Triple D Winter Race: Race Report: Part I

Saturday: 

Saturday was a travel day to get to Dubuque and get registered and settled in for the event. Mrs. Guitar Ted and I arrived at around 5pm, got our stuff into the motel room and got down to the event headquarters. I got signed in, (one of the first signed on!), and then we went to find something to eat.

Before that I had spoken with event organizer, Lance Andre, and he told me that the event had about 110 cyclists and with the poker ride riders and runners added in the event was going to have over 200 participants. That was a pretty significant increase over last year. I know for 2012 there were about 70 cyclists.

Triple D is kind of an amazing event in that there are four different disciplines with four different finish lines going on all at the same time. How Mr. Andre and crew keep that all straight, I have no idea, but my hat is off to them for organizing and running a classy, fun event.

Well, anyway, then came the search for food. Mrs. Guitar Ted and I poured over the choices and debated what might be good. We eventually just hopped in the car and drove around until, by complete accident, we came across the same Chinese restaurant we ate at last year. We had a great, relaxing meal. Then, I went in search of a bottle of red wine. See, I have a solution I used last year for Triple D that worked really well, so I wanted to do this again. A bottle of red wine is necessary for it, so I got directions to a rather seedy liquor store in the downtown area of Dubuque.

I walked in and found the bottle liquor area where a sign greets you that says "Please, only one customer at a time in the liquor section." Hmm....a little red flag, perhaps, but I walk in and find a suitable bottle and walk up with my selection to the counter where the checkout lady, who is a rather disheveled looking gal of mid-40's vintage, is complaining about some life issue to another female who appears to be busy texting on her phone. Finally the counter clerk looks at me and says, "Are ya ready, Honey?" Umm........red flag number 2? Yes. I make with some small pleasantries and briskly walk to the car as three gentleman who were standing behind me smoking cigarettes in the store eyeball me out the door.

 I got back to the motel room, and while Mrs. Guitar Ted went to the workout room to get her exercise in, I suddenly realized I had chose a bottle of wine that needed a corkscrew. Doh! I do not have such a device. So, being a mechanic, I search my "toolbox" for what I do have on hand that might be pressed into duty for such a job as removing a cork from a wine bottle. The solution presented itself in the form of my Blackburn Toolmanator multi-tool. It has a chain breaking tool that had a long, threaded section as part of the tool. I removed the main body of the chain breaker by simply unscrewing it from the threaded part, and inserted the threaded part into the cork by twisting it in.

Using the edge of the bottle as leverage, I could use the main part of the Toolmanator as a lever to pull down and I eventually broke the seal on the cork. A couple more gentle pulls and out comes the cork! Success!

As I am doing this, the wind is howling outside with gusts of upwards of 50mph, freezing all the melt and mud that we had heard was soaking the trails out on course. I was a bit concerned about the wind, because it might compound issues with regard to staying warm. I was hoping for light winds, but expecting the worst. I fell asleep and dreamt of warmer things.....

Lining up to start the race!

Race Day: I awoke on race day and got down for the free breakfast that was part of the event/motel package. After stocking up on corned beef hash, a sausage or two, and a pile of scrambled eggs with picante sauce, I went back up to the room to do the all important layering up before the 9:30am race meeting.

Gear Used: I decided to use a Craft wind front base layer, then a Nike thermal hooded jersey, with a Bontrager Thermal Winter jacket over the top of that. For the lower extremities, I used an Omni-wool pair of tights, over this a Trek Thermal Tight, and then a final layer which was the Zoic Blackmarket pant. For socks I wore a pair of Twin Six wool socks and a long, calf length pair of wool stockings over that. Boots were the awesome Keen Brixens and for gloves I used a thin Bontrager wool liner glove inside some Answer Sleestak "mittens". On my head I used a skull cap/beanie thing I got at CIRREM one year, and over the top of that I wore my hand made poly-fleece hat. That about did it. My hydration pack was the Shimano Unzen 10, and I had two insulated water bottles on the fork blades of The Snow Dog. In the hydration pack, I had extra socks, gloves, and a Marmot Precip jacket in case I got wet and needed extra protection. I carried two lights in the "basement" of the Unzen for later use.

On my 2011 Salsa Cycles Mukluk, I had a Revelate Designs Tangle bag with a spare Surly tube, a Lezyne SuperDrive pump, a Lezyne Air Caddy which has levers and two Co2 cartridges, and the aforementioned Toolmanator. I also stocked an extra base layer top of Omni-wool in there, along with a bag of unsalted peanuts. The Planet Bike Snak Shack doesn't play well with the Tangle Bag in the normal position, but works perfectly well against the seatpost, so that went there with some gel packs, a bottle of ibuprofen, and my point and shoot camera. I also had several gel packs in the wing pockets of the Unzen, and a balaclava and a large bandana in the top pocket of the Unzen. That should about cover the gear list! Now on to the event!

The Start: Lance Andre had told us that the beginning should have been all off road on trails, but since there was no snow, we had to roll out a ways on some pavement. Then on some newer trails, and finally back out on familiar Triple D course routing for a time. He also mentioned that the Heritage Trail sector had "no ice anymore" on it, which sounded encouraging. The field, which consisted of a mix heavy on fat bikes, with a significant number of 29"ers and cross bikes, set off to roll down to our big left hander and off into the woods and fields. I didn't position my self at the front, but rather about a third of the way back, which may be rather cheeky of me, but hey! Why not challenge myself a bit, eh?

Now off to the single track, which was new, bumpy, and had steep sections which necessitated pushing and ice covered creek crossings and ravines that also demanded a dismount. I was doing okay, a few guys passing me, but generally holding my own. We popped out on to a city street and bike path/side walk when I saw area honch Mike, a 3GR rider, stopped fiddling with his drive train. I pulled over to offer assistance, but after a bit of encouragement, Mike got the chain disentangled from between his crank set rings and he was good. I motored onward.

We finally reached the wide open fields which I remembered from last year, only this year they were brown and bumpy, not snow covered. We traversed the area and went down into the farm area, which was one of my favorite parts of last year's event, but which now was just an odd, bouncy-jouncy traverse through a pasture amongst frozen cowpies. Somewhere along the way here Mike jetted back by me and was seemingly none too happy, and well he should not be, since early race issues are definitely no fun. Oddly enough, the day seemed pleasant enough to me. Hardly any perceptable wind, and I was staying warm.

This sector continued with very bumpy, hard ground over some corn fields and frozen, marshy areas which had sedge clumps the size of bowling balls that would send you careening as if you were a ball in a pinball machine this way and that. Fatbike full suspension? I was ready for it right then! I found Mad Max along about this time plunking up a very rough climb. We chatted for a bit then he slowly pulled away. Here we came up to the point where last year we took a very icy descent down Humke Road, a B Level maintenance road. Lance took this section out, but replaced it with a longer wooded section that featured an incredible down hill, with a gut buster of a long climb interspersed with several cool descents and scenic views. This was a part of the event that was very technical, (as far as the down hills), but super fun. There was a bit of ice here and there which made braking tricky, and a couple of sketch creek/low water crossings as well, but wow! My favorite part of the event by far was riding this. So fun!

