Intro:
I first heard of the Marji Gesick after completing the 2018 Mohican MTB 100. I wish I had a better reason for wanting to do the Marji, but the only reason I had was it was advertised as the hardest mountain bike race there is, so I wanted to complete it, just to say I completed it.
Registration:
For that year, Marji was already sold out, so I planned on signing up for the 2019 race. I put the registration date on the calendar, watched for the date, which was on a Friday at midnight. I figured I would sign up in the morning. The event sold out in the middle of the night. SOB.
I had a ton of fun riding other events in 2019, including completing my first 906 event: Yet Another Blog on the Crusher 225!
Registration day 2019 I wasn't f'n around. I had a laptop near me the entire evening clicking refresh waiting for registration to open, the time moved to 7:30...wait...wait...wait, then 7:45...wait...wait...wait, then 8:00. Click, click, click, pay, confirmed! I'm in. Refresh, message friends, etc. 3 minutes later 5 of us were registered and the event was sold out.
COVID:
Marji Gesick 2020 canceled and transferred the registration to 2021, so I completed the Crusher Fist with Rod Palmer:
- Chapter 1: The CrusherEX 225
- Chapter 2: The CrusherEX 40
- Chapter 3: The CrusherEX 100
- Chapter 4: The CrusherEX 50 Run
Training:
Exercise a lot. And do these:
Run a half mile, start GPS, sync the Bluetooth stuff, and GO! I should have started the map here...
Around mile 4, a rider several up says we made a wrong turn, we head back, around half the distance we already rode. During the ride back, I started the GPS. Around mile ten, the route crosses over itself. I made the wrong first turn, no extra mileage, but the map updated and dropped this section. I followed a couple riders through this portion, with another missed turn, but this couldn't have added but an extra 1/2 mile at most. Around mile 15, I found myself in a pack pushing pretty hard. We made a couple turns, and started hammering up a hill, though again, we were not on course. There were several riders that insisted we were on course and they saw an arrow, so I kept going. There were tire tracks on the trail, so what could go wrong...after a couple miles I stopped as the map was way off. I yelled I was turning around and the group paced on. Every person I rode past when I was back tracking turned around. Turns out, the arrow was pointing the wrong way and we were riding the trail back to the start.
Anyways, I logged bonus miles in the first 20 miles of the Marj and got rid of some energy while doing so. From this point forward, I slowed down and didn't guess on turns, turning around several times to confirm arrows.
Notable Sections of the Ride:
There's sand in the upper peninsula? 😆
A guy on a hard tail with a white kit passed me on Mount Marquette. He stopped, took a break, then passed me again on the hill a second time. Damn I'm slow.
Starting the climb on Zueg's in the loose gravel, I put 'er in the 50 tooth cog and laid down some power, then flipped the bike over, front wheel over the top, landed on my back, slid down the hill, hit a downed tree, then got hit by the bike. A rider right behind me stopped and asked if I was ok, surprising, I was fine, what luck. I pushed my bike up the loose gravel, with the rear hub making a horrible clacking sound. Another rider stopped to help figure it out, turned out the axle just needed tightened and I was back at it.
At Rippling River campground, I stopped and went to a buddy's campsite where my wife was waiting for me to stop for water. She filled my bottle and bag while I dropped the arm and leg warmers. I told her I really don't know if I can finish this ride. She replied, "I'll be at the finish line around 10p." Then I washed my scrapped up knee and headed out. Spoiler: She had to wait awhile.
I reached Jackson Park the first time close to 4pm. I dreamed I would be there quicker...I think 95% of the riders dreamed they would be at that stop quicker than they were.
My plan was to get back to Jackson park before the sun set. So how do I do this? I head out 1 mile into the trail, crash, then tumble down the side of hill 10 feet or so. Again, didn't get hurt, SWEET! Following this crash, the bike had major brake rub. Damn, the rotor is tweaked. After a mile, the major rub became an annoy ting-ting-ting-ting, but it's rolling. I heard a lot people say it didn't sound good. Honestly, the tinging sounded great. The tinging meant I wasn't pushing my bike.
The section between the Jackson Park stops are tough and technical. This is my second time riding these rocky sections and this might be my favorite mountain biking I've ever done. These trails push the skills I don't have to the limits.
During this section pictured above, I was on a climb riding up to a chicane and I heard a bike hub firing down a descent sounding off in the woods. I made the turn, climbed one more rock, then descended the downhill I knew was coming from the buzzing hub just a minute earlier. Then I rounded a couple corners and there was a young girl riding full-sus stopped on the trail with a Marji plate.
- I asked, "Was that you that just sent that downhill?"
