GW '21: Introduction

 Welcome to my recap of my 2021 Gravel Worlds experience. Here I will share some of the sights and people associated with my personal 'gravel journey', my race report, and my take on where Gravel Worlds is and where it seems to be headed into the future. 

First, a spoiler alert! Don't read the folowing paragraph unless you want to know what happened with me and that's it.

I went 116 miles plus a little. 

Okay, with that said, if you don't want to know anything else about my weekend, then plan on skipping the next four days of blog posts here because- more than likely- I'll be writing everyday about Gravel Worlds all this week. So, now you know what to expect! 

This is a big turning point for this event, in my opinion. There was Gravel Worlds up to 2019, and with the 2021 version, things have taken a big swing toward what I would say is "big production, big Pro focus racing". I know that may seem like a hot take on Gravel Worlds, but this event, which I felt had the perfect balance of grassroots feel and competitive racing, has now seen a shift toward the competitive racing side and is leaving certain elements behind which were the defining characteristics of Gravel Worlds. 

In this report I hope to illuminate the things I saw and felt at the 2021 Gravel Worlds and portray why I feel the way that I do about this event. Keeping in mind that I have seen- first hand- the evolution of this event from a pure, grassroots event, to what it has become in 2021. I can comment with first hand witness where this event has evolved and changed to the point that it no longer resembles what it was. 

And here's another 'hot take': What Gravel Worlds is today is right up the alley of what most folks seem to want in gravel events. Yep. You can cry foul all you want, but almost everyone at the 2021 Gravel Worlds does not have any other reference point to judge the event by. It is what it is now, and whatever 'grassroots' is, most of the folks at Gravel Worlds have no clue about that era of the event. They never knew any better. So, it is hard to get that point across to those who attend now, and what's more, they probably don't care either. 

Now I will get into more of this philosophical meandering after my report, but for now, settle in and stay tuned. I'll have more on what I experienced starting tomorrow.

Next: Old Friends

GW '21: Introduction

 Welcome to my recap of my 2021 Gravel Worlds experience. Here I will share some of the sights and people associated with my personal 'gravel journey', my race report, and my take on where Gravel Worlds is and where it seems to be headed into the future. 

First, a spoiler alert! Don't read the folowing paragraph unless you want to know what happened with me and that's it.

I went 116 miles plus a little. 

Okay, with that said, if you don't want to know anything else about my weekend, then plan on skipping the next four days of blog posts here because- more than likely- I'll be writing everyday about Gravel Worlds all this week. So, now you know what to expect! 

This is a big turning point for this event, in my opinion. There was Gravel Worlds up to 2019, and with the 2021 version, things have taken a big swing toward what I would say is "big production, big Pro focus racing". I know that may seem like a hot take on Gravel Worlds, but this event, which I felt had the perfect balance of grassroots feel and competitive racing, has now seen a shift toward the competitive racing side and is leaving certain elements behind which were the defining characteristics of Gravel Worlds. 

In this report I hope to illuminate the things I saw and felt at the 2021 Gravel Worlds and portray why I feel the way that I do about this event. Keeping in mind that I have seen- first hand- the evolution of this event from a pure, grassroots event, to what it has become in 2021. I can comment with first hand witness where this event has evolved and changed to the point that it no longer resembles what it was. 

And here's another 'hot take': What Gravel Worlds is today is right up the alley of what most folks seem to want in gravel events. Yep. You can cry foul all you want, but almost everyone at the 2021 Gravel Worlds does not have any other reference point to judge the event by. It is what it is now, and whatever 'grassroots' is, most of the folks at Gravel Worlds have no clue about that era of the event. They never knew any better. So, it is hard to get that point across to those who attend now, and what's more, they probably don't care either. 

Now I will get into more of this philosophical meandering after my report, but for now, settle in and stay tuned. I'll have more on what I experienced starting tomorrow.

Next: Old Friends

Signed Up

Spent Friday morning shoveling this super fluffy snow.

I was rather proud of myself on Saturday. I actually remembered not only to awaken before 8:00am but I remembered to register for Gravel Worlds in August coming up. Let's see now.......this will be my eighth time, assuming we can go. THAT is a rather big assumption at this point. But I will hold off on that opinion a minute here......

Of course, my eighth Gravel Worlds would have been last year, but you all know what happened to that. I'm pretty sure, besides events I put on, I haven't been to another event eight times. So, let that sink in. That's what I think about Gravel Worlds. 

I suppose you could add in the last Good Life Gravel Adventure, the event which Gravel Worlds grew out of. I went to that the year before Gravel Worlds started. The GLGA was pretty much exactly like Gravel Worlds, only with a lot less people. While it may not be an 'officially recognized' attendance of Gravel Worlds, I'm counting it in there. So, this would be my ninth trip to Lincoln for this event. 

Now for my opinion on this and the pandemic..... I am not signing up for anything else at this point. I'm just going to start out this season like last year- by doing a lot of solo rides out in the country. As far as I am concerned, 2021 is '2020 Part 2' until further evidence that things are going to be more like 2019 crop up. THAT has not happened yet, nor will it happen soon. 

So, no use signing up for anything else, even if "other stuff" does happen. I'm going to wait for the hard evidence. Others may try to pretend things are getting better based on.......whatever. Not me. That all just means that the plan will be to do regularly scheduled long rides. Hopefully there will be a few century rides in there. That would help tremendously. Changes I made to diet and exercise last year resulted in some positive gains. I plan on ramping that up more for the remainder of 2021. Signing up for Gravel Worlds is a motivation, for sure, but I'd do this regardless.  

And so, if Gravel Worlds is forced to be a virtual event again for 2021, I will be ready for that too. My registration will be a donated fee, just like last year's was, and if we can go, well all the better. I'm in for either way it goes, as long as we can all be safe and healthy. 

Signed Up

Spent Friday morning shoveling this super fluffy snow.

I was rather proud of myself on Saturday. I actually remembered not only to awaken before 8:00am but I remembered to register for Gravel Worlds in August coming up. Let's see now.......this will be my eighth time, assuming we can go. THAT is a rather big assumption at this point. But I will hold off on that opinion a minute here......

Of course, my eighth Gravel Worlds would have been last year, but you all know what happened to that. I'm pretty sure, besides events I put on, I haven't been to another event eight times. So, let that sink in. That's what I think about Gravel Worlds. 

I suppose you could add in the last Good Life Gravel Adventure, the event which Gravel Worlds grew out of. I went to that the year before Gravel Worlds started. The GLGA was pretty much exactly like Gravel Worlds, only with a lot less people. While it may not be an 'officially recognized' attendance of Gravel Worlds, I'm counting it in there. So, this would be my ninth trip to Lincoln for this event. 

Now for my opinion on this and the pandemic..... I am not signing up for anything else at this point. I'm just going to start out this season like last year- by doing a lot of solo rides out in the country. As far as I am concerned, 2021 is '2020 Part 2' until further evidence that things are going to be more like 2019 crop up. THAT has not happened yet, nor will it happen soon. 