My camera was not liking the chill temps, so I didn't get a shot of anything here, unfortunately. Plus, with the ride being so super rough, I didn't dare take my hands off the bars for any reason. Eventually the rough stuff ended as we took a pavement descent down to the Heritage Trail and turned West toward the halfway marker of the event where we were required to check in.

That's a good place to stop for today. The rest will be posted tomorrow....stay tuned.

Triple D Winter Race: Race Report: Part I

Saturday: 

Saturday was a travel day to get to Dubuque and get registered and settled in for the event. Mrs. Guitar Ted and I arrived at around 5pm, got our stuff into the motel room and got down to the event headquarters. I got signed in, (one of the first signed on!), and then we went to find something to eat.

Before that I had spoken with event organizer, Lance Andre, and he told me that the event had about 110 cyclists and with the poker ride riders and runners added in the event was going to have over 200 participants. That was a pretty significant increase over last year. I know for 2012 there were about 70 cyclists.

Triple D is kind of an amazing event in that there are four different disciplines with four different finish lines going on all at the same time. How Mr. Andre and crew keep that all straight, I have no idea, but my hat is off to them for organizing and running a classy, fun event.

Well, anyway, then came the search for food. Mrs. Guitar Ted and I poured over the choices and debated what might be good. We eventually just hopped in the car and drove around until, by complete accident, we came across the same Chinese restaurant we ate at last year. We had a great, relaxing meal. Then, I went in search of a bottle of red wine. See, I have a solution I used last year for Triple D that worked really well, so I wanted to do this again. A bottle of red wine is necessary for it, so I got directions to a rather seedy liquor store in the downtown area of Dubuque.

I walked in and found the bottle liquor area where a sign greets you that says "Please, only one customer at a time in the liquor section." Hmm....a little red flag, perhaps, but I walk in and find a suitable bottle and walk up with my selection to the counter where the checkout lady, who is a rather disheveled looking gal of mid-40's vintage, is complaining about some life issue to another female who appears to be busy texting on her phone. Finally the counter clerk looks at me and says, "Are ya ready, Honey?" Umm........red flag number 2? Yes. I make with some small pleasantries and briskly walk to the car as three gentleman who were standing behind me smoking cigarettes in the store eyeball me out the door.

 I got back to the motel room, and while Mrs. Guitar Ted went to the workout room to get her exercise in, I suddenly realized I had chose a bottle of wine that needed a corkscrew. Doh! I do not have such a device. So, being a mechanic, I search my "toolbox" for what I do have on hand that might be pressed into duty for such a job as removing a cork from a wine bottle. The solution presented itself in the form of my Blackburn Toolmanator multi-tool. It has a chain breaking tool that had a long, threaded section as part of the tool. I removed the main body of the chain breaker by simply unscrewing it from the threaded part, and inserted the threaded part into the cork by twisting it in.

Using the edge of the bottle as leverage, I could use the main part of the Toolmanator as a lever to pull down and I eventually broke the seal on the cork. A couple more gentle pulls and out comes the cork! Success!

As I am doing this, the wind is howling outside with gusts of upwards of 50mph, freezing all the melt and mud that we had heard was soaking the trails out on course. I was a bit concerned about the wind, because it might compound issues with regard to staying warm. I was hoping for light winds, but expecting the worst. I fell asleep and dreamt of warmer things.....

Lining up to start the race!

Race Day: I awoke on race day and got down for the free breakfast that was part of the event/motel package. After stocking up on corned beef hash, a sausage or two, and a pile of scrambled eggs with picante sauce, I went back up to the room to do the all important layering up before the 9:30am race meeting.

Gear Used: I decided to use a Craft wind front base layer, then a Nike thermal hooded jersey, with a Bontrager Thermal Winter jacket over the top of that. For the lower extremities, I used an Omni-wool pair of tights, over this a Trek Thermal Tight, and then a final layer which was the Zoic Blackmarket pant. For socks I wore a pair of Twin Six wool socks and a long, calf length pair of wool stockings over that. Boots were the awesome Keen Brixens and for gloves I used a thin Bontrager wool liner glove inside some Answer Sleestak "mittens". On my head I used a skull cap/beanie thing I got at CIRREM one year, and over the top of that I wore my hand made poly-fleece hat. That about did it. My hydration pack was the Shimano Unzen 10, and I had two insulated water bottles on the fork blades of The Snow Dog. In the hydration pack, I had extra socks, gloves, and a Marmot Precip jacket in case I got wet and needed extra protection. I carried two lights in the "basement" of the Unzen for later use.

On my 2011 Salsa Cycles Mukluk, I had a Revelate Designs Tangle bag with a spare Surly tube, a Lezyne SuperDrive pump, a Lezyne Air Caddy which has levers and two Co2 cartridges, and the aforementioned Toolmanator. I also stocked an extra base layer top of Omni-wool in there, along with a bag of unsalted peanuts. The Planet Bike Snak Shack doesn't play well with the Tangle Bag in the normal position, but works perfectly well against the seatpost, so that went there with some gel packs, a bottle of ibuprofen, and my point and shoot camera. I also had several gel packs in the wing pockets of the Unzen, and a balaclava and a large bandana in the top pocket of the Unzen. That should about cover the gear list! Now on to the event!

The Start: Lance Andre had told us that the beginning should have been all off road on trails, but since there was no snow, we had to roll out a ways on some pavement. Then on some newer trails, and finally back out on familiar Triple D course routing for a time. He also mentioned that the Heritage Trail sector had "no ice anymore" on it, which sounded encouraging. The field, which consisted of a mix heavy on fat bikes, with a significant number of 29"ers and cross bikes, set off to roll down to our big left hander and off into the woods and fields. I didn't position my self at the front, but rather about a third of the way back, which may be rather cheeky of me, but hey! Why not challenge myself a bit, eh?

Now off to the single track, which was new, bumpy, and had steep sections which necessitated pushing and ice covered creek crossings and ravines that also demanded a dismount. I was doing okay, a few guys passing me, but generally holding my own. We popped out on to a city street and bike path/side walk when I saw area honch Mike, a 3GR rider, stopped fiddling with his drive train. I pulled over to offer assistance, but after a bit of encouragement, Mike got the chain disentangled from between his crank set rings and he was good. I motored onward.

We finally reached the wide open fields which I remembered from last year, only this year they were brown and bumpy, not snow covered. We traversed the area and went down into the farm area, which was one of my favorite parts of last year's event, but which now was just an odd, bouncy-jouncy traverse through a pasture amongst frozen cowpies. Somewhere along the way here Mike jetted back by me and was seemingly none too happy, and well he should not be, since early race issues are definitely no fun. Oddly enough, the day seemed pleasant enough to me. Hardly any perceptable wind, and I was staying warm.

