Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #39

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

 

A bit of unfinished business from V6: The spectator that I had the run in with at Checkpoint #1 at T.I.V6 was admonished on my blog following the event. Here's what I wrote:

"Last year I voiced concerns over spectating/support and I mentioned that I had a plan in mind to deal with that. Well, I implemented my plan, much to the chagrin of one individual who not only gave me plenty of"gas" about it twice during the event, but was bothering racers and also was phoning my residence and pestering my close friend who was watching my children for the weekend. Look- Trans Iowa is not a spectator sport! Never was intended as such. I make no bones about that every year I run it and to everyone who asks me about this.

I was extremely disappointed in this certain individuals actions and I have a personal challenge to this individual. I happen to know that you are quite capable as a cyclist. If you want to "cheer on" and support your rider, how about you sign up for T.I.V7 and ride with him? Otherwise, I hope not to see you again at a Trans Iowa. Nuff said......."

And that person was never heard from again!

T.I.v7 recon by bicycle in May

 Post T.I.V6, I was due to start training for my next, (and what has turned out to be my last), Dirty Kanza 200 attempt. David invited me to go on a longer ride and he suggested Jasper County. It could stand as a reason to be on T.I.V7 recon as well. I thought it sounded like a great idea, so we met on a warm, windy May day in Grinnell to pedal North and West on Jasper County gravel roads.

One of the main reasons for getting out was to start recon far earlier than we ever had, so we wouldn't have to be running up against Winter and waiting, waiting, waiting...... Like the Spring that had just sprung in 2010, which was over late and put us in arrears in getting T.I.V6 put together. In fact, we talked about doing several Summertime night rides together and most of all, these ended up being fun, social rides, but a few of these actually were serious recon rides. The first one was a doozy though!

A Big Sky Day Over Jasper County, May 2010

 David and I had no real ride plan, but he did know he wanted to head over to Baxter Iowa to check out Phil Wood's old residence. (Yes- THAT Phil Wood.) So we headed out on a bright, sunny, and windy day riding over many hills and chatting up each other along the way. We were stymied at a truncated B Road, jumped the barriers and walked across the breach in the open section of the road. Carrying on, we noted that the wind was really picking up. Finally, we made it to Baxter and found Phil Wood's old residence and a place to eat.

The section we had just ridden largely ended up being used in the opposite direction for T.I.v7. Of course, we had to re-route around the truncated B Road. Then after our lunch we meandered a bit down the paved bike trail, exiting that at Ira, Iowa. I remarked to David then that we should use that village in a Trans Iowa to make a small tip of the cycling cap toward T.I.V1 and V3 winner, Ira Ryan. (Of course, that did happen, but not for two more years.)

Night time gravel in Tama County. David holds up my rig for a pic.

We made our way out of town there up and ended up doing some other roads coming back into Grinnell that also ended up on T.I.v7's route. It was a brutal, rough day in super windy conditions, but we were stoked about the parts of the route we had looked at. Plus it was great for my DK 200 prep!

And the night rides continued all throughout the Summer off and on. During these times David and I would discuss many things, but obviously Trans Iowa came up a fair amount. By the end of the Summer, David had convinced me that we had been letting Trans Iowa get too soft. It needed the reins jerked back a bit and the "horse" had to go back into the trail Jeff, myself, and David had set for Trans Iowa earlier on. David thought the event had become "three mini-events", in that it was just getting from one checkpoint to another now. We wanted to break the checkpoints away from convenience store sites as well, due to the past three Trans Iowa experiences with employees, cheerleaders, and just the mental aspect of what the convenience store tied to a checkpoint presented to the riders.

The header for the site designed by Jeff Kerkove from an idea I had.

So we took out the third checkpoint idea and replaced it with the idea of having the second checkpoint be about as far away as you could get from Grinnell and then in an inhospitable place where you wouldn't want to hang out. A suitable spot was found and we were pretty high on having made some tweaks that would hopefully put Trans Iowa back on track as being "self-supported" in reality, not just in name.

Trans Iowa recon was bagged at the very end of October. Notes were in David's hands and all looked to be on track for a no-stress cue sheet production. I was pretty pleased by that prospect as well. The new rule was instigated letting Finishers into Trans Iowa first, and the left over spots would be evenly split between Vets and new folks. Finally, a sort of "side bar" to all the Trans Iowa V7 prep stuff happened that I figured would amount to nothing in the end.