So, no use signing up for anything else, even if "other stuff" does happen. I'm going to wait for the hard evidence. Others may try to pretend things are getting better based on.......whatever. Not me. That all just means that the plan will be to do regularly scheduled long rides. Hopefully there will be a few century rides in there. That would help tremendously. Changes I made to diet and exercise last year resulted in some positive gains. I plan on ramping that up more for the remainder of 2021. Signing up for Gravel Worlds is a motivation, for sure, but I'd do this regardless.  

And so, if Gravel Worlds is forced to be a virtual event again for 2021, I will be ready for that too. My registration will be a donated fee, just like last year's was, and if we can go, well all the better. I'm in for either way it goes, as long as we can all be safe and healthy. 

An Interesting, Low Key Summer In Store?

Not Memorial Day weekend? Not this year!

Let's see..... No Summer Olympics, The Tour looks like it may be run with no spectators, if they run it at all, and the Indy 500 postponed their traditional Memorial Day event to August.

Y'all know why, I won't drag you through that again....

Add in many gravel events and other cycling events to that list. The Prairie Burn 100, which is run the first weekend of June- cancelled for 2020, The Heywood Ride, postponed, and others are either postponed, or leaning that way.

Even the venerable Dirty Kanza said they will make it official one way or the other on May 1st. You have to wonder, with this thing still ramping up and it is almost April, it is hard to imagine we'll be getting any "all-clear" signals by the end of May, but who knows?

Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting, (or boring, depending upon your point of view), Summer in the gravel world. I saw a discussion on Facebook, on one gravel oriented page, with many voicing the opinion that this catastrophe is going to knock the corporate element out of the gravel scene. There was talk about how there would be a return to individual rides and non-competitive adventuring.

Well, not to be a wet rag, but as the kids say, "no duh!" See, many events are cancelled and/or postponed for the Spring and maybe most of the Summer. Getting into groups is frowned upon, and possibly deadly. So, yeah....of course that line of thinking is correct, for now. 

But when this whole thing is over, and it will be, we don't know exactly what will happen. I'm betting people will be itching to do something like the Dirty Kanza, or Prairie Burn, or The Heywood. They will be buying stuff again, fixing stuff again, and going out in droves in groups again because they will be allowed to. That will bring the situation right back to where we are today. Too many people remember how it was and will want it back that way again.

Or maybe something more radical will occur. Again- I don't know. But anyone who is thinking that this pandemic is going to "fix the gravel scene" is not thinking straight. Disrupting it? Sure. Absolutely. But once this passes, then what? I'm not so sure that things won't be very similar to how they were. At least in terms of the gravel riding community. In the meantime, it looks like we are in for a very strange, interesting Summer.

An Interesting, Low Key Summer In Store?

Not Memorial Day weekend? Not this year!

Let's see..... No Summer Olympics, The Tour looks like it may be run with no spectators, if they run it at all, and the Indy 500 postponed their traditional Memorial Day event to August.

Y'all know why, I won't drag you through that again....

Add in many gravel events and other cycling events to that list. The Prairie Burn 100, which is run the first weekend of June- cancelled for 2020, The Heywood Ride, postponed, and others are either postponed, or leaning that way.

Even the venerable Dirty Kanza said they will make it official one way or the other on May 1st. You have to wonder, with this thing still ramping up and it is almost April, it is hard to imagine we'll be getting any "all-clear" signals by the end of May, but who knows?

Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting, (or boring, depending upon your point of view), Summer in the gravel world. I saw a discussion on Facebook, on one gravel oriented page, with many voicing the opinion that this catastrophe is going to knock the corporate element out of the gravel scene. There was talk about how there would be a return to individual rides and non-competitive adventuring.

Well, not to be a wet rag, but as the kids say, "no duh!" See, many events are cancelled and/or postponed for the Spring and maybe most of the Summer. Getting into groups is frowned upon, and possibly deadly. So, yeah....of course that line of thinking is correct, for now. 

But when this whole thing is over, and it will be, we don't know exactly what will happen. I'm betting people will be itching to do something like the Dirty Kanza, or Prairie Burn, or The Heywood. They will be buying stuff again, fixing stuff again, and going out in droves in groups again because they will be allowed to. That will bring the situation right back to where we are today. Too many people remember how it was and will want it back that way again.

Or maybe something more radical will occur. Again- I don't know. But anyone who is thinking that this pandemic is going to "fix the gravel scene" is not thinking straight. Disrupting it? Sure. Absolutely. But once this passes, then what? I'm not so sure that things won't be very similar to how they were. At least in terms of the gravel riding community. In the meantime, it looks like we are in for a very strange, interesting Summer.

One Of The Stories Of The Decade?

Ten years ago we were putting on the sixth Trans Iowa already.

You may have seen this on Facebook, because I posted about this there on Sunday, but I came across an article linked by someone else for a completely different reason on a Florida gravel page. A link which led to a "Velo News" article about a "Story of the Decade" which was about gravel grinding. It apparently had appeared in the print version of the publication in December.

Okay......"So what". you may be thinking. Well, this article named me by name. Usually, whenever that happened in the past, I was notified right away by somebody. But not this time. Weird........ I guess that tells you something about magazines these days, eh? Maybe you read the article? (HERE) If you did, and didn't say anything, I apologize, but apparently no one I know, or that knows Jeff Kerkove, read this, or told either one of us about this. Maybe it isn't a big deal.......

Anyway, that aside, the article discusses how "gravel grew up", a popular muse for many in the entrenched cycling media these days. They seem to take pleasure in pointing out the biggest thing since sliced bread that everyone, (except perhaps the writers and editors), already has known about for......a very long time now. Some of us for over a decade. Most of us for at least 5-8 years. Where these yahoos have been I don't know.

I mean, people are sick of hearing about "gravel", and yet we keep seeing the genre described as the "hottest new thing in cycling" or a hayseed trend that now has been legitimized since, you know, real races and racers are doing it now. Or something....... I dunno. I just find this whole thing really silly. But as far as this article in particular is concerned, I understand it is coming from a viewpoint of covering the years 2010-2019. So, I've no quarrel with this particular post.

And  again, it amazes me.....apparently no one I know reads these articles. Or I'd have had it forwarded to me, I would have thought, by someone. And that's the oddest thing of all in my opinion. Used to be that if you had your name in print people would let you know about it pronto. And like I say, it wasn't just me, because Jeff commented that he hadn't known about it until I posted the link on Facebook. The article said we were named in a "story of the decade". Must not have been much of a story, huh?

One Of The Stories Of The Decade?

Ten years ago we were putting on the sixth Trans Iowa already.