This sector continued with very bumpy, hard ground over some corn fields and frozen, marshy areas which had sedge clumps the size of bowling balls that would send you careening as if you were a ball in a pinball machine this way and that. Fatbike full suspension? I was ready for it right then! I found Mad Max along about this time plunking up a very rough climb. We chatted for a bit then he slowly pulled away. Here we came up to the point where last year we took a very icy descent down Humke Road, a B Level maintenance road. Lance took this section out, but replaced it with a longer wooded section that featured an incredible down hill, with a gut buster of a long climb interspersed with several cool descents and scenic views. This was a part of the event that was very technical, (as far as the down hills), but super fun. There was a bit of ice here and there which made braking tricky, and a couple of sketch creek/low water crossings as well, but wow! My favorite part of the event by far was riding this. So fun!

My camera was not liking the chill temps, so I didn't get a shot of anything here, unfortunately. Plus, with the ride being so super rough, I didn't dare take my hands off the bars for any reason. Eventually the rough stuff ended as we took a pavement descent down to the Heritage Trail and turned West toward the halfway marker of the event where we were required to check in.

That's a good place to stop for today. The rest will be posted tomorrow....stay tuned.

Changing Gears

Orange bikes are faster...

In October of 2011 I got a project bike, a red Lejuene, and had visions of making a tubular tired roadie/gravel/vintage rig at that time. The project was all there. It just needed a wheel build, tires, and sprucing up.

Well, as you regular readers of the blog know, I have not ridden this bike, and in fact, it still is in pieces all over the place. See, the thing is, I just do not have any passion for road bikes this old, or for road bikes in general, really.

It isn't that I do not appreciate them, I do, but I have nearly zero desire to ride one. Riding on a paved county road is heaven for many folks, but it barely moves the fun meter needle for me. I've ridden thousands of miles on pavement too. I've ridden several nice road bikes. I've owned some nice road bikes, and I still have a Colnago Super hanging from a peg. Just don't have the desire to do that roadie thing much now.....

So, the Lejuene sat there through 2012 with barely a wrench or anything put to it. That isn't right. So, I found a buyer for the bike that loves old road bikes and will give this the treatment it deserves.

Of all the "Woodcut" stuff, this isn't too bad.

At about this same time I found out that a friend had a Salsa Cycles Vaya frame set that he was going to pass on. It has been ridden to many gravel road finishes in several big gravel road events.

Maybe some of that mojo would rub off on me....?

Well, even if it doesn't, this was a great chance to find out about a bike that initially I wasn't too keen on when it was introduced. A "Fargo-lite", I think is what I called that then. Well, maybe I'll be eating some crow at some point, but I've just seen too many of these successfully ridden on gravel road events I've been at that I know there is something to it. I aim to get on one and find out for myself.

A secondary benefit is that it becomes a legit second rig to test out some gravel road items for Gravel Grinder News. The disc brake factor may help, since the other rig is a canti bike. Plus, if it all goes to heck in a hand basket regarding the rest, I have a disc brake touring bike that I can keep for that or pass on, if I do not have any love for the Vaya.

The project will probably see completion just a bit sooner than the old road bike would have. Stay tuned.....

Changing Gears

Orange bikes are faster...

In October of 2011 I got a project bike, a red Lejuene, and had visions of making a tubular tired roadie/gravel/vintage rig at that time. The project was all there. It just needed a wheel build, tires, and sprucing up.

Well, as you regular readers of the blog know, I have not ridden this bike, and in fact, it still is in pieces all over the place. See, the thing is, I just do not have any passion for road bikes this old, or for road bikes in general, really.

It isn't that I do not appreciate them, I do, but I have nearly zero desire to ride one. Riding on a paved county road is heaven for many folks, but it barely moves the fun meter needle for me. I've ridden thousands of miles on pavement too. I've ridden several nice road bikes. I've owned some nice road bikes, and I still have a Colnago Super hanging from a peg. Just don't have the desire to do that roadie thing much now.....

So, the Lejuene sat there through 2012 with barely a wrench or anything put to it. That isn't right. So, I found a buyer for the bike that loves old road bikes and will give this the treatment it deserves.

Of all the "Woodcut" stuff, this isn't too bad.

At about this same time I found out that a friend had a Salsa Cycles Vaya frame set that he was going to pass on. It has been ridden to many gravel road finishes in several big gravel road events.

Maybe some of that mojo would rub off on me....?

Well, even if it doesn't, this was a great chance to find out about a bike that initially I wasn't too keen on when it was introduced. A "Fargo-lite", I think is what I called that then. Well, maybe I'll be eating some crow at some point, but I've just seen too many of these successfully ridden on gravel road events I've been at that I know there is something to it. I aim to get on one and find out for myself.

A secondary benefit is that it becomes a legit second rig to test out some gravel road items for Gravel Grinder News. The disc brake factor may help, since the other rig is a canti bike. Plus, if it all goes to heck in a hand basket regarding the rest, I have a disc brake touring bike that I can keep for that or pass on, if I do not have any love for the Vaya.

The project will probably see completion just a bit sooner than the old road bike would have. Stay tuned.....

Triple D Winter Race: "D-Day"

Short post today. I am in Dubuque, or more correctly, in the Dubuque area bucking a wind somewhere over hill and under dale. The Triple D Winter Race is today.

I put in my time and did the best I could do to prepare.   Today is about  having fun. I am going to be out there with 110 Ultra Cyclist class riders today. There are also several runners doing half and full marathons with a small bunch of Poker Run Cyclists cruising around as well. All told there are over 200 participants this year.

We got an upgrade for the event site as this year  the headquarters are being set up at the Best Western Plus, up the hill a ways from where we used to take off from. The first segment will be new stuff with a creek crossing and some other new off road bits thrown in. Unfortunately, there isn't hardly any snow, but that won't mean that I won't be having fun.

The challenge this year will be facing a 10-15mph headwind all the way to the turn around point in Dyersville where we will finally get to have a tailwind push all the way back down the Heritage Trail to Dubuque. Oh yeah, the high temperature is forecast to be 16ºF. Should be chilly!

I will be traveling on Monday, so any report I file won't show up here until Tuesday, unless something remarkable happens in regard to my efforts here. So stay tuned for more with pictures coming soon. 

Triple D Winter Race: "D-Day"

Short post today. I am in Dubuque, or more correctly, in the Dubuque area bucking a wind somewhere over hill and under dale. The Triple D Winter Race is today.

I put in my time and did the best I could do to prepare.   Today is about  having fun. I am going to be out there with 110 Ultra Cyclist class riders today. There are also several runners doing half and full marathons with a small bunch of Poker Run Cyclists cruising around as well. All told there are over 200 participants this year.

