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Earlier this year, Andrea Larson became the first ever female finisher of the Marji Gesick 200 which only takes place every 5 years. She had previously completed the MG-100, running it on foot in 2019. Hear her story, in 2 parts, of planning and completing this grueling race. Words by Andrea Larson I had only talked to one person ever in the MG200 bike, so when we funneled into the West End Ski & Trail bike shop beforehand, I sat nervously by myself for what seemed like an eternity. As others chatted with friends recounting past experiences, I had imposter syndrome. This event wasn’t open to anyone, you needed to provide a resume before you were granted registration. I had only competed in one other bike race in my life, a local lapped event that I dress rehearsed many times with about half the course weaving on ski trails to allow for passing lanes, so just a tad different than what I was able to face head on. But with 60 bikers, surely I could keep up with someone? Imposter syndrome in full swing as I stuffed my face waiting for the start. At 7:59 am, we were informed that as soon as they opened the door we were on the clock. So although it wasn’t an official Le Mans start, a few people had to run to their car as none of us expected to be holed up in the bike shop for so long. I had already pulled up the route on my Garmin, so all I had to do was find my bike and go. Although I hadn’t noted where I ditched my bike with my crew, where’s Waldo” was very brief and I found myself one of the first people to depart. (In hindsight, this ended up being right where I belonged, not in the back where I intended to line up.) I started slow to allow the field to fly by me, but I was surprised at the lack of chaos, even for the out-and-back up Jasper Knob, just a mile into the race. I pre-meditated being last, hike-a-biking to the top while others flew down the hill, but I was in the majority! I stopped to give the woman that hooked her handlebar on the fence during the descent back something that flew off her bike, a small thank you for committing the error I most likely would have. Surviving the Early Miles As we hit the trails, racers didn’t seem at all jockeying for position. I found myself in the mix and tried to hang with others. After nearly 1.5 hours into the race, we popped out to Cliff Drive for the first time and I knew I needed to eat before I dug myself into a calorie deficit. Unfortunately, I slowed just enough to lose the pack and instantly discovered I would not catch anyone once I lost sight. This was only compounded since now I needed to slow at every unmarked intersection to ensure I didn’t make a wrong turn. I quickly became paranoid that I had inadvertently cut off a section of the course and would be DQ’d, especially with the frequent chirping of my Garmin indicating I was “off course”. How could I possibly not see another rider with all the switchbacks unless I jumped ahead on the course? Having my Garmin on with the map loaded eliminated chaos with the improvised Le Mans start. I breathed a sigh of relief as I entered Jackson Park and my mileage matched up. Now I could celebrate being 45 minutes under my time estimate. I also had confidence after navigating a portion of the course I was least familiar with on my own I’d be fine the rest of the race. I saw my crew for the first time and stopped only long enough to down some canned soup, replace my bottlesPart 1 and grab some more food. As I prepared to depart after my brief stop, a pack of riders departing was in sight. Then it got better, a spectator informed me I was 21st. I was elated. The race was unfolding better than I could have imagined. I was able to make contact quickly with the pack where I happily sat in the back. I hoped I’d be able to stick with the pack up Cheese Grater and found I my pace was compatible with the group. I witnessed my biggest crash of the race, the leader of our pack falling and losing a shoe…uphill…while hike-a-biking Sissy Pants. Only in Marji! Losing the Pack We were blazing compared to my scouting times. I found myself moving up in the pack as the first rider or two would occasionally bobble a turn on the unmarked course. I felt out of place when I found myself in the front as we made the climb up Deer Shit, then a photographer popped out of nowhere to capture the moment. I figured I’d slow the entire paceline down as I fumbled. I felt anxiety as I tried to quickly dismount to hike-a-bike the punchy climb, sneaking peaks behind me to make sure riders weren’t ready to storm past. I knew the descent was super technical so I offered a pass multiple times to the rider behind me but he said he didn’t need to since he wasn’t a strong descender either. When I finally got a good look behind me, I couldn’t believe what I saw – there was just the two of us. I managed to get down the hill unscathed and rolled through Ispheming wondering how I possibly gapped the other riders. Surely, they must have had a calamity such as a massive pileup following a wrong turn. Soon after, my lone companion abandoned me (read the full story in Part 1). Trying to hike-a-bike hastily up to not slow down the phantom pack behind me. Knowing I was in a solid position (15th place) and feeling strong, I felt the cloud of tension lift. With having to navigate the course solo, I figured the pack would swallow me up going up Last Bluff, but they never came, further bolstering my confidence. I relaxed and I rolled my own pace all the way to Jackson Park. I cranked through the mindless miles on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail which seemed so monotonous that I opted to hike-a-bike any ascent on the subsequent snowmobile trail (I was on my bike for a whopping ½ hour and needed a stretch)! Someone jogging down the trail mentioned something about something in the middle of the trail but I didn’t catch the details. I didn’t recall any hazards during my preride. After awhile I figured I missed the hazard, only to come across a rider lying in the middle of the trail with another rider waiting with him. They said they didn’t need anything and as I passed I realized this was what I was warned of. Of all the trails at Marji to break a collarbone, this snowmobile trail was at the bottom of the list. Speaking of lists, I figured my own medical or mechanical would likely end my day, but I never considered having to assist with someone else’s…the ways your day at Marji could end with #quitter just got longer. Drenched I was surprised how dark the woods had become. I knew days were getting short, but night couldn’t be approaching yet. My watch read 3:30 pm so that meant the spotty showers were coming after all. Figures since I remembered for the first time in the race to put on sunscreen as I left Jackson Park AND was charging my Garmin and phone for the first time. But at least I forgot my sunglasses (again) which would now be a liability. As soon as the first drops fell moments before connecting to the South Marquette singletrack, I pulled over to pull the cords and put my phone in a Ziplock knowing I could be sopping wet quickly. And I was. Ironically, I had a conversation with my crew that for this event I wouldn’t need to worry about wet feet (in ultra marathons wet feet often wreak havoc). Wrong. I wondered what the soil type was since the water was pooling on the singletrack and it felt like I was winding down a waterslide. How long would it take to drain? I almost stopped to take a photo of the river I was riding through since it was crazy. My feet were quickly soaked from the constant water spray off my wheels as I spun through the Pioneer Loop. Turns out neither Negaunee nor Forestville received a drop of rain. Despite skimming across constant puddles, I felt like I was maintaining a solid pace. I was glad to be climbing