You may have seen this on Facebook, because I posted about this there on Sunday, but I came across an article linked by someone else for a completely different reason on a Florida gravel page. A link which led to a "Velo News" article about a "Story of the Decade" which was about gravel grinding. It apparently had appeared in the print version of the publication in December.

Okay......"So what". you may be thinking. Well, this article named me by name. Usually, whenever that happened in the past, I was notified right away by somebody. But not this time. Weird........ I guess that tells you something about magazines these days, eh? Maybe you read the article? (HERE) If you did, and didn't say anything, I apologize, but apparently no one I know, or that knows Jeff Kerkove, read this, or told either one of us about this. Maybe it isn't a big deal.......

Anyway, that aside, the article discusses how "gravel grew up", a popular muse for many in the entrenched cycling media these days. They seem to take pleasure in pointing out the biggest thing since sliced bread that everyone, (except perhaps the writers and editors), already has known about for......a very long time now. Some of us for over a decade. Most of us for at least 5-8 years. Where these yahoos have been I don't know.

I mean, people are sick of hearing about "gravel", and yet we keep seeing the genre described as the "hottest new thing in cycling" or a hayseed trend that now has been legitimized since, you know, real races and racers are doing it now. Or something....... I dunno. I just find this whole thing really silly. But as far as this article in particular is concerned, I understand it is coming from a viewpoint of covering the years 2010-2019. So, I've no quarrel with this particular post.

And  again, it amazes me.....apparently no one I know reads these articles. Or I'd have had it forwarded to me, I would have thought, by someone. And that's the oddest thing of all in my opinion. Used to be that if you had your name in print people would let you know about it pronto. And like I say, it wasn't just me, because Jeff commented that he hadn't known about it until I posted the link on Facebook. The article said we were named in a "story of the decade". Must not have been much of a story, huh?

WW4M: redshift Sports ShockStop Stems

The Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem

This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration.....

Many of you that have frequented the blog may know that I reviewed a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem for RidingGravel.com in 2017.  Actually, if you want all the lowdown on this stem, read this review. It was the one where I talked about all the techy stuff.

So, I've had that stem, which Redshift let me keep, by the way, in continuous use since then. I'm pretty convinced that the construction, design, and durability of this stem is very good. People ask me about the elastomeric springs, if they get softer with time, or are they affected by weather, or if they get stiffer with age, and on and on. The answer is that this stem feels as good now as it did nearly three years ago. Only one problem with it on the main bike I use it on......

It was a tic too short.

I've been using it on the Black Mountain Cycles MCD over the second half of the time I've had this stem and the fit needs to be tweaked a hair. I did some pretty detailed calculations when I set that bike up, and for a while, I was good, but the longer, lower Noble Bikes GX5 has altered my feelings about my fit and now I'm transferring a bit of what I've learned there over to the MCD. This stem is a 100mm one vs the 90mm one I had.

Now for a bit of transparency: Redshift provided me with this stem and did not charge me for it. That said I am not being paid, nor bribed here. In fact, I would have gladly paid for it. I even asked for a price from them, so now you know.

Everything that matters is hidden inside.

Here's why I'd buy one of these stems: They do what they claim to, are durable, and most importantly, they look normal. In fact, most people that see my bike have no clue I am using a shock absorbing stem. Add to that the fact that I can transfer the component from bike to bike, and well, you can easily understand how different and elegant this solution is. I don't have a funky weird looking fork, I don't have a proprietary spring system, and I don't have the weight and complexity of a suspension fork.

Also, the thing with this is that it sucks up the stuff you need to have dealt with- higher frequency vibrations. Gravel can cause a lot of the sort of rattling that this stem can damp out. Oh, and did I mention that the stem comes with five different durometer elastomers to fine tune the ride with? Yep. Want it soft and compliant, or stiffer and have it give only over really harsh stuff? Well, you can get both and in between too. You can set it up to account for a handlebar bag, or you can have 'sag" or no sag, or whatever. It is easy to tune with the provided elastomeric springs which are color-coded and marked with a numeral which coincides with a chart in the instructions. That shows you how to swap elastomers and how to install the stem as well.

And like I say, it's nearly invisible and seems to be a really long term part that needs little to no maintenance. I have to check the fasteners from time to time, like you would any stem, (or you should be if you aren't), so nothing special here to have to consider in terms of feeding and care. There is one downside, and of course, that is weight. Given that almost anything else you do will also add weight, complexity, and if it doesn't add those two, it will add cost. The ShockStop Stem costs $149.99 retail. So, it is a bargain in the vibration damping world that actually works.

If you didn't know, you'd be hard pressed to tell I have a suspension device on this bike.

On gravel this thing is working over the chunky rock the entire time. the ShockStop will even take the edge off potholes and soak up depressions in the surface. Essentially, I have become accustomed to this stem and it just has become something I don't want to ride without all the time. Some of the time? yeah, I still can ride a "direct" stem, but more and more I am riding the ShockStop. It works for me, and I get it, it may not work for you.

My initial misgivings about this thing were that it was going to do what every stem with a pivot does- they get sloppy and loose. But this stem shows zero inclinations of getting loose. It feels solid. You can get out of the saddle, rock the bars, and it feels completely natural. So, I'm sold on it. That's why I got another one, and teh one i took off I'll likely put on my Fargo, because it will fit there.

NOTE: Once again, I did not pay for this second ShockStop Stem and I was not sent the thing to write about it, so I am not being compensated for this. I just am passing along my experiences on a component I feel would be beneficial to many gravel riders.

WW4M: redshift Sports ShockStop Stems

The Redshift Sports ShockStop Stem

This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration.....

Many of you that have frequented the blog may know that I reviewed a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem for RidingGravel.com in 2017.  Actually, if you want all the lowdown on this stem, read this review. It was the one where I talked about all the techy stuff.

So, I've had that stem, which Redshift let me keep, by the way, in continuous use since then. I'm pretty convinced that the construction, design, and durability of this stem is very good. People ask me about the elastomeric springs, if they get softer with time, or are they affected by weather, or if they get stiffer with age, and on and on. The answer is that this stem feels as good now as it did nearly three years ago. Only one problem with it on the main bike I use it on......

It was a tic too short.

I've been using it on the Black Mountain Cycles MCD over the second half of the time I've had this stem and the fit needs to be tweaked a hair. I did some pretty detailed calculations when I set that bike up, and for a while, I was good, but the longer, lower Noble Bikes GX5 has altered my feelings about my fit and now I'm transferring a bit of what I've learned there over to the MCD. This stem is a 100mm one vs the 90mm one I had.

Now for a bit of transparency: Redshift provided me with this stem and did not charge me for it. That said I am not being paid, nor bribed here. In fact, I would have gladly paid for it. I even asked for a price from them, so now you know.

Everything that matters is hidden inside.