We got an upgrade for the event site as this year  the headquarters are being set up at the Best Western Plus, up the hill a ways from where we used to take off from. The first segment will be new stuff with a creek crossing and some other new off road bits thrown in. Unfortunately, there isn't hardly any snow, but that won't mean that I won't be having fun.

The challenge this year will be facing a 10-15mph headwind all the way to the turn around point in Dyersville where we will finally get to have a tailwind push all the way back down the Heritage Trail to Dubuque. Oh yeah, the high temperature is forecast to be 16ºF. Should be chilly!

I will be traveling on Monday, so any report I file won't show up here until Tuesday, unless something remarkable happens in regard to my efforts here. So stay tuned for more with pictures coming soon. 

Trans Iowa V9: Links & Some Thoughts

Today I was reminded that I have written reams on this event and much of what I have written might be good fodder still for Rookies to read through and may be a great reminder for those who have been Finishers and Veterans of the event.

So, this post will mostly be links back into the archives to things I think are worthy of covering again. But before I go there, I have a link for you from a Trans Iowa Veteran. Yes- I linked to this yesterday as well. However; if you didn't go read it- do so. There is a lot of great info there, not to mention experience and wisdom. Here is the link to Flandria Velosport's "A Letter To All The Rookies"

Cues Sheets: I probably have linked to this before, but here it is again- "Trans Iowa V8: Cue Sheets Explained" The cues sheets this year will be these dimensions as you look at them: 3.75W X 4.25H, otherwise everything in that post is spot on for this year as far as how you will read the cues.

How To Ride Gravel: There are certain nuances, a certain wisdom, and courteous gestures one should know and practice for riding out on the gravel roads of Trans Iowa's course, or any gravel road, for that matter. These ideas were inspired by my friends at the Pirate Cycling League and by my own experiences. "Tips On Riding Gravel Roads For T.I.V8 (Or Any Other Gravel Event)" Read that and remember- just be smart out there!

Image by W. Kilburg from T.I.V7

Volunteers: The event doesn't run without a lot of help. Volunteers were one of the big highlights of last year's event, and I would love it if T.I.V9 could be an encore performance of volunteer excellence.

Here are some needs we have for T.I.V9. You can read the description of volunteer jobs on this post: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #12: Volunteers". You'll note that my former co-director, "d.p." is mentioned there, but he has moved on to the tropical island of Fiji, (really!), so my volunteer needs are even more acute this time, (just like last year). If you can volunteer, just let me know by hitting me up here.

Gear Choices: I get equipment choice questions frequently concerning Trans Iowa. Bikes, what to wear, tires, and single speed gearing. Here are two posts about all of that: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #8: Equipment Choices" and "Trans Iowa V7 Update #9: More On Equipment Choices".

Psychobabble: In many of the discussions concerning this unique event, you will hear the term "mental games", or "Mind games" brought up. You will hear about facing your demons out there", and other weird, spooky stuff that sounds like it is a bunch of B.S. Well, let me assure you, it isn't B.S. It is very real. Here is a great post concerning mental toughness: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #14: Mental Toughness" Make sure you read all the comments there on that one. Some really great tidbits are laying there for the taking.

Finally- Some Thoughts On Roster Limits: I saw somewhere on Facebook where a poster had asked why "we don't let more into the event". As has been stated many times before, there are some very important reasons for that.

The first thing is that this isn't a metric century, it is not a 100 mile event, it is not a 150 mile event. No, Trans Iowa- just one Trans Iowa- is equal to all three of those events back to back to back without stopping. It is like doing three events in one. How many people do you know would even sign up for such a thing? See what I mean? The "pool" that Trans Iowa can draw from is limited. I get a lot of turn-over every year. Folks come once, fail, then are never heard from again. That's how hard it is, and why- even if there were no limitations to how many we'd let in- only so many will ride in a Trans Iowa every year.

Secondly, I do not want 400 people at Trans Iowa. I - as a promoter/course designer/logistician/main grunt am not prepared to take on anymore than will show up for any given Trans Iowa.

Finally, I don't want that many bodies floating around in a broken up string miles and miles long over a 300+ mile course. To me, it is a logistical and technical nightmare. To overcome those challenges in Iowa- the event would have an entirely, non-Trans Iowa flavor. Not gonna do it, but as I say, I don't have to worry about that. The demand just is not there anyway. So it is a moot point.

Trans Iowa V9: Links & Some Thoughts

Today I was reminded that I have written reams on this event and much of what I have written might be good fodder still for Rookies to read through and may be a great reminder for those who have been Finishers and Veterans of the event.

So, this post will mostly be links back into the archives to things I think are worthy of covering again. But before I go there, I have a link for you from a Trans Iowa Veteran. Yes- I linked to this yesterday as well. However; if you didn't go read it- do so. There is a lot of great info there, not to mention experience and wisdom. Here is the link to Flandria Velosport's "A Letter To All The Rookies"

Cues Sheets: I probably have linked to this before, but here it is again- "Trans Iowa V8: Cue Sheets Explained" The cues sheets this year will be these dimensions as you look at them: 3.75W X 4.25H, otherwise everything in that post is spot on for this year as far as how you will read the cues.

How To Ride Gravel: There are certain nuances, a certain wisdom, and courteous gestures one should know and practice for riding out on the gravel roads of Trans Iowa's course, or any gravel road, for that matter. These ideas were inspired by my friends at the Pirate Cycling League and by my own experiences. "Tips On Riding Gravel Roads For T.I.V8 (Or Any Other Gravel Event)" Read that and remember- just be smart out there!

Image by W. Kilburg from T.I.V7

Volunteers: The event doesn't run without a lot of help. Volunteers were one of the big highlights of last year's event, and I would love it if T.I.V9 could be an encore performance of volunteer excellence.

Here are some needs we have for T.I.V9. You can read the description of volunteer jobs on this post: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #12: Volunteers". You'll note that my former co-director, "d.p." is mentioned there, but he has moved on to the tropical island of Fiji, (really!), so my volunteer needs are even more acute this time, (just like last year). If you can volunteer, just let me know by hitting me up here.

Gear Choices: I get equipment choice questions frequently concerning Trans Iowa. Bikes, what to wear, tires, and single speed gearing. Here are two posts about all of that: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #8: Equipment Choices" and "Trans Iowa V7 Update #9: More On Equipment Choices".

Psychobabble: In many of the discussions concerning this unique event, you will hear the term "mental games", or "Mind games" brought up. You will hear about facing your demons out there", and other weird, spooky stuff that sounds like it is a bunch of B.S. Well, let me assure you, it isn't B.S. It is very real. Here is a great post concerning mental toughness: "Trans Iowa V7 Update #14: Mental Toughness" Make sure you read all the comments there on that one. Some really great tidbits are laying there for the taking.

Finally- Some Thoughts On Roster Limits: I saw somewhere on Facebook where a poster had asked why "we don't let more into the event". As has been stated many times before, there are some very important reasons for that.

