Surly Bikes
As I’ve mentioned a few times here, I live a few hours away from Surly HQ in the small town of Decorah, Iowa. One of the things we have here is a stellar mountain bike trail system right in town. In fact, I’m looking out my window across our quaint little valley at the very bluff that comprises the bulk of the trails. There’s also a dedicated bunch of people here that love riding on dirt, love adding trails to the system, and REALLY love showing off the fruits of their labors to folks from out of town. To that end, each year they put on the Decorah Time Trials – a mountain bike race that’s been quietly kicking ass since 1990 – the single oldest event of its kind in Iowa, and one of the grand daddies of Midwest racing.
Here’s the info:
So, how did it all start? What’s the genesis of an event like this, and how is it possible that mountain bike racing in IOWA of all places is fun? I decided to make this here blog post an interview with the two clowns responsible for the whole thing. These guys have dedicated a big chunk of their lives to the sport of mountain biking and, more importantly, sharing what they love with others. Now, before you get out the hankies and we turn it all sentimental, I’ll show you who I’m talking about.
Meet Deke:
Richard “Deke” Gosen owns Oneota River Cycles down here in Decorah and has been part of the mountain biking scene in town for the better part of three decades. He builds a helluva set of wheels, loves his dog Olive, and his shop is a hangout for the local dirt bikers – the beer can recycling receptacle is proof of that.
Meet Deke’s platonic life-partner, Moffit:
Ron “Chewey” Moffit lives in Rochester with his lovely and VERY tolerant wife, Sue. He works at some job that no one really cares to ask about. Mostly, we know that he’s down in Decorah most of the time (which is probably cool by Sue) and when he’s not, he’s jetting off to Single Speed Worlds, or Fruita, or some other mountain biking mecca. You’ve probably met him somewhere along the line and he remembers. He’s the kind of guy who makes friends as easily as most of us draw a breath. And he’s really furry.
I should note that both of these photos are circa 1987. Love the shorts.
So, these two have been responsible for a shit ton of mountain bike racing, trail building, and general tom-foolery for a long time, and I thought I’d turn the blog over to them - ask them a thing or two about the Decorah Time Trials and mountain bike racing in general. Below are their answers to my insightful and probing questions. They answered separately, but that was my plan. If I’d asked them together and in person, there’s no amount of time or beer that would have made their answers short enough for your collective attention spans. If you want more, please ask them.
The Deke and Chewey Interview:
1. You two are known in these parts as being two of the early instigators of the mountain bike scene. How did you get into riding dirt in the first place?
Deke:
Growing up between Duluth and the Twin Cities on a farm I mostly would take 3 speed English bikes and ride them on cowpaths. In college I had a 2 speed Schwinn Typhoon that I’d ride on dirt. Then, in 1981 I was in Yosemite at Camp 4 and some dude showed up on a Specialized Stumpjumper – one of the first. I almost wet my pants. From that point, I was hooked. My first real mountain bike was a Trek from 1983. I still have it too.
Chewey:
I started sometime in the mid 80’s (as Sue said, and I’ll use this for almost every answer that I’m off on the dates or places, “you can remember that far back?") Sue and Tanner bought me a Huffy mountain bike to commute to work on. I went to a race, LaCrosse, Winona, Volga, somewhere like that, with the Huffy. I met all these awesome people who eventually became great friends. Well at least I thought we were.
2. What were the early days of mountain bike racing in the Midwest like?
Deke:
It was a small community. Everyone had to take their turn being the idiot – basically, if you went to a race then the expectation was there that you’d put one on yourself. I put on my first race in 1984. Back then there were, like, 6 or 7 races and that’s just what everyone did. There was no standard format, no NORBA, no point series. It was just a bunch of schmucks having fun in the muck. It was cool because everyone knew everyone and that meant that people made sure others had a good time at races. People would help each other with repairs, there was always a keg of beer. At Bluebird Springs in LaCrosse there was a campground and a bar right there. Back then our energy food was hot dogs and burgers and our power drinks were beers.