up Pipe Dreams rather than descending off the slick pipe for a nightmare. Off Grade was off-putting as I was especially cautious my first time ever descending the trail with potentially slippery rocks and wet brakes. I survived the descent and welcomed the stranger that offered to clean my chain at Marquette Mountain (thank you!) while I swapped bottles. I didn’t have much to restock for food since I was now several hours ahead of my time estimate. I hadn’t scouted Easy Ride since it required a downhill trail pass, so it was nice to scout on the uphill in preparation for the descent the next day. I was grateful that while scouting we were forced to turn around and ride down Zueg’s. Now I knew exactly were the technical ledges were and even enjoyed the final switchbacks before crossing the Carp River (as well the subsequent climb up Baby Blue). I descended keeping in mind that I needed to be alert for runners and I was surprised that I hadn’t met a single runner. During my 2019 MG100 run, I had met the first 200 mile rider at South Marquette Trailhead and continued to meet riders on the other side of South McClellan Avenue. I finally began meeting runners, and I gave every single one encouragement since I had been in their shoes five years ago. Thanks to my crew Candy for doing all the thankless tasks behind the scenes! I couldn’t believe the time discrepancy of the climb up Scary Trail versus the descent on Mount Marquette Road. Despite my cautious descent, it took maybe two minutes after climbing for eons. To no surprise, Gurly was also much easier descending mid-race than ascending during my first scouting ride. I looked forward to getting out of my wet grit-laden clothes as soon as the trails drained, so I took the opportunity of a full wardrobe change in the outhouse at South Marquette Trailhead. I figured the mud had packed into my cleats, causing issues clipping in. Luckily the next stretch didn’t have as much hike-a-bike, so I instructed my crew to clean my cleats and have my shoes dry at Lowes. When asked how they should accomplish it, I gave them the creative liberty to figure it out. Crews do a ton of thankless things on race day and blow drying someone’s stinky, muddy shoes is just another task on that long list. Thanks to my crew Candy for doing all the thankless tasks behind the scenes! Going with the flow After several (almost too easy) miles of fast & flowy singletrack, I was back to reality on the doubletrack north of Hwy 41. Since the trail uses private property, we can’t scout this trail. What appeared on paper to be “easy” turned out to be energy-sucking. As I had done earlier on the snowmobile trail between Negaunee and South Marquette, I took what the trail gave me when I hit the sandy portions. Rather than expending extra energy spinning through the sand, I kept a methodical pace until I couldn’t and then dismounted for the thousandth time for yet another hike-a-bike. I couldn’t believe I was still meeting runners all the way to here. Lowes Trail was such a treat since there were essentially trail markers in the backwards direction. Since no trail markers were allowed on trees, I could easily spot trail markers on stakes intended for the forward direction. The final 100 miles would be so luxurious with trail markers! After passing the first riders I’ve seen since mile 27, I was thrilled to connect with a small pack of riders after a brief stop. I was nearly hypnotized on Silver Lead as we constantly wove back and forth on the downhill like an amusement park ride. I struggled to maintain the downhill pace. With a slight bobble, I had not only lost contact with the pack, but I couldn’t even see a headlamp. I couldn’t believe it; I hadn’t even tapped down…how could they be gone that quick? Now with hesitating at intersections, especially since I hadn’t ridden this trail in the dark nor in this direction, there was no hope I’d catch them. Company was short-lived, and I continued on my solitude journey into the darkness as I circumnavigated the reservoir. Lost in the woods I had deemed Pine Knob unrideable for my skill level and planned to not even attempt to ride the trail. As expected, the route finding in the dark also was a factor and I’m incredibly thankful for my Garmin. Despite all the nuisance “off route” alarms, this was the one time I was truly off route. In the darkness, I had somehow circled back on myself and had begun backtracking! This would have been demoralizing since I was almost done with the nearly mile hike-a-bike and I would have most certainly not realized my error until reaching the trail intersection, resulting in almost three miles of continuous hike-a-bike! Thankfully, disaster averted. For the first time since the opening section, I became out-of-touch with where I was and suddenly found myself at Forestville Trailhead. The plan to place a slow moving vehicle sign (which I almost ditched at home) near the trail worked marvelously to find my crew in the dark. I’d be meeting every single out-and-back rider on this section. Once again, I cheered each rider on. I was surprised that nearly every rider was solo ahead of me. Perhaps I wasn’t riding at a disadvantage as a Lone Ranger after all. Despite being confident in my navigation on this section, I had enough hesitation at intersections that I couldn’t wait to have trail marking for the rest of the way! I was also thankful that I was well enough ahead of cutoff that I wouldn’t end up being forced to wait on the climb up Beagle Club Road as hundreds of 100 milers flew down. Around and Around The old railway line near Harlow Lake seemed much easier in this direction than the forward direction and the climb up Beagle Club Road was very manageable. However, lugging up my bike to the Top of the World was not…especially when I lost the trail, got cliffed out, and had to carry my bike down the boulders I had just struggled hoisting my bike up. All so fitting for Marji. I arrived at the halfway point at the Forestville Trailhead ready to tackle the forward direction…with trail markings! I managed to not puncture a tire on the old railroad spikes protruding on old railway line. I did however manage my second hardest fall as I jumped on the trail. The highlight of my second lap around Harlow Lake was meeting Jenny Acker and Jill Martindale still on pace to finish. Soon after leaving Forestville, I kicked myself for accidentally beginning my Pine Knob hike-a-bike too early. I accidentally hike-a-biked Mildcat, no wonder it looked rideable! The prelude resulted in extending my continuous hike-a-bike to almost 1 ½ miles. Day 2 I progressed to Lowes Trail and couldn’t believe I was hearing heavy metal before daylight for the 100 mile racers. As I neared the South Marquette trailhead I was hoping the 50 mile riders wouldn’t be riding up Flow as I was trying to descend. I had glimpsed a Marji 2-way trail sign there on the way out and fretted this was part of the 50 mile course. I’d be the only SOL that would need to negotiate past a conga line. I kept checking my watch and trying to figure out where I might meet them. What time did they start? How many miles of road did they have before connecting to the trails? And where did they jump onto the 100 mile course? After fretting for hours, I was relieved to make it down Flow without seeing a single person. I didn’t pre-ride Flow since it was a last minute addition to the 2024 course and boy, its name was a paradox. As I ascended Gurly, I could see the 50 mile riders flying down Mount Marquette Road. I was thinking my crossing to Doctor Trail may get dicey but I got the perfect break in riders and my crossing was uneventful. My climb up Mount Marquette Road took a bit (*heavy sacarsm*) longer than my earlier stint down. After descending Scary Trail, the first sign for a token was at (of course) an opportune place to lose momentum. The first of several empty jack-o’-lanterns, I imagined the smirk on Todd’s face and continued on to Marquette Mountain. Issues My cleats were becoming very problematic to clip in. I figured out that if I went very pigeon-toed, I could get them in slightly easier. So when I met up with my crew, I asked to have them inspected. Although a missing screw explained why one shoe was problematic, why was the other shoe equally bad? Turns out I unclipped so often, that I wore out the brand new cleats I broke in just in time for the race. The climb up Off Grade was far less stressful than the descent in the opposite direction. I enjoyed the dry trails as I buzzed on the Pioneer Loop which were now completely dry before connecting with the snowmobile trail. I caught up to the first runner near the Wurst Aid Station. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail buzzed by this time since I had to call my crew to figure out a game plan since she was crewing her husband in the 100 and shuttling another rider’s car. I didn’t bother stopping in Jackson Park and began catching 50 mile riders. The frequency was so often that I soon realized the energy expenditure to offer encouragement was beyond my reserves. Although every rider offered me encouragement, I was now mute. I couldn’t believe when a rider passed me. I was in denial that with my 35 mile head start I had already been caught by 100 milers. Luckily with that big of a speed disparity it took a blink for the rider to pass me. I was assessing and I had less than the ideal amount of fluid, electrolytes, and fuel. I worried that if I misjudged the time to meet my crew I might start digging myself into a hole. I rationed, but determined I’d stop at the next road crossing if anyone was willing to give me fluids just in case I had misunderstood where my crew was waiting for me. When I heard a chainsaw revving, it took a bit to place myself on the course since the heat was getting to me. Was the heat getting to me? Or my sleep deprivation, electrolyte depletion, calorie deficit, or simply overexertion? I didn’t know, but all I could do was manage each of these elements the best I could so nothing got out of control. I finally realized I was at Stoned Hinge and I needed to hike-a-bike the descent. Even if I was good enough to ride down it, the crazy turn at the bottom through the rocks has to be impossible for any rider to negotiate, right? My crew was exactly where I expected her and I got everything replenished. With all the makeshift aid stations set up at road crossings, I found that shouting “Candy, Candy” as I did earlier in the race misled generous spectators to think I wanted to consume candy. I was so far gone that it never occurred to me after it happened the first time to shout “Candance”! so I had a reoccurance at my next pit stop. The remaining miles to Jackson Park was a borderline death march. I realized I hadn’t peed in several hours and I wouldn’t be able to make it to Jackson Park. With riders crawling over the course like ants, I had to figure out how to go without offending anyone. I devised I’d wait until there was a decent gap and then get really close to catching the next person and then stop. On my first attempt the rider heard me coming and was all too eager to let me pass so I had to wait for another opportunity. When the opportunity came, my bladder was quite full so it seemed like I’d never finish in time, but I managed to squeeze it all out before anybody rounded the corner, whew. With the mercury topping out near record highs, I was dreaming of ice at Jackson Park. I could tell I was on the edge. Plus my cleats were nearly impossible to clip in. More often than not, my feet were sitting atop the eggbeater pedals as I tried to get up the punchy hills and I’d finally get clipped in just in time to unclip. I rolled into Jackson Park which was an absolute zoo. I struggled to find my crew and when I did it was pretty hectic. I couldn’t go any longer in these cleats and waited for my crew to run back to the car to get my backup shoes (again). Ironically, I had ruled out these shoes for the home stretch with expecting to be worn out and hike-a-biking a ton. I didn’t care if I’d be tapdancing on rocks, I was so relieved to have shoes I could instantly clip in! I was so thankful two strangers offered me unlimited ice when they overheard my request. I had plenty of experience on my FKTs to know that I had survived the heat of the day and that it would be cooling off now. I had just one leg left. As I left Jackson Park I was quite queasy and was burping profusely. Luckily, the first mile of singletrack was flowy downhill (at least by Marji standards) and it got me feeling pretty zippy and hopeful there was still a chance I could finish before dark. I had a couple women riders give me quite the cheers as I passed them on a switchback. I felt like I was letting them down since I was running on fumes and couldn’t even acknowledge them. Home Stretch By the time I hit the halfway point of this section at Lake Minnie, it was clear I’d be needing my lighting. I was in awe of the women that began passing me, the first women to do so since I had begun 36 hours earlier. I decided to ride a feature that was very doable during my scouting trip, but in my state, I drifted too far to the right and miraculously survived as visions of me flipping over my handlebars rattled between my ears. I was inching ever so close but as the darkness fell I got more risk adverse. I finally made it to a feature that I had predetermined I’d hike-a-bike (and further cemented after my near crash moments before) despite riding it during my scouting ride. After passing this feature, I finally allowed myself to believe I’d be finishing. Even with a major mechanical, I would be able to carry my defunct bike to the finish. Moments later I had both wheels locked up as I began skidding down a hill, narrowly missing a tree. Correction, I would not be finishing if I’d need a hospital ride. Surely I was home free now. Wrong, as Déjà vu occurred and I was once again skidding uncontrollably down the next hill hoping I would not hit a person or tree. The stress radiating through my body wasn’t worth the risk, but all that mattered was I was still upright. Just one more climb up Jasper Knob where a pile of Dum-Dums awaited us knuckleheads. I picked up the pace to finish strong and I’m glad I did since I unknowingly snuck in just under 37 hours. Presenting my tokens to Todd and now the first ever woman to finish the 200 mile bike! I presented my tokens to Todd who promised me a $2 bill at a later date. I razzed him that he didn’t have one for me since he didn’t think I’d finish. He simply told me, “I never doubted you’d finish.” I thanked him for allowing me to enter the race despite my lack of biking credentials. After 37 hours of complete presence metering my effort: managing my nutrition & hydration, spotting trail markers (or following my Garmin when there was none), and identifying my line, I soon found myself in a daze as my mind & body shut down after completing the goal of reaching the finish line. In the end, my finish time was 8.8% off a buckle. This year’s top 100 mile female rider was 7.9% off a buckle with the next female 9.8% off a buckle. So my result wasn’t too shabby considering most of my summer riding was with my 6 year old son! Over the 37 hours on course, my moving time was 35 1/2 hours. So I’ll don’t have a ton of stoppage time to trim other than my full wardrobe change after getting soaked the first afternoon. I hemorrhaged some time due to worn out cleats, but I am extremely thankful I didn’t have any bike mechanicals. Shaving off three hours is within reach. So with some real training, I’d love to be back in 2029 with confidence at the start line, chasing a buckle! Two Marji finishes with 200 miles this time.