The first thing is that this isn't a metric century, it is not a 100 mile event, it is not a 150 mile event. No, Trans Iowa- just one Trans Iowa- is equal to all three of those events back to back to back without stopping. It is like doing three events in one. How many people do you know would even sign up for such a thing? See what I mean? The "pool" that Trans Iowa can draw from is limited. I get a lot of turn-over every year. Folks come once, fail, then are never heard from again. That's how hard it is, and why- even if there were no limitations to how many we'd let in- only so many will ride in a Trans Iowa every year.

Secondly, I do not want 400 people at Trans Iowa. I - as a promoter/course designer/logistician/main grunt am not prepared to take on anymore than will show up for any given Trans Iowa.

Finally, I don't want that many bodies floating around in a broken up string miles and miles long over a 300+ mile course. To me, it is a logistical and technical nightmare. To overcome those challenges in Iowa- the event would have an entirely, non-Trans Iowa flavor. Not gonna do it, but as I say, I don't have to worry about that. The demand just is not there anyway. So it is a moot point.

Friday News And Views

That Deal With That "One Guy" On That Famous Lady's Show....

You may have noticed that the lack of commentary on what happened with a certain cyclist, ("He Who Shall Not Be Named") , has been missing from this blog for a while. You may wonder what I think about the media event that occurred last night. Well, I am not going to say a word about it. But, I do have something to point you to that I found well considered and thoughtful on the subject.

The commentary is from former frame builder and musician, Dave Moulton. His take on the situation is something that hits close to my heart and feelings on the matter, so if you wonder what I think, this is a pretty close representation of what I think right here.

What I found that was particularly of interest to me was Dave's description of riding in "The Bunch" and how the culture of cycling was something a universe away from what he found here in the U.S., and obviously light years different than the world of Pro Cycling on the road over the course of the past couple of decades.

In many ways, I would like to believe that gravel racing today is what Mr. Moulton would find reminiscent of his formative days riding in Britain. Riders looking out for one another, camaraderie, and fun with a healthy dose of adventure. Maybe I am a hopeless romantic, but that's what I love about the gravel racers I know well.

Bianchi Boardwalk- circa 1994

Another Old Friend Comes To Visit: 

My first bike shop job was at a place in Cedar Falls, Iowa called Advantage Cyclery. Well, actually I worked at their satellite store on College Hill called Campus Cyclery first, but that's another detail.... The thing is, I worked at Advantage for three years before the shop went out of business.

Shortly before that happened, I was pretty much alone there most days. My boss had kind of disappeared in the sense that he never was there during store hours, or if he did come in, he was sequestered in his office down in the basement and I never saw him. I say all of that to put the following into perspective.

My boss bought about 30 small, medium, and large Bianchi Boardwalk hybrids that were already 2 years old. Yes- he got a screaming deal on them, because Bianchi, who perennially had old stock in their warehouses, years old, would jump at the chance to ship out bikes for pennies on the dollar  just to get rid of them.   By the way- this rarely happens anymore, so don't get any ideas out there!

Anyway, these bikes were steel, well spec'ed with complete Alivio groups, but were all Men's models in Bianchi's flagship color, Celeste. Not yer most manly of colors, and perhaps why these were languishing in the warehouse for so long. The normal retail on these was something around $700.00, but we were selling them for $399.99, or something crazy like that. It was a great deal, as I recall.

I assembled every one of the 30 or so bikes, and displayed every one of them in a giant row in the middle of the store. (I was pretty much free to do as I pleased in the store by this point.) I also sold every single one of those bikes, most to men. I don't mean to brag, but I was rather proud of that feat.

So I see one come back every once in awhile these days, some 18 years past the time I sold them. It's good to see them still being ridden and taken care of. This particular one was a medium and besides some rusty chain and handle bars, was in great condition. Good to see an old friend.....

Sage Advice: 

Hey, you may not be in T.I.V9, or even any other gravel event, but these gravel events are getting more and more popular all the time. If you've ever wondered what level of geekery it takes to do something like 300 plus miles of Iowa gravel in one sitting, you should check out my buddy Ari's post here. 

It is an open letter to trans Iowa Rookies, but anyone can certainly learn a thing or three from this. If nothing else, you get the sense of dedication and passion for gravel road riding and for Trans Iowa in particular.

So, thanks Ari! I really appreciate those thoughts, and I trust your info will help a lot of folks out there.

That's a wrap. I hope all of you don't forget why you ride a bike.  Now go do it....

Friday News And Views

That Deal With That "One Guy" On That Famous Lady's Show....

You may have noticed that the lack of commentary on what happened with a certain cyclist, ("He Who Shall Not Be Named") , has been missing from this blog for a while. You may wonder what I think about the media event that occurred last night. Well, I am not going to say a word about it. But, I do have something to point you to that I found well considered and thoughtful on the subject.

The commentary is from former frame builder and musician, Dave Moulton. His take on the situation is something that hits close to my heart and feelings on the matter, so if you wonder what I think, this is a pretty close representation of what I think right here.

What I found that was particularly of interest to me was Dave's description of riding in "The Bunch" and how the culture of cycling was something a universe away from what he found here in the U.S., and obviously light years different than the world of Pro Cycling on the road over the course of the past couple of decades.

In many ways, I would like to believe that gravel racing today is what Mr. Moulton would find reminiscent of his formative days riding in Britain. Riders looking out for one another, camaraderie, and fun with a healthy dose of adventure. Maybe I am a hopeless romantic, but that's what I love about the gravel racers I know well.

Bianchi Boardwalk- circa 1994

Another Old Friend Comes To Visit: 

My first bike shop job was at a place in Cedar Falls, Iowa called Advantage Cyclery. Well, actually I worked at their satellite store on College Hill called Campus Cyclery first, but that's another detail.... The thing is, I worked at Advantage for three years before the shop went out of business.

Shortly before that happened, I was pretty much alone there most days. My boss had kind of disappeared in the sense that he never was there during store hours, or if he did come in, he was sequestered in his office down in the basement and I never saw him. I say all of that to put the following into perspective.

My boss bought about 30 small, medium, and large Bianchi Boardwalk hybrids that were already 2 years old. Yes- he got a screaming deal on them, because Bianchi, who perennially had old stock in their warehouses, years old, would jump at the chance to ship out bikes for pennies on the dollar  just to get rid of them.   By the way- this rarely happens anymore, so don't get any ideas out there!

Anyway, these bikes were steel, well spec'ed with complete Alivio groups, but were all Men's models in Bianchi's flagship color, Celeste. Not yer most manly of colors, and perhaps why these were languishing in the warehouse for so long. The normal retail on these was something around $700.00, but we were selling them for $399.99, or something crazy like that. It was a great deal, as I recall.

I assembled every one of the 30 or so bikes, and displayed every one of them in a giant row in the middle of the store. (I was pretty much free to do as I pleased in the store by this point.) I also sold every single one of those bikes, most to men. I don't mean to brag, but I was rather proud of that feat.

