Rear View 2018: The Kansas Trip

L-R -Myself, MG, and Joe Reed, who put MG and I up for the weekend of DK.

The next big deal of 2018 was my trip to the Dirty Kanza 200/DKXL event where I was the support guy for my brother MG. Of course, before that was the support for the Almanzo 100 events which I did with my son and Ben Welnak of RidingGravel.com. That was a good weekend, but the DKXL thing was a big weekend for both MG and myself. I didn't expect I was going to have any real part in much of anything going on down there, but once again- I was wrong. 

Earlier in the year I received a cryptic e-mail from Jim Cummins asking me if I was going to be around the weekend of the DKXL/Dirty Kanza. I never knew why that was asked of me, and it was something I thought was weird, but eventually I forgot about it all. I had even run into Jim during the weekend's events leading up to the races and he never really let on that anything was up involving me.

In the meantime, my brother MG had gotten food poisoning and it appeared then that his attempt at the invitation only event was in jeopardy. The event was set up earlier in 2017, they announced it back then, but the participants were chosen under wraps by the DKXL organizers and only 34 were invited. To get that invitation then was a big, big deal, and MG was super impressed, humbled, and thrilled to be a part of this "prototype" of what is going to be the "official" DKXL this coming year.

Anyway, MG was on the floor writhing in pain the morning of the DKXL and he was slated to be at the start line by 4:00pm. Joe Reed, our host, and I were sure we were going to take MG to the hospital, but somehow MG rallied and even got a bit of food down. Then it was hoped that he would take the start, but, ya know.......We figured it was only going to be a short lived, save his honor type deal. Anyway.... In the meantime Joe, some friends of his, and I went downtown to witness the first DKXL start.

Just moments before I was called out by Jim Cummins, (shown here in the blue shirt)

Wow! There were far more people at this historic beginning than anyone figured on. Some estimates put the crowd at 800 people, and these folks were squeezed in anywhere they could find a spot to stand. Somehow or another, I managed to get a front row spot to send off MG and perhaps get a few good images of this history making start. Jim started his soliloquy, and pretty soon I understood he was veering into Trans Iowa territory with his remarks.

"Okay, here he goes!", I thought, and sure enough, my name came up. But then he asked if I was there, and I waved my hand. "Okay. Now let's get on with the show....", I thought, hoping that was all there was to it. But no..... Jim called me to his side! I was floored. I never thought I'd get any recognition for Trans Iowa, or for being an influence on the DKXL. I figured nothing would, or should be said, but he mentioned TI, and myself, and that would have been enough. But with this action of Jim's, by his making time to have me spotlighted, well I was supremely humbled. I'm sure folks thought, "Who the heck is this guy?", because, well, let's face it- Trans Iowa is a tiny spec on the scene. And it was over and out by this point as well.

Anyway, what an honor! I was, and still am, floored by Jim's remarks and by his effort to make time to publicly call me out at that moment. He certainly didn't have to do anything of the sort. So, Thank You Jim! 

He made it! MG gets a finish line hug from Jim Cummins after he completed the DKXL

 Then later on MG just kept amazing me at every turn. He eventually pulled out a finish on a day where many of his fellow competitors failed. It was amazing, and I was so happy for him. That really topped off the weekend and we both had something big happen to us where we never expected it to.

My only regret is that I was able to record a killer podcast episode with MG in two parts that, for whatever reason, never saw the light of day. Oh well! I wish that would have worked out, but as it was, we had a stellar weekend. Oh, and by the way, thank you one more time to our host, Joe Reed. You are awesome, man!

Anyway, that was a huge weekend and a big trip for me. Had Trans Iowa not ended this year that trip would be at the top of the heap for cool stuff that happened here on the blog and in my life in 2018. But I am not finished yet! Oh no! There are at least a few more big events to talk about in the looking back on 2018. Stay tuned......

 

Rear View 2018: The Kansas Trip

L-R -Myself, MG, and Joe Reed, who put MG and I up for the weekend of DK.

The next big deal of 2018 was my trip to the Dirty Kanza 200/DKXL event where I was the support guy for my brother MG. Of course, before that was the support for the Almanzo 100 events which I did with my son and Ben Welnak of RidingGravel.com. That was a good weekend, but the DKXL thing was a big weekend for both MG and myself. I didn't expect I was going to have any real part in much of anything going on down there, but once again- I was wrong. 

Earlier in the year I received a cryptic e-mail from Jim Cummins asking me if I was going to be around the weekend of the DKXL/Dirty Kanza. I never knew why that was asked of me, and it was something I thought was weird, but eventually I forgot about it all. I had even run into Jim during the weekend's events leading up to the races and he never really let on that anything was up involving me.

In the meantime, my brother MG had gotten food poisoning and it appeared then that his attempt at the invitation only event was in jeopardy. The event was set up earlier in 2017, they announced it back then, but the participants were chosen under wraps by the DKXL organizers and only 34 were invited. To get that invitation then was a big, big deal, and MG was super impressed, humbled, and thrilled to be a part of this "prototype" of what is going to be the "official" DKXL this coming year.

Anyway, MG was on the floor writhing in pain the morning of the DKXL and he was slated to be at the start line by 4:00pm. Joe Reed, our host, and I were sure we were going to take MG to the hospital, but somehow MG rallied and even got a bit of food down. Then it was hoped that he would take the start, but, ya know.......We figured it was only going to be a short lived, save his honor type deal. Anyway.... In the meantime Joe, some friends of his, and I went downtown to witness the first DKXL start.

Just moments before I was called out by Jim Cummins, (shown here in the blue shirt)

Wow! There were far more people at this historic beginning than anyone figured on. Some estimates put the crowd at 800 people, and these folks were squeezed in anywhere they could find a spot to stand. Somehow or another, I managed to get a front row spot to send off MG and perhaps get a few good images of this history making start. Jim started his soliloquy, and pretty soon I understood he was veering into Trans Iowa territory with his remarks.

"Okay, here he goes!", I thought, and sure enough, my name came up. But then he asked if I was there, and I waved my hand. "Okay. Now let's get on with the show....", I thought, hoping that was all there was to it. But no..... Jim called me to his side! I was floored. I never thought I'd get any recognition for Trans Iowa, or for being an influence on the DKXL. I figured nothing would, or should be said, but he mentioned TI, and myself, and that would have been enough. But with this action of Jim's, by his making time to have me spotlighted, well I was supremely humbled. I'm sure folks thought, "Who the heck is this guy?", because, well, let's face it- Trans Iowa is a tiny spec on the scene. And it was over and out by this point as well.

Anyway, what an honor! I was, and still am, floored by Jim's remarks and by his effort to make time to publicly call me out at that moment. He certainly didn't have to do anything of the sort. So, Thank You Jim! 

He made it! MG gets a finish line hug from Jim Cummins after he completed the DKXL

 Then later on MG just kept amazing me at every turn. He eventually pulled out a finish on a day where many of his fellow competitors failed. It was amazing, and I was so happy for him. That really topped off the weekend and we both had something big happen to us where we never expected it to.