- Reply, "YES!"
- I had to give props and check in, "That is awesome. Is everything good?"
- Reply, "I'm doing great!"
That's a bit of paraphrasing, I know my memory is a bit fuzzy on the exact details and words. Also, she's 13 years old. She finished the Marji Gesick. Incredible. Emma Finishes Marji Gesick.
I continued to make my way through this portion and came across a rider, stopped, taking a pic of just an incredible view. I asked if everything was good and got a "Just taking a pic, can't be too serious all the time." It's a great spot to stop, but I already had a pic there from July.
Note: I spent all year training with Rod in the pic above for this event, including completing all the previously listed preparation rides. He broke his collar bone in August and couldn't ride the 2021 Marji. SOB. Rod was at Jackson Park spectating and giving a hand for a couple other riders we were with for drop off and pickup. Being a spectator had to be torture.
I pedaled out of Jackson Park the second time about 7:55p, time to finish. Lights on and hitting trails. Through the darkness, I spent a lot of time passing and being passed by the same riders. We were all struggling, forcing our way to the finish through the darkness. There was a lot of bike pushing in this section, especially in the first hour. I rarely night ride, only a few times a year. With that said, I haven't ridden into and past the sunset even one time this year. I felt like I couldn't see the trails in that first hour. Like my eyes just wouldn't adjust to the darkness. By 9:30p, I could start navigating the trail; kind of a shock how long it took for me to adjust being able to navigate in the dark. Along Lake Minnie, I stopped for a pic:
The cool refreshing breeze off that lake and through the woods was one of the best parts of the
I should have logged how much I pushed my bike in this section. By the time I completed this section, I became a professional bike pusher guy. Now:
- I can push my bike uphill
- I can push my bike downhill
- I can push my bike on flats
- I can push my bike through sand
- I can push my bike through mud
- I can push my bike through rocks
- I can push my bike going uphill on a rockface while hanging onto trees
- I can push my bike from the finish line to the car
I'm really considering dropping the drivetrain, that would be a dramatic weight savings while pushing my bike through the UP. Brakes though, those are mandatory. The brake hold while using the bike as a trekking pole is very handy in the darkness of the U.P. night.
Finishing:
After 16 hours and 16 minutes of an epic mountain biking adventure, I reached the finish line.
A gentlemen confirmed my tokens and congratulated me on completing the Marji Gesick. I didn't realize it until I got back to the hotel, but he slipped in another token for finisher.
After this, Todd recognized me at the finish, went to shake my hand, I flipped him off then he gave me a hug. I needed a hug.
That bike:
Doug Metzger:
Huge props to Doug Metzger for attempting the Marji 100. He's done the 2020 CrusherEX 225 and the 2021 Polar Roll EX. He only signed up the for 50 in 2019, but he gave a shot at completing the 100 in an attempt to finish the triple crown. He completed 93 miles, then threw in the towel. Seems crazy quitting with 12 miles to the finish, but as I told him, 12 miles, and somehow, you're not really that close to being done. Doug's Story.
Awesome text I received from Doug:
Doug doesn't quit. This is only the second DNF I think he's ever had outside of breaking bikes at 2 Mohican MTB races. The other DNF, he completed 110 miles of a 120 mile edition Mohican Triple. I'm trying to talk him into the registration chaos about to unfold in October, though it's not making any headway.
Nathan Burks:
Second and least 😂, props to Nate for taking on the Marji 100. In July, he completed the 2021 CrusherEX 225, his third year of completing the crusher. He messaged me and said he's out for Marji, the Ishpeming trails seemed above his skill level. One week later, he's back in with a text, #yolo. Knee pain and broken parts on his bike ended his ride at mile 75. 3 days after Marji, here's Nate's bike:
Nate already has the marbles rolling for doing this again next year. 😁
Outro:
Finishing the Marji Gesick completed my triple crown. I should be satisfied and chill, but instead I'm anxious that in just a few Friday's, I'll be sitting at a computer, clicking refresh on bikereg and FB Marji Gesick Talk (group) trying my hardest to score another registration. That 💩 is chaos, but I want another go at this adventure. If I miss it, well, then it's a long spring and summer watching the Marji Gesick Registration Transfers FB page...
Dat 906 Adventure Team and their events:
Todd is mean.
I've never met Danny Hill, but I know when I see a #blamedanny sign, I'm shifting my bike into the 50 cog and preparing to push my bike up a ridiculous hill.
I can't ever recommend 906 events enough to other cyclists. The Crusher, Marji Gesick, and Polar Roll events have created the biggest challenges and best experiences I've had riding bikes, so far.
Until next year, ✌.