A fellow e-mailed me about the possibility of filming the event. Visions of some crackpot in a Ford Pinto with a Super 8 camera danced in my head, which I found rather disgusting, actually, and I wasn't very open to the idea. However; the fellow was persistent, and finally, intuitively realizing I might be thinking he was some nut job, he wrote me a long e-mail explaining in more detail who he was and what he wanted to try to accomplish. That e-mail convinced me he may be legit. We had further communications, and arrangements were made to accommodate him to enable him to film T.I.v7. Trans Iowa Vet, Steve Fuller also volunteered to photograph the event, so we had the documentation thing all sewn up! Well, really- at this time I figured the film thing was a long shot.


 Next: A few more details about T.I.V7's preparations...

Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #39

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

 

A bit of unfinished business from V6: The spectator that I had the run in with at Checkpoint #1 at T.I.V6 was admonished on my blog following the event. Here's what I wrote:

"Last year I voiced concerns over spectating/support and I mentioned that I had a plan in mind to deal with that. Well, I implemented my plan, much to the chagrin of one individual who not only gave me plenty of"gas" about it twice during the event, but was bothering racers and also was phoning my residence and pestering my close friend who was watching my children for the weekend. Look- Trans Iowa is not a spectator sport! Never was intended as such. I make no bones about that every year I run it and to everyone who asks me about this.

I was extremely disappointed in this certain individuals actions and I have a personal challenge to this individual. I happen to know that you are quite capable as a cyclist. If you want to "cheer on" and support your rider, how about you sign up for T.I.V7 and ride with him? Otherwise, I hope not to see you again at a Trans Iowa. Nuff said......."

And that person was never heard from again!

T.I.v7 recon by bicycle in May

 Post T.I.V6, I was due to start training for my next, (and what has turned out to be my last), Dirty Kanza 200 attempt. David invited me to go on a longer ride and he suggested Jasper County. It could stand as a reason to be on T.I.V7 recon as well. I thought it sounded like a great idea, so we met on a warm, windy May day in Grinnell to pedal North and West on Jasper County gravel roads.

One of the main reasons for getting out was to start recon far earlier than we ever had, so we wouldn't have to be running up against Winter and waiting, waiting, waiting...... Like the Spring that had just sprung in 2010, which was over late and put us in arrears in getting T.I.V6 put together. In fact, we talked about doing several Summertime night rides together and most of all, these ended up being fun, social rides, but a few of these actually were serious recon rides. The first one was a doozy though!

A Big Sky Day Over Jasper County, May 2010

 David and I had no real ride plan, but he did know he wanted to head over to Baxter Iowa to check out Phil Wood's old residence. (Yes- THAT Phil Wood.) So we headed out on a bright, sunny, and windy day riding over many hills and chatting up each other along the way. We were stymied at a truncated B Road, jumped the barriers and walked across the breach in the open section of the road. Carrying on, we noted that the wind was really picking up. Finally, we made it to Baxter and found Phil Wood's old residence and a place to eat.

The section we had just ridden largely ended up being used in the opposite direction for T.I.v7. Of course, we had to re-route around the truncated B Road. Then after our lunch we meandered a bit down the paved bike trail, exiting that at Ira, Iowa. I remarked to David then that we should use that village in a Trans Iowa to make a small tip of the cycling cap toward T.I.V1 and V3 winner, Ira Ryan. (Of course, that did happen, but not for two more years.)

Night time gravel in Tama County. David holds up my rig for a pic.

We made our way out of town there up and ended up doing some other roads coming back into Grinnell that also ended up on T.I.v7's route. It was a brutal, rough day in super windy conditions, but we were stoked about the parts of the route we had looked at. Plus it was great for my DK 200 prep!

And the night rides continued all throughout the Summer off and on. During these times David and I would discuss many things, but obviously Trans Iowa came up a fair amount. By the end of the Summer, David had convinced me that we had been letting Trans Iowa get too soft. It needed the reins jerked back a bit and the "horse" had to go back into the trail Jeff, myself, and David had set for Trans Iowa earlier on. David thought the event had become "three mini-events", in that it was just getting from one checkpoint to another now. We wanted to break the checkpoints away from convenience store sites as well, due to the past three Trans Iowa experiences with employees, cheerleaders, and just the mental aspect of what the convenience store tied to a checkpoint presented to the riders.