Earlier this year, Andrea Larson became the first ever female finisher of the Marji Gesick 200 which only takes place every 5 years. She had previously completed the MG-100, running it on foot in 2019. Hear her story, in 2 parts, of planning and completing this grueling race. Words by Andrea Larson Find your limits. Destroy them. That’s one of the defining mottos for 906 Adventure Team and notorious Marji Gesick. The epiphany I had mid-race was that my fear was the biggest challenge of completing the Marji Gesick 200. Jeremiah Bishop has stated that the Marji Gesick 100 is the single day hardest bike race in North America. I wondered by doubling the distance with the out-and-back course of the 200 and having two days to finish the event, does that make the 200 harder or easier? The only way to find the answer is to show up on the starting line. Since 2019, I’ve pushed to expand my limits, largely due to the event I have done for the past three years on the same day as Marji, the Baby Barkley, aka the Barkley Fall Classic. Both Laz and Todd have a desire to push the edge of human potential. Because of Todd, I got back into ultras. Because of Laz, I have gone farther distances and into the unknown – learning to navigate and setting multi-day Fastest Known Times (FKTs). Although I knew I’d miss the Barkley Family, I had to return to the Marji when I had the opportunity for expanding my limits in the 200. And the cherry on top is that by bumping up to the 200, I’d double my prize purse from 2019 (or at least I so thought)! Mindset With the expectation I’d be riding solo (since I’d be so far behind the field - see my pre-race blog post for details), I was prepared and didn’t mind riding by myself. In fact, it eased my anxiety not worrying if my lack of technical bike handling would slow someone’s momentum and force them off their bike on a rideable feature. I could feel the anxiety riding in a group. In addition, there were several early descents where I had both wheels locked up skidding hoping I’d regain control before I rammed into a rock, root, or tree. The intensity of each descent would not be sustainable. Since scouting over Labor Day weekend on the trails, it had been dry; however, if this was the culprit, I feared how loose it would be on my return trip after several hundred riders ripped up the trail. Luckily as I relaxed, I didn’t have this problem later on. I ended up riding most of the race solo under the most bizarre circumstances. Even after leaving Jackson Park just three hours into the race, I somehow lost the pack, that is I accidentally dropped them on Deer Shit. Then, the unimaginable happened: the lone remaining rider rolled behind me to announce he’d be leaving me to stop for a coffee. I couldn’t believe my ears. It was noon, are there really coffee addicts that must stop for a coffee in the middle of the day in a race? I ended up riding until dark by myself with the only time I saw any other riders was a rider lying in the middle of the non-technical snowmobile trail with a broken collarbone and someone waiting with him (more details in the following blog post). At dark, I finally caught up to two riders. Literally seconds after making contact, they both randomly stopped. I can’t make this up! (I’d later learn out one rider was having problems turning his headlamp on.) So then my conspiracy theory continued to build…did the guy with the broken collarbone feel me catching up and since there weren’t any coffee shops nearby, he orchestrated a way to break your collarbone instead of riding with me? Risk management Risk management was my motto of the day(s). In fact, I expressed it out loud dozens of times during the race and silently even more frequently as I justified dismounting time and time again. I likely dismounted hundreds of times, and to prove it I wore out my brand new cleats that I broke in just for the event…well before the finish line. But I managed finishing Marji without a drop of blood! I found the limits of my bike shoes…and I destroyed them! Most of my falls were embarrassingly during the hike-a-bike. After my second near fall on an uphill where I tried to save myself by grabbing a tree, I decided it would probably just be safer and expend less energy to fall. Each time I ended up with road rash as I wrapped myself around a tree…if only the trees could talk! Setup modifications The dropper post was invaluable but between fearing the grit from the rain would seize it up and worrying my thumb may get too sore to activate it later in the race, I didn’t use it as much mid-race as I could have. Regardless, I was far less fatigued than when I scouted the trails a few weeks earlier without a dropper post. Changing the handlebar grips last minute was helpful and I only had a slight tingling in my right pinky for a few days. This is much better than my 2012 Wausau24 experience of having two numb fingers for months on an old hardtail. So after that experience, I was conscientious about changing my hand position, especially when I was hike-a-biking and shaking my hands when possible. Fueling strategy Despite a lot of ultra running experience under my belt, I knew that I may gravitate towards different fuel on this effort. On my unsupported running FKTs, I chose the most calorie dense foods. During long runs and adventure races when I don’t navigate I often eat foods to stave off boredom, such as individual M&Ms, peanuts, or gummies. Since I don’t have good balance on a bike and don’t trust myself to ride without hands, granola bars and cookies in pre-opened packages that I could slide a mouthful in at a time was the way to go. During my pre-race scouting, I noted stretches that had non-technical double track and roads where I could quickly refuel. I usually consume about half my calories as liquids for ultra runs, so I planned to consume 500 liquid calories contained in two bottles on my bike frame every few hours. My goal was to have my bottles empty each time I met my crew. Staging my food takes up a large portion of my bedroom the week of races. Protein has become my silver bullet in recent years for long efforts. Therefore, I consumed a boatload of protein during the event. I estimated that I took a bottle with 60 grams of protein 12 times in a day-and-a-half. Yes, that math says I drank nearly ten times the recommended daily dose of protein. And my legs (and arms) felt no fatigue over that time. Caffeine has been shown to improve reaction time by 10%, endurance by 2-5%, and power by 3-8%, with the ideal dose about 300-500mg. I simply took caffeine during night sections to proactively stay alert and gain an edge. Since I normally don’t consume any caffeine, I tend to err on the side of caution, so I usually don’t take caffeine more than I think is necessary. I intentionally chose not to wear a pack. Even though there was potential of bottles rattling out of the cages (which never did), I saw several advantages of no pack which proved useful during the event: 1) less back fatigue, since I used to get a sore back on long rides and especially since I hadn’t conditioned my body for long rides 2) heat dissipation, which was vital for day 2 when temperatures approached record highs in the mid-80s, and 3) less opportunity for getting clammy and cold overnight. Unique considerations As I dove into preparations for the event, I made considerations for things unique to this event. First, I needed to find shoes suitable for hike-a-biking. Folks on the Marji Gesick Talk Facebook group estimated they hiked upwards of ten miles and even recommended running shoes. I considered using my running shoes and Power Grips I use for all adventure races, but opted to dig up my first pair of bike shoes out of the attic. After sitting for 12 years, I dumped out mouse poop and squeezed them on like one of Cinderella’s stepsisters. Over this time, my feet had splayed with my running shoes going up 2 sizes. In the same box was the receipt from the shoes that I bought in 2012 that replaced them and quickly decided not to spend a boatload on a pair of shoes and figured I could make these work. Diligently reviewing my pre-race checklist