My only regret is that I was able to record a killer podcast episode with MG in two parts that, for whatever reason, never saw the light of day. Oh well! I wish that would have worked out, but as it was, we had a stellar weekend. Oh, and by the way, thank you one more time to our host, Joe Reed. You are awesome, man!

Anyway, that was a huge weekend and a big trip for me. Had Trans Iowa not ended this year that trip would be at the top of the heap for cool stuff that happened here on the blog and in my life in 2018. But I am not finished yet! Oh no! There are at least a few more big events to talk about in the looking back on 2018. Stay tuned......

 

Friday News And Views

Make that 2019. It's on!

DKXL On For '19:

This past week came news from the DK Promotions team regarding next year's events that they promote. The DK200 and 100 will see new routes using the "return of iconic checkpoint towns", which I would believe has to be a nod toward a route North of Emporia and West as well. They also mention roster increases, but don't give a number.

But the interesting news to me is the DKXL is now going to be opened up to the "public"....... kind of. Checking the DKXL page, it looks like the DK Promotions team is taking up to 200 applications, and then they will screen those and give permission as they see fit. Applications are opened December 1st and are open for the next 8 days, closing on the 9th. No word on what qualifications they are looking for, or how the process will be accomplished. Interestingly, in a Trans Iowa-like twist, they are not refunding entry fees if you drop and there doesn't seem to be any waiting list, nor are transfers going to be allowed.

There isn't any word on roster limitations, nor is there an entry fee specified at this time. But we can infer a couple of things from the release of this info. First, if they are taking 200 applications only, and maybe 200 won't even try to sign on, then we know the roster limit is less than that. The event, if run like this year's, would be totally self-supported in terms of water, food, etc. So- no support at any checkpoints, if there are any checkpoints. Last June they did the whole 350 straight through, and they ran riders through towns so they could resupply, but no "official" checkpoints were set up. This means that, due to the very nature of the Kansas Flint Hills, they cannot run all that many through these towns and expect the stores available to absorb the kind of pressure a couple of hundred riders would bring. That is if they do this like the first one. 

My guess would be that the roster cut off is around 100 or less, but we'll see for real later this year, I am sure. They could do aid stations set up just for this part of the event too, and that would be a totally different scenario then. Who knows? Only they do at DK Promotions right now. That and the entry fee, which I am going to guess is more than that for the 200 miler. But again, I am speculating here.

This perch is good!  WTB Siverado

WTB Siverado 142mm Width:

I just wrote up a review on two WTB saddles now offered in wider widths. One, the SL8, was "okay", but it didn't fit me great. Still, it is a very nice saddle for those who might get on with its features. I ended up giving the Silverado the nod, and I ended up really getting along with that one.

My good friend, MG, is a devotee of the OG Silverado, but it was too skinny for my behind. But I know he liked that saddle a lot because it came up in almost every conversation we had about saddles. Now I understand why. The wider 142mm width works well for me and the shape of the Silverado, sort of like a pared down Pure V, really works well underneath me. It has all those WTB saddle trademarks but maybe a bit more subtly so than the old SST and Pure V series did.

Like I said though in yesterday's post, this saddle may be "the one" for the Tamland. Time will tell. I like the light weight, it's got Ti rails, so it has a bit of give to it, and the Microfiber cover is nice. Not too grippy but not slippery either.

Will it usurp the Pure or the Brooks Cambium as my favorite saddle? Might. I don't know yet. Longer rides will tell the tale, but until then, I think the Silverado is on my short list of saddles that work for me in just about every sense.

The Sawyer out on the single track in town the other day.

Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

I've got a LOT of bicycles. No doubt about that. I do not need all of them, but some of them are special in one way or another. That gets in the way of practicality. It gets in the way of what makes sense too. It isn't an easy road to navigate for me.

Which brings me to the Sawyer. That was a two year and out model Trek did right when they folded Gary Fisher into the Trek brand. (Still one of the biggest mistakes Trek ever made, in my opinion.) I've no doubt that the Sawyer was destined to have Gary Fisher livery, but Trek deep sixed the name at the eleventh hour the year they pulled the trigger on the brand change. I was told only a small handful of Trek's highest brass ever knew that was happening until they unleashed the news one fateful Summer day.

Anyway, the Sawyer was, and to this day still is, one of the best renderings of a cruiser/paper boy style bike ever done with fat tires. That includes all custom bikes I've ever seen. To know that this was a production bike, and to see all the fine detail that went into its design and manufacture, well, it wouldn't be hard to pass off the Sawyer as a custom one-off.

That said, I've had a love-hate relationship with this bike over the years. I made the mistake of putting a too-long of a fork on it and couldn't figure out what it was that made the bike stink so bad afterward. Then I got the right length fork on it and it came back alive. A switch to 27.5+ wheels then sealed the deal. I like the bike and it rides very well. But, now what? I hardly ever ride it. Someone should be enjoying this rig. It's a shame to let it sit so much, despite the fact I think so much of its design and now- how it rides.

The thing is, if I let it go, I likely will never get anything close to it again, and I do like to ride it now and again. Just like the past few days where I have been commuting on it. But.....

Bah! 

First world problems.

Have a great weekend and stay safe on this Labor Day Holiday!

Friday News And Views

Make that 2019. It's on!

DKXL On For '19:

This past week came news from the DK Promotions team regarding next year's events that they promote. The DK200 and 100 will see new routes using the "return of iconic checkpoint towns", which I would believe has to be a nod toward a route North of Emporia and West as well. They also mention roster increases, but don't give a number.

But the interesting news to me is the DKXL is now going to be opened up to the "public"....... kind of. Checking the DKXL page, it looks like the DK Promotions team is taking up to 200 applications, and then they will screen those and give permission as they see fit. Applications are opened December 1st and are open for the next 8 days, closing on the 9th. No word on what qualifications they are looking for, or how the process will be accomplished. Interestingly, in a Trans Iowa-like twist, they are not refunding entry fees if you drop and there doesn't seem to be any waiting list, nor are transfers going to be allowed.

There isn't any word on roster limitations, nor is there an entry fee specified at this time. But we can infer a couple of things from the release of this info. First, if they are taking 200 applications only, and maybe 200 won't even try to sign on, then we know the roster limit is less than that. The event, if run like this year's, would be totally self-supported in terms of water, food, etc. So- no support at any checkpoints, if there are any checkpoints. Last June they did the whole 350 straight through, and they ran riders through towns so they could resupply, but no "official" checkpoints were set up. This means that, due to the very nature of the Kansas Flint Hills, they cannot run all that many through these towns and expect the stores available to absorb the kind of pressure a couple of hundred riders would bring. That is if they do this like the first one. 

My guess would be that the roster cut off is around 100 or less, but we'll see for real later this year, I am sure. They could do aid stations set up just for this part of the event too, and that would be a totally different scenario then. Who knows? Only they do at DK Promotions right now. That and the entry fee, which I am going to guess is more than that for the 200 miler. But again, I am speculating here.

