bike Race is a bit of a love & hate thing… Each lap you climb the full front side and the full back side of the ski hill, along with mid lap going about half way down and back to the top again. It’s a hard course and the reward sections are short, but there is something about it that has us coming back most years. If you like climbing, this is your XC race.

Niner RLT 9 Steel — GRX 12-Speed | Custom Build Review

Watch the full build walkthrough on the Maklin Bikes YouTube channel A frame-up custom on the Niner RLT 9 steel frame — the latest Shimano GRX 12-speed drivetrain, a shop-built wheelset, and a classic, understated steel look. One of a run of RLT customs going out the door, and one that looked too good not … Read more

Woolly Bike Club | Mountain Bike Race

The Woolly Bike Club Mountain Bike Race is our most local race with the trails only being about 10 minutes from our shop and about 30 minutes from home. We know the trails well and although we’re obviously a bit biased, we do think it is one of the better run and organized races in the series for a variety of reasons, such as it’s always well marked, has volunteers and sometimes multiple at any crossing or intersections, the infield (start/finish) area is well setup and they always have an ample amount of porta-jons.

Gamehaven | Mountain Bike Race

The Gamehaven Mountain Bike Race is part of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series and is held at the Scout Camp on the Gamehaven Reservoir trail in Rochester, MN. It’s a nice course for racing with opportunity to pass and a variety of singletrack.