Here's why I'd buy one of these stems: They do what they claim to, are durable, and most importantly, they look normal. In fact, most people that see my bike have no clue I am using a shock absorbing stem. Add to that the fact that I can transfer the component from bike to bike, and well, you can easily understand how different and elegant this solution is. I don't have a funky weird looking fork, I don't have a proprietary spring system, and I don't have the weight and complexity of a suspension fork.

Also, the thing with this is that it sucks up the stuff you need to have dealt with- higher frequency vibrations. Gravel can cause a lot of the sort of rattling that this stem can damp out. Oh, and did I mention that the stem comes with five different durometer elastomers to fine tune the ride with? Yep. Want it soft and compliant, or stiffer and have it give only over really harsh stuff? Well, you can get both and in between too. You can set it up to account for a handlebar bag, or you can have 'sag" or no sag, or whatever. It is easy to tune with the provided elastomeric springs which are color-coded and marked with a numeral which coincides with a chart in the instructions. That shows you how to swap elastomers and how to install the stem as well.

And like I say, it's nearly invisible and seems to be a really long term part that needs little to no maintenance. I have to check the fasteners from time to time, like you would any stem, (or you should be if you aren't), so nothing special here to have to consider in terms of feeding and care. There is one downside, and of course, that is weight. Given that almost anything else you do will also add weight, complexity, and if it doesn't add those two, it will add cost. The ShockStop Stem costs $149.99 retail. So, it is a bargain in the vibration damping world that actually works.

If you didn't know, you'd be hard pressed to tell I have a suspension device on this bike.

On gravel this thing is working over the chunky rock the entire time. the ShockStop will even take the edge off potholes and soak up depressions in the surface. Essentially, I have become accustomed to this stem and it just has become something I don't want to ride without all the time. Some of the time? yeah, I still can ride a "direct" stem, but more and more I am riding the ShockStop. It works for me, and I get it, it may not work for you.

My initial misgivings about this thing were that it was going to do what every stem with a pivot does- they get sloppy and loose. But this stem shows zero inclinations of getting loose. It feels solid. You can get out of the saddle, rock the bars, and it feels completely natural. So, I'm sold on it. That's why I got another one, and teh one i took off I'll likely put on my Fargo, because it will fit there.

NOTE: Once again, I did not pay for this second ShockStop Stem and I was not sent the thing to write about it, so I am not being compensated for this. I just am passing along my experiences on a component I feel would be beneficial to many gravel riders.

Gravel Grinder News: Changes At The Almanzo

Changes with the Almanzo may result in a new name.

NOTICE! This story has been updated on 12/9/19 to reflect new information. This post will be updated again if/when anything new and significant should be added here. 

Since 2007 there has been a gravel road event called "Almanzo", but that seems set to change in 2020. The Almanzo has had a turbulent past year-plus where it has seen a change in venue and a change in its leadership.

A brief recap of events to bring you up to speed here:

The chain of events started with the original founder of the Almanzo 100, Chris Skogen, announcing in August of 2018, that he was taking over the reins as the organizer of the Almanzo events. This after three years of being "retired" from organizing the events which traditionally have been held the weekend after Mother's Day in Spring Valley. Then, in a bombshell announcement in November of 2018, Skogen announced that the event was leaving Spring Valley due to some communications and requirements from officials in Spring Valley that seemed to be untenable to Mr. Skogen. The Almanzo events (100, 165, and 380 mile events) were moved from Spring Valley, Minnesota to Northfield, Minnesota, requiring all new courses for the three traditional event distances plus the addition of a 50 mile event which was added as well. 

 Shortly before the 2019 events, Skogen announced that all the Almanzo events were not going to be timed and scored, and that there would be no number plates issued to riders. This announcement produced a flurry of both supportive and negative reactions. Skogen then, according to my contacts that saw it, posted a Facebook video claiming that the negative comments were inflicting too much stress and that 2019 would be the last year for the Alamnzo. That video was pulled down within an hour of its posting. Then the following day, Skogen posted on Facebook saying that he stood by his decision to eliminate timing and scoring and to not issue bib numbers since it was "a barrier to participation". Skogen then went on to cite the failing of bicycle businesses and falling participation in events as a reason for this decision to stand.

Finally, at the start line of the Almanzo, Skogen introduced the new RD of the event, Marty Larson, and said he was bowing out of the Almanzo altogether after 2019. This was all that happened then and the events went off as planned. 

Mr. Skogen's post to the thread mentioned below confirming his exit from Almanzo

Due to the sudden pulling of the event from Spring Valley, Minnesota, an event was proposed and run there, on the "original" (Spring Valley) Almanzo course and was facilitated by Drew Wilson, a man from Southeast Minnesota that had been putting on some events previous to this on his own. Spring Valley embraced this event and it went off well, according to reports I have seen. It is not known whether this event is set to happen again in 2020. UPDATED 12/14/19:   See Keep Gravel Weird and SV Visitors Bureau sites for updates.  I heard from Mr. Wilson, via e-mail, and he indicated that the event is named "The Spring Valley 100" and it will occur on June 6th, 2020 with City involvement and a "great after-party".


Okay, that's "the history", now for the "news'....... 

From a Facebook post on a Minnesota gravel page seen over Labor Day weekend.

 It does appear that the Northfield events are going to happen again, on the traditional Almanzo dates, but the name of those events are in question. In fact, whether there are multiple distances is a detail we do not know yet.  UPDATED 12/9/19: According to the event director, Marty Larson, I learned in a phone call from him that the event will be known as The Heywood, and that all four distances offered for the 2019 Almanzo, 50, 100, 162, 1nd 380, would also be offered for The Heywood. More details soon.


  Mr. Larson posted that the event would "maintain the ethos of Almanzo, but under a new name". Co-event director , Ben Witt, also added to this by indicating The Heywood would not be a re-hash of the Almanzo. So, based upon that, it would appear that the "Almanzo" is over, and that a new event, with the new name, The Heywood, using the same "ethos" as Almanzo's did, will occur based out of Northfield. Minnesota on May 16th-17th, 2020. 

Furthermore, speculation that this was "going corporate", was quelled when Mr. Larson posted that it was "just two guys with a passion for getting folks on bikes" that would be putting this on. This is an interesting point because at one time in the Almanzo's history, it was told to me by a person intimate with the details, that the Almanzo was offered to become a part of the Life Time Fitness group of events. That never happened, obviously, and it appears nothing of the sort will in the near future. 

Details and a new site for information are promised on The Heywood. Since, in fact, it is not named Almanzo, it will mark the end of the run of events under that name. A name which had been synonymous with "grassroots gravel" and the name of the event which was touted as the "Granddaddy of all Gravel Events" by several publications which feted the event in their pages and on their sites.  

Comments & Opinions: Okay, my take is that the tumultuous twists and turns regarding the Almanzo look to have brought this particular incarnation of a gravel event to an inglorious end. That the name looks to be "retired", I feel, is a good thing at this point. Disregarding the actions of Mr. Skogen, a change in leadership of the events is, perhaps, a good time to switch names, and especially so since the classic "Almanzo" course did not emanate from Northfield. That Spring Valley based course is, for good or bad, cemented into many people's minds as "the Almanzo", and no substitutes will be the same.

