Trans Iowa Stories: Setting A Course For The Future

Coming in April? Or was it? Things could have turned out very different in 2007.

"Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject by going back to earlier Sunday posts on this blog. Thanks and enjoy!

There was one major difference, from a rider's perspective, that was sure to be in the next Trans Iowa in 2007. That was that the course would not be across the state. My revelation concerning how we did things came at the inaugural Dirty Kanza in 2006. The loop course was, in a sense, a way to make things easier for everybody. The whole idea of having to go across the state to recon, to start the event, have a separate finish line 300 plus miles away, and then worry about how the riders would get back from the finish was not something we wanted to deal with. A loop course eliminated all of that. For the riders, it made logistics easier. Getting off the course in the event of a DNF would also be easier for the support people. Volunteers could be a part of the event, and organizing them could be easier.

So, all of that was pretty much settled, but the rest? Not a chance! In fact, one of the little known stories about Trans Iowa is the story about how Jeff and I seriously searched out a tri-state course to make the event cross into Minnesota and Wisconsin. This idea arose because we knew the Driftless Region had a LOT of big hills and beautiful valleys. Of course, if we did this, the name "Trans Iowa" wouldn't work. Jeff and I threw out a few working names for the event, but until we had a course, nothing official would be decided.

During my research, I realized that I would need some maps, so I went out and bought brand new copies of Delorme Atlas books covering Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I excitedly took them home and dove straight into it. Using these and cross-referencing the info with state road maps I had revealed something rather quickly. Southwestern Wisconsin is mostly paved, in terms of roads, and getting riders across the Mississippi would involve several miles of well traveled highways.

Not gonna happen.

The biggest reason why was, and would ever be, that from the get-go pavement was to be shunned for Trans Iowa. Keeping in mind that one of the reasons we were doing this was because our boss at the shop was a roadie and had done a road version of a cross-state bicycle ride in a day. Also- there was that lingering desire to do a full on dirt/single track ultra-endurance event in our minds yet at this time. Adding bits of single track was very much an option yet for us in planning for v3. Pavement riding was not on our radar, and Jeff and I weren't about to change that for Trans Iowa.

So, the whole "tri-state" idea was ditched in favor of sticking around in Northeast Iowa. We thought about coming down to our home area of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, but once again, the pavement necessary to get riders into the city was unappealing. So, in the end, the loop course went around the area we lived in, coming within around 10 miles of Waterloo/Cedar Falls in a couple of places.

Interestingly, several years later, Chris Skogen actually did this tri-state idea in the course he named the "Alexander" which became part of the Almanzo events. That tri-state idea was abandoned for 2019 as the Almanzo events were based out of Northfield, Minnesota instead of in Southeastern Minnesota, where the original Alexander course emanated from Spring Valley. This idea of Mr Skogen's being similar to ours was all just coincidence though, as I highly doubt that Chris Skogen had any idea we were considering doing that idea back in 2006.

Next: More Developments for V3.

Trans Iowa Stories: Setting A Course For The Future

Coming in April? Or was it? Things could have turned out very different in 2007.

"Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject by going back to earlier Sunday posts on this blog. Thanks and enjoy!

There was one major difference, from a rider's perspective, that was sure to be in the next Trans Iowa in 2007. That was that the course would not be across the state. My revelation concerning how we did things came at the inaugural Dirty Kanza in 2006. The loop course was, in a sense, a way to make things easier for everybody. The whole idea of having to go across the state to recon, to start the event, have a separate finish line 300 plus miles away, and then worry about how the riders would get back from the finish was not something we wanted to deal with. A loop course eliminated all of that. For the riders, it made logistics easier. Getting off the course in the event of a DNF would also be easier for the support people. Volunteers could be a part of the event, and organizing them could be easier.

So, all of that was pretty much settled, but the rest? Not a chance! In fact, one of the little known stories about Trans Iowa is the story about how Jeff and I seriously searched out a tri-state course to make the event cross into Minnesota and Wisconsin. This idea arose because we knew the Driftless Region had a LOT of big hills and beautiful valleys. Of course, if we did this, the name "Trans Iowa" wouldn't work. Jeff and I threw out a few working names for the event, but until we had a course, nothing official would be decided.