So I see one come back every once in awhile these days, some 18 years past the time I sold them. It's good to see them still being ridden and taken care of. This particular one was a medium and besides some rusty chain and handle bars, was in great condition. Good to see an old friend.....

Sage Advice: 

Hey, you may not be in T.I.V9, or even any other gravel event, but these gravel events are getting more and more popular all the time. If you've ever wondered what level of geekery it takes to do something like 300 plus miles of Iowa gravel in one sitting, you should check out my buddy Ari's post here. 

It is an open letter to trans Iowa Rookies, but anyone can certainly learn a thing or three from this. If nothing else, you get the sense of dedication and passion for gravel road riding and for Trans Iowa in particular.

So, thanks Ari! I really appreciate those thoughts, and I trust your info will help a lot of folks out there.

That's a wrap. I hope all of you don't forget why you ride a bike.  Now go do it....

"Noobie Bike Questions" & Attempts At Answering Them

 From time to time I get an e-mail, Facebook, or private message on some forum asking me a question or two. Well, I got more than a few from a reader here. So, let's dive in, shall we?

But first...the Disclaimer: NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Okay- with that out of the way..... The questions! First up, we have the requirements.

Polo seats are in- really!

 Stated Goal: "I am looking for another bike. I want to do gravel riding, little bit of cross racing (Just for fun), and RAGBRAI this year." (Price Range: $1700.00)

GT Says: That's a tall order. Basically, we're talking an "all arounder" that features versatility over any one specific attribute. Okay....

 Question #1: "I have never had a steel bike. But have heard the ride is great. How would an aluminum bike with a carbon fork compare to how (a) steel bike rides?"

GT Says: Typically one can ride any material, and one isn't necessarily better than another, especially in the competitive price range we're focusing on. "Fine ride quality" isn't mutually exclusive from "Inexpensive" bicycles, but it gets harder to find the lower the price goes. Steel can sometimes ride poorly, aluminum can sometimes ride great. Carbon forks are not always a panacea for a smoother ride. Of course, those ideas have been pushed forward by folks in the industry to serve as marketing touch points and to help close sales, but in reality, they are not maxims to live by.  So, what to do?

Fit trumps all, and then function, followed by weight, and color, (yes- really), for a cyclist at this price point, or someone looking to find their way to bigger and more adventurous cycling times.

Question:" I probably shouldn't worry about the weight, but is (a) steel (frame) much heavier than an aluminum one?

Un-bearded opinion

 GT Says: Not necessarily. Some aluminum frames can be pretty porky. For complete bicycles, it depends on component spec, to a large degree. Think of it this way- A product spec manager at any given bike company has to "paint inside the lines" when he/she specs a bike. The "lines" in this case are usually defined by what the MSRP of the final bicycle will be, along with some other design/marketing parameters. If the folks at company "X" decide to market you a carbon frame at $1700.00, the component spec will likely suffer. If, on the other hand, the idea is to give the consumer better components, you may see a (heavy-ish) aluminum frame hung with some outstanding components at a similar price. Chrome-Molybdenum alloy steel is, now days, generally a higher priced frame material, so generally speaking, aluminum frames yield better component spec value, then steel, then carbon. But that isn't always a rule. Just a guideline! Anyway, frame material, frame weight, and frame ride quality can vary widely depending on the spec at the prices we are talking about.

Finally, weight isn't everything. Yes- it is important, but for the stated purposes of the rider in question here, weight shouldn't be a top priority. I'll point back to what I said about fit, etc, above. Weight is really only on the top of the list for bike geeks and better yet- for racing. At the price range that is being discussed, I think function and fit are better focus points.

Kona Rove Prototype

 Question:  "Would a steel bike like the Kona Rove be good for all that, (RAGBRAI, gravel rides, and cyclo-cross), or is there a better bike in that price range? ($1700). I also am looking at a Trek IonCX, I read you could put a 40cm tire that bike. I have Trek Xcal 29er that I could use for the gravel rides, would steel ride better than that?"

 GT Says:I lumped all of this together, because really, the question is "which bike is right for me?". The answer could be any of the above and a few other great bikes to boot. (The Salsa Vaya comes to mind.) The bottom line? While I have my preferences the other bikes mentioned here are all good bikes that will get these tasks done well. Really- as I've said many times- there are not many "stinkers" in the bike world these days, and for someone looking for a all around bike that will do various rides and tasks, the Rove, Trek Ion, or the Vaya would all be able to fit. Even the X-Cal could be pressed into all these duties. Now, that said....

I'm going to summarily throw out the Trek bikes in this discussion. The 29"er for its off road bent, and the Ion because of the race/aggressive stance. That leaves the Kona Rove and the Vaya 3. Either bike is better suited to the all around tasks stated above. Both will be stable, yet capable bikes on all surfaces and are great touring capable rigs too.

Gravel Freak

Question: "What are the frame types that most of the guys in Trans Iowa use?"


GT Says: I saved this for last because it is really the odd question out of the bunch. Yes- one of the stated goals is gravel riding, but Trans Iowa riders bring such a diverse range of bikes to the event, it is hard to tell someone "this is the one". And then- which group of guys/gals are we talking about? The "pointy end" of the event- the fast guys and gals- these are almost exclusively on what is becoming gravel specific rigs. Either that or highly personalized/modified cross bikes. Then there are the guys in it to finish it. These will cover your Vayas, Kona Roves, Surly Cross Checks, Fargos, and 29"ers. Single speeders are another sub-set with a wide range of rigs.


Relevant to this discussion, I will say that I do not see a whole lot of aluminum frames on any given Trans Iowa. Not that guys do not ride them with success, because it has been done, but overall, the vast majority of rigs are steel, titanium, or carbon fiber. Maybe guys and gals have bought into the "aluminum rides harsh" mythology, but for whatever reason, steel bikes are commonplace at Trans Iowa and other gravel events.


Okay-  that's a wrap! I hope that helps a few folks out there and of course, comments are welcome.

"Noobie Bike Questions" & Attempts At Answering Them

 From time to time I get an e-mail, Facebook, or private message on some forum asking me a question or two. Well, I got more than a few from a reader here. So, let's dive in, shall we?

But first...the Disclaimer: NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Okay- with that out of the way..... The questions! First up, we have the requirements.

Polo seats are in- really!

 Stated Goal: "I am looking for another bike. I want to do gravel riding, little bit of cross racing (Just for fun), and RAGBRAI this year." (Price Range: $1700.00)

GT Says: That's a tall order. Basically, we're talking an "all arounder" that features versatility over any one specific attribute. Okay....

 Question #1: "I have never had a steel bike. But have heard the ride is great. How would an aluminum bike with a carbon fork compare to how (a) steel bike rides?"