The header for the site designed by Jeff Kerkove from an idea I had.

So we took out the third checkpoint idea and replaced it with the idea of having the second checkpoint be about as far away as you could get from Grinnell and then in an inhospitable place where you wouldn't want to hang out. A suitable spot was found and we were pretty high on having made some tweaks that would hopefully put Trans Iowa back on track as being "self-supported" in reality, not just in name.

Trans Iowa recon was bagged at the very end of October. Notes were in David's hands and all looked to be on track for a no-stress cue sheet production. I was pretty pleased by that prospect as well. The new rule was instigated letting Finishers into Trans Iowa first, and the left over spots would be evenly split between Vets and new folks. Finally, a sort of "side bar" to all the Trans Iowa V7 prep stuff happened that I figured would amount to nothing in the end.

A fellow e-mailed me about the possibility of filming the event. Visions of some crackpot in a Ford Pinto with a Super 8 camera danced in my head, which I found rather disgusting, actually, and I wasn't very open to the idea. However; the fellow was persistent, and finally, intuitively realizing I might be thinking he was some nut job, he wrote me a long e-mail explaining in more detail who he was and what he wanted to try to accomplish. That e-mail convinced me he may be legit. We had further communications, and arrangements were made to accommodate him to enable him to film T.I.v7. Trans Iowa Vet, Steve Fuller also volunteered to photograph the event, so we had the documentation thing all sewn up! Well, really- at this time I figured the film thing was a long shot.


 Next: A few more details about T.I.V7's preparations...

Trans Iowa Wins Award

I am proud to announce that Trans Iowa has been awarded the Grinnell "Outstanding Tourism Experience Award" for 2014.

Grinnell Iowa is the city that David Pals and I decided to move Trans Iowa to back in 2010, when after a dismal experience with the city of Williamsburg Iowa had us looking elsewhere for a home base for Trans Iowa. When we found Grinnell, we found a home for the event, and I have not found any good reason to leave Grinnell since.

Grinnell made a big impression in many ways upon me, but none more impactful than that of Sheryl Parmely, formerly of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce   She was so prompt and attentive to the needs of Trans Iowa and her accommodating attitude was outstanding throughout. Sheryl even gave me a tour of the city! Sheryl has since moved on from the Chamber, but her replacement, Rachael Kinnick, has continued to show me the same high level of attention and service to Trans Iowa.

If I may be so bold, I want to say that I am very proud to receive this award on behalf of my former co-director, David Pals, and all my past Trans Iowa volunteers, without whom I would not ever have had the honor of receiving this award. I am especially proud that in our efforts to put on Trans Iowa, we have always been focused on what would best benefit the city that hosted the event, and to have this award bestowed upon Trans Iowa shows me that we have attained to some degree of success in doing that.

Thanks to Grinnell, the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Sheryl Parmely, Rachael Kinnick, and the Chamber businesses that have felt Trans Iowa was impactful enough to have been recognized for this honor.

Trans Iowa Wins Award

I am proud to announce that Trans Iowa has been awarded the Grinnell "Outstanding Tourism Experience Award" for 2014.

Grinnell Iowa is the city that David Pals and I decided to move Trans Iowa to back in 2010, when after a dismal experience with the city of Williamsburg Iowa had us looking elsewhere for a home base for Trans Iowa. When we found Grinnell, we found a home for the event, and I have not found any good reason to leave Grinnell since.

Grinnell made a big impression in many ways upon me, but none more impactful than that of Sheryl Parmely, formerly of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce   She was so prompt and attentive to the needs of Trans Iowa and her accommodating attitude was outstanding throughout. Sheryl even gave me a tour of the city! Sheryl has since moved on from the Chamber, but her replacement, Rachael Kinnick, has continued to show me the same high level of attention and service to Trans Iowa.

If I may be so bold, I want to say that I am very proud to receive this award on behalf of my former co-director, David Pals, and all my past Trans Iowa volunteers, without whom I would not ever have had the honor of receiving this award. I am especially proud that in our efforts to put on Trans Iowa, we have always been focused on what would best benefit the city that hosted the event, and to have this award bestowed upon Trans Iowa shows me that we have attained to some degree of success in doing that.