Chewey:
It was as much a social event as a race. I started promoting races because it was “my turn." The course was whatever/wherever you could a place that would let you use their property to hold an event. With most riders camping they became a cross country race one day, then an observed trials the next. There were a few races in MN, Lacrosse had two, and then Decorah had the Time Trials and Volga.
3. How do you feel about the evolution of mountain bike racing? Is it going in a positive direction?
Deke:
I think points series races are the death of mountain bike racing, and I say that even though I was one of the first people to help get them started around here. It’s just gone too far. People have their whole race schedule planned by February. I think it leads to people cheating and not be as helpful toward other racers since the stakes are higher for each race. It’s too much like a god damned road race. That’s not to say that there aren’t still great races – the Blockhouse Roll in Platteville has always been one of the best. There are families and kids and tacos and dogs and music. There are more people there for the fun than for the racing.
Chewey:
Overall I think it’s growing despite the National Organizations meddling. We tried to work with NORBA . Wait here’s the story: the NORBA Midwest rep (some Iowa roadie) wanted to meet with Deke and I as he passed through Minnesota. At the time (refer back to Sue’s statement) there were maybe nine races in the upper Midwest. And Deke and I, along with the other promoters had set ,up a series - mostly just a points system and an agreement on course markings. Anyway, Deke and I take the day off from our real jobs, drive to the Cities to meet this dick at the Minneapolis airport at 7or 8 am. We sit down, he introduces himself, some small talk, and then starts in telling us how NORBA is going to straighten out all that’s wrong with mountain bike racing. Deke looks at me, I go to the bar, get 2 pints (screw this guy) and Deke and I spent the next hour drinking and chewing this guy a new one for every "fix" NORBA had. And now they have Cat racers instead of the original beginner, sport, expert, categories because it’s easier for the roadies to cross over. Ok, maybe mountain bike racing on a national level IS shit.
4. What’s the secret to building great trails?
Chewey:
I’m going to let Deke answer that. He’s going to give this really good explanation about erosion, proper tools, and working with other users. I say build them right so you don’t have to fix them. In other words I’m lazy.
Deke:
Land access, land access, land access. You can’t build trails without cooperative landowners – private or public. You also have got to have maintenance. You can build a great trail, but if you don’t take care of it, it will turn to shit. Also, you cannot do it alone. Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas, I’ve learned that. After all that, it’s just creativity. You don’t even have to have a particularly interesting chunk of ground – you just have to find the interesting trail on whatever ground you have.
5. When was the first Decorah Time Trial and who’s idea was it?
Chewey:
Deke’s up again I think I missed the first, and one other a couple of years back when someone (Editor's note: me) convinced me to go ride in Fruita instead. But aside from that I’ve counted down from 10 and held a lot of butts over the years. (Editor’s note: Chewey is generally the starter for the Time Trials, so by holding butts, he means… well, shit, let’s just leave it like he said it. It’s more fun that way.)
Deke:
The first Decorah Time Trial was in 1990 – and that was the return of racing in Decorah after some dark years. From 1987 to 1993 nobody was allowed to ride mountain bikes on ANY of the trails at all. We had a Parks and Rec director that put a stop to all of it. The lesson from that though, is that you’ve got to make yourself so obviously valuable to the community as a whole that one person’s opinion can’t derail you. Anyway, we started the Time Trials because our trails are too narrow for mass start evens. Also we did it because I was good at time trials – though I’ve never once ridden this particular race. I feel that if the promoter rides their own race that shit’s going to go wrong. It’s a superstition of mine.
6. How do you keep a mountain bike race relevant to racers who now have lots of options – specifically, state points series races, “epic” gravel races, etc?
