ESWG Winter Bike Race Recap

Empire State Winter Games made a splash at Dewey Mountain and the first-annual Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza kept the winter bike party going!

It may have been February 5, but the heart of winter was a fabulous day to ride a bike in Saranac Lake thanks to the efforts of the good people at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center and the organizers of the famed Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

For the first time, Dewey Mountain hosted the Empire State Winter Games Winter Bike races that morning with fat bike riders ages 6 to 68 ripping around prime conditions on the venue's wide, smooth and firmly packed cross country ski trails thanks to the incredible support of the Town of Harrietstown and the “Dew Crew.” As one rider, from Massachusetts said after the race, “this was one of the greatest fat bike races I’ve ever participated in.”

In addition to the races, Brewhouse Bikes was on-site with free fat bike demos and there were complimentary hot dogs for roasting on the outdoor fire. Following the races, the top three riders in each class were awarded medals, BikeADK swag and motivation to come back to Dewey Mountain in the summer to ride the mountain bike network.

A group of riders, including 6-year-old Riley Gobel enjoys the perfect race conditions at Dewey Mountain.

An hour and a half after the last racer crossed the Dewey Mountain finish, another 100 cyclists from all over the north country - and some Empire State Winter Games participants - donned costumes and hit the downtown streets for the first annual Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza - a one-mile slow roll starting and finishing at the iconic Ice Palace.

Both the ESWG races at the new Dewey Mountain Venue and the Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza were instant hits and no doubt will grow exponentially next winter. And they should. Both are great ideas that promote creativity and activity. In other words, good, clean, FUN!

Need proof? Check out the complete ESWG race results and photo gallery below. Images courtesy of students of Newhouse School of Public Communications. High resolution images are also available for download at: https://gallery.eswgmedia.com/winterbiking/feb5/.

And check out this his POV video of the men's 50-59 Expert division first lap (of 5). Thanks Bryan Blake!

Participants in the Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza line up at the Ice Palace for a Saranac Lake Winter Carnival slow roll.

2023 Empire State Winter Games Winter Bike Results

BEGINNER CLASS (1.4 Miles)

6 & Under
1. Riley Gobel - Clifton Park, NY

6-12
1. John Gracey - Verona, NY

Women 50-59
1. Priscilla Cassidy - Glens Falls, NY

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (4.2 Miles)

Women 30-39
1. Jessica Blake - Brewerton, NY

Men 30-39
1. Stephen Glauser - Saranac Lake, NY
2. John Geraghty - Marlborough, MA
3. Stephen Slocum - Medford, MA

Women 40-49
1. Emily O’Mahony - Saranac Lake, NY

Men 40-49
1. Justin Frontuto - Elmira, NY
2. Lance Keating - Rexford, NY
3. Marc Cass - Vermontville, NY
4. Bryan Whipple - Williamson, NY

Women 50-59
1. Stephanie Thomas Hanaman - Ghen, NY
2. Jocelyn Rabin - Manlius, NY

Men 50-59
1. Dan Casey - Massena, NY
2. Howard Layer - Malta, NY
3. Trevor Corbett - Ballston Spa, NY
4. Jason Brimhall - Lake Placid, NY

Men 60+
1. Jeff Kahabka - Mechanicville, NY
2. Mark Gobel - Oneota, NY
3. Joe Gladd - Saranac Lake, NY

EXPERT CLASS (7 miles)

Women 18-29
1. Julia LaReau - Saranac Lake, NY

Men 30-39
1. Peter Gobel - Clifton Park, NY
2. Zachary Campbell - Saranac Lake, NY

Men 40-49
1. Glenn Forrester- Verona, NY
2. David Mccutcheon - Saugerties, NY
3. Andreas Wilke - Potsdam, NY
4. Nicholas Seleni - Saranac Lake, NY

Women 50-59
1. Katina Sayers - Tully, NY

Men 50-59
1. Benjamin Rabin - Manlius, NY
2. Loring Porter - Lake Placid, NY
3. Daniel Pone - Constantia, NY
4. Bryan Blake - Brewerton, NY
5. Michael Petrosino - Rockaway Park, NY
6. Jason Pare - Au Sable Forks, NY

Men 60+
1. William Bunn - Morrisonville, NY
2. Joseph Brautigam - Bethel, CT