at the hotel the night before the race. The high degree of technicality gave me an advantage over most bikers with my strength being on foot for all the hike-a-bike sections. Unfortunately, as I rode with Kristy McBride, I was brought back to the reality that a good rider is capable of riding almost all the features and I was not one of them. But Kristy is in a class of her own, even when you throw her into the entire mix with the men. Listening to every podcast I could find on Marji, many riders noticed fatigue in their upper body limiting them more than their legs. I noticed slight soreness in my triceps and am thankful for my double poling workouts on rollerskis and biweekly strength sessions. I was pleasantly surprised that my husband’s old Timex watch that is too big for my wrist (this is my only watch for the past year since I’ve been procrastinating investing into a smartwatch) took until about 30 hours before it had rattled so much that it was bruising my wrist. I made a Labor Day weekend trip to pre-ride the course where I learned how to use my Garmin. My previously longest ride of the summer had only been 4 ½ hours, so I built up my confidence with about 26 hours in the saddle over four days. (Well, not quite, since I did a ton of hike-a-bike, where I came to the sobering conclusion that I didn’t have any speed advantage on foot since I was barely moving as I lugged my bike up punchy climbs or clutched my brake levers so my bike wouldn’t become a runaway train on the descents). Despite pre-riding the entire course in the forward direction (except the private properties) and plus a bit of the course backwards, I had only covered a little over half the distance I’d be covering in a single go! That means rather than breaking up rides, I would be on course almost a full day longer during the event, without any sleep, a sobering conclusion! To boost my confidence, I studied my 2019 MG100 run splits to ensure I could cover the course within the cutoff time. As I scouted, I often noted the lack of free trail. Upon returning to the “hard” trails back home, I amused myself at how easy they were as I danced up hills and rode seamlessly over rocks and roots. Weeks later, I couldn’t believe how little I had to brake while riding technical sections…a stark contrast to the constant white knuckling at Marji. Marji definitely grew me as a rider…after the Marji I had no problems riding a local black diamond trail that I concluded earlier in the summer I wouldn’t bother going on again after struggling and walking most of the trail. After scouting, I wondered if I should just hike-a-bike the entire Scary Trail rather than bother get on and off my bike. Ironically, during the Marji I intentionally stayed off my bike to avoid crashing on a wooden bridge on Scary Trail, (forgetting I was in my backup pair of bike shoes not suitable for hiking) I slipped on the wooden bridge and had my hardest fall of the event. Immediately, I heard someone asking if I was ok. I told the 3rd place 100 mile runner I was ok and he had a front row seat to a great show. Race mode My husband calls me “putt-putt” because I only have one speed mountain biking, slow whether I’m going for an hour or all day. And this summer a lot of my mountain biking was with the kids, so I didn’t get any faster. However, I was pleasantly surprised that despite starting a two day race, I had speed. Since my last (and only) bike races were in 2012 and 2018, I didn’t have any relevant data points. I’ve raced very little in the past couple of years. In fact, I was blown away at my foot speed in my last running race, exactly a year ago, the Barkley Fall Classic. Since this event falls on the same day as the Marji Gesick, I’ve had to pick one or the other each year. This year with the Marji Gesick offering the 200, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity which was amazing in every way. For a detailed breakdown of the race, check out my following blog post. Thank you to Todd and the entire 906 Adventure Team for what you do inside and outside of the 906 area code. You have changed my trajectory, empowering me to take on new challenges. I look forward to chasing a buckle in 2029.

Author: Josh Rizzo @the_nxrth The Nxrth is your basecamp for all things gravel, fat, and bikepacking in the Northwoods of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the U.P. We'll be posting regular event coverage, ride reports, and stories of the creative and adventurous cyclists from around these parts. Hey friends and riding partners! This is Josh Rizzo from The Nxrth. I started this site in January of 2022 to tell your stories and highlight the incredible, wild, and beautiful places we love to ride. Join the community by signing up for The Nxrth newsletter and we'll keep you in the know. Let's ride! About Me Based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, I'm a sucker for overnighters, winter cycling, and biking to the local pizza farm with my wife and kids. I love short adventures. My main philosophy around bike adventures comes from Edmund Hillary (the first person to climb Mount Everest's summit) who said, "I have found that long expeditions are rarely as much fun as short ones". My goal is to connect the off-pavement cycling community with the best events, people, and destinations in the Northwoods. If you have a story or event you want to share, feel free to get in touch! What Does "The Nxrth" Mean? You know what, that's a great question. The answer is...I'm not exactly sure. I love the feeling of having our own special thing in the Northwoods and I guess the "x" reminds me of turning every ride into an adventure, getting off-grid, finding new paths, and just enjoying creation together. Wow - what a beautiful world we live in! (Plus, adding an "x" just makes everything look cooler.) New Here? Here's Where To Start. I'm jacked that you stopped in to check the place out! Here is where I recommend starting. 1. Join The Nxrth newsletter The number one way to join the community and learn about new events, connect with other cyclists, and read route reports. 2. Follow us on Instagram Get inspired with beautiful photography of epic rides from your own neighbors doing what they love most: riding bikes and trying not to get injured. 3. Join us on The Nxrth+ for exclusive exclusive routes, maps, stories, and guides all year long. Support the community and adventures you love up north by joining us on The Nxrth+. Your support helps us grow this community and you get unlimited access to everything everywhere on The Nxrth. 4. Discover an incredible gravel race or fatbiking race with our complete event listings. The Nxrth has the only complete listing of every single gravel and fatbike race in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and U.P. 5. Check out our extensive map collection of WI Bikepacking & MN Bikepacking routes. This is my favorite part of the website, our collection of bikepacking routes to discover new adventures right here in the woods that we live in and love. Well, hey, keep in touch. Have a story to share or just want to say "hi"? Reach out at josh at thenxrth dot com. Hopefully I'll get to meet more of you, ride together, or bump into eachother at an event someday. In the meantime, poke around the site and let me know what we can add. Thanks! Josh Rizzo

