Back to Nebraska...

Yesterday was my first time back in the Husker state since the Steeplechase Death March.  The roads were perfectly dry and solid.  A strong and steady NW wind provided good resistance.  It was odd going 30+ mph (with the wind's help) on roads that would have been a quagmire 3 weeks ago.

I even got to practice my tire changing skills courtesy of a errant thorn.  Love the CO2!

I continue to imagine routes for next spring and despite the horrors of the October 8th ride, I still want to throw at least one mile of MMR into the mix.  But just one.  Two at the most.  Still awaiting the long-awaited opening of the Meridian Bridge because I want to make that part of the route too.

With the promise of winter just around the corner I'm experiencing bike lust again...perhaps a Salsa Vaya?  A Dos 9er?  Christmas will be here before we know it...

Next up...2012!

Even though the mud from the 2011 Steeplechase is still getting picked out of our bikes, clips and souls I can't help but be excited about doing something similar in 2012.  This blog will probably go into something resembling hibernation for a bit, but I have begun planning for next year.

Here's what my fevered imagination has come up with so far:
1) A springtime century (metric and English) that is divided more evenly between SoDak and Nebraska.  MMR's would probably not be a part of these routes in case you were wondering.  Mid-April anyone?  I already have the route roughed out.

2) A century version of the Steeplechase Harvest Ride, also metric and English, possibly with a more competitive category for the race inclined.

I welcome input from any and all.  I believe gravel/MMR riding has a future in the Yankton vicinity and I would love to see folks spread the word.  My goal is to keep these events free, fun and accessible.

Cheers,
Gregg

What I learned today...

Pictured: people who have no idea how long this day will be.

The first edition of the Steeplechase is behind us, now there are just the ensuing nightmares of gummed up wheels and shoes.  And so much walking slogging.  Thanks to everyone who made the trip - some of you came hundreds of miles only to be subjected to something bordering on sadistic.  I also want to thank the long-suffering partners and spouses (especially my own) who allow us to do things like this to ourselves.  And a shout out to Ace Bikes for giving us a rendezvous point and a roof to have our pre-ride assembly in.

If you'd like, send me your photos of this epic event that I can include in a gallery.  Also send me your critiques/comments.  Please keep a lid on the profanity.  I've already received one email that was very gracious and has helped me focus on the positive, as well as promising even more folks for next years event...which is just crazy.   Make that two.

cleaning, so much cleaning

So here's a short list of what I learned:
1) have maps available for those that want them, marked with alternate routes and/or bailout points.
2) have an alternate route for weather events just like the one we had last night
3) make sure my own tools are in order
4) gravel folks are a breed apart
5) MMR's can be a exceedingly unpleasant
6) wraparound fenders make excellent brakes
7) when estimating my time, double it

I managed to drag my aching backside home around 5:20 (not 5 hours and 20 mins.) after suffering a complete derailleur malfunction at about 40 miles.  I came home with a brand new single that at first was acting like a fixie.  My bike needs work.

My new rear d design (patent pending)

My bike after I shot it.

It's a go

The heavy rain and light show appear to be past us.  The wind has died and it looks like light-ish rain and sprinkles are on tap for this a.m.  My past experience on this course would tell me that the gravel will be gorgeous and the sand somewhat treacherous.  There is about a two mile section that could be greasy, but I think we'll live.  See you in 3 hours!

Postscript:  seldom have I been so wrong.

24 to go...

Good morning, Grinders!

The good news: it will be cooling off and the wind is dying.
The not-as-good news:  it's going to be damp/messy.
Final analysis:  I'll take 60°, calm and wet over 85° with a 35 mph wind (and flames).
7-Day Forecast for Latitude 42.88°N and Longitude 97.4°W (Elev. 1204 ft)
Bring your ziplocs, layers, towels and dry clothes for later.
There's a carwash near the bike shop if you need to wash down before heading home.

For those of you who did (or attempted) last spring's Almanzo this will be a piece of cake.

Be safe, be kind, have fun!

See you tomorrow.

Mid-week update

I've been checking the forecast for Saturday and although there may be some rain/sprinkles I can pretty much guarantee the roads will not look like this:

Yesterday I found out that Ace opens at 8:00 on Saturdays - but the start time will remain at 9:30.  Postcards continue to trickle in and if you have some last-minute adds feel free to bring them along.