Keeping elements of the ideals from the Almanzo is in the The Heywood's  best interest, as the ideals which were promoted by the Almanzo event's former director, Chris Skogen, were what made the spirit of the Almanzo 100 what it was. And in fact, that "spirit" took on a life all its own without Mr. Skogen at the helm while the Almanzo was run for a few years by the Spring Valley Tourism Board.  So, I think having those ideals as the backbone of whatever they come up with in Northfield is a good idea.

So, it would appear that, if the Spring Valley based event happens again in 2020, gravel enthusiasts can partake in what once was the "Almanzo" and in a new event in Northfield called The Heywood based upon ideals set forth by Mr. Skogen. If, in fact, these two events can accomplish this, it is, in a way, an evolution. An evolution of what was once the "Grandaddy of all Gravel Events" into two, new options, which hopefully will carry forward an important part of grassroots gravel events into the future. 

UPDATED 2/6/20: The Heywood Ride releases details and new website:  https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2020/02/gravel-grinder-news-flash-heywood-ride.html 

The Heywood Ride 

Gravel Grinder News: Changes At The Almanzo

Changes with the Almanzo may result in a new name.

NOTICE! This story has been updated on 12/9/19 to reflect new information. This post will be updated again if/when anything new and significant should be added here. 

Since 2007 there has been a gravel road event called "Almanzo", but that seems set to change in 2020. The Almanzo has had a turbulent past year-plus where it has seen a change in venue and a change in its leadership.

A brief recap of events to bring you up to speed here:

The chain of events started with the original founder of the Almanzo 100, Chris Skogen, announcing in August of 2018, that he was taking over the reins as the organizer of the Almanzo events. This after three years of being "retired" from organizing the events which traditionally have been held the weekend after Mother's Day in Spring Valley. Then, in a bombshell announcement in November of 2018, Skogen announced that the event was leaving Spring Valley due to some communications and requirements from officials in Spring Valley that seemed to be untenable to Mr. Skogen. The Almanzo events (100, 165, and 380 mile events) were moved from Spring Valley, Minnesota to Northfield, Minnesota, requiring all new courses for the three traditional event distances plus the addition of a 50 mile event which was added as well. 

 Shortly before the 2019 events, Skogen announced that all the Almanzo events were not going to be timed and scored, and that there would be no number plates issued to riders. This announcement produced a flurry of both supportive and negative reactions. Skogen then, according to my contacts that saw it, posted a Facebook video claiming that the negative comments were inflicting too much stress and that 2019 would be the last year for the Alamnzo. That video was pulled down within an hour of its posting. Then the following day, Skogen posted on Facebook saying that he stood by his decision to eliminate timing and scoring and to not issue bib numbers since it was "a barrier to participation". Skogen then went on to cite the failing of bicycle businesses and falling participation in events as a reason for this decision to stand.

Finally, at the start line of the Almanzo, Skogen introduced the new RD of the event, Marty Larson, and said he was bowing out of the Almanzo altogether after 2019. This was all that happened then and the events went off as planned. 

Mr. Skogen's post to the thread mentioned below confirming his exit from Almanzo

Due to the sudden pulling of the event from Spring Valley, Minnesota, an event was proposed and run there, on the "original" (Spring Valley) Almanzo course and was facilitated by Drew Wilson, a man from Southeast Minnesota that had been putting on some events previous to this on his own. Spring Valley embraced this event and it went off well, according to reports I have seen. It is not known whether this event is set to happen again in 2020. UPDATED 12/14/19:   See Keep Gravel Weird and SV Visitors Bureau sites for updates.  I heard from Mr. Wilson, via e-mail, and he indicated that the event is named "The Spring Valley 100" and it will occur on June 6th, 2020 with City involvement and a "great after-party".


Okay, that's "the history", now for the "news'....... 

From a Facebook post on a Minnesota gravel page seen over Labor Day weekend.

 It does appear that the Northfield events are going to happen again, on the traditional Almanzo dates, but the name of those events are in question. In fact, whether there are multiple distances is a detail we do not know yet.  UPDATED 12/9/19: According to the event director, Marty Larson, I learned in a phone call from him that the event will be known as The Heywood, and that all four distances offered for the 2019 Almanzo, 50, 100, 162, 1nd 380, would also be offered for The Heywood. More details soon.


  Mr. Larson posted that the event would "maintain the ethos of Almanzo, but under a new name". Co-event director , Ben Witt, also added to this by indicating The Heywood would not be a re-hash of the Almanzo. So, based upon that, it would appear that the "Almanzo" is over, and that a new event, with the new name, The Heywood, using the same "ethos" as Almanzo's did, will occur based out of Northfield. Minnesota on May 16th-17th, 2020. 

Furthermore, speculation that this was "going corporate", was quelled when Mr. Larson posted that it was "just two guys with a passion for getting folks on bikes" that would be putting this on. This is an interesting point because at one time in the Almanzo's history, it was told to me by a person intimate with the details, that the Almanzo was offered to become a part of the Life Time Fitness group of events. That never happened, obviously, and it appears nothing of the sort will in the near future. 

Details and a new site for information are promised on The Heywood. Since, in fact, it is not named Almanzo, it will mark the end of the run of events under that name. A name which had been synonymous with "grassroots gravel" and the name of the event which was touted as the "Granddaddy of all Gravel Events" by several publications which feted the event in their pages and on their sites.  

Comments & Opinions: Okay, my take is that the tumultuous twists and turns regarding the Almanzo look to have brought this particular incarnation of a gravel event to an inglorious end. That the name looks to be "retired", I feel, is a good thing at this point. Disregarding the actions of Mr. Skogen, a change in leadership of the events is, perhaps, a good time to switch names, and especially so since the classic "Almanzo" course did not emanate from Northfield. That Spring Valley based course is, for good or bad, cemented into many people's minds as "the Almanzo", and no substitutes will be the same.

Keeping elements of the ideals from the Almanzo is in the The Heywood's  best interest, as the ideals which were promoted by the Almanzo event's former director, Chris Skogen, were what made the spirit of the Almanzo 100 what it was. And in fact, that "spirit" took on a life all its own without Mr. Skogen at the helm while the Almanzo was run for a few years by the Spring Valley Tourism Board.  So, I think having those ideals as the backbone of whatever they come up with in Northfield is a good idea.

So, it would appear that, if the Spring Valley based event happens again in 2020, gravel enthusiasts can partake in what once was the "Almanzo" and in a new event in Northfield called The Heywood based upon ideals set forth by Mr. Skogen. If, in fact, these two events can accomplish this, it is, in a way, an evolution. An evolution of what was once the "Grandaddy of all Gravel Events" into two, new options, which hopefully will carry forward an important part of grassroots gravel events into the future. 