This perch is good!  WTB Siverado

WTB Siverado 142mm Width:

I just wrote up a review on two WTB saddles now offered in wider widths. One, the SL8, was "okay", but it didn't fit me great. Still, it is a very nice saddle for those who might get on with its features. I ended up giving the Silverado the nod, and I ended up really getting along with that one.

My good friend, MG, is a devotee of the OG Silverado, but it was too skinny for my behind. But I know he liked that saddle a lot because it came up in almost every conversation we had about saddles. Now I understand why. The wider 142mm width works well for me and the shape of the Silverado, sort of like a pared down Pure V, really works well underneath me. It has all those WTB saddle trademarks but maybe a bit more subtly so than the old SST and Pure V series did.

Like I said though in yesterday's post, this saddle may be "the one" for the Tamland. Time will tell. I like the light weight, it's got Ti rails, so it has a bit of give to it, and the Microfiber cover is nice. Not too grippy but not slippery either.

Will it usurp the Pure or the Brooks Cambium as my favorite saddle? Might. I don't know yet. Longer rides will tell the tale, but until then, I think the Silverado is on my short list of saddles that work for me in just about every sense.

The Sawyer out on the single track in town the other day.

Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

I've got a LOT of bicycles. No doubt about that. I do not need all of them, but some of them are special in one way or another. That gets in the way of practicality. It gets in the way of what makes sense too. It isn't an easy road to navigate for me.

Which brings me to the Sawyer. That was a two year and out model Trek did right when they folded Gary Fisher into the Trek brand. (Still one of the biggest mistakes Trek ever made, in my opinion.) I've no doubt that the Sawyer was destined to have Gary Fisher livery, but Trek deep sixed the name at the eleventh hour the year they pulled the trigger on the brand change. I was told only a small handful of Trek's highest brass ever knew that was happening until they unleashed the news one fateful Summer day.

Anyway, the Sawyer was, and to this day still is, one of the best renderings of a cruiser/paper boy style bike ever done with fat tires. That includes all custom bikes I've ever seen. To know that this was a production bike, and to see all the fine detail that went into its design and manufacture, well, it wouldn't be hard to pass off the Sawyer as a custom one-off.

That said, I've had a love-hate relationship with this bike over the years. I made the mistake of putting a too-long of a fork on it and couldn't figure out what it was that made the bike stink so bad afterward. Then I got the right length fork on it and it came back alive. A switch to 27.5+ wheels then sealed the deal. I like the bike and it rides very well. But, now what? I hardly ever ride it. Someone should be enjoying this rig. It's a shame to let it sit so much, despite the fact I think so much of its design and now- how it rides.

The thing is, if I let it go, I likely will never get anything close to it again, and I do like to ride it now and again. Just like the past few days where I have been commuting on it. But.....

Bah! 

First world problems.

Have a great weekend and stay safe on this Labor Day Holiday!

The Dirty Kanza Report: Final Thoughts

Myself on the left, MG, and our host, Joe on the right.

The DK weekend is gone and the report on it comes to a close with my final thoughts on a few things. First, I need to thank my host in Emporia, Joe Reed for his outstanding hospitality and kindness in letting MG and I stay there.

My goals this year did not involve myself riding a bicycle. In fact, I didn't even take a bicycle or gear to ride one. I was focused on the "All Things Gravel" expo and crewing for MG, whatever that might mean. I took it to mean that I would be like a Trans Iowa support person- doing absolutely nothing unless called upon to rescue my rider. That is what I did, for the most part, and fortunately I didn't need to rescue him!

In terms of  the expo, I thought it was an impressive first effort, and I think it has potential for the future. If what I heard from Jim Cummings is any indication, I would bet that the expo will be even bigger next year and the dates will likely move to Thursday-Friday at least. Saturday was a tough go for the expo since all the hoopla moves to Commercial Street and the expo isn't there.

The expo was jokingly called "The Sea Otter Of Gravel", but think about that comparison for a minute. It is entirely plausible that this could be a Sea Otter-like event, with several days of expo showings and gravel races across several days as well. Who says the DK 200 and 100 have to be on the same days? The DKXL figures into it as well. Gravel demos could be held by shuttling folks outside of town to actually try bicycles on actual gravel roads. Rides that are non-competitive could happen. I really don't see why it couldn't happen. Well, except that Emporia is pretty much maxed out to capacity as far as housing outsiders that weekend goes.

MG before he took off on the DKXL. Image by Joe Reed

The DKXL was a success, I think, but who knows what will become of it. It is my personal opinion that it could be a totally different event, a different flavor, than the current DK events. I spoke with many people in Emporia including Jay Petervary, MG, and a few others about what they thought this event might become. It was clear that the format was well liked, but tweaks would need to be made.

Having been the director of a similar event, my take is this- The DKXL will likely not be an event with the same challenges as Trans Iowa in terms of decision making and navigation. There were no checkpoint cut off times since there were no checkpoints. Only a finish cut off was stipulated, (which wasn't really held to, by the way), and with a course choice limited by fewer roads, you cannot present a different course year to year. So, you have challenges in regard to cheating which don't exist in an event like Trans Iowa.

The biggest of these is support, of course. My take is that riders should not get to have their own support people. It would be too easy for someone to tryst with a rider in the night, only to give them mental and material encouragement to go ahead and finish. I would ban any of that and as an organizer, I would provide the support/rescue service via the Jeep club already volunteering for the event. Once a rider calls in for support, they are done. No going back, no encouraging words to motivate a rider. You get in the Jeep and you are done.

Secondly I would position observation people in key points and have them move randomly so as to discourage meet ups with outside support and to simply observe riders in the field. This could double as social media connections for outside consumption and for safety sake in cases where bad weather might become a concern.

Again- these are simply my opinions. Ultimately I think it would be best if the DKXL did not become, as Jay Petervary put it, "just a longer DK200".

In my opinion, you shouldn't get one of these if you finish outside the time limit

There was controversy after the main event which centered around the DK200 woman's overall first place finisher. Look- it's a big deal race. I'm not saying anything wrong was done, but would someone bend rules, or press into grey areas to win the DK200 if they could? Yes. Absolutely they would. DK200 winners often parlay their status as the "King and Queen of the Dirty Kanza" into money making opportunities. It is lucrative in terms of future sponsorships, product endorsements, and on and on. Of course controversial things will become part of winning these events, especially something billed as the "World's Premier Gravel Grinder".

Ultimately I think this issue with drafting and who does it is a responsibility of the promoters to look at intensely. The promoters need to decide what, if anything, could be changed in the future to clear up grey areas or if it even is a problem to be dealt with at all. And that is that.