GT Says: Typically one can ride any material, and one isn't necessarily better than another, especially in the competitive price range we're focusing on. "Fine ride quality" isn't mutually exclusive from "Inexpensive" bicycles, but it gets harder to find the lower the price goes. Steel can sometimes ride poorly, aluminum can sometimes ride great. Carbon forks are not always a panacea for a smoother ride. Of course, those ideas have been pushed forward by folks in the industry to serve as marketing touch points and to help close sales, but in reality, they are not maxims to live by.  So, what to do?

Fit trumps all, and then function, followed by weight, and color, (yes- really), for a cyclist at this price point, or someone looking to find their way to bigger and more adventurous cycling times.

Question:" I probably shouldn't worry about the weight, but is (a) steel (frame) much heavier than an aluminum one?

Un-bearded opinion

 GT Says: Not necessarily. Some aluminum frames can be pretty porky. For complete bicycles, it depends on component spec, to a large degree. Think of it this way- A product spec manager at any given bike company has to "paint inside the lines" when he/she specs a bike. The "lines" in this case are usually defined by what the MSRP of the final bicycle will be, along with some other design/marketing parameters. If the folks at company "X" decide to market you a carbon frame at $1700.00, the component spec will likely suffer. If, on the other hand, the idea is to give the consumer better components, you may see a (heavy-ish) aluminum frame hung with some outstanding components at a similar price. Chrome-Molybdenum alloy steel is, now days, generally a higher priced frame material, so generally speaking, aluminum frames yield better component spec value, then steel, then carbon. But that isn't always a rule. Just a guideline! Anyway, frame material, frame weight, and frame ride quality can vary widely depending on the spec at the prices we are talking about.

Finally, weight isn't everything. Yes- it is important, but for the stated purposes of the rider in question here, weight shouldn't be a top priority. I'll point back to what I said about fit, etc, above. Weight is really only on the top of the list for bike geeks and better yet- for racing. At the price range that is being discussed, I think function and fit are better focus points.

Kona Rove Prototype

 Question:  "Would a steel bike like the Kona Rove be good for all that, (RAGBRAI, gravel rides, and cyclo-cross), or is there a better bike in that price range? ($1700). I also am looking at a Trek IonCX, I read you could put a 40cm tire that bike. I have Trek Xcal 29er that I could use for the gravel rides, would steel ride better than that?"

 GT Says:I lumped all of this together, because really, the question is "which bike is right for me?". The answer could be any of the above and a few other great bikes to boot. (The Salsa Vaya comes to mind.) The bottom line? While I have my preferences the other bikes mentioned here are all good bikes that will get these tasks done well. Really- as I've said many times- there are not many "stinkers" in the bike world these days, and for someone looking for a all around bike that will do various rides and tasks, the Rove, Trek Ion, or the Vaya would all be able to fit. Even the X-Cal could be pressed into all these duties. Now, that said....

I'm going to summarily throw out the Trek bikes in this discussion. The 29"er for its off road bent, and the Ion because of the race/aggressive stance. That leaves the Kona Rove and the Vaya 3. Either bike is better suited to the all around tasks stated above. Both will be stable, yet capable bikes on all surfaces and are great touring capable rigs too.

Gravel Freak

Question: "What are the frame types that most of the guys in Trans Iowa use?"


GT Says: I saved this for last because it is really the odd question out of the bunch. Yes- one of the stated goals is gravel riding, but Trans Iowa riders bring such a diverse range of bikes to the event, it is hard to tell someone "this is the one". And then- which group of guys/gals are we talking about? The "pointy end" of the event- the fast guys and gals- these are almost exclusively on what is becoming gravel specific rigs. Either that or highly personalized/modified cross bikes. Then there are the guys in it to finish it. These will cover your Vayas, Kona Roves, Surly Cross Checks, Fargos, and 29"ers. Single speeders are another sub-set with a wide range of rigs.


Relevant to this discussion, I will say that I do not see a whole lot of aluminum frames on any given Trans Iowa. Not that guys do not ride them with success, because it has been done, but overall, the vast majority of rigs are steel, titanium, or carbon fiber. Maybe guys and gals have bought into the "aluminum rides harsh" mythology, but for whatever reason, steel bikes are commonplace at Trans Iowa and other gravel events.


Okay-  that's a wrap! I hope that helps a few folks out there and of course, comments are welcome.

Those Were The Good Ol' Daze

Remember when Rebas came out?

I was chattin' with my TNI.com cohort, Grannygear the other day, and we were talking about something or another being scuttled because the company in question was too busy getting geared up for 27.5"er stuff. It is a common thing we're hearing.

Which got me, and Grannygear, to thinking- so is this it? Are we at the end of innovations and introductions of anything truly "big" in the world of 29"ers?

Ya know, I think the answer is "yes".

The companies that do not make a 29"er- Used to be a big topic of discussion. Now it doesn't matter. When will "so-and-so" make a fork for 29"ers? That used to fire up reams of forum threads. Now who doesn't make a 29"er sus fork? 

It used to be that we were waiting for "long travel" 29"ers to hit the scene. Well, the industry killed that off and went for 27.5"ers instead. That pretty much was the last "big" deal for 29"ers to cross over to, but it looks like it'll never happen now.

Does that bother me? No. Not really, but I have to say that I  thought I might not see the day when 29"ers weren't  waiting for some new innovation to push the boundaries a bit more. There used to be a lot of resistance to the big wheels. Now it looks like the edges have been reached.

Now it's all fat bike this and gravel bike that and 29"ers are.......well, just mountain bikes, these days. I always thought that would happen, and by golly, I think it pretty much is at that point now a days. That's cool. While it was all fun and exciting when all you could do was dream about a "real" suspension fork, and it is tempting to think that those were "the good ol' daze", I am thinking this is right where we wanted to be back then. I'm glad that we are. I plan on enjoying that for as long as I can.

The "good ol' daze"? Just over that hill up yonder. Keep pedaling, you'll get there.....

Those Were The Good Ol' Daze

Remember when Rebas came out?

I was chattin' with my TNI.com cohort, Grannygear the other day, and we were talking about something or another being scuttled because the company in question was too busy getting geared up for 27.5"er stuff. It is a common thing we're hearing.

Which got me, and Grannygear, to thinking- so is this it? Are we at the end of innovations and introductions of anything truly "big" in the world of 29"ers?

Ya know, I think the answer is "yes".

The companies that do not make a 29"er- Used to be a big topic of discussion. Now it doesn't matter. When will "so-and-so" make a fork for 29"ers? That used to fire up reams of forum threads. Now who doesn't make a 29"er sus fork? 

It used to be that we were waiting for "long travel" 29"ers to hit the scene. Well, the industry killed that off and went for 27.5"ers instead. That pretty much was the last "big" deal for 29"ers to cross over to, but it looks like it'll never happen now.

