By ANDREW

FLAHERTY

8-18 Media

Special to the Journal

The Ore to Shore is a bike race that ranges from 50 yards to 48 miles. This is a great bike race for beginners because you can find one race that will fit your needs. You could choose to do the 50-yard race, the Littlest Rock, the 1-mile Little Rock, the 4-mile Junior Rock, the 10-mile Shore Rock, the 28-mile Soft Rock, or the 48-mile Hard Rock. As you can see there are plenty of choices for you to pick from so you can pick something that suits you.

I did the 2023 Ore to Shore and did two races. First, I did the 10-mile at 8 a.m. and then at 4 p.m. I did the 4- mile. In the 10-mile I was 101st, and in the 4-mile race I came in 23rd…I would have done better, but my chain fell off.

If you do the 48- mile prepare to get dirty, because it’s a long race in muddy dirt. The 28-mile isn’t much different, so expect a dirty bike and squeaky brakes. In the 10-mile, it’s a little less dirty, but don’t get your hopes up because there are lots of steep hills. If it rains, you better be prepared to get muddy! There are plenty of trails that will be full of mud as well as sand and puddles on the pavement. The trails are very well marked so you won’t have to worry about getting lost. If you do the 28-mile or the 48- mile there will be water stations, so you will not have to worry about water either

The 50-yard Littlest Rock starts at the YMCA and ends right next to it. The 1-mile starts at the YMCA and ends at the same place. The 4-mile starts at the YMCA and ends at the start.

The 10-mile is the exact same as the 1-mile and 4-mile races. The 48-mile, and the 28-mile start in Ishpeming and end at the YMCA.

If you place in the top three in the 4-mile you get a medal, same with the 10-mile. In the 28 and 48-mile, you get cash prizes. In the 1-mile and 50-yard races, you will get a ribbon.

The start of the 4- mile is not very crowded, because you are divided by age. The 10-mile, the 28 and 48-mile are very crowded, but only at the start. The 1-mile is the same as the 4-mile. The 50-yard is probably the most crowded and is the only one that stays crowded during the entire race.

This race is a really great thing to do over the summer. It will give you a reason to go out and bike. It would also give you a great goal to go for if you wanted to place in the top 10 or even win. This is an absolutely great race.

EDITORS NOTE: Andrew Flaherty is in the sixth grade. He enjoys playing football, running, reading, history and playing video games.