Similarly an issue with the use of aerobars came up. It is my understanding that there was a crash caused due to aerobar use this year and it was a concern to many. Should they be allowed? I will say that aero bars have been a part of gravel road riding and racing since the beginning. I will also say that typically the gravel race family tends to be good at self-policing issues on the roads. Where you get a breakdown in this is when you bring in people unfamiliar with the genre, people looking to push boundaries at the expense of others, potentially becoming a danger, and where skills to ride with aerobars on rough grounds are minimal to non-existent. The DK200 is a very unique animal in the circles of gravel grinding now days. It doesn't really have any analogue in gravel racing with the possible exception of Barry-Roubaix, and even then, the terrain and consequences of a good result are entirely different.

My take is that if the riders cannot seem to handle using the equipment safely in the DK200, then take it away from them. If common sense use cannot be trusted to be the norm, then take the aerobars away. This only really is a big deal in the DK, in my opinion. Others may say, "Well, you shouldn't dictate what bike I get to use!". Well, the answer to that is, do you get to use a geared bike in the single speed category? No- the type of bicycle you use in certain categories is dictated to you. So, limiting how you ride and what you ride already happens. Get over it. Besides, if not using aerobars precludes you from riding well in the DK200, I think you have something else to worry about.

Even the coffee shop changed its name to "Gravel City"

The Dirty Kanza often gets panned by a lot of gravel riders as having "jumped the shark", "selling out", or with some other pithy comment. Look......if someone was willing to give you a handful of cash every year to ride in an event you put on in your own backyard, you'd tell them no, right? Of course you wouldn't. You'd take that cash and ask for more if the people were knocking down your doors to get to ride that event. Don't even think for a minute that you wouldn't.

There are the rare people who don't care about money for things like putting on a gravel road race, but most people think those folks are insane. (Ask me how I know) The rest are in it to get by, or heck, even make a buck or two. And folks gladly pay them. So, who is selling out? You tell me. I just don't buy into that line of thinking.

And look- Emporia, Kansas isn't the paragon of a shining city on a hill by any stretch, but it is a damn site better than it was in 2006 for what the DK200 has brought to it. Now I am not going to say that gravel racing saved a city, but it did raise the bar there, and it has made a big change in how people see their fair city in central Kansas. That's pretty heady stuff. To say that the DK is a bad thing for gravel grinding is.....well, it is just plain stupid. It's changed the way the industry looks at the genre, it's changed the way professional racing looks already, and if things keep going the way that they are, it may have a hand in changing the way a lot of folks view cycling due to the event's high profile. That's a lot of cool stuff, and a ton of responsibility on a few folks at DK Promotions.

I got a glimpse of the inner workings, and I'm sure I don't get the full magnitude of what it takes to run that event. However; you'd be blind and dead if you could not see and feel how much the DK Promotions team cares about the event, the city, gravel riding, and you. You get that they care about each and everyone that comes there if you pay attention, and that isn't hard to feel if you are alive. In that sense the Dirty Kanza is very grassroots. They care about the experiences people have. They care about what you get out of the event. If "grassroots" means you cannot make a profit on your labor and care than we're all in a lot of trouble in this country. When I go to the DK, I feel we are a little bit more okay than not. They should be rewarded just for that if for nothing else.

Thanks for reading these reports on the DK200 and DKXL. I'll have a double "Minus Ten Review" on tap for next Saturday.

The Dirty Kanza Report: Final Thoughts

Myself on the left, MG, and our host, Joe on the right.

The DK weekend is gone and the report on it comes to a close with my final thoughts on a few things. First, I need to thank my host in Emporia, Joe Reed for his outstanding hospitality and kindness in letting MG and I stay there.

My goals this year did not involve myself riding a bicycle. In fact, I didn't even take a bicycle or gear to ride one. I was focused on the "All Things Gravel" expo and crewing for MG, whatever that might mean. I took it to mean that I would be like a Trans Iowa support person- doing absolutely nothing unless called upon to rescue my rider. That is what I did, for the most part, and fortunately I didn't need to rescue him!

In terms of  the expo, I thought it was an impressive first effort, and I think it has potential for the future. If what I heard from Jim Cummings is any indication, I would bet that the expo will be even bigger next year and the dates will likely move to Thursday-Friday at least. Saturday was a tough go for the expo since all the hoopla moves to Commercial Street and the expo isn't there.

The expo was jokingly called "The Sea Otter Of Gravel", but think about that comparison for a minute. It is entirely plausible that this could be a Sea Otter-like event, with several days of expo showings and gravel races across several days as well. Who says the DK 200 and 100 have to be on the same days? The DKXL figures into it as well. Gravel demos could be held by shuttling folks outside of town to actually try bicycles on actual gravel roads. Rides that are non-competitive could happen. I really don't see why it couldn't happen. Well, except that Emporia is pretty much maxed out to capacity as far as housing outsiders that weekend goes.

MG before he took off on the DKXL. Image by Joe Reed

The DKXL was a success, I think, but who knows what will become of it. It is my personal opinion that it could be a totally different event, a different flavor, than the current DK events. I spoke with many people in Emporia including Jay Petervary, MG, and a few others about what they thought this event might become. It was clear that the format was well liked, but tweaks would need to be made.

Having been the director of a similar event, my take is this- The DKXL will likely not be an event with the same challenges as Trans Iowa in terms of decision making and navigation. There were no checkpoint cut off times since there were no checkpoints. Only a finish cut off was stipulated, (which wasn't really held to, by the way), and with a course choice limited by fewer roads, you cannot present a different course year to year. So, you have challenges in regard to cheating which don't exist in an event like Trans Iowa.

The biggest of these is support, of course. My take is that riders should not get to have their own support people. It would be too easy for someone to tryst with a rider in the night, only to give them mental and material encouragement to go ahead and finish. I would ban any of that and as an organizer, I would provide the support/rescue service via the Jeep club already volunteering for the event. Once a rider calls in for support, they are done. No going back, no encouraging words to motivate a rider. You get in the Jeep and you are done.

Secondly I would position observation people in key points and have them move randomly so as to discourage meet ups with outside support and to simply observe riders in the field. This could double as social media connections for outside consumption and for safety sake in cases where bad weather might become a concern.

Again- these are simply my opinions. Ultimately I think it would be best if the DKXL did not become, as Jay Petervary put it, "just a longer DK200".

In my opinion, you shouldn't get one of these if you finish outside the time limit

There was controversy after the main event which centered around the DK200 woman's overall first place finisher. Look- it's a big deal race. I'm not saying anything wrong was done, but would someone bend rules, or press into grey areas to win the DK200 if they could? Yes. Absolutely they would. DK200 winners often parlay their status as the "King and Queen of the Dirty Kanza" into money making opportunities. It is lucrative in terms of future sponsorships, product endorsements, and on and on. Of course controversial things will become part of winning these events, especially something billed as the "World's Premier Gravel Grinder".

Ultimately I think this issue with drafting and who does it is a responsibility of the promoters to look at intensely. The promoters need to decide what, if anything, could be changed in the future to clear up grey areas or if it even is a problem to be dealt with at all. And that is that.