Thanks to Grinnell, the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Sheryl Parmely, Rachael Kinnick, and the Chamber businesses that have felt Trans Iowa was impactful enough to have been recognized for this honor.

Friday News And Views

T.I.V10:

Just a few odds and ends today about Trans Iowa.  First up- the t-shirts are just about all printed. Next up will be the hats. I should have a sample to show of the hats soon.

Secondly, I am going to be sending out e-mails soon to the riders and volunteers on my list to (a) confirm you are still planning on showing up, (b) to confirm your shirt and hat size so I can presort the shirts out, and (c), ask for your menu preference for the Pre-Race Meat-Up at the Grinnell Steakhouse.

I am also going to be announcing some news about the barn we are planning on using again for the finish line, and possibly more. It's the "possibly more" that is in the cross hairs. Anyone up for a Saturday night barbecue/gathering at the Barn? Any ideas on what could be going on with this feature are welcomed.

Finally, concerning the Trans Iowa Tales, I have completed these and they are all scheduled to be posted on weekends through the end of this month. After that, weekends will be dedicated to Trans Iowa topics till the event is run in late April.

This is Nebraska

Odin's Revenge:

I sent off my post card today to throw my hat into the ring for Odin's Revenge.  This will be my third event of 2014, (the first was Triple D and the second will be the Renegade Gents Race in April), and I am pretty excited about going back there.

If you read my post from yesterday, this is one of those events that- for me- has that certain something that a big-time, hyped, supported, or "overly engineered" event doesn't have, or cannot possibly have. Sorry.....I cannot quantify what "it" is for you. You can make up yer own mind on such matters, I trust. I will just say that I really appreciate how Odin's Revenge is run, the terrain we get to ride, and all the work that goes into putting on the event in the way it is done.

My goal is to finish the "big course", which seems as though it will be 160 miles this year. Not sure on the exact mileage, but I plan on getting it done. I have no idea what bike I will take for certain yet, but if I take the old Fargo, I would be just fine with that. We'll see. Plans for training have been and will be executed. Stay tuned.......

On a side note to the events I had planned on doing- I was hinting that I wanted to ride in the Almanzo 100, but as it happens, that event is on a day that I had planned something special with my son, and I cannot attend this year. I'm kind of bummed about that on one hand, but hopefully there will be a chance next year.

Imagine one of these with 29+ rubber.

Frostbike 2014:

So, next weekend is Frostbike, the dealer only show at Quality Bicycle Products. While it isn't likely that any 2015 Salsa Cycles stuff will be publicly announced, (they'll wait till Saddledrive in Utah this Summer to do most of that, I bet), I will take this opportunity to announce what I would do!

Ever since I've seen the 29+ concept I've thought about a bikepacking rig with those tires and wide rims. To my mind, backcountry touring/camping would be best on a bike with no suspension, basic components that are reliable and field serviceable, and with versatility in mind. Surly came out with the ECR, which I think is awesome. However; I think Salsa Cycles could do something here that I think would be brilliant.

If it were up to me- and believe me, it is not at all up to me- I would introduce a 29+ Fargo that has pretty much everything the Fargo of 2014 has, but I might eschew any suspension correction at all for it. I know that is risky business, but there is no real, approved option for 29+ front suspension, and the front end on the Fargo is tall enough as it is. But other than that minor detail, I see absolutely no reason not to move the Fargo in this direction. But then again.......I have a twisted mind! 

Okay, that's all for today. It's warming up in our neck of the woods, so maybe you'll be out riding. If not, get outside. Move! Enjoy life.......

Friday News And Views

T.I.V10:

Just a few odds and ends today about Trans Iowa.  First up- the t-shirts are just about all printed. Next up will be the hats. I should have a sample to show of the hats soon.

Secondly, I am going to be sending out e-mails soon to the riders and volunteers on my list to (a) confirm you are still planning on showing up, (b) to confirm your shirt and hat size so I can presort the shirts out, and (c), ask for your menu preference for the Pre-Race Meat-Up at the Grinnell Steakhouse.

I am also going to be announcing some news about the barn we are planning on using again for the finish line, and possibly more. It's the "possibly more" that is in the cross hairs. Anyone up for a Saturday night barbecue/gathering at the Barn? Any ideas on what could be going on with this feature are welcomed.