Winter trail grooming for fat bikes is a process that takes trial and error. GetGetting the Here we give an overview of the process as well well as tips for grooming and choosing the best equipment. This guide is written in collaboration with the WinMan trails grooming team. Jump to Section The Trail Grooming Process Types of Trail Groomers How to Pull a Trail Groomer Tips for Grooming Fat Bike Trails Best Fat Bike Trail Groomers A perfectly groomed fat bike trail is an art form that's dependent on a lot of different factors. Temperature, snow depth, moisture content, and the natural curves of the terrain all play huge roles in the groomability of your singletrack trail under the winter snow.. In this guide, we'll talk about the process of grooming snow, types of groomers, tips for tricky situations, and the best groomers for singletrack trails. 3 Parts of the Trail Grooming Process 1. Remove the Snow If the snow is deep and dry, your first step is snow removal which not all trail grooming equipment does. Deep dry snow just isn't going to compact no matter how many times your run over it, so you'll want to plow excess snow off of the trail to get ready for compacting your base. 2. Compact the Snow To make a long lasting trail, you'll need a firm base that isn't going to smoosh like mashed potatoes or be prone to ruts. Compact the snow with with a heavy groomer, weighted pan, or weighted DIY tire pull. 3. Shape the Snow This is optional but separates great trails from the rest. Shape the snow using a grooming pan with manufactured wings or DIY tire pull with handmade wings. This creates a beautifully concaved trail that is a blast to ride on rollers and berms and helps the whole trail profile to hold up better. Types of Fat Bike Trail Groomers Here's what makes a trail groomer. Some of these are types of groomers while others are components of a groomer. For example, an all-in-one groomer might have a plow in the front, a main pan that can be weighted down, as well as a corduroy scraper to texture the snow in the back. Rollers Rollers are best for creating a new, basic trail in the snow rather than going over an already built trail or a trail with features. They work best in flatter areas since they aren't great for slinging them up a berm. If you're trying to use them on berms, they just slide down and don't usually stay in the desired path. But if you're looking to pack down a few inches at a time, rollers do a great job. Corduroy Scraper Corduroy scrapers are usually an additional component of a trail groomer rather than a stand alone groomer. They drag on the back to further compact the snow and remove air. Some would consider corduroy scrapers to be unnecessary. But when there isn't very much snow, they add traction and can help prevent slipping around and causing further icing. Plow Pretty straight forward, plows remove the snow and if you have a deep snowfall, these are non negotiable. Before you can event start compact or shaping your base, you'll first need to make a pass or two with the plow to remove excess snow. Pan This is the flat part of the groomer which is often behind the plow and in front of the scraper. You can add weight to the pan to help compact the snow. Sno-Blaster Sno-Blaster is a brand, but it's a popular brand and deserves mentioning here. They're really customizable and have several of the necessary components (but not all) of trail grooming. If you want to establish a compact base with minimal snow, this will probably do everything you need. But if there are undulations in the trail, sloped corners, or berms, you'll need a DIY tire draft to get those rounded corners and create a bobsled chute. DIY Tire Drag It might seem like a DIY tire drag is a low-class way to make a fat bike trail, but a correctly built tire drag creates that heavenly concaved bobsled chute that no other single track groomer can come close to making. In deep snow, you'll still need to make a few passes with a plow, but then the tire drag can work its magic. The reason they're so great is because they're so customizable. You can add 50-100 pounds to the tire, bolt a scraper to the back, add a fin on the underside, and create wings for the perfect concave trail. When you sling it around angled corners, you can create amazing berms that make other trails jealous. See below for an example form WinMan trails. How to Pull a Fat Bike Trail Groomer You've got two options for pulling a singletrack trail groomer. You can use a traditional snowmobile which is most common or you can save some money and use a Snow Dog but it comes with tradeoffs. Snowmobile Fast, powerful, and versatile, a snowmobile is the number one way to pull a groomer. If you have means to get a snowmobile, there's likely no need to consider other options like a Snow Dog. But if you need several machines in several locations, you might need to consider options like a Snow Dog. If you're creating trails in deep snow, make sure that your first pass is with a groomer that has minimal weight since you could get start and snowmobiles will quickly start creating ice if you slip. Snow Dog The Snow Dog is a popular tool for ice fishing but can also be great as a dedicated trail groomer, albeit with some limitations. A Snow Dog is cheaper than a snowmobile, much lighter, easier to transport, and works differently as well. To operate it, you either stand in a sled or a grooming pan behind the Snow Dog and hold onto the handle of the machine and get pulled behind it. You can use this to create and compact trails but it doesn't remove the snow which will prevent you from building a strong base if you're dealing with deep dry snow. Tips for Grooming in Fat Bike Trails in Every Condition Deep Snowfall If there is a deep snowfall with a lot of fresh snow, it's going to take several passes before the trail is ready. One pass on any kind of trail groomer won't get the trail ready. Remove as much snow as possible using a plow groomer and then make another pass (or multiple passes) with a weighted pan or DIY tire groomer to create a sustainable base. Lots of Dry Light Snow That Won't Pack Down Start with an unweighted Sno-Blaster (or other plow) to remove snow, then put weights in Sno-Blaster. After snow removal and compacting, switch to the tire drag with minimal weight because you might get stuck and snowmobiles quickly create ice if they slip and create heat. Your main priority is to move the snow. After enough snow has been removed, add a bunch of weight in the tire and make another pass. Even after all of thewse passes, you still might not get that firm base you're looking for, especially if the snow is really dry and there is no humidity and no sun. It might just take time for the snow to set and start to be compactable. Wet Packy Snow This snow is great for grooming. The snow sets up fast as long as it freezes at night. You likely won't need to use a plow. Just groom the trails with a weighted pan to to create a firm, long lasting base Regular Daily Freeze/Thaw The most most important thing to do here is to delete all of the imperfections in the trail before the wet melting snow freezes at night. After a warm sunny day when the snow is getting wet and heavy, groom in the afternoon or evening to clean up the ruts and the hike-a-bike holes. Then when it re-freezes at night, you'll have given the trail a fresh smooth surface that will harden again Best Fat Bike Trail Groomers 1. Sno-Blaster This is a very popular groomer that you'll want in your quiver. If you get a lot of snow, using a plow like that on a Sno-Blaster is a requirement for achieving a clear trail with a solid base. Learn More . 2. Yeti's Revenge Built to last with 304 stainless steel and aluminum, this groomer is made for navigating tight trails. Its angled shape diverts and packs snow, while the slightly rounded bottom mimics a seasoned single track groove. It has a spring-loaded, removable rear corduroy rake and optional Bat Wing accessory to help manage snow drifts and build berms. Learn More . 3. Snowdog with Singletrack Groomer Attachment As mentioned above, this is a great way to create new trails in areas with minimal snow. This will create a trail and compact the snow but it won't remove snow which is a limiting factor if you dealing with deeper snow falls. Learn More . 4. The DIY Tire Drag After plowing away excess deep snow, this will be your most important trail groomer. It takes some work to build it but you can tailor it to your specific trail system. Add wings, a fin, a corduroy scraper, and as much weight as you want and you'll be creating beautiful concave chutes over undulating trails and up high berms. One of Most Important Things: Riders' Tire Pressure A painstakingly groomed trail is instantly ruined if riders go over it with too much tire pressure. Make sure that your community is airing down their tire pressure in softer conditions and staying off trails completely if the snow is too soft.