UPDATED 2/6/20: The Heywood Ride releases details and new website:  https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2020/02/gravel-grinder-news-flash-heywood-ride.html 

The Heywood Ride 

Office Work

Spent a LOT of time looking at this over the weekend.

The impending weather of doom over this past weekend made bike riding not a very good option. So...... I figured I may as well get some "unpleasantness" out of the way. Stuff like updating the RidingGravel.com calendar, doing cues for the C.O.G. 100 route, and some other stuff I'd been putting of "for later sometime".

The biggest task was the calendar. I have to chuckle about that, actually. Ten years ago it took more time to find events to add to the list than it did to maintain it. I would chase links, do searches, and try to ferret out details for events when I did find them. It was a big task to build the calendar ten years ago. Now days events pop up quicker than June weeds and just trying to keep ahead of the growth is nearly impossible.

So, when Wordpress decided to change their editing format, you know.......just because, well, it threw a wrench into the works at Riding Gravel that took three months to straighten out. And after several attempts with IT people at Wordpress, via my patient partner, Ben Welnak, they still never could tell us why our interface wasn't very interfaceable. Eventually, one day, it just started working.

Weird.

Anyway, I lost three months of "staying ahead" of new events and updates to old ones because I couldn't add or modify the calendar for that period. Of course, the Winter is when everyone plans and updates and introduces events. Of course it is...... Brilliant.

So, I spent ten hours or so over the weekend just working on the calendar. That doesn't count the other stuff I was up to on the computer, including doing this blog. But I look outside and see 25-30mph winds with drifting snow over ice which formed when things melted and got rained on yesterday. Side note: I saw lightning strikes on Saturday evening. In February......in Iowa. I'm about over this weather, by the way. Now it is supposed to be more January-like with teens for highs and sub-zero lows for the rest of this week into next. March coming in like a Polar Bear, not so much like a Lion.

Good news is that I am getting ahead of the calendar again, so at least something good is coming from this crazy weather.

Office Work

Spent a LOT of time looking at this over the weekend.

The impending weather of doom over this past weekend made bike riding not a very good option. So...... I figured I may as well get some "unpleasantness" out of the way. Stuff like updating the RidingGravel.com calendar, doing cues for the C.O.G. 100 route, and some other stuff I'd been putting of "for later sometime".

The biggest task was the calendar. I have to chuckle about that, actually. Ten years ago it took more time to find events to add to the list than it did to maintain it. I would chase links, do searches, and try to ferret out details for events when I did find them. It was a big task to build the calendar ten years ago. Now days events pop up quicker than June weeds and just trying to keep ahead of the growth is nearly impossible.

So, when Wordpress decided to change their editing format, you know.......just because, well, it threw a wrench into the works at Riding Gravel that took three months to straighten out. And after several attempts with IT people at Wordpress, via my patient partner, Ben Welnak, they still never could tell us why our interface wasn't very interfaceable. Eventually, one day, it just started working.

Weird.

Anyway, I lost three months of "staying ahead" of new events and updates to old ones because I couldn't add or modify the calendar for that period. Of course, the Winter is when everyone plans and updates and introduces events. Of course it is...... Brilliant.

So, I spent ten hours or so over the weekend just working on the calendar. That doesn't count the other stuff I was up to on the computer, including doing this blog. But I look outside and see 25-30mph winds with drifting snow over ice which formed when things melted and got rained on yesterday. Side note: I saw lightning strikes on Saturday evening. In February......in Iowa. I'm about over this weather, by the way. Now it is supposed to be more January-like with teens for highs and sub-zero lows for the rest of this week into next. March coming in like a Polar Bear, not so much like a Lion.

Good news is that I am getting ahead of the calendar again, so at least something good is coming from this crazy weather.

Monsoon Season

Rain, rain....go away!

Labor Day weekend is generally not a bad weekend here weather-wise. However; this one we just lived through was.......very wet!

I'm not sure I've ever seen it so bad on Labor Day weekend. Ever. In my life..... This typically is more like, say, Memorial Day Weekend, when it rains and ruins the party. Or maybe more like Halloweeen, when the kids have to wear rain jackets or parkas because the weather sucks. I can't count the number of scary parkas I've seen on Halloween. Little blighters!

So, when it is "too wet to plow", as they say in farmer-speak around these parts, you do something else. Something maybe you've been putting off for.......you know, a rainy day! In my case that generally includes bicycle maintenance to the fleet here. So, I did do some of that. But I also did a lot of work on the Riding Gravel Events calendar this past weekend. That is super-tedious work. I'm not a big fan of it, but I was the one that started a gravel events calendar in 2008 or so and I haven't given up yet. With nearly 500 events to keep tabs on all over the world, it gets pretty hard to ride herd over it all. I remember when I had less than 30 events and I thought THAT was amazing!

Now there are a few others keeping tabs on gravel events. I know some one or two have copied my work, and continue to do so. It does bother me a bit, but in these days of "copy and paste", I am not at all surprised by it. Really, there isn't anything I can do about it either.

Then sometimes when you are not busy, you start thinking about things too much and.......maybe.....you might get yourself into a bit of trouble you weren't planning on. In my case that entails something happening in a bit less than two months. I also have to start dialing up a few things before "that" happens.

More soon.......

Monsoon Season

Rain, rain....go away!

Labor Day weekend is generally not a bad weekend here weather-wise. However; this one we just lived through was.......very wet!

I'm not sure I've ever seen it so bad on Labor Day weekend. Ever. In my life..... This typically is more like, say, Memorial Day Weekend, when it rains and ruins the party. Or maybe more like Halloweeen, when the kids have to wear rain jackets or parkas because the weather sucks. I can't count the number of scary parkas I've seen on Halloween. Little blighters!

So, when it is "too wet to plow", as they say in farmer-speak around these parts, you do something else. Something maybe you've been putting off for.......you know, a rainy day! In my case that generally includes bicycle maintenance to the fleet here. So, I did do some of that. But I also did a lot of work on the Riding Gravel Events calendar this past weekend. That is super-tedious work. I'm not a big fan of it, but I was the one that started a gravel events calendar in 2008 or so and I haven't given up yet. With nearly 500 events to keep tabs on all over the world, it gets pretty hard to ride herd over it all. I remember when I had less than 30 events and I thought THAT was amazing!

Now there are a few others keeping tabs on gravel events. I know some one or two have copied my work, and continue to do so. It does bother me a bit, but in these days of "copy and paste", I am not at all surprised by it. Really, there isn't anything I can do about it either.

Then sometimes when you are not busy, you start thinking about things too much and.......maybe.....you might get yourself into a bit of trouble you weren't planning on. In my case that entails something happening in a bit less than two months. I also have to start dialing up a few things before "that" happens.

More soon.......