Similarly an issue with the use of aerobars came up. It is my understanding that there was a crash caused due to aerobar use this year and it was a concern to many. Should they be allowed? I will say that aero bars have been a part of gravel road riding and racing since the beginning. I will also say that typically the gravel race family tends to be good at self-policing issues on the roads. Where you get a breakdown in this is when you bring in people unfamiliar with the genre, people looking to push boundaries at the expense of others, potentially becoming a danger, and where skills to ride with aerobars on rough grounds are minimal to non-existent. The DK200 is a very unique animal in the circles of gravel grinding now days. It doesn't really have any analogue in gravel racing with the possible exception of Barry-Roubaix, and even then, the terrain and consequences of a good result are entirely different.

My take is that if the riders cannot seem to handle using the equipment safely in the DK200, then take it away from them. If common sense use cannot be trusted to be the norm, then take the aerobars away. This only really is a big deal in the DK, in my opinion. Others may say, "Well, you shouldn't dictate what bike I get to use!". Well, the answer to that is, do you get to use a geared bike in the single speed category? No- the type of bicycle you use in certain categories is dictated to you. So, limiting how you ride and what you ride already happens. Get over it. Besides, if not using aerobars precludes you from riding well in the DK200, I think you have something else to worry about.

Even the coffee shop changed its name to "Gravel City"

The Dirty Kanza often gets panned by a lot of gravel riders as having "jumped the shark", "selling out", or with some other pithy comment. Look......if someone was willing to give you a handful of cash every year to ride in an event you put on in your own backyard, you'd tell them no, right? Of course you wouldn't. You'd take that cash and ask for more if the people were knocking down your doors to get to ride that event. Don't even think for a minute that you wouldn't.

There are the rare people who don't care about money for things like putting on a gravel road race, but most people think those folks are insane. (Ask me how I know) The rest are in it to get by, or heck, even make a buck or two. And folks gladly pay them. So, who is selling out? You tell me. I just don't buy into that line of thinking.

And look- Emporia, Kansas isn't the paragon of a shining city on a hill by any stretch, but it is a damn site better than it was in 2006 for what the DK200 has brought to it. Now I am not going to say that gravel racing saved a city, but it did raise the bar there, and it has made a big change in how people see their fair city in central Kansas. That's pretty heady stuff. To say that the DK is a bad thing for gravel grinding is.....well, it is just plain stupid. It's changed the way the industry looks at the genre, it's changed the way professional racing looks already, and if things keep going the way that they are, it may have a hand in changing the way a lot of folks view cycling due to the event's high profile. That's a lot of cool stuff, and a ton of responsibility on a few folks at DK Promotions.

I got a glimpse of the inner workings, and I'm sure I don't get the full magnitude of what it takes to run that event. However; you'd be blind and dead if you could not see and feel how much the DK Promotions team cares about the event, the city, gravel riding, and you. You get that they care about each and everyone that comes there if you pay attention, and that isn't hard to feel if you are alive. In that sense the Dirty Kanza is very grassroots. They care about the experiences people have. They care about what you get out of the event. If "grassroots" means you cannot make a profit on your labor and care than we're all in a lot of trouble in this country. When I go to the DK, I feel we are a little bit more okay than not. They should be rewarded just for that if for nothing else.

Thanks for reading these reports on the DK200 and DKXL. I'll have a double "Minus Ten Review" on tap for next Saturday.

Dirty Kanza Report: Starts And Finishes

A severe thunderstorm in the area had me taking cover in an alcove to an apartment on Commercial Street

3:00am, Saturday, June 2nd:

I start from a troubled sleep as I hear a pitter-patter on the window pane in my bedroom. "Ah.....it's raining. I wonder where Matt is!", I think to myself as I fall back asleep. I had set the phone near me and turned my volume for notifications down, so as not to disturb Joe. But I didn't want to miss a possible call from MG. Due to my worry, I didn't sleep all that well. About 4:30am, I heard Joe get up to prepare for his 6:30am send off in the DK100. I checked the radar, remembering the earlier rain, and I was suddenly concerned.

Severe weather was dropping in from the Northwest at 30mph. Lightning and strong winds with the possibility of hail were the main threats. I gathered myself up and switched over to the Trackleaders webpage where the SPOT tracker feed for the DKXL was being shared. By late Friday evening I had not heard where MG was riding. I was left to assume he was a mid-packer, but with no real way of knowing, I was simply guessing. The majority of riders looked to be out of harms way. The tracking page showed that they were too far South to be getting pipped by the path of the storm Good!

The storms pushed back the start times, checkpoint cut offs, and finishing of the event back one half hour, but not the DKXL's

The wind picked up and the tree's branches were being blown to and fro by the swirling winds. Joe was ready and departed saying that I could use an umbrella he had and then he was gone. It was just spitting rain at this point. I piloted MG's car to the start area and found a good place to park. By this time the wind was raging and it was raining. I deployed the umbrella only to have a contrary gust of wind destroy it after I was only a few blocks from the car. Dang it! I kind of nursed it along, doing the best I could, but there would be no saving this thing.

 Making my way toward the starting area, I found an alcove to an apartment entrance off Commercial Street, and I ended up waiting out the weather there. When things calmed down a bit I heard a PA announcer say the start times had been pushed back a half an hour to allow the storm to pass. Good decision as there was copious amounts of lightning associated with the storm. I ran across Celeste Mathias, who was there for her husband, John, who was in the DKXL. She told me that John was riding with MG and Corey "Cornbread"  Godfrey. That was great news! A solid group and I felt a lot better knowing MG was in great company.

Eventually things got going. The 200 riders were gone quite a while when Jim Cummings addressed the 100 riders and said that the three mile mud hike section from 2015 was bad again and was being rerouted around for everyone. The storms also caused a few of the DKXL leaders to have to deal with mud, rain, and lightning, not to mention swirling winds. MG would later say that at one moment the wind was hot, humid, and a tailwind then the next it was a head wind, cool, and then it would switch back again.

A veritable river of riders streams by on their way down Commercial Street at the start of the DK200

Well, after all the hoopla of the start was over I went out and had a breakfast, bought Joe a new umbrella, some beer for his fridge, then I came back down town to check out the expo again. Unfortunately the crowds were more focused on the goings on up and down Commercial Street so the expo area was a ghost town. In fact several expo booths were completely gone already. I suspect that in the future the expo dates will be Thursday and Friday.

Well, the whole scene was interesting from the standpoint of my race director background. The DK is a huge gig these days. I spoke with Dave Pryor, the RD for the new UnPAved event which will take place in Pennsylvania in October of this year. Dave was shadowing Jim Cummings and helping out, getting an apprenticeship in big event production in the process. Dave mentioned that the DK Promotions race handbook is the size of a big city's phone book. Well......if you are old enough to remember what those were like, you'll understand the comparison! Anyway, suffice it to say that the DK events are a BIG production. I got to see just a bit of that while I cruised around Saturday late morning.

This is what Commercial Street looks like in front of the finish line before you get there from riding the Flint Hills.

LeLan Dains, part of the DK Promotions team, holds the ladder while another volunteer prepares to hang the timing clock which you can see on the ground to the right of the ladder.