During my research, I realized that I would need some maps, so I went out and bought brand new copies of Delorme Atlas books covering Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I excitedly took them home and dove straight into it. Using these and cross-referencing the info with state road maps I had revealed something rather quickly. Southwestern Wisconsin is mostly paved, in terms of roads, and getting riders across the Mississippi would involve several miles of well traveled highways.

Not gonna happen.

The biggest reason why was, and would ever be, that from the get-go pavement was to be shunned for Trans Iowa. Keeping in mind that one of the reasons we were doing this was because our boss at the shop was a roadie and had done a road version of a cross-state bicycle ride in a day. Also- there was that lingering desire to do a full on dirt/single track ultra-endurance event in our minds yet at this time. Adding bits of single track was very much an option yet for us in planning for v3. Pavement riding was not on our radar, and Jeff and I weren't about to change that for Trans Iowa.

So, the whole "tri-state" idea was ditched in favor of sticking around in Northeast Iowa. We thought about coming down to our home area of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, but once again, the pavement necessary to get riders into the city was unappealing. So, in the end, the loop course went around the area we lived in, coming within around 10 miles of Waterloo/Cedar Falls in a couple of places.

Interestingly, several years later, Chris Skogen actually did this tri-state idea in the course he named the "Alexander" which became part of the Almanzo events. That tri-state idea was abandoned for 2019 as the Almanzo events were based out of Northfield, Minnesota instead of in Southeastern Minnesota, where the original Alexander course emanated from Spring Valley. This idea of Mr Skogen's being similar to ours was all just coincidence though, as I highly doubt that Chris Skogen had any idea we were considering doing that idea back in 2006.

Next: More Developments for V3.

Friday News And Views

TIMP News:

Okay folks, I am working on ironing out the final details on the Trans Iowa Masters Program. The cues are being uploaded to the site, with the "First Semester" and "Mid-Term Test" already on the page. I hope to have the final part up within a few days. Here are a few notes of interest:

• There probably will not be a full course recon. I just don't have the resources to do that at this time. I do have a few possibilities for checking out sections of the course, so I hope to be able to get some of it looked at. 
• That said- Riders will be on their own from the standpoint of doing any on-the-fly re-routing. (Which should add to the adventure part.) There is a clause in the Rules that addresses re-routing, (see rule #5 on the TIMP page), so it shouldn't be a big deal. Still.....I hope to check out as much of this course as I can soon.
• There are two riders pledged to do the course already. 

More news on TIMP will be coming soon! Stay tuned......

Charles City Iowa May 1968

46 Years Ago:

Yesterday marked the 46th year since "The Tornado", as we folks who lived through it say. My hometown of Charles City Iowa was devastated by an F-5 tornado a little after 5pm on May 15th, 1968.

I was just a little boy at the time, but this event pretty much shaped my life for years to come afterward, and of course, it isn't something one forgets. Thirteen people lost there lives that day, and thousands were injured. Pretty traumatic for anyone let alone a young child to live through.

Yet, as they say, good things often come out of tragedy, and I witnessed many a good thing that came out of this calamity. One of those very minor things was my attraction to bicycles. You see, since the tornado ripped apart so many households, bicycles were strewn about the surrounding wild areas where we had the pick of the litter, in a way of speaking, for several years afterward. These bikes we would scavenge, tear apart, assemble, and modify without fear of failure or retribution from someone's parents or the authorities.

I gained a very basic understanding of bicycles from this time and I suppose you could say it stuck with me and grew. Would I have been a bicycle nerd without that tornado? Maybe. But you never know..........

Apparently Shimano thinks they are Campy.

How Much For That Chain Ring In The Window?

Okay, so the good news is that my Ultegra 11 speed 46T chain ring has arrived. (Part # coming soon!) That's a good thing, since the 52T ring on there is just not very useful for my preferred gravel riding style.

The bad news? Well, apparently Shimano chain rings have a very special.......something. I'm not sure what it is, but the retail price on the 46T chain ring is........get ready for this! 

$189.99!!!

