Birkie Fat Tire Bike Race Wrap

Jeff Hall and Buzzy LaMere at the Birkie Fat Bike Race in Cable, Wisconsin. They were both racing LAMERE Fat e-Bikes, full suspension, carbon fiber custom built bikes.

Shea making final adjustment on Jeff’s bike

Jeff Hall

Buzzy LaMere, owner of LAMERE Cycles

Jeff Hall, Buzzy LaMere and yours truly , MJ Hall

Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Weekend at Maplelag Resort /2021

In 1991 my son Jeff, age 15 on the 2nd place podium and Jay Richards, on the 1st place podium step. Battled a muddy “Chequamegon / Short and Fat” race course to start a relationship with Mountain Biking that has spanned 30 years.

Fast forward to 2021 and Jeff Hall is 45 years old and Jay Richards is the race promoter at his resort in Callaway, Minnesota... this is good stuff!

The start of the 18 mile Elite Men’s cross country race. 

Jeff and Brendan battling it out early in the Elite Cross Country Mountain Bike Race.

Brendan would finish 1st and Jeff finished 3rd.

Little Donnie, Jeff’s son, had a good weekend camping, riding his mountain bike, playing catch with the football and the never ending supply of cookies at the lodge.

Jeff Hall, he finished 3rd in the cross country race.

Jeff, Brendan Moore and Jay Richards.

Ride on!
 

A Bit of Pheasant Hunting & Heading North

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Southern Minnesota Pheasant Hunting

Spending a blustery winter like day in the fields with son and grandson. It’s been a tradition for decades in my family. 

We meet up and head for farm country. Along the way, there are stories and memories of a hunt or one of many adventures from over the years. My son and I have been hunting for well over 20 years.

Dad teach his son proper gun etiquette. Then I get my turn to offer some advice. Passing down the tradition that I partook in with my grandfather. I spent decades wandering these same farm roads with my grandpa and brothers. 

 At the end of the day. It’s about making memories of hanging out, telling stories, walking fields and swamps. Today it was sharing an adventure with 3 generations. Me, the grandpa, my son and grandson. We had to make decisions, dress for the biting cold 30 mph winds, teach a youngster about respect for a firearm and outsmart a couple wiley rooster pheasants. 

We hunted a couple, Public Hunting Land Areas. The final stop was a farm that my son and I have hunted on for probably 15 or 16 years. This farm in particular has much natural habitat. Before we pulled up into the driveway to ask permission to hunt.  I told my grandson that years ago I pulled into this same driveway. As I walked up towards the house this large dog, looked like a damn wolf came running around the corner. I stopped  put my hand out, dog walked up, started wagging her tail and we were buddies. Well back to today, like I said, I got out of vehicle and around the corner came the large wolf/dog wagging her tail and happy to see me. I saw the farmer over by his pickup, we had a good conversation about his dog and the weather. He remembered me from the past and was glad to give us permission to hunt. 

This day was about hunting, but it had a heck of a lot more to offer. Ride on!

Jeff Hall / LAMERE Cycles

Cannon River Valley Exploring on F800 GS & Kicking Off the Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Season / St. Croix Woolly MTB Race

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 Exploring the Cannon River valley is a favorite destination for a lunch off the Beemer box.

 A Bit of Mountain Bicycle Testing with The Boss

 Jeff Hall breaking in the new "LAMERER Cycles" race bike. Group ride with JP LaMere along the Minnesota River.

Jeff's mountain race bike is a new idea... Running 27.5 wheels. 3" tire on the front and 2.25 tire on rear. Running a rigid front fork along with a suspended rear shock setup. The reason being that Jeff raises the front wheel over most obstacles and the rear suspension soaks up the bump.

Racing at St. Croix Falls / 1st Race of Minnesota Mountain Bike Race Series

 Grandson enjoying the mountain biking lifestyle, and the medal adds to the good times!

 Rocking the #1 Plate in Minnesota Mountain Biking... Jeff Hall winning on his newly designed LAMERE Cycles MTB.

 Top step on the podium at "St. Croix Woolly MTB Race for Jeff Hall. Running the string of victories in Minnesota Mountain Bike Racing to 9, caring over from 2016. Large number of racers this day, nearly 600 riders.

Last road trip for the trusty US Cargo 6x12 trailer...new trailer coming up.

Ride on in 2017...

Spring Flinging the Fat Bikes / Tale of 2 Springs / Mud and Snow

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Good clean fun is to be had in the Minnesota River Bottoms during the Spring thaw... Still running the studded tires in February, plenty of ice along with the river mud. Compared to the old days of the 90s, these fat tire bikes are in their element. Mud, water, ice, snow, it is a joy to have this big fat tire to churn through.

Back in the day with the 2.1 x 26 tires it was a real slog through the conditions that I encountered this day in February.  

 It is a good day when you are getting back to the trailhead after dark.

 Bright color in the drab Spring.

 With the warm temps in February I was able to experience different conditions and access some secluded swamps by following the deer trails. Cool to take in the solitude of the area.

 Mud is the color of choice in the Spring...

 Gotta have a good pack. This is a 16 year old Burton Snowboard Pack that has seen used as a mountain backcountry snowboard, snowmobile pack. Carried a snowboard as we explored the mountains.

The only backpacks that I use for my activities are Snowboard Packs. Dakine and Burton, are the 2 brands. They are tough as an ole oak tree, water resistant and have good exterior straps that I can use to strap on snowboards and any thing else I might need.  

More recently the old Burton pack has become my mountain bike / off-road motorcycle pack. It is loaded with gear for the woods... A light weight vest, a wind jacket, headlamp, rain pants, extra gloves, small am/fm radio, packet of tools, crescent wrench, allen wrenches, pliers, fire starting kit, cliff bars, 2 bike lights, foldable wood saw, small hatchet, bug spray, zip ties, knife, a multi-tool, first aid splint and cravat, ibuprofen, extra bottle water, thermos of Rock Star and a few other items I happen to throw in at the last minute.     

 Another sunset over the Minnesota River.

Back into Winter Mode in March

 Spring means snow in this State. March brought a couple sweet snow storms that I was able to be out during the storms. Making fresh tracks a couple times is a real treat. 

 The Geese just take the weather in stride and don't get too rattled.

 Living for the adventure...

 Spring also brings the barges back up the River for the new season.

 A Gal has to have a big tire bike...for her adventure.

This is 6 years ago with Jeff Hall and his kids, my Grandkids...Ride On!!