I had lunch at one of the vendor booths there and then I hung around for a bit more. All this time I had no word from MG about how he was doing, but information trickled in about other riders and MG's group from early DKXL drops. I spoke with Jim Phillips at one point in the afternoon who relayed to me that Friday's heat and humidity had decimated the field, leaving , in his estimation, ten riders DNF-ing by 100 miles in. We heard that Sarah Cooper had gone over her bars and crashed, resulting in a broken collarbone and a DNF. I saw and spoke briefly with Jason Gaikowski who had a crash and bruised his ribs, knocking him out of the event. Later on I would discover he had been riding with MG! I wish I had known that then!

Jim Cummings welcomes in a DK200 rider who was wearing a Mexican wrestling mask.

I finally got a text from MG at 11:07 confirming to me that he was with Jon Mathias and Cornbread. I started posting updates on social media. Then at about 3:22pm I got an ominous sounding text from MG: "Hey man, I'm leaving Council Grove now. May need to pull the plug at some point. Will keep ya posted."

Yikes! I did not like the sounds of that at all. Well, I sent out a social media update right then and there asking for everyone to start pulling for, sending positive vibes out to, and praying for MG to keep truckin'. We needed all of that positivity, whether or not you think it does any good. It couldn't hurt, so I asked. Then I decided that if the worst happened and MG needed me, I'd better be at Joe's house which was on the North end of Emporia and closer to the edge of town. I'd be right by the car at Joe's place and not distracted by anything.

I tried laying down, but my phone was giving notifications like crazy and I could not afford to silence it due to my needing to be "on call" for a possible rescue. Finally, about five hours later at 8:26pm, MG texted me again saying that they had reached the Northernmost reaches of the course and were going to try to make the cut off, which was at 3:00am Sunday. I told him I was there for him if he needed me and he replied, "Thanks Brother! See ya soon." I took that to mean he wasn't quitting now. So, I got up, straightened out myself a bit and went down to the finish line to await MG and Cornbread.

Sitting in Mulready's Pub later, drinking a "Rumor Has It...", I was constantly checking the SPOT tracker for Cornbread. It was moving painfully slow at some points only going 6 or 5 miles per hour at times. I was afraid they'd come in after the time limit, but it would be getting easier as they got closer to Emporia. The terrain flattened out and the wind would be at their backs. Since the SPOT tracker gave over-all mileage I could give countdown updates on social media for how far out Cornbread and MG were. By about 25 miles out I could figure their approximate arrival and I had 2:15 am figured as about the time we'd see the two. I missed it by one minute!

He's in! It was over!

At 2:14 am Sunday, MG and Cornbread came in 6th and 7th place in the inaugural DKXL event. How in the world MG pulled it off after his food poisoning will be a story we will talk about the rest of our days. Just an amazing rally and ride by both he and Cornbread!

I gathered up MG and we went out and got him something to eat. Then back at Joe's place we debriefed and sat in complete amazement at the past 34 plus hours of events. MG and I were ready to talk all day, but we needed to rest up for the long trip home, so at about 5:00am we both hit the sack for a few hours to get somewhat recuperated.

Congrats Brother! Words fail to convey the magnitude of your accomplishment that weekend. Thanks for letting me be a small part of it!

Next: Some final thoughts on the weekend and the Dirty Kanza 200........

Dirty Kanza Report: Starts And Finishes

A severe thunderstorm in the area had me taking cover in an alcove to an apartment on Commercial Street

3:00am, Saturday, June 2nd:

I start from a troubled sleep as I hear a pitter-patter on the window pane in my bedroom. "Ah.....it's raining. I wonder where Matt is!", I think to myself as I fall back asleep. I had set the phone near me and turned my volume for notifications down, so as not to disturb Joe. But I didn't want to miss a possible call from MG. Due to my worry, I didn't sleep all that well. About 4:30am, I heard Joe get up to prepare for his 6:30am send off in the DK100. I checked the radar, remembering the earlier rain, and I was suddenly concerned.

Severe weather was dropping in from the Northwest at 30mph. Lightning and strong winds with the possibility of hail were the main threats. I gathered myself up and switched over to the Trackleaders webpage where the SPOT tracker feed for the DKXL was being shared. By late Friday evening I had not heard where MG was riding. I was left to assume he was a mid-packer, but with no real way of knowing, I was simply guessing. The majority of riders looked to be out of harms way. The tracking page showed that they were too far South to be getting pipped by the path of the storm Good!

The storms pushed back the start times, checkpoint cut offs, and finishing of the event back one half hour, but not the DKXL's

The wind picked up and the tree's branches were being blown to and fro by the swirling winds. Joe was ready and departed saying that I could use an umbrella he had and then he was gone. It was just spitting rain at this point. I piloted MG's car to the start area and found a good place to park. By this time the wind was raging and it was raining. I deployed the umbrella only to have a contrary gust of wind destroy it after I was only a few blocks from the car. Dang it! I kind of nursed it along, doing the best I could, but there would be no saving this thing.

 Making my way toward the starting area, I found an alcove to an apartment entrance off Commercial Street, and I ended up waiting out the weather there. When things calmed down a bit I heard a PA announcer say the start times had been pushed back a half an hour to allow the storm to pass. Good decision as there was copious amounts of lightning associated with the storm. I ran across Celeste Mathias, who was there for her husband, John, who was in the DKXL. She told me that John was riding with MG and Corey "Cornbread"  Godfrey. That was great news! A solid group and I felt a lot better knowing MG was in great company.

Eventually things got going. The 200 riders were gone quite a while when Jim Cummings addressed the 100 riders and said that the three mile mud hike section from 2015 was bad again and was being rerouted around for everyone. The storms also caused a few of the DKXL leaders to have to deal with mud, rain, and lightning, not to mention swirling winds. MG would later say that at one moment the wind was hot, humid, and a tailwind then the next it was a head wind, cool, and then it would switch back again.

A veritable river of riders streams by on their way down Commercial Street at the start of the DK200

Well, after all the hoopla of the start was over I went out and had a breakfast, bought Joe a new umbrella, some beer for his fridge, then I came back down town to check out the expo again. Unfortunately the crowds were more focused on the goings on up and down Commercial Street so the expo area was a ghost town. In fact several expo booths were completely gone already. I suspect that in the future the expo dates will be Thursday and Friday.

Well, the whole scene was interesting from the standpoint of my race director background. The DK is a huge gig these days. I spoke with Dave Pryor, the RD for the new UnPAved event which will take place in Pennsylvania in October of this year. Dave was shadowing Jim Cummings and helping out, getting an apprenticeship in big event production in the process. Dave mentioned that the DK Promotions race handbook is the size of a big city's phone book. Well......if you are old enough to remember what those were like, you'll understand the comparison! Anyway, suffice it to say that the DK events are a BIG production. I got to see just a bit of that while I cruised around Saturday late morning.

This is what Commercial Street looks like in front of the finish line before you get there from riding the Flint Hills.