Minus Ten Review- 8

I got this Tomi cog handed off to me at Frostbike '08. Yes....I did actually purchase it!

Ten years ago on the blog here I posted one image all week. That was of this Tomi Cog. It bolts direct to a 6 bolt disc brake rotor mount so you don't have to worry about any issues with lock rings. Yes, you end up with no rear brake, but this is fixed gear people. And I don't ride in the mountains. One brake is really sufficient with the additional "back pressure" applied through the pedals.

My hope is to get this cog back on something here and start using it again. I think that it will go on the original bicycle I had it on, my '03 Karate Monkey, or perhaps on an On One Inbred frame I have that isn't being ridden at the moment. We will see. I am certainly in no hurry to get this done, obviously!

But other than that I was yakking quite a bit that week about Trans Iowa v4 stuff. Recon mostly, but there was banter about lights and how to set up accessories so they wouldn't get rattled off the bike by gravel. I also was stoked to reveal that we had Surly Bikes and Princeton Tec Lights on as sponsors for the fourth running of the event. Princeton Tec sent over some head lamps for volunteers to see with at night, and I still have those around here. I've made use of them in subsequent Trans Iowas. Thanks Princeton Tec!

What became this had its roots ten years ago on this blog

But a big turning point in things here began ten years ago when I posted the following on Thursday, February 21st, 2008:


"First up we have an idea. There seems to be a growing number of freaks putting on low key gravely adventures around these parts. My thought is that there might be a need for a clearing house of sorts. A place dedicated to gravel road rides only and a place where rides could be added that others could go to and check out....."

It wasn't long until I had posted a blogspot address and was compiling events so everyone could keep track of them. The first effort wasn't mine, and it wasn't the blogspot address I mentioned here, but soon afterward it was seen that the original effort wasn't going to be what I had envisioned so I did it myself. Anyway, by the end of the year I was well on my way to doing "Gravel Grinder News" and at the end of 2014 that was merged into RidingGravel.com. The race/event calendar has survived along with those changes all these years.  

Also ten years ago this week I think I made the very first mention of an electric motor fitted to a bicycle which I promptly declared was not a bicycle. I think with ten years of perspective I would slightly modify that to say an e-bike is not bicycling. It is "something else". "Assisted", or whatever, but it is definitely not bicycling, nor can it ever impart the full bicycling experience. It is, at best, a poor facsimile of bicycling and at its worst, out and out motorcycling. 

Note- I have not said here that I am for or against these contraptions, I am just stating that anyone who engages in riding a two wheeled vehicle that, at minimum, assists them in powering the bike or more, is not riding with the same experience as a fully human powered bicycle. Those two experiences are different, and if they were not different, then why would there even be electrically assisted/powered two wheel vehicles? It's obvious that the e-powered experience is "easier"( ie: you are not fully powering the vehicle) and therefore vastly different than fully human powered two wheel travel.  

 

Minus Ten Review- 8

I got this Tomi cog handed off to me at Frostbike '08. Yes....I did actually purchase it!

Ten years ago on the blog here I posted one image all week. That was of this Tomi Cog. It bolts direct to a 6 bolt disc brake rotor mount so you don't have to worry about any issues with lock rings. Yes, you end up with no rear brake, but this is fixed gear people. And I don't ride in the mountains. One brake is really sufficient with the additional "back pressure" applied through the pedals.

My hope is to get this cog back on something here and start using it again. I think that it will go on the original bicycle I had it on, my '03 Karate Monkey, or perhaps on an On One Inbred frame I have that isn't being ridden at the moment. We will see. I am certainly in no hurry to get this done, obviously!

But other than that I was yakking quite a bit that week about Trans Iowa v4 stuff. Recon mostly, but there was banter about lights and how to set up accessories so they wouldn't get rattled off the bike by gravel. I also was stoked to reveal that we had Surly Bikes and Princeton Tec Lights on as sponsors for the fourth running of the event. Princeton Tec sent over some head lamps for volunteers to see with at night, and I still have those around here. I've made use of them in subsequent Trans Iowas. Thanks Princeton Tec!

What became this had its roots ten years ago on this blog

But a big turning point in things here began ten years ago when I posted the following on Thursday, February 21st, 2008:


"First up we have an idea. There seems to be a growing number of freaks putting on low key gravely adventures around these parts. My thought is that there might be a need for a clearing house of sorts. A place dedicated to gravel road rides only and a place where rides could be added that others could go to and check out....."

It wasn't long until I had posted a blogspot address and was compiling events so everyone could keep track of them. The first effort wasn't mine, and it wasn't the blogspot address I mentioned here, but soon afterward it was seen that the original effort wasn't going to be what I had envisioned so I did it myself. Anyway, by the end of the year I was well on my way to doing "Gravel Grinder News" and at the end of 2014 that was merged into RidingGravel.com. The race/event calendar has survived along with those changes all these years.  

Also ten years ago this week I think I made the very first mention of an electric motor fitted to a bicycle which I promptly declared was not a bicycle. I think with ten years of perspective I would slightly modify that to say an e-bike is not bicycling. It is "something else". "Assisted", or whatever, but it is definitely not bicycling, nor can it ever impart the full bicycling experience. It is, at best, a poor facsimile of bicycling and at its worst, out and out motorcycling. 

Note- I have not said here that I am for or against these contraptions, I am just stating that anyone who engages in riding a two wheeled vehicle that, at minimum, assists them in powering the bike or more, is not riding with the same experience as a fully human powered bicycle. Those two experiences are different, and if they were not different, then why would there even be electrically assisted/powered two wheel vehicles? It's obvious that the e-powered experience is "easier"( ie: you are not fully powering the vehicle) and therefore vastly different than fully human powered two wheel travel.  

 

Friday News And Views

The lottery submission process ends Saturday night.

DK200 Lottery Entries Close Saturday Night And Thoughts:

The inaugural Dirty Kanza lottery process has its first stage close on Saturday evening when all submissions must be in. The next step will be for the selection process to begin. It isn't quite clear to me how that will work, but then again, it doesn't matter. It's their event and they can do whatever they deem right for them.

I know I will not be going down this coming year. My feeling is that some others are deciding against the event as well. Prices for entry seem to be the main reason I am seeing folks make the decision not to go. Granted, it is the DK200, but prices for this event are decidedly on the higher end of the scale when it comes to gravel events nationwide. Ultimately, the riders will vote with their dollars and the resulting economy will be the deciding factor here.

Some folks like to point to "gravel cycling" as the culprit. They like to say that the "movement" is getting "too big", or it is "selling out", or they blame whatever nefarious group or nebulous movement for the reason why this is happening. This "vague blaming" is easy to do. It's non-confrontational, easy to agree with, and doesn't require any real cognitive action on anyone's part. Basically it is worthless spouting of hot air. You want to know why these kinds of things like the situation at the DK200 are happening?