Yes- that's for one aluminum chain ring with 46T and a bit of fancy forge work. I didn't order a Campy one by mistake, did I? Nope........it's a Shimano ring alright. That's stunning, discouraging, and  seems just plain wrong. Besides the fact that it is uglier than sin, plasticky looking anodized grey/black. If it was beautiful, didn't look like it came off a department store bike, and was......oh say about 100 bucks less at retail, I could swallow that.

But this price for this ring is ridiculous. Plain and simple. But.........I will buy it, because there are no alternatives. At some point, there will be other, more reasonable 11 speed compatible options, and this crankset will be replaced so I can afford to keep buying replacement rings. The gravel is not kind to these things, ya know.

Good Luck To The Almanzo Riders! 

By the time you read this, the long course, which is called the Alexander, will  have riders on it. The Almanzo 100 and Royal 165 will start Saturday. Should be a great weekend, albeit cool, for riding. Good luck to all those taking part in the events out of Spring Valley this weekend!

Friday News And Views

TIMP News:

Okay folks, I am working on ironing out the final details on the Trans Iowa Masters Program. The cues are being uploaded to the site, with the "First Semester" and "Mid-Term Test" already on the page. I hope to have the final part up within a few days. Here are a few notes of interest:

• There probably will not be a full course recon. I just don't have the resources to do that at this time. I do have a few possibilities for checking out sections of the course, so I hope to be able to get some of it looked at. 
• That said- Riders will be on their own from the standpoint of doing any on-the-fly re-routing. (Which should add to the adventure part.) There is a clause in the Rules that addresses re-routing, (see rule #5 on the TIMP page), so it shouldn't be a big deal. Still.....I hope to check out as much of this course as I can soon.
• There are two riders pledged to do the course already. 

More news on TIMP will be coming soon! Stay tuned......

Charles City Iowa May 1968

46 Years Ago:

Yesterday marked the 46th year since "The Tornado", as we folks who lived through it say. My hometown of Charles City Iowa was devastated by an F-5 tornado a little after 5pm on May 15th, 1968.

I was just a little boy at the time, but this event pretty much shaped my life for years to come afterward, and of course, it isn't something one forgets. Thirteen people lost there lives that day, and thousands were injured. Pretty traumatic for anyone let alone a young child to live through.

Yet, as they say, good things often come out of tragedy, and I witnessed many a good thing that came out of this calamity. One of those very minor things was my attraction to bicycles. You see, since the tornado ripped apart so many households, bicycles were strewn about the surrounding wild areas where we had the pick of the litter, in a way of speaking, for several years afterward. These bikes we would scavenge, tear apart, assemble, and modify without fear of failure or retribution from someone's parents or the authorities.

I gained a very basic understanding of bicycles from this time and I suppose you could say it stuck with me and grew. Would I have been a bicycle nerd without that tornado? Maybe. But you never know..........

Apparently Shimano thinks they are Campy.

How Much For That Chain Ring In The Window?

Okay, so the good news is that my Ultegra 11 speed 46T chain ring has arrived. (Part # coming soon!) That's a good thing, since the 52T ring on there is just not very useful for my preferred gravel riding style.

The bad news? Well, apparently Shimano chain rings have a very special.......something. I'm not sure what it is, but the retail price on the 46T chain ring is........get ready for this! 

$189.99!!!

Yes- that's for one aluminum chain ring with 46T and a bit of fancy forge work. I didn't order a Campy one by mistake, did I? Nope........it's a Shimano ring alright. That's stunning, discouraging, and  seems just plain wrong. Besides the fact that it is uglier than sin, plasticky looking anodized grey/black. If it was beautiful, didn't look like it came off a department store bike, and was......oh say about 100 bucks less at retail, I could swallow that.

But this price for this ring is ridiculous. Plain and simple. But.........I will buy it, because there are no alternatives. At some point, there will be other, more reasonable 11 speed compatible options, and this crankset will be replaced so I can afford to keep buying replacement rings. The gravel is not kind to these things, ya know.

Good Luck To The Almanzo Riders! 

By the time you read this, the long course, which is called the Alexander, will  have riders on it. The Almanzo 100 and Royal 165 will start Saturday. Should be a great weekend, albeit cool, for riding. Good luck to all those taking part in the events out of Spring Valley this weekend!