I want to emphasize that this is a non-competitive venture, but if you hook up with folks who want to make a friendly race out of it go for it.  Just be nice and while you're in town take it easy and follow the rules of the road.  I mean, you should always follow the rules of the road - just pay extra attention within the city limits.  I will not be going for time and I'm not going to be first back.  I'm planning to have a check-in sheet at the Ace bike counter where you can record your time for posterity.  Don't forget your helmet and bringing a blinky red light wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I may have a few more random thoughts to add before Saturday so keep checking in.

Be safe, be kind, have fun.

A milestone of sorts.

If blogspots data are to be believed this little blog has garnered 997 views.  Go figure.  With your help we can reach 1000!  I have no tote bags or coffee mugs to offer, however.

A century's worth of erosion

I rode the route yesterday to verify that the cue sheets will actually help you find your out and back again.  The course is extremely dry.  Fire hazard dry. I'm pretty sure the harvest has barely begun because the farmers don't want their combines to send this year's crop up in smoke.  Some rain is forecast for this coming Friday and Saturday which will actually help compact the sandy bits.  Fortunately temps are supposed to remain mild.  There will still be some sandy areas that will require dismounting and walking - unless you bring your Pugsley.

I saw my first Nebraska coyotes yesterday - two or three, including this pup.  They are much less of a threat than any farmyard dog.

Two more postcards arrived from  Sioux Falls, South Dakota's biggest city!  Maybe we'll get to 20.

Global weirding

So the big day is a week from tomorrow and the long-range forecast is still calling for freakishly temperate weather.  That could either mean that it will be 65 degrees and sunny or it will be sleeting.  Keep your weather eyes open.

Another postcard came today from Brookings so as of right now it looks like there will be at least 9 of us.  I'd love to have a nice round number like 20, but I'll take anything more than just myself as a success.  I'd also like to get at least a couple of folks from Yankton out there, but as I've said elsewhere this isn't a huge biking town.

I'm planning to ride the route this Sunday to verify that my cue sheets are in order and that there aren't any packs of feral dogs out there with a taste for lycra.  If I don't check in anytime between now and next Saturday you'll know that there are.

Gearing up!

my desk with the impeccable Almanzo cue sheets

We're about 10 days away from zero hour and I'm in the process of editing the cue sheets.  Fortunately about 95% of the course goes either N,S,E or W  (Thanks Thomas Jefferson!) so it's almost impossible to get horribly lost.  Also, the roads are numbered sequentially so if you go south of 888th or east of 565th you know you've gone too far.  I've made up a nifty navigator's desk using 1/4" plywood and zip ties - works like a charm plus I can do the crossword if things get slow.

Got a couple of postcards yesterday (a shout out to Pierre, SD and Sioux City, IA!) from folks I don't know personally.  At least now I'm pretty sure it won't just be me and a few of my friends out there on the course.   I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the current weather trend will hold until Oct. 9, even if it means lots of dust.

Gentlemens Ride 2.0

Forestville - thanks Chris Skogen

 I'm back from SE Minnesota where I had my backside handed to me courtesy of the Gentlemen's Ride.  If it hadn't been for the perfect weather, flawless mechanicals and the Thai iced coffee at the Forestville refreshment stop I don't think I could have done it.

The Start

Having 3 other folks to help me along didn't hurt either ( including Chris who can kick my butt while biking uphill and smoking...a cigarette).    I look at the Steeplechase as an Almanzo Light and I'm pretty sure that while I will in all likelihood finish I will not be first back.  And that's OK.  If there's a next year for the Steeplechase I may want to make it a 100k/100 mile affair.  That could be fun.

Don't try this at home...or anywhere.

I saw the light.

So during my numerous rides through Cedar County I've noticed what to me is a surprising number of light (or is it 'lite'?) beer cans littering the shoulders.  There seem to be nearly equal numbers of Bud & Busch, hardly ever a Miller, with an occasional soda can here and there.  After I get out on the road I always think I should have thrown on a pannier and picked up some cans to help finance my cycling habit.
If you want to defray your Steeplechase travel costs and earn extra brownie points you are welcome to bring your pick n' grab stick and a sack or pannier.  One word of warning - you'll find yourself stopping every 50 yards to help keep America beautiful.
After the ride you can exorcise the memories of abandoned beer cans with a trip to Ben's Brewing at 222 W. 3rd St. in Yankton.  He's got some good stuff that you don't want to throw out of a pickup window.

hmmmm...light beer.

deadline, schmeadline.

