Winter bike race: Cuyuna Lakes

Even Mother Nature couldn't derail the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout winter mountain bike race Feb. 7.

Nearly 170 riders hit the Sagamore Trails, an alternative to the original plan: a single-track course in the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trail System. Unseasonably warm temperatures made conditions icy and unsafe at the single-track course. Nevertheless, the Whiteout was deemed a success.

"It went really well. The best they have ever gone in the history of the event," said Aaron Hautala, president of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Biking Crew, which helps maintains the trails near Ironton, Minn. "We had a really good showing even though we changed the course."

Riders commented on the icy conditions at Sagamore, too, Hautala said. "Sagamore was a fraction of the ice of the single track, so I'm confident we made the right choice."

Next up is the Cuyuna 5-0 on Oct. 10. The event will consist of 50-mile, 25-mile and 12-mile rides on the Cuyuna single-track bike trails.

Proceeds from the races go toward maintaining and expanding the trail system. For more information, go online to cuyunalakesmtb.com.

BOB TIMMONS