This fall The Nxrth started building up a new Member area and adding stories, maps, guides, routes, and more for members of The Nxrth+ , our all-access website membership. If you love using The Nxrth to find great experiences, discover new places to ride, and connect with more of the dirt and snow community, take a look around our Member Area and then consider becoming a member of The Nxrth+ . $5 per month gets you into the center of the gravel, dirt, and snow community and our beautiful and adventurous little corner of The Northwoods. Members get unlimited access to: Member-exclusive bikepacking routes New adventure guides and resources all year long Map-version of our Gravel Race calendar Map-version of our new MTB Race calendar Master Maps of all of our Gravel Guides Our regions' best stories Behind the scenes content Member sales Way more coming in 2025 Support The Northwoods Community of Adventurers, Racers, & People Who Love Biking on Dirt & Snow

In 2024 Amanda Harvey completed a 5-year journey that started at the St Croix 40 Winter Ultra and led to completing the 350 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska. Hear her story of getting into winter ultras and the trial and error that lead to completing one of the world's hardest endurance events. Follow Amanda Harvey on Instagram. Interview and text by Jamison Swift of the St. Croix 40 . Long distance winter biking events are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about short-track velodrome racing. However when the outdoor stadium closes for the cold Minnesota winter season Amanda Harvey decided that there was still more biking to do. This journey led her from her first short fat bike race to eventually biking 350 miles across Alaska in the Iditarod Trail Invitational. After experiencing the joys of her first winter race, Amanda discovered the St Croix 40 Winter Ultra and signed up. This led her to more and more adventures as she got familiar with the community and learned about events such as Arrowhead 135 and Tuscobia. Of course you can’t be a part of this community for long without hearing about Iditarod, and so a plan was hatched to work her way from SC40 to ITI in 5 years. Although the original plan was more like 3 years, things like COVID got in the way. However, eventually Amanda reached her goal of traveling through Alaska on two wheels.

Happy Black Friday week, everyone. To say thanks to the 60+ people who support The Nxrth with a membership to all the routes, resources, and stories all year long, members get a 35% discount on our web store. See below for the coupon code. Join The Nxrth+ HERE . MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Last weekend, an impromptu gravel and dirt adventure came together from a friend's new Airbnb. The unpredictable shoulder season turned into a perfect day for riding around Seeley, WI and Mt Telemark and a perfect night for breaking in a new sauna in the woods. 2 weeks before our ride, I was nearly certain it wouldn't happen. Mid-November weather is unpredictable and it seemed most likely that the dirt and gravel would be soggy and that the air would be cold and wet. Most of us in our group chat had never ridden the Chequamegon 40 race route and someone had the idea to try to squeeze in one last late fall gravel/dirt adventure and ride part of the Cheq 40 route on a weekday. I penciled it in and took off work for the upcoming Monday but assumed that it would be cancelled for soggy and cold pre-winter weather. As the day got closer, the weather held steady. Our riding would be sunny and the route would be fast, firm, and fun. A friend recently got a new Airbnb cabin, The Seeley Hills Chalet , and a group of 5 of us went up there a night before our ride to try out the new sauna and assemble some activities for a new game room. The next day was perfect. It was a cool fall day in the 40s. The sun broke through the sky and spackled our entire ride through the bare trees. I'm blessed to have my health, some good friends, and a flexible job that allows me to get away. It was a beautiful day and a really nice way to close the fall riding season. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, Josh

The new Ironton Island cabins in Cuyuna were a couple's passion project that opened in the spring of 2024. The unique cabins are close to downtown Crosby and the Cuyuna trailheads. Take a look inside these cabins as you plan your next Cuyuna adventure. Both cabins are 2 bedroom for 4 guests.View the Iron Own or Dragonfly cabins on Airbnb or follow along with Ironton Island on Istagram. Just outside of Ironton, Minnesota and right next to the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area are two new custom-built cabins—Iron Owl and Dragonfly at the Ironton Island property. Created by Jessica and Chad, a couple with complimenting skillsets, these Cuyuna cabins are a gateway to red dirt and crystal clear lakes in the summer and tons of beautifully groomed fat bike trails in the winter. Jessica's background is in art and functional design while Chad's background spans construction, masonry, plumbing, and electrical work. Together, they’ve dreamed up and built some really special cabins that fit perfectly in the Cuyuna biking landscape and culture. Their initial cabins started with A-frames on their Lazy Loon property. Building on that, they set their sights on a new property—a peninsula they named Ironton Island, just a mile from Cuyuna’s Miners Mountain Rally Center. The location feels remote while being close to town and trails. Iron Owl and Dragonfly: 2 Custom Cabins Designed for Adventure and Comfort Jessica and Chad’s newest cabins, Iron Owl and Dragonfly, opened in March of 2024. The cabins are custom designed by Jessica and built by Chad and reflect a labor of love, with all the woodsy, bike-y details carefully selected. The cabins focus on catering to the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and inspiring outdoor adventures. Both cabins feature dedicated bike storage and a bike wash station, making it easy to maintain and store bikes during your stay. For those ready to hit the trails as soon as they arrive, the great location makes it so you can bike directly from the property and start hitting dirt in minutes. A Perfect Cuyuna Adventure Weekend at Ironton Island With its location close to downtown Crosby and various trailheads, clear lakes, and local dining and entertainment options, Ironton Island is an awesome base for a weekend of exploration and