Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival is taking place this weekend September 13 and 14. In its 41st year, the event is also the 4th stop on the Life Time Grand Prix. Here we share the local's guide to catching the Life Time Grand Prix athletes and enjoying the entire festival weekend.
To learn more visit Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival
Words by Josh Rizzo
41 Years of Chequamegon: A Brief Background
Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
Up until a few years ago, the event was called the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. The name was changed to Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival as fat bikes became more and more popular and there was some confusion about the event being for fat bikes.
The event started in 1983 and for five years it took place at Lakewoods Resort and went through the Chequamegon National Forest. Since the course moved, it is no longer on national forest. The entire race takes place on county land but retains the Chequamegon name from when it first started.
A Rich History
The event has a lot of rich and storied history. Greg Lemond rode the race several times. At the 25th anniversary of the race, the event was won by Jesse LaLonde on a singlespeed. Steve Tilford came up to Cable all the time and rode the race many times and racers will eat at Rivers Eatery and Tillie's Pies which is named in memory of Tilford.
4th Stop on the Life Time Grand Prix
Chequamegon 40 is the 4th stop in the Life Time Grand Prix. The LTGP started in 2022 and is comprised of 30 female and 30 male athletes who compete for points during the series in gravel and mountain bike events. Being a part of the Life Time Grand Prix series puts Chequamegon and a national map and spotlights the beautiful and rugged cycling scene alongside the area's rich history.
What to Look For in the Life Time Grand Prix Elite Race on Saturday
Chequamegon 40 is a very short and fast race. Men and women will finish in 2-2.5 hours so it'll be a drag race from Hayward to Cable with no forgiveness if mistakes are made. If an athlete gets around the corner and out of sight, they just might win the whole day.
Pro Women Take Center Stage
Unlike the mass start through Downtown Hayward, the Elite race starts east of town where Wheeler Rd meets the Birkie Trail. Elite Women have separate start times for the entire Life Time Grand Prix series and for the Chequamegon 40 they also start first at 12:30 and will finish first at the finish line in Cable.
Keegan Swenson Has Never Won Chequamegon
Keegan Swenson has dominated both of the first two seasons on the Life Time Grand Prix. He is also at the top of the leaderboard for the 2024 season with 3 events done and 3 to go (racers can drop 2 results). But he has never won at Chequamegon. In 2022, he crashed on the wet, muddy course and landed one spot off the podium. Then in 2023, Alexey Vermeulen beat him in a sprint finish and Keegan took second place. Surely Keegan would love to claim the spot at this year's Chequamegon 40 and add to his dominant season.
Locals Jenna Rinehart & Chase Wark
Two Northwoods locals will be racing at Chequamegon. Jenna Rinehart of Mankato, Minnesota took 6th place overall in the 2023 Life Time Grand Prix and is currently in 7th place on the leaderboard. Chase Wark of Winona, Minnesota is in his first year of the Life Time Grand Prix and is currently in 24th place overall.
Meet the Life Time Grand Prix Athletes
If you're racing, spectating, or just walking the dog around the ole block, you'll likely catch some favorite LTGP athletes milling around. They're really approachable, great with kids, and it's neat to see some of the biggest names in gravel/MTB racing hanging around Cable.
Catch them at the awards ceremony at 4pm on Saturday or perhaps you'll see them at Rivers or Tillie's for post race shenanigans. There is also a LTGP at 4:15 on Friday to a Q&A from some of the athletes.
Where are the Best Places to Watch?
Wheeler Road Start Line
Both men and women Elite races have a separate starting line. To catch the start of both races, head east Hayward to Wheeler Road where athletes will take off down the Birkie Trail and start with a big climb right away.
OO x Birkie Trail
Head north out of Hayward on 63 and turn east onto OO to the Samuel C Johnson Family Outdoor Center Ski Crossing. The Birkie trail crosses OO here and you can park on the north side of OO. This is the second aid station at mile 17.8 as well as the official spectator area. Elite athletes won't be stopping here but it's a nice open area near the mid point to catch racers flying by.
Finish Line at Derksen Family Great Hall
Being a short race, the finish line is going to be very fast paced when athletes come through. They'll come out of tight sleigh trail in the woods and then onto the Birkie trail for 400 yards up hill for a little and then downhill sprinting to the finish line.
What Are Some Other Highlights of the Weekend?
Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival is an entire weekend of racing, food trucks, fires, music shakeout rides, kids events, and a lot more. Head to the event website for exact time and locations of events.
Friday
10:00am | Kenda Shakeout Ride (FREE)
1:00pm | Life Time Grand Prix Shakeout Ride (FREE)
2:00pm | 7:00pm Bib Pickup and Race Festival with Live Music & Food Trucks
2:30pm – 3:30pm | Stein Holding Competition
4:15pm – 4:45pm | Life Time Grand Prix Panel
5:00pm | Little Loggers Kids Bike Event
Saturday
10:00am | CHEQUAMEGON 40 START | Hayward Primary School
10:00am | SHORT & FAT START | Derksen Family Great Hall
10:00am – 6:00pm | Finish Festival, Sponsor & Vendor Expo | Derksen Family Great Hall
10:57am | Short & Fat First Finisher
12:30pm | Chequamegon 40 First Finisher
12:30pm | CHEQUAMEGON 40 PRO/ELITE WOMEN’S START at Wheeler Rd/Birkie Trail
1:00pm | CHEQUAMEGON 40 PRO/ELITE MEN’S START at Wheeler Rd/Birkie Trail
4:00pm | All Awards
Can I Still Register?
Race registration is open until Tuesday September 10th. The Short &Fat race is 16 miles and the the Chequamegon 40 is, wait for it, 40 miles.