Deke:
The Decorah Time Trials are fun because there’s time to hang out and actually talk to people. Also, I hate races where three people come away with everything and all of the other racers just subsidized their winnings. We have good giveaway drawings that everyone is involved in, we give trophies in lots of classes, and we have good food. We want people to show up early and hang out late. You still do have to have a great place to ride and give people timely and accurate results. But one of the big keys is that we don’t take it too seriously.
Chewey:
If mountain biking was your first love, it always will be. You may step away for whatever reason, but we seem to always go back. Gravel is just a road race, interesting but I don’t see mountain bikers leaving the sport to become world class gravel racers (that’s some funny shit right there). And isn’t this Epic racing really the same thing as we did in the 90’s.
7. What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever seen someone do at a mountain bike race?
Chewey:
I can think of a few, but the one that keeps coming up. Unicycle…
Deke:
I was a starting line judge for the NORBA Cactus Cup. One time in Galena this guy from Lincoln took off from the starting line and snapped his chain about 25 yards in. The dude starts going for his car and I told him that if he got any tools or assistance he’d forfeit. Well, the guy threw a total fit and went bananas. He said, “You mean I just drove seven hours to race 25 yards?” I told him, “No, you drove seven hours to race 25 yards without a chain tool in your jersey.” The funny part of that was that Mike Sinyard was racing there too and also had a technical. He went to go get something to fix his bike and I said, “Hey buddy, you can’t do that.” People said “Dude, that’s Mike Sinyard – of Specialized, they wrote the check for this whole race to happen.” But it was against the rules and he was very cool about it. He was the exact opposite of the angry dude from Lincoln.
8. Mr. Moffit, you’re famous for your ability to come in last in any race, ride, or drinking competition. What’s the key to this greatness?
Chewey:
Don’t kid yourself this shit ain’t easy. The competition is stiff. I had to hide in a forest in New Zealand [for single speed worlds] with all kinds of deadly creatures (they have deadly creatures there don’t they?) and drink waiting for this goof with a boom box strapped to his bike to get moving. If I remember right wasn’t it SURLY who started the DFL shit? Maybe Corson or Nick Fucking Sande? Wait until you meet one Kerry Montgomery from Austin TX who, after she blows by you on some really technical crap, will pull over and sob about the next climb, then drink you under the table. Being last has become an event unto itself. Your damn fault I think.
9. Mr. Gosen, the life of the bicycle retailer is not particularly easy. What advice do you have for the kids out there hoping to make millions opening a bike shop?
Deke:
Of course there’s the old joke that if you want to make a million dollars in the bike industry, you have to start with two. Honestly, most people who want to work in a bike shop really just want to hang out in a bike shop. They see how cool it is to kick back with a couple of beers, but it really is a lot of work. Retail is stressful and if you can’t handle that, then it ain’t gonna work out. Also, I would caution too, that bike shops kill relationships. I challenge you to find a bike shop owner who hasn’t had a break up or divorce or restraining order because of the shop. Let’s put it this way, if you run it well a bike shop has the potential to make you literally TENS of dollars.
10. Do you think bike racing is a gateway drug for some other life-ruining pursuit?
Chewey:
Dirt Burger is a result of MTB racing. ‘nough said? (Editor’s note: the Dirt Burger is another Decorah mountain bike even run by me with the express intent of NOT racing, but instead, sitting under a bridge, drinking, and periodically going for dirt rides. It’s June 21-22-and 23 this year, so get here.)
Deke:
Let me think about this one for a minute... For me, mountain bike racing can lead to really nasty things like vegetarian cooking, church, and white slavery. It could take you down a dark path – sex with animals for example.
There you have it. You’re smarter now, right? In all seriousness, you could do a lot worse than to ride, have a few beers, and bullshit with these two pillars of the Midwest mountain bike world. So, now’s your chance: find your way to Decorah for the Time Trials coming up at the end of this month. Bring back some of the good old days of dirt racing, meet some new people, and dig our bluffs. If you don’t, you’re kind of being a jerk after all this typing I’ve done.
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