relaxation. If you're booking a Cuyuna trip, here are a few ideas to make it an epic weekend. Hit the Trails and Explore the Cuyuna Lakes Area Start at the Miners Mountain Rally Center – Located just a mile from the cabins, this is the perfect launching point for a day of biking. Choose the Galloping Goose trail, a fun loop with a mix of easier trails ideal for beginners or a warm-up. Check out the Bobsled Trail – this trail offers thrilling climbs, descents, and large berms with optional jumps and features. It also winds around the tiny Trout Lake. Explore the Sagamore Unit Trails – these trails offer wider paths and a gentler ride, ideal for winter biking and accessible options for all riders. Enjoy the Lake and Explore Downtown Crosby Try a morning paddle on the mine lakes – they're clear, deep, and have minimal boat traffic, making them perfect for a quiet paddle. Kayak or SUP rentals from Cuyuna Outfitters will get you out on the water to enjoy the surroundings. Refuel at Red Raven – Stop by this coffee spot, which also has a bike shop, making it a convenient stop for bikers. Grab a coffee or a light breakfast before hitting the local shops. Try the Iron Range Eatery or Drunken Noodle for food options then, later, unwind with a craft beer at Cuyuna Brewing. Discover Adventure at Ironton Island Jessica and Chad have created more than just cabins—they’ve built a space where visitors can experience the perfect blend of adventure and serenity. Whether you’re here to challenge yourself on red dirt trails, paddle through deep blue lakes, or simply enjoy the tranquility, Iron Owl and Dragonfly at Ironton Island offer a unique and welcoming escape. View the Iron Own  or Dragonfly  cabins on Airbnb or follow along with Ironton Island  on Istagram.

With fat bike season near, we've put together a top to bottom adventure checklist including our top picks for fat bike destinations to ride, events to register for, Airbnbs to pick, and gear you'll need along the way. Start planning your winter and make time for memorable adventures in beautiful places. MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Hollow socks are headquartered and designed in Wisconsin and manufactured in North Carolina. Their socks are made of alpaca wool, nylon, and spandex and come in black and gray. Here we share a review after using them gravel biking this summer. To learn more visit HollowSocks.com . Meet Hollow, alpaca wool socks from Wisconsin Hollow is a Wisconsin-based performance sock company that uses alpaca wool to improve comfort, dryness, and breathability. Designed in Wisconsin, they're all made in the USA in North Carolina. Their lineup is pretty simple and includes no-show, ankle, crew cut, and boot cut and are all available in black or gray. When I was recently riding the Valhalla Beach Party bikepacking route with Dave Schlabowske, he mentioned that he usually buys Wisconsin-based socks. He was wearing some gray boot-cut Hollow socks and I figured I should get a few pairs of my own to try out and share with more up-north adventure cyclists who want to support a local company. Alpaca vs merino wool for socks Wool socks are often made with merino wool. Merino is antimicrobial and breathable which makes them great for long, warm activities like hiking and biking. Hollow makes their socks exclusively with Peruvian baby alpaca wool (usually around 45% of each sock, with the rest being nylon and spandex). Alpaca wool is a finer, softer, and less absorptive wool than merino well which leads to some improved benefits that we'll break down here. Softness Alpaca wool is a physically finer strand of wool. The microscopic fibers are less pronounced and more uniform. This makes them smooth and incredibly soft. Merino can sometimes feel itchy where alpaca wool is predictably smooth. Dryness Alpaca wool can hold 8% of its weight in moisture where merino can hold 30% of its weight in moisture. Both types of wool are great at moisture-wicking and resisting odor but alpaca is going to dry faster since it absorbs less moisture to begin with. Overall Strength Without getting too nerdy, alpaca wool has a higher tensile strength (~50 N/ktex) than merino wool (30-40 N/ktex). This means it can put up with more abuse and last longer, depending on construction and other materials used of course. Warmth To be fair, I couldn't find any hard number on this one. What I did learn is that alpaca fibers are hollow (hence the name "Hollow" socks) which means every single strand contains trapped pockets of air for insulating. Merino wool on the other hand traps air between all of the microscopic protrusions in the fiber, but it's not hollow. Due to alpaca wool's hollow-ness, my findings seem to suggest that it insulates heat better. Hollow socks on & off the bike, up north, in the summer I've been using Hollow's black no-show socks (43% alpaca wool) and gray ankle socks (46% alpaca wool) on a lot of my longer rides this summer. Here are a few of my thoughts: Off the bike My first impression was that they fit perfectly. I have small feet (size 8) and got their size 8-10 socks. Usually when my feet are on the low range of the fit, they're always a little too spacious. But these have a great stretchiness that hugs my feet really snug. I wore them around the house, in the yard with no shoes, several days without washing and they're always nice and snug even without a fresh wash. They almost have a luxurious feel because the fibers are so fine and they just glide right into my shoes or slippers. On the bike While biking, I never really noticed them. They stayed cool and dry on extremely hot summer rides. They also never felt sweaty or sticky when I was done. Again, they kind of feel a little lux because they're so smooth to the skin and on whatever you're walking on. But I like that they don't look silky. I prefer the gray color; it looks just like a traditional tough wool sock but wears more comfortably than either my Smartwool or Darn Tough socks. ​Pros Cons Extremely comfortable Stay dry and don't smell Strong and snug construction Designed in Wisconsin ​Only available in black or gray Somewhat expensive ($20-$35/pair) Review Wrap-up I don't think I've ever had an alpaca wool clothing of any sort. And to be fair, I haven't used these in the winter yet and my feet tend to get cold in even the warmest boots. But the no-show and ankle socks performed really well for hot half-day summer rides. To learn more or pick up a pair for yourself, head over to HollowSocks.com .