Finally, concerning the Trans Iowa Tales, I have completed these and they are all scheduled to be posted on weekends through the end of this month. After that, weekends will be dedicated to Trans Iowa topics till the event is run in late April.

This is Nebraska

Odin's Revenge:

I sent off my post card today to throw my hat into the ring for Odin's Revenge.  This will be my third event of 2014, (the first was Triple D and the second will be the Renegade Gents Race in April), and I am pretty excited about going back there.

If you read my post from yesterday, this is one of those events that- for me- has that certain something that a big-time, hyped, supported, or "overly engineered" event doesn't have, or cannot possibly have. Sorry.....I cannot quantify what "it" is for you. You can make up yer own mind on such matters, I trust. I will just say that I really appreciate how Odin's Revenge is run, the terrain we get to ride, and all the work that goes into putting on the event in the way it is done.

My goal is to finish the "big course", which seems as though it will be 160 miles this year. Not sure on the exact mileage, but I plan on getting it done. I have no idea what bike I will take for certain yet, but if I take the old Fargo, I would be just fine with that. We'll see. Plans for training have been and will be executed. Stay tuned.......

On a side note to the events I had planned on doing- I was hinting that I wanted to ride in the Almanzo 100, but as it happens, that event is on a day that I had planned something special with my son, and I cannot attend this year. I'm kind of bummed about that on one hand, but hopefully there will be a chance next year.

Imagine one of these with 29+ rubber.

Frostbike 2014:

So, next weekend is Frostbike, the dealer only show at Quality Bicycle Products. While it isn't likely that any 2015 Salsa Cycles stuff will be publicly announced, (they'll wait till Saddledrive in Utah this Summer to do most of that, I bet), I will take this opportunity to announce what I would do!

Ever since I've seen the 29+ concept I've thought about a bikepacking rig with those tires and wide rims. To my mind, backcountry touring/camping would be best on a bike with no suspension, basic components that are reliable and field serviceable, and with versatility in mind. Surly came out with the ECR, which I think is awesome. However; I think Salsa Cycles could do something here that I think would be brilliant.

If it were up to me- and believe me, it is not at all up to me- I would introduce a 29+ Fargo that has pretty much everything the Fargo of 2014 has, but I might eschew any suspension correction at all for it. I know that is risky business, but there is no real, approved option for 29+ front suspension, and the front end on the Fargo is tall enough as it is. But other than that minor detail, I see absolutely no reason not to move the Fargo in this direction. But then again.......I have a twisted mind! 

Okay, that's all for today. It's warming up in our neck of the woods, so maybe you'll be out riding. If not, get outside. Move! Enjoy life.......

Have It Your Way

From the town with the cheeky name...

There was an advertising campaign for one of the chain store burger joints that went something like "Have It Your Way", if I recall correctly. I always thought that was an inviting advert. You know, it made me think I could get my burger exactly the way I wanted it. Funny thing was I never actually acted on that, so maybe that ad campaign was not so hot, eh?

Well, yesterday I saw a bit of a discussion concerning a new gravel road event based on the premise  of a 24 hour mountain bike event, only on gravel, and the "pits" would be in the small town of Cumming, Iowa. There is to be a band, aid station in the town, and what not. Cost is about $95.00 to enter as a solo rider.

The question that was posed was about the fees, and where was the money going, and what would the "other grinders think?"

While it probably is a good idea to be transparent about where fees like that are going, and what they are for, I think on a larger scale this question is indicative of the duality that exists in the gravel riding scene these days. On one hand you have the "under the radar", free, grassroots, no license type events, and on the other hand you have the licensed, pay-to-play, highly promoted, aid stationed, events with other amenities attached. It seems that in some rider's eyes one type is "not cool" while the other type is sometimes referred to as "real racing".

Riding free for free

The "what others think" thing is what caught my attention. It seems that we as humans think too much about that, and it gets in the way of what matters by replacing what matters with thoughts about stuff that doesn't matter at all.

In other words, it's all a pile of horse crap.

Ya know, I have my thoughts about what I like in a gravel event, but if that doesn't match up with some other folks ideas of what is good, hey- who am I to say that what they want in an event is wrong?  Here's a thought: If you don't like a certain event's way of doing things, feel free to put on yer own deal. That's pretty much where I came into this whole gravel event thing. Otherwise, if you don't see yourself as a doer in the promotional/event directing sense, find any one of dozens of events that do it your way. Or barring all of that, you can always just ride your bicycle on those gravel roads. They are all there waiting for you and your bicycle for no charge.