So awhile back I had designated Sept. 24 as the deadline for registering for this ride but now I'm rethinking that.  This little blog has been seeing some pretty good traffic (if blogspot is to be believed) but I have yet to see any registrations from anyone outside my immediate circle of riding chums.  If you're out there reading this and interested in riding, drop me a postcard (include your email, please) via the USPS by October 4th.  It's not that I'm desperate or anyting, but I'd like to know who's coming.
That address again:
Gregg Homstad
500 Mulberry St.
Yankton, SD  57078

Bonk!

I've got the Gentlemen's Ride facing me in two weeks so yesterday was my day to log some miles and further scope out the Steeplechase route.  I rode what I think will be the final iteration and mileage should come out almost exactly at 50.  There are 5 steeples on the route, about 6 miles of MMR and about 9 of asphalt.  I may develop another route in case of exceedingly muddy conditions.

I was more concerned with taking notes and photos than I was with eating and by the end of the ride I was feeling the effects.  It doesn't help that I'm not in top form, either.  I was starting to see messages in the passing grain bins:

St. Boniface - Menominee, NE

Beautiful Bow Valley, NE

30 days to go

The steeplechase is a month away and so far I have 2 registered riders - both friends from the Twin Cities.  I'd really like to get some local folks in on this, or even riders from the Siouxs, Omaha or Lincoln.  I'm trying to get the local paper to give this event a blurb in their 'Coming Attractions' section and I've got flyers up at the local bike shop and the municipal fitness center.

Even if you haven't ridden gravel since you were a kid growing up on the farm (like me) I would encourage you to give this a try.  Riding without cars/trucks blowing by you at 70 mph is a beautiful thing.

September!

Glad to start the long slide into Fall.  Temps are down 20° from yesterday and the living is good.  The average temps for October 8?  Low: 45°F, High: 68°F.  I'm more concerned about wet v. dry.

The Almanzo Gentlemen's Ride is in 3 weeks and I still need a lot more saddle time.  If you haven't experienced an Almanzo event I strongly encourage you to check out their site.  It looks as though they're planning metric half and full century rides in addition to their English century.  A marathon may also be in the works.

An article in the local paper stated that the old Meridian bridge may be open in October.  There were no hard dates, but I'm still hopeful we can use it to get to Nebraska and back.

Speaking of Nebraska...I don't follow the college football all that much.  OK, I don't follow it at all.  But I know that the Huskers have made the move to the Big 10 which they tell me has 12 teams.  WTF?  In any case, if you want to get in good with the local folks on either side of the river wear your big red 'N' loud and proud.  They play Ohio State in an evening game on the 8th so there's no excuse for not riding some gravel.

Why gravel? Why steeples?

As I've gotten more comfortable with the whole aging thing, I've realized that going fast on asphalt just isn't as important to me as it once was and 35 mph on a gravel downhill is more thrilling than 45 on asphalt.  Also, we have gravel roads aplenty in these parts so it's really just a matter of using the resources at hand.  Last, this area isn't home to a big biking community and internal combustion drivers around here are not what I would call 'hip' to the whole cyclists' rights thing.  Ducking out on the gravel side roads is just a whole lot less stressful.

Regarding the steeples:  this ride is not a religious activity, and although I think all of the churches on the route are of the Catholic persuasion I am not endorsing any denomination over another.  However,  feel free to invoke whichever saint you think can help you along should the need arise.

Steeples!

Sunday is my usual ride day, preferably early in the morning while the kids are still happy to lounge around in the pj's.  However, the day broke dark and thundery and ultimately we ended up with a good amount of rain.  I got out on the road during naptime (theirs, not mine) about 4 hours post-rain.  For the most part the roads held up pretty well if a bit on the soft side.  However, the MMR's were quite soft and I was able to demonstrate my hands-free track stand.  (yes, I ride with fenders)  I probably only had to walk about 200 yards during the course of the ride.  I'm planning to have about 5 miles of this type of road for the big day.