Does that bother me? No. Not really, but I have to say that I  thought I might not see the day when 29"ers weren't  waiting for some new innovation to push the boundaries a bit more. There used to be a lot of resistance to the big wheels. Now it looks like the edges have been reached.

Now it's all fat bike this and gravel bike that and 29"ers are.......well, just mountain bikes, these days. I always thought that would happen, and by golly, I think it pretty much is at that point now a days. That's cool. While it was all fun and exciting when all you could do was dream about a "real" suspension fork, and it is tempting to think that those were "the good ol' daze", I am thinking this is right where we wanted to be back then. I'm glad that we are. I plan on enjoying that for as long as I can.

The "good ol' daze"? Just over that hill up yonder. Keep pedaling, you'll get there.....

Triple D Winter Race: Training Log #8- Bring In The Gremlins

This trail is for non-motorized vehicles?

Well, I am in the "taper" phase of my training for this Sunday's Triple D Winter Race. Over the weekend, I decided to get out in the lower teens temps and I took my family with me. I figured a short, brisk walk in the woods might get the blood flowing a little bit.

Of course, the woods are the only place there is any snow now. And it isn't very deep at that. Also, it is rock hard and crustified. Not to mention icy in spots.

I happened to see some images of the course recon from the weekend. Dubuque and surrounding environs looks pretty brown. I would lay a bet that they have about the same snow/lack of snow/ice conditions that we do. It makes one wonder: "What bike do you bring to Triple D this year?" Because maybe you'd be faster on a mountain bike. Maybe. Or perhaps you decide to ride a cross bike. You could do that.

I am thinking that if I am right, and Triple D has limited spots where there is ice and really crusty snow, I am still going to ride my fat bike. Why? Well, here is my reasoning....

We probably will see little of this!

• Northward facing slopes: There may not be many of these, but what there are of them will more than likely be snowbound yet. The ground is a lot more steeply tilted over Dubuque way, and there may be a few spots still covered in white stuff, regardless of the stories coming out of the weekend's recon. 
• Heritage Trail: It has some pretty sheltered spots, and with the snowmobile traffic that was going on, I am betting there will still be a few icy spots here, perhaps some limited areas of crusty snow. (Not unlike our rail trail here.)
• Woods- As mentioned above, if anything is added for single track/country riding and it goes through a wooded area, it will still be covered in snow, me thinks.
• Creek Crossing- There were several mentions of a creek crossing, and if that is still on the docket Sunday, it will be icy, most likely. The temperatures are being forecast in the teens, so it won't be totally unfrozen, although the days leading up to Triple D are to be warm.
• Night time riding: I will likely be coming in after dark, and hitting an icy patch with skinnier tires takes away my chances of keeping the rubber side down.
• Lack of studs: I do not have good, functional studded tires, and in fact, I detest them, so I am stuck with going with standard issue rubber. I would choose the widest possible rubber in this instance and that's on the Snow Dog.

Okay, so I am sticking with The Snow Dog, but it must be because the event is in a few days or something, but I found an issue just yesterday. I was moving The Snow Dog around when I noticed the crank set felt as though it wouldn't turn at all.  What?! I set it in the stand and removed the chain from the crank, and it felt stiff, but it moved. Crap! Is the bottom bracket finally giving up the ghost?

Well, there was a gremlin I didn't need to see now. I rode the bike briefly outside, and all seemed perfectly fine. Of course, now I can not duplicate the issue. Perhaps it was dried up crud on the spindle/seals of that bottom bracket, but I'm not touching this bike mere days before an event. Nope! Not going to do it.

So, either the Snow Dog works, or I quick scramble to put gears back on By-Tor the titanium Mukluk. Gremlins. Gotta love 'em!

UPDATED: And now after all of that I see event organizer Lance Andre posted on Facebook that the "...snow is all but gone.", and advises a tandem rider that his regular tandem would be fine. Hmmm

Another gremlin.....

Triple D Winter Race: Training Log #8- Bring In The Gremlins

This trail is for non-motorized vehicles?

Well, I am in the "taper" phase of my training for this Sunday's Triple D Winter Race. Over the weekend, I decided to get out in the lower teens temps and I took my family with me. I figured a short, brisk walk in the woods might get the blood flowing a little bit.

Of course, the woods are the only place there is any snow now. And it isn't very deep at that. Also, it is rock hard and crustified. Not to mention icy in spots.

I happened to see some images of the course recon from the weekend. Dubuque and surrounding environs looks pretty brown. I would lay a bet that they have about the same snow/lack of snow/ice conditions that we do. It makes one wonder: "What bike do you bring to Triple D this year?" Because maybe you'd be faster on a mountain bike. Maybe. Or perhaps you decide to ride a cross bike. You could do that.

I am thinking that if I am right, and Triple D has limited spots where there is ice and really crusty snow, I am still going to ride my fat bike. Why? Well, here is my reasoning....

We probably will see little of this!

• Northward facing slopes: There may not be many of these, but what there are of them will more than likely be snowbound yet. The ground is a lot more steeply tilted over Dubuque way, and there may be a few spots still covered in white stuff, regardless of the stories coming out of the weekend's recon. 
• Heritage Trail: It has some pretty sheltered spots, and with the snowmobile traffic that was going on, I am betting there will still be a few icy spots here, perhaps some limited areas of crusty snow. (Not unlike our rail trail here.)
• Woods- As mentioned above, if anything is added for single track/country riding and it goes through a wooded area, it will still be covered in snow, me thinks.
• Creek Crossing- There were several mentions of a creek crossing, and if that is still on the docket Sunday, it will be icy, most likely. The temperatures are being forecast in the teens, so it won't be totally unfrozen, although the days leading up to Triple D are to be warm.
• Night time riding: I will likely be coming in after dark, and hitting an icy patch with skinnier tires takes away my chances of keeping the rubber side down.
• Lack of studs: I do not have good, functional studded tires, and in fact, I detest them, so I am stuck with going with standard issue rubber. I would choose the widest possible rubber in this instance and that's on the Snow Dog.

Okay, so I am sticking with The Snow Dog, but it must be because the event is in a few days or something, but I found an issue just yesterday. I was moving The Snow Dog around when I noticed the crank set felt as though it wouldn't turn at all.  What?! I set it in the stand and removed the chain from the crank, and it felt stiff, but it moved. Crap! Is the bottom bracket finally giving up the ghost?

Well, there was a gremlin I didn't need to see now. I rode the bike briefly outside, and all seemed perfectly fine. Of course, now I can not duplicate the issue. Perhaps it was dried up crud on the spindle/seals of that bottom bracket, but I'm not touching this bike mere days before an event. Nope! Not going to do it.

So, either the Snow Dog works, or I quick scramble to put gears back on By-Tor the titanium Mukluk. Gremlins. Gotta love 'em!

UPDATED: And now after all of that I see event organizer Lance Andre posted on Facebook that the "...snow is all but gone.", and advises a tandem rider that his regular tandem would be fine. Hmmm

Another gremlin.....