Or you can ride free for a fee.

Either way, there are plenty of events that do things in vastly different ways. I don't see any issues with this. In fact, it should be a diverse menu for the gravel riding enthusiast to choose from. Plenty of promoters have put their stamp, their "ethos" for gravel riding events, right out there for you to peruse. The choice is yours. "Have It Your Way".  But if something about an event rubs you the wrong way, ya know what? You do not have to choose it. You don't even have to acknowledge it. You can just look away, and go find something else that does trip yer trigger. Like I say- there's plenty of events to choose from. It isn't like there are few gravel road events out there in 2014!

But who am I kidding? It seems to be the "American Way" to have to type up a rant about something or another that doesn't make a hill of beans difference to anyone, other than to be annoying. Which at this point I probably should heed that thought and move along here................

Have It Your Way

From the town with the cheeky name...

There was an advertising campaign for one of the chain store burger joints that went something like "Have It Your Way", if I recall correctly. I always thought that was an inviting advert. You know, it made me think I could get my burger exactly the way I wanted it. Funny thing was I never actually acted on that, so maybe that ad campaign was not so hot, eh?

Well, yesterday I saw a bit of a discussion concerning a new gravel road event based on the premise  of a 24 hour mountain bike event, only on gravel, and the "pits" would be in the small town of Cumming, Iowa. There is to be a band, aid station in the town, and what not. Cost is about $95.00 to enter as a solo rider.

The question that was posed was about the fees, and where was the money going, and what would the "other grinders think?"

While it probably is a good idea to be transparent about where fees like that are going, and what they are for, I think on a larger scale this question is indicative of the duality that exists in the gravel riding scene these days. On one hand you have the "under the radar", free, grassroots, no license type events, and on the other hand you have the licensed, pay-to-play, highly promoted, aid stationed, events with other amenities attached. It seems that in some rider's eyes one type is "not cool" while the other type is sometimes referred to as "real racing".

Riding free for free

The "what others think" thing is what caught my attention. It seems that we as humans think too much about that, and it gets in the way of what matters by replacing what matters with thoughts about stuff that doesn't matter at all.

In other words, it's all a pile of horse crap.

Ya know, I have my thoughts about what I like in a gravel event, but if that doesn't match up with some other folks ideas of what is good, hey- who am I to say that what they want in an event is wrong?  Here's a thought: If you don't like a certain event's way of doing things, feel free to put on yer own deal. That's pretty much where I came into this whole gravel event thing. Otherwise, if you don't see yourself as a doer in the promotional/event directing sense, find any one of dozens of events that do it your way. Or barring all of that, you can always just ride your bicycle on those gravel roads. They are all there waiting for you and your bicycle for no charge.

Or you can ride free for a fee.

Either way, there are plenty of events that do things in vastly different ways. I don't see any issues with this. In fact, it should be a diverse menu for the gravel riding enthusiast to choose from. Plenty of promoters have put their stamp, their "ethos" for gravel riding events, right out there for you to peruse. The choice is yours. "Have It Your Way".  But if something about an event rubs you the wrong way, ya know what? You do not have to choose it. You don't even have to acknowledge it. You can just look away, and go find something else that does trip yer trigger. Like I say- there's plenty of events to choose from. It isn't like there are few gravel road events out there in 2014!

But who am I kidding? It seems to be the "American Way" to have to type up a rant about something or another that doesn't make a hill of beans difference to anyone, other than to be annoying. Which at this point I probably should heed that thought and move along here................

The Snow Dog Lives! Update #1

Okay- Back to normal

In my last update on the Snow dog I stated that I needed a new seat post. Well, I got an old salsa "Shaft" post that was long enough and it went in there. Now the leg extension is perfect. This really makes a big diffrence to me in how the bike feels. Now it feels "back to normal" again.

I also mentioned that I was interested in the larger rear cog for a front derailleur free set up. I think I have something in mind for that which will wait till later. (As in- it isn't available just yet)

The big thing- and I've talked about this before, is rims and new wheels. I have looked at all the carbon stuff, and it is very nice, but I think I will be sticking to aluminum, unless Salsa Cycles or Surly has something new up their sleeves. They should, you know. Why does this matter? Because I have become more and more convinced that I need wider rims and big tires. Bigger than 3.8's, at least for the type of riding I do, which is not on groomed stuff. I like bushwhacking, I guess!