It's the people who willingly buy into it. No one is prying money out of wallets and "making you spend money" or making you train, or buy a package to get a free entry, or whatever it is. No one is making anyone do that forcefully. Nope! People willingly pay these prices. 

Until people willingly do not pay these prices, nothing is going to change.

Oooo! Snow!

 Wow! What A Winter So far!

Sarcasm Alert: Gee, this fantastic cold weather with no snow has really been fantastic. And just think, next week they say it will get even colder! Awesome.

Yeah, it hasn't been maybe as cold as it should be this time of year, but the wind has more than made up for things, at least around here. Plus, the humidity levels have been high enough that this air we have just cuts right into your bones. At least the Arctic air we're supposed to get just in time for Christmas will be drier and not so bad to stay warm in.

Snow has been a rarity, and by the looks of it, that should remain the case through Christmas. Yeah, that's a risky thing to say, what with Winter weather being so hard to pin down. Who really knows. We could end up with a bunch of the white stuff here, but the weather prognosticators and my gut feeling say not so much.

The point is that Winter is going to be a slow starter if ever it does snow here. Really cold air without snow is just wrong, and for me, not really Winter. If we get very far into the New Year with no snow, well then.....I'm going to say this Winter is a major fail. But there is still a lot of time left before we can really think seriously about Spring, so this Winter still has time to redeem itself. I just know that short days, brown scenery, and cold air add up to a depressing state of affairs.

Meanwhile the rivers are already icing up and many will freeze solid they are so low, that is if we get really frigid temperatures for very long. It could make for interesting fat biking opportunities, but other than that, this situation isn't good.

Can you believe anything done when this is worn anymore?

The Latest Dope:

Occasionally I will opine about Pro road cycling here. I used to be a big fan. However; I became jaded after umpteen doping scandals and now I only casually follow this side of sport.


So, the following is from the perspective of someone that rides bicycles but doesn't really know or care about the Pro racing side of the equation anymore.

That said, the winner of the last Vuelta, Chris Froome, returned a positive for an inhaler banned by the UCI at twice the level allowed. No penalties have been issued, no sanctions declared, but the court of public opinion is already buzzing about this one. However that goes, should we be surprised anymore? 

Doping in bicycle racing goes way back. You really cannot blame salaries, modern cycling culture, or sponsors for this. It is historical. Riders have doped and died for doing it in the past. That doesn't excuse what we see today, by any means, but that it continues to this day, that is no surprise. Even in competitions that pay no money, have no prizing, or any real fame or glory to offer, even those events  have their cheaters. It is human nature to cheat. That's my opinion, and maybe a dim view, but I see no other logical explanation.

So while it is noble to believe that the Pro racers are "clean" when you watch the sport, it is naive to believe that there are no cheaters. That goes for all levels of cycling. Right down to the rank amateurs.

So, the latest scandal involving Chris Froome? I am not at all surprised.

 That's all for this week. Have a great weekend.

Friday News And Views

The lottery submission process ends Saturday night.

DK200 Lottery Entries Close Saturday Night And Thoughts:

The inaugural Dirty Kanza lottery process has its first stage close on Saturday evening when all submissions must be in. The next step will be for the selection process to begin. It isn't quite clear to me how that will work, but then again, it doesn't matter. It's their event and they can do whatever they deem right for them.

I know I will not be going down this coming year. My feeling is that some others are deciding against the event as well. Prices for entry seem to be the main reason I am seeing folks make the decision not to go. Granted, it is the DK200, but prices for this event are decidedly on the higher end of the scale when it comes to gravel events nationwide. Ultimately, the riders will vote with their dollars and the resulting economy will be the deciding factor here.

Some folks like to point to "gravel cycling" as the culprit. They like to say that the "movement" is getting "too big", or it is "selling out", or they blame whatever nefarious group or nebulous movement for the reason why this is happening. This "vague blaming" is easy to do. It's non-confrontational, easy to agree with, and doesn't require any real cognitive action on anyone's part. Basically it is worthless spouting of hot air. You want to know why these kinds of things like the situation at the DK200 are happening?

It's the people who willingly buy into it. No one is prying money out of wallets and "making you spend money" or making you train, or buy a package to get a free entry, or whatever it is. No one is making anyone do that forcefully. Nope! People willingly pay these prices. 

Until people willingly do not pay these prices, nothing is going to change.

Oooo! Snow!

 Wow! What A Winter So far!

Sarcasm Alert: Gee, this fantastic cold weather with no snow has really been fantastic. And just think, next week they say it will get even colder! Awesome.

Yeah, it hasn't been maybe as cold as it should be this time of year, but the wind has more than made up for things, at least around here. Plus, the humidity levels have been high enough that this air we have just cuts right into your bones. At least the Arctic air we're supposed to get just in time for Christmas will be drier and not so bad to stay warm in.

Snow has been a rarity, and by the looks of it, that should remain the case through Christmas. Yeah, that's a risky thing to say, what with Winter weather being so hard to pin down. Who really knows. We could end up with a bunch of the white stuff here, but the weather prognosticators and my gut feeling say not so much.

The point is that Winter is going to be a slow starter if ever it does snow here. Really cold air without snow is just wrong, and for me, not really Winter. If we get very far into the New Year with no snow, well then.....I'm going to say this Winter is a major fail. But there is still a lot of time left before we can really think seriously about Spring, so this Winter still has time to redeem itself. I just know that short days, brown scenery, and cold air add up to a depressing state of affairs.

Meanwhile the rivers are already icing up and many will freeze solid they are so low, that is if we get really frigid temperatures for very long. It could make for interesting fat biking opportunities, but other than that, this situation isn't good.

Can you believe anything done when this is worn anymore?

The Latest Dope:

Occasionally I will opine about Pro road cycling here. I used to be a big fan. However; I became jaded after umpteen doping scandals and now I only casually follow this side of sport.


So, the following is from the perspective of someone that rides bicycles but doesn't really know or care about the Pro racing side of the equation anymore.

That said, the winner of the last Vuelta, Chris Froome, returned a positive for an inhaler banned by the UCI at twice the level allowed. No penalties have been issued, no sanctions declared, but the court of public opinion is already buzzing about this one. However that goes, should we be surprised anymore? 

Doping in bicycle racing goes way back. You really cannot blame salaries, modern cycling culture, or sponsors for this. It is historical. Riders have doped and died for doing it in the past. That doesn't excuse what we see today, by any means, but that it continues to this day, that is no surprise. Even in competitions that pay no money, have no prizing, or any real fame or glory to offer, even those events  have their cheaters. It is human nature to cheat. That's my opinion, and maybe a dim view, but I see no other logical explanation.

So while it is noble to believe that the Pro racers are "clean" when you watch the sport, it is naive to believe that there are no cheaters. That goes for all levels of cycling. Right down to the rank amateurs.

So, the latest scandal involving Chris Froome? I am not at all surprised.

 That's all for this week. Have a great weekend.