Rural Nebraska can be very rural - I would guess the population peaked in this particular corner of the state in the 1920's.  There are still functioning churches in these parts though the schools have continued to consolidate.  In some cases the church and a few houses are all that's left of what once upon a time was a modestly prosperous community.  I have no delusions about reversing that trend by having a little bike ride with the hopes of attracting would-be pioneers.  I just think this is a scenic area not seen very much by outsiders.  If y'all want to stay and put down roots that's your business.

I've got mail!

Congratulations to Chris for being the first rider to send in a postcard - granted, he's my cousin-in-law, but now I know I won't be riding alone.  I also have confirmation that I haven't imagined this whole steeplechase thing.  I look forward to finding more postcards in the mailbox.

Welcome Grinders!

Since Guitar Ted was kind enough to list the steeplechase over Gravel Grinder News there's been an uptick (surge?) of traffic here at gravelicious.  Welcome to all y'all.
I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea of playing host for this event and as long as everyone keeps their expectations in the realm of reality things should be OK.  I've only ever ridden two gravel events (Almanzo 100 and the related Gentlemen's Ride) and I've certainly never organized one.  I'm doing my best to emulate Chris Skogen, but I'm a little short on community and support network.  It's really just me.  That means there will some sort of ride packet, but no swag or snacks or provisions for your lodging should you be coming from out of town.  You are on your own.
If you're still interested please take the time to send in a postcard (see the registration page).  I look forward to seeing you on October 8th!

The joys of commitment

Today Sarah (my wife who has a birthday today!) asked me if I was going to post the steeplechase ride with the folks over at GravelGrinder news, or anyone else for that matter. I'm on the fence about that since this will be a first-time thing for me and while I want there to be more than just myself out on the road I also don't want to have too many folks getting their hopes up for the best gravel event ever.

One way to work through this would be to take another page out of Chris Skogen's book and have interested riders register via postcard. I like to get things in the real mail besides Pottery Barn catalogs and it makes participating a little more of a commitment than just tossing off an email. I'll be making my address available soon on the main page.

There's also the question of promoting this through other avenues besides this modest little blog and a flyer at the bike shop...ideas anyone?

My boilerplate disclaimer: This is my first time doing this. I'm not responsible for the weather. It was like that when I got here.

A Bridge to Somewhere?

We have a bridge here in Yankton which was the main route across the Missouri from about 1928 to 2009. Known as the Meridian Bridge, it is currently undergoing a pretty costly conversion from an automotive to a pedestrian/cycling/boarding bridge. Where you're supposed to go once you get into Nebraska is up to you. There is talk of developing a bike trail from the bridge westward to Gavins Point Dam, but for the foreseeable future you're better off getting to know the gravel byways.

While I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will have the work complete by Steeplechase day I'm pretty sure the route will have to cross the river on the new 'Discovery Bridge'. It's a modern concrete viaduct with adequate shoulders - and really, traffic is seldom too bothersome in these parts. Unfortunately the shoulders never get swept so there's all manner of road detritus that builds up right where you want to ride. Hug the white line and keep your eyes open for sharp bits that could ruin your biking day.

August is rapidly slipping away, the days are getting shorter and if I let my imagination wander I can convince myself Fall is just around the corner. That's not to say there aren't several days of 90°+ days ahead.

Planning, such as it is, for the Steeplechase is proceeding. The weekend of October 8th looks like a lock. Even though no major sponsors have stepped forward this will be a free event. There's still plenty of time to get on some gravel and 'B' roads and enjoy the late summer greenery. As for myself I'm trying to get my office chair butt in shape for the Almanzo Gentlemen's ride on 9/24. Chris Skogen puts on an amazing event and although he's largely the inspiration for my wanting to spread the Gospel of Gravel, I am in no way able to come close to matching the time & effort he puts into this kind of endeavor.

I'm looking for interested individuals who want to get their bikes dirty on the gravel roads of the Yankton, SD area, including across the Missouri in Nebraska. At this time I'm exploring the feasibility of hosting a group ride in early October with the working title 'Steeplechase Harvest Ride'. I'm envisioning a ride (not a race!) of about 45 miles that would start and finish in Yankton, but the bulk of the mileage will be Nebraska gravel with a smattering of MMR (minimum maintenance roads).

Hopefully I'll have more to follow.

Disclaimer: I'm not a web designer.