Finally, I am liking the purple hub on The Snow Dog. Maybe a full on purple hubbed wheel set that could be swapped between the two? Maybe?

The Snow Dog Lives! Update #1

Okay- Back to normal

In my last update on the Snow dog I stated that I needed a new seat post. Well, I got an old salsa "Shaft" post that was long enough and it went in there. Now the leg extension is perfect. This really makes a big diffrence to me in how the bike feels. Now it feels "back to normal" again.

I also mentioned that I was interested in the larger rear cog for a front derailleur free set up. I think I have something in mind for that which will wait till later. (As in- it isn't available just yet)

The big thing- and I've talked about this before, is rims and new wheels. I have looked at all the carbon stuff, and it is very nice, but I think I will be sticking to aluminum, unless Salsa Cycles or Surly has something new up their sleeves. They should, you know. Why does this matter? Because I have become more and more convinced that I need wider rims and big tires. Bigger than 3.8's, at least for the type of riding I do, which is not on groomed stuff. I like bushwhacking, I guess!

Finally, I am liking the purple hub on The Snow Dog. Maybe a full on purple hubbed wheel set that could be swapped between the two? Maybe?

The Jingle-Jangle Of Being A Bicycle Mechanic

Workin' It! Keep Workin' It!

I came across this "slide share" which was about the average salaries for bicycle mechanics across the United States. Okay, if you aren't in to clicking links, the slide show reveals that bicycle mechanics make, on average, about $22,337.00. The article poses the question- "why?"

I've been a bicycle mechanic off and on again since 1993. In between I was an auto mechanic for 5 and a half years. I've seen both sides of that. I was also in retail for 17 years before all of that. So, all that to say that I've learned a thing or three over the years.

In my opinion, the answer to the slide share's question of "why" bicycle mechanics don't get paid more is a complex one. There are no simple answers. However; I am going to pull a few bullet points from my experiences and knowledge which I hope will point to a few answers to this.

• Bike Mechanics Don't Do It For The Money: While this may seem like some altruistic, pie in the sky philosophic bull dookey, it has a double meaning. Yes- there are a few mechanics that just love working with their hands, love bicycles, and are willing to suffer getting paid less than a high school drop out. Then there are those who are willing to submit to the low wages to get the deals on parts and complete bikes. So, yeah......it works both ways! 
• People Do Not See Bicycles As Essential To Life:  When I worked on automobiles, I often was the one that had to "break the bad news" to clients in the waiting room. The utter fear, the blank stares, and feeble cries of helplessness, (yes- really) were shocking to me at first. Then I realized that without their cars, people's lives completely came unhinged. They couldn't function without it. They would pay anything to get it back running again in most cases. Bicycles? Not so much. Bicycles are non-essential toys- recreational amusements on the way to dinner and drinks later. A way to get to the coffee shop. If it is broken? Ehhh! Well, if it doesn't cost too much to fix, maybe.....
• Shop Owners Aren't Killing It Like You Might Think: Ever see a bike shop owner living in a ritzy neighborhood or driving a fancy car? (Okay- maybe once in a while that happens!) Trust me- the shop owners I know are doing "okay", but they aren't pulling down wads of cash and bilking consumers like some innergoogle forum nut jobs may make you think. Bike retail is some of the lowest margin business one could get into that I've been around. 
• Since Shop Owners Are Making So Much Cash- They Pay Mechanics Like Kings: (<===HA!) Obviously, if you payed attention to the above, you know that this is purely sarcasm. 
• Consumers Get What Shop Owners Can Pay For: There are endless bitch sessions and nightmare stories about bad shop mechanics and retail experiences. I agree that there is a lot of room for improvement, but there is also the fact that you, as a consumer, are getting what shops can afford. Generally speaking, that is a very transient, under-trained, under-skilled workforce. Most do not have much, if any, retail experience. And let me tell ya- working retail, and doing it well, is a darn tough thing to master. (Not to mention wrenching) Some few are endowed with the proper skill set, but most often, the high school/college kid you see at a bike shop has almost zero idea of what to do from a sales and/or mechanics standpoint, and the shops generally can't spend the time/money to train them up when that "investment" leaves in a few years or less. So......you get what got paid for. 