LeLan Dains, part of the DK Promotions team, holds the ladder while another volunteer prepares to hang the timing clock which you can see on the ground to the right of the ladder.

I had lunch at one of the vendor booths there and then I hung around for a bit more. All this time I had no word from MG about how he was doing, but information trickled in about other riders and MG's group from early DKXL drops. I spoke with Jim Phillips at one point in the afternoon who relayed to me that Friday's heat and humidity had decimated the field, leaving , in his estimation, ten riders DNF-ing by 100 miles in. We heard that Sarah Cooper had gone over her bars and crashed, resulting in a broken collarbone and a DNF. I saw and spoke briefly with Jason Gaikowski who had a crash and bruised his ribs, knocking him out of the event. Later on I would discover he had been riding with MG! I wish I had known that then!

Jim Cummings welcomes in a DK200 rider who was wearing a Mexican wrestling mask.

I finally got a text from MG at 11:07 confirming to me that he was with Jon Mathias and Cornbread. I started posting updates on social media. Then at about 3:22pm I got an ominous sounding text from MG: "Hey man, I'm leaving Council Grove now. May need to pull the plug at some point. Will keep ya posted."

Yikes! I did not like the sounds of that at all. Well, I sent out a social media update right then and there asking for everyone to start pulling for, sending positive vibes out to, and praying for MG to keep truckin'. We needed all of that positivity, whether or not you think it does any good. It couldn't hurt, so I asked. Then I decided that if the worst happened and MG needed me, I'd better be at Joe's house which was on the North end of Emporia and closer to the edge of town. I'd be right by the car at Joe's place and not distracted by anything.

I tried laying down, but my phone was giving notifications like crazy and I could not afford to silence it due to my needing to be "on call" for a possible rescue. Finally, about five hours later at 8:26pm, MG texted me again saying that they had reached the Northernmost reaches of the course and were going to try to make the cut off, which was at 3:00am Sunday. I told him I was there for him if he needed me and he replied, "Thanks Brother! See ya soon." I took that to mean he wasn't quitting now. So, I got up, straightened out myself a bit and went down to the finish line to await MG and Cornbread.

Sitting in Mulready's Pub later, drinking a "Rumor Has It...", I was constantly checking the SPOT tracker for Cornbread. It was moving painfully slow at some points only going 6 or 5 miles per hour at times. I was afraid they'd come in after the time limit, but it would be getting easier as they got closer to Emporia. The terrain flattened out and the wind would be at their backs. Since the SPOT tracker gave over-all mileage I could give countdown updates on social media for how far out Cornbread and MG were. By about 25 miles out I could figure their approximate arrival and I had 2:15 am figured as about the time we'd see the two. I missed it by one minute!

He's in! It was over!

At 2:14 am Sunday, MG and Cornbread came in 6th and 7th place in the inaugural DKXL event. How in the world MG pulled it off after his food poisoning will be a story we will talk about the rest of our days. Just an amazing rally and ride by both he and Cornbread!

I gathered up MG and we went out and got him something to eat. Then back at Joe's place we debriefed and sat in complete amazement at the past 34 plus hours of events. MG and I were ready to talk all day, but we needed to rest up for the long trip home, so at about 5:00am we both hit the sack for a few hours to get somewhat recuperated.

Congrats Brother! Words fail to convey the magnitude of your accomplishment that weekend. Thanks for letting me be a small part of it!

Next: Some final thoughts on the weekend and the Dirty Kanza 200........

The Dirty Kanza Report: Surprises And Send-Offs

Our host, Joe, prepped his bike on Friday for another go at the DK100

Inside Joe's House, 2:30pm, Friday, June 1st:

Joe is prepping his bike for the following day's attempt at the DK100. MG has already left for the start of the 350 mile DKXL which is to depart from the All Things Gravel Expo area at 4:00pm.

It is interesting to me, as a non-rider, non-promoter at this event to simply observe from a different perspective. Joe is getting more nervous. He's completed the 100 version before, but Joe lives in this area and he knows. Nothing can be taken for granted when you ride in the Flint Hills. Flats, tire shredding flint, heat, wind, maybe even mud, all of which can happen on the same day and take you away from that coveted finish.

Meanwhile, a couple of Joe's teammates from Team Mulready's are to be picked up by Joe and I and we are all going down to the depart of the DKXL. Joe and his teammates are cheering on one of their own who was invited to be one of the 34 riders. That number was chosen to reflect the number of starters in the first DK200 in 2006. Hard to imagine that, but the Dirty Kanza was one of the first gravel grinders, one of the pioneers of the genre'.

Of course, we didn't know what to expect for this. The DKXL was in its inaugural year, this wasn't a heavily promoted part of the weekend since it was small and a test of the event for the DK Promotions team. I assumed there would be a gathering of folks, maybe a hundred if it was a good day. It was that, but it was hot, humid, and the wind was roaring out of the Southwest. Surely folks would be there, but I never thought we would see what we did.

The sea of humanity in the expo area was amazing. People spilled out into the streets along the route for three city blocks as well.

"Oh! Holy Shiiiii.......Wow!", were things exclaimed when we rounded the corner in Joe's truck. We were floored by the press of humanity which was at least a block long at this time before the start. We scrambled out of Joe's truck and at this point, all I was thinking about was getting close enough to perhaps be able to get a shot of MG at the start line. I left my companions behind and started into my "concert mode". Having gone to several rock concerts in the 80's, I knew how to weasel my way through a crowd of people. So it was that I got to the edge of the alleyway and spied a good spot to grab a photo when the riders would go by.

This happened to be at the same spot where a small PA system was and a DK Promotions lady was pumping up the crowd. A veritable wall of photographers and videographers were trying to film the riders who were hemmed in on all sides at this point, like a herd of cattle waiting to be loaded onto a truck. The heat in the alley was stifling, but this was likely due to the press of humans there more than anything else. It was astounding. Later estimates put the crowd that showed up anywhere from 600-800 people. Jim Cummings spied me in the crowd and walked over and said to me, "We never expected anything like this, Mark!"

Jim Cummings pulled me out of the crowd and said some very kind words in tribute to Trans Iowa and myself at the start of the DKXL. Image courtesy of Dori Jansma

As things drew closer to 4:00pm, Jim Cummings took the mic and started in on a dialogue about the influences on Joel Dyke, also a co-founder of the Dirty Kanza, and himself. I was suddenly aware that he was making reference to Trans Iowa. I was hoping to escape notice, but no......Jim went there, and he called me out in the crowd and had me come out next to him for another surprise.

Jim made some heartfelt comments about myself and the Trans Iowa which I will forever appreciate. He didn't have to take the time out to do any of that, but he did, and that means the world to me. What a surprise and what an honor. Then it was back to the business of getting the event started.

MG departs on his way to........we weren't sure!

The send off was electric. The crowd was roaring and the atmosphere was jubilant. I don't think I've seen anything quite like it in the gravel scene. Even the mighty Dirty Kanza 200 start is not as thunderous as this was. What a surprise! I was certainly thrilled to have been there, much less get the recognition there at the start.

