The Crusher EX 225 is a self-supported enhanced gravel ITT in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, put on by 906 Adventures. There are three 40+ mile courses, one 100+ mile course, and the 225, which is actually 241 miles. You can attempt this expedition style format anytime from July through September.
After Lisa set the fastest time last year, she asked if I wanted to join her this year. Hell yeah! She thought that we could possibly go under 24 hours, barring any misadventures. We stayed at Beeker's Grub and Lodging the night before, in Humboldt, which is where the start is.
A little before 6 am, we began our adventure. Within the first mile, we had our first HAB on the Iron Ore Trail. After that bit of enhancement, it was smooth riding, mostly downhill, all the way to Lake Superior.
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| Dead River CP, mile 31 |
We were crushing it, only stopping long enough to take our selfies, and for Lisa to refill water bottles at the water spigot. I had started out with 100 ounces of fluids, which got me all the way to Lake Superior.
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| Piped spring on 510, mile 51 |
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| Sweet roads for the first 1/3 of the course |
The last few miles to the mouth of the Huron turned to double track, but it still wasn't all that bad. Once at the Huron River, I pulled out my pool ring floatie and began to blow it up. Lisa had packed a large trash bag that she was filling with air. I laid my bike down on the ring, attached my pack and shoes to my bike, and began the 100 foot swim across. I was almost to the other side when I heard Lisa's struggles. Apparently, she had too much air in her trash bag, which made it like a beach ball, and she was having difficulty balancing her bike on it. And then it just slipped right off her improvised raft. So after I got to shore, I turned around and helped her get her waterlogged bike across.
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| Mouth of the Huron, mile 82 |
Unfortunately no cool pics of the swim, as all our electronics were safely packed away in ZipLocs. While I was filtering some water and getting my gear back on me, I had a nice little talk with a lady on the beach, who watched the whole thing. I think she was more mystified than impressed. I ended up giving her my pool ring for her grandchildren to enjoy. I wonder if she will tell the story to them of how she acquired it.
We absolutely crushed the first 80 miles and were just under 7 hours when we left Lake Superior heading south to our next checkpoint, Mt Arvon. I give all credit to Lisa, as I pretty much sat on her wheel for the bulk of it. She was flying and I was still having to ride comfortably hard to keep in her draft.
We had a mile or so of energy sapping sand before we popped out onto an asphalt road for a few miles of easy pedaling. Back onto gravel, we began the 10 mile 1200' climb up to the highest point in Michigan. I loved this climb, as the grade was just right and the road was in great shape.
The 20 mile stretch to L'Anse went by lickety split, as we were both envisioning a cornucopia of food and drink. For Lisa, it was a meatball sub from Subway. For me, since I am celiac, it was the PB&J sammies that Lisa had stashed along a road close to L'Anse.
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| L'Anse |
Once we arrived, I went to the restroom and freshened up with washing my face and doing a little maintenance on the nether region. Then it was on to enjoying a Coke and my sandwich. Lisa ended up getting a 6" meatball to eat there and a 12" for the road.
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| 1st of 4 down the hatch |
L'Anse was a little over the halfway point and we were still making great time, covering the first 125 miles in 10 1/2 hours. It was a slow roll out on another short section of pavement as we let the 1000 calorie plus meal digest. The next 20 miles to Mt Curwood was a gradual climb on dirt and double track that was a little more demanding than the roads leading to Arvon. I actually thought this climb was more difficult. The roads in the second half of the course were quite chunkier and I was losing watts to the ground surface. However, I was still feeling relatively great, which was a nice surprise.
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| Mt Curwood, mile 145 |
The double track after Mt Curwood should be named Whack-a-Mole Alley. Not only was the road narrow, the double track was littered with baby heads and the middle of the road was deep in grass, obscuring any objects. This was the first time I started to get a little frustrated, constantly being face slapped by limbs. And this went on for miles!
Once we hit Huron Bay Peshekee Grade road, the riding became more pleasurable until ... the Trail of No Return. I had heard stories and seen trail cam pics, but until you see it for yourself, you have no idea the difficulty of this HAB. It was a definite doozy: 500 foot, 0.6 mile push. Lisa practically ran up it, but I wasn't too far behind. At the top, we put on our lights, as daylight was fading fast. I was also getting a little chilly, so I put on my SS base layer and warmer gloves.
Descending off the backside was a little sketch, as it is hardest to see during the twilight, and lights do not really help until it gets truly dark. Also, my eyes are 57 years old and it definitely is more difficult for me to process the technical terrain at speed.
Completely enveloped in darkness heading over to the Rock Cut, I had the spectacular viewing of the rise of the blood red half moon. Man, that was awesome! The out/back to the rock cut was a HAB, as the trail was almost completely washed out. It was a nice reprieve for my tush, to be off the bike for a moment.
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| Rock Cut, mile 178 |
The next 10 miles or so were on rough terrain, with a few punchy climbs thrown in, just for good measure. At least in the dark, the terrain looks flat, so not as much of a mindfuck when the legs are weary. I was so happy to see Triple A Road pop up on my Garmin! Just 3 more miles and there would be a pavement reprieve. NOPE! This was the gravel part of Triple A. Well, at least it was smooth'ish.
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| Yellow Dog River, mile 206 |