That's just a couple of things I can think of, but it goes beyond that. I can only speak for myself when I say that being a bicycle mechanic is a good job, and I like it, but the pay isn't good. It just is not. Heck, I made more money working retail in 1988 than I did last year, as an example.

But I am not complaining either. I wish bicycle mechanics like myself and all the others out there could make more money, sure. Why wouldn't I? But I also am very grateful for the job I have for its flexibility, the opportunity it allows me to work with my hands, and for being able to hang around bicycles on a regular basis. I have met some of the finest folks I have ever met in any job through being a shop mechanic. It is by far the most satisfying job I've had in my life. No- it does not pay all that well. But that's par for the course.

Should bicycle mechanics get paid more? Probably, yes- they should. However, I feel it will take a fundamental change in the view of what bicycles are worth to the average American before it starts to change, and I do not foresee that happening anytime soon.

The Jingle-Jangle Of Being A Bicycle Mechanic

Workin' It! Keep Workin' It!

I came across this "slide share" which was about the average salaries for bicycle mechanics across the United States. Okay, if you aren't in to clicking links, the slide show reveals that bicycle mechanics make, on average, about $22,337.00. The article poses the question- "why?"

I've been a bicycle mechanic off and on again since 1993. In between I was an auto mechanic for 5 and a half years. I've seen both sides of that. I was also in retail for 17 years before all of that. So, all that to say that I've learned a thing or three over the years.

In my opinion, the answer to the slide share's question of "why" bicycle mechanics don't get paid more is a complex one. There are no simple answers. However; I am going to pull a few bullet points from my experiences and knowledge which I hope will point to a few answers to this.

• Bike Mechanics Don't Do It For The Money: While this may seem like some altruistic, pie in the sky philosophic bull dookey, it has a double meaning. Yes- there are a few mechanics that just love working with their hands, love bicycles, and are willing to suffer getting paid less than a high school drop out. Then there are those who are willing to submit to the low wages to get the deals on parts and complete bikes. So, yeah......it works both ways! 
• People Do Not See Bicycles As Essential To Life:  When I worked on automobiles, I often was the one that had to "break the bad news" to clients in the waiting room. The utter fear, the blank stares, and feeble cries of helplessness, (yes- really) were shocking to me at first. Then I realized that without their cars, people's lives completely came unhinged. They couldn't function without it. They would pay anything to get it back running again in most cases. Bicycles? Not so much. Bicycles are non-essential toys- recreational amusements on the way to dinner and drinks later. A way to get to the coffee shop. If it is broken? Ehhh! Well, if it doesn't cost too much to fix, maybe.....
• Shop Owners Aren't Killing It Like You Might Think: Ever see a bike shop owner living in a ritzy neighborhood or driving a fancy car? (Okay- maybe once in a while that happens!) Trust me- the shop owners I know are doing "okay", but they aren't pulling down wads of cash and bilking consumers like some innergoogle forum nut jobs may make you think. Bike retail is some of the lowest margin business one could get into that I've been around. 
• Since Shop Owners Are Making So Much Cash- They Pay Mechanics Like Kings: (<===HA!) Obviously, if you payed attention to the above, you know that this is purely sarcasm. 
• Consumers Get What Shop Owners Can Pay For: There are endless bitch sessions and nightmare stories about bad shop mechanics and retail experiences. I agree that there is a lot of room for improvement, but there is also the fact that you, as a consumer, are getting what shops can afford. Generally speaking, that is a very transient, under-trained, under-skilled workforce. Most do not have much, if any, retail experience. And let me tell ya- working retail, and doing it well, is a darn tough thing to master. (Not to mention wrenching) Some few are endowed with the proper skill set, but most often, the high school/college kid you see at a bike shop has almost zero idea of what to do from a sales and/or mechanics standpoint, and the shops generally can't spend the time/money to train them up when that "investment" leaves in a few years or less. So......you get what got paid for. 

That's just a couple of things I can think of, but it goes beyond that. I can only speak for myself when I say that being a bicycle mechanic is a good job, and I like it, but the pay isn't good. It just is not. Heck, I made more money working retail in 1988 than I did last year, as an example.

But I am not complaining either. I wish bicycle mechanics like myself and all the others out there could make more money, sure. Why wouldn't I? But I also