Now it was over and the crowd thinned quickly. I was standing there for another hour talking with people. Finally I walked off. I said to myself, "The last man standing, as usual!", and I made my way  back to Joe's place along quiet city streets.

Walking home I had lots of time to contemplate the day

What a crazy turn of events! First there was defeat, concern, and that turned to amazement and joy when MG was able to get going. Then the surprise of the start and the unexpected honor from Jim. Now that this had all passed I was wondering- just how far would MG make it? I'm certain he had no clear idea of what to expect at this point either.

After getting back to the house I hooked up with Joe and we went out for a bite to eat. Joe and I saw a lot of DK cyclists out in their kit, riding about the city. Joe remarked that he thought it was odd that these folks would be spending all day Friday, in some cases, in cycling gear, wasting energy, when the next day they would be spending the better part of a day and night riding again. I offered that perhaps it was just the result of nervous energy. These folks were ready, but waiting was proving to be difficult. Joe nodded his head in agreement.

Back at Joe's place later that evening I found him in his basement, fettling his kit, and fretting over every detail. He looked up at me sheepishly and said, "You know that comment you made about nervous energy? Well, it's real."

The next morning, early, Joe would be joining two thousand plus other riders doing the Dirty Kanza 200, 100, and DKLite rides. It was getting time to turn into bed, and we hadn't heard a peep about MG. No news was good news!  Joe and I were left speechless at the turn of events for MG. But Joe now had to think about himself and we said good night. Before I went in for the evening, I decided to close up MG's sun roof. It didn't look like rain, but Joe said there was a 40% chance of overnight thunderstorms, so just in case........

Next: Starts And Finishes

The Dirty Kanza Report: Surprises And Send-Offs

Our host, Joe, prepped his bike on Friday for another go at the DK100

Inside Joe's House, 2:30pm, Friday, June 1st:

Joe is prepping his bike for the following day's attempt at the DK100. MG has already left for the start of the 350 mile DKXL which is to depart from the All Things Gravel Expo area at 4:00pm.

It is interesting to me, as a non-rider, non-promoter at this event to simply observe from a different perspective. Joe is getting more nervous. He's completed the 100 version before, but Joe lives in this area and he knows. Nothing can be taken for granted when you ride in the Flint Hills. Flats, tire shredding flint, heat, wind, maybe even mud, all of which can happen on the same day and take you away from that coveted finish.

Meanwhile, a couple of Joe's teammates from Team Mulready's are to be picked up by Joe and I and we are all going down to the depart of the DKXL. Joe and his teammates are cheering on one of their own who was invited to be one of the 34 riders. That number was chosen to reflect the number of starters in the first DK200 in 2006. Hard to imagine that, but the Dirty Kanza was one of the first gravel grinders, one of the pioneers of the genre'.

Of course, we didn't know what to expect for this. The DKXL was in its inaugural year, this wasn't a heavily promoted part of the weekend since it was small and a test of the event for the DK Promotions team. I assumed there would be a gathering of folks, maybe a hundred if it was a good day. It was that, but it was hot, humid, and the wind was roaring out of the Southwest. Surely folks would be there, but I never thought we would see what we did.

The sea of humanity in the expo area was amazing. People spilled out into the streets along the route for three city blocks as well.

"Oh! Holy Shiiiii.......Wow!", were things exclaimed when we rounded the corner in Joe's truck. We were floored by the press of humanity which was at least a block long at this time before the start. We scrambled out of Joe's truck and at this point, all I was thinking about was getting close enough to perhaps be able to get a shot of MG at the start line. I left my companions behind and started into my "concert mode". Having gone to several rock concerts in the 80's, I knew how to weasel my way through a crowd of people. So it was that I got to the edge of the alleyway and spied a good spot to grab a photo when the riders would go by.

This happened to be at the same spot where a small PA system was and a DK Promotions lady was pumping up the crowd. A veritable wall of photographers and videographers were trying to film the riders who were hemmed in on all sides at this point, like a herd of cattle waiting to be loaded onto a truck. The heat in the alley was stifling, but this was likely due to the press of humans there more than anything else. It was astounding. Later estimates put the crowd that showed up anywhere from 600-800 people. Jim Cummings spied me in the crowd and walked over and said to me, "We never expected anything like this, Mark!"

Jim Cummings pulled me out of the crowd and said some very kind words in tribute to Trans Iowa and myself at the start of the DKXL. Image courtesy of Dori Jansma

As things drew closer to 4:00pm, Jim Cummings took the mic and started in on a dialogue about the influences on Joel Dyke, also a co-founder of the Dirty Kanza, and himself. I was suddenly aware that he was making reference to Trans Iowa. I was hoping to escape notice, but no......Jim went there, and he called me out in the crowd and had me come out next to him for another surprise.

Jim made some heartfelt comments about myself and the Trans Iowa which I will forever appreciate. He didn't have to take the time out to do any of that, but he did, and that means the world to me. What a surprise and what an honor. Then it was back to the business of getting the event started.

MG departs on his way to........we weren't sure!

The send off was electric. The crowd was roaring and the atmosphere was jubilant. I don't think I've seen anything quite like it in the gravel scene. Even the mighty Dirty Kanza 200 start is not as thunderous as this was. What a surprise! I was certainly thrilled to have been there, much less get the recognition there at the start.

Now it was over and the crowd thinned quickly. I was standing there for another hour talking with people. Finally I walked off. I said to myself, "The last man standing, as usual!", and I made my way  back to Joe's place along quiet city streets.

Walking home I had lots of time to contemplate the day

What a crazy turn of events! First there was defeat, concern, and that turned to amazement and joy when MG was able to get going. Then the surprise of the start and the unexpected honor from Jim. Now that this had all passed I was wondering- just how far would MG make it? I'm certain he had no clear idea of what to expect at this point either.

After getting back to the house I hooked up with Joe and we went out for a bite to eat. Joe and I saw a lot of DK cyclists out in their kit, riding about the city. Joe remarked that he thought it was odd that these folks would be spending all day Friday, in some cases, in cycling gear, wasting energy, when the next day they would be spending the better part of a day and night riding again. I offered that perhaps it was just the result of nervous energy. These folks were ready, but waiting was proving to be difficult. Joe nodded his head in agreement.

Back at Joe's place later that evening I found him in his basement, fettling his kit, and fretting over every detail. He looked up at me sheepishly and said, "You know that comment you made about nervous energy? Well, it's real."

The next morning, early, Joe would be joining two thousand plus other riders doing the Dirty Kanza 200, 100, and DKLite rides. It was getting time to turn into bed, and we hadn't heard a peep about MG. No news was good news!  Joe and I were left speechless at the turn of events for MG. But Joe now had to think about himself and we said good night. Before I went in for the evening, I decided to close up MG's sun roof. It didn't look like rain, but Joe said there was a 40% chance of overnight thunderstorms, so just in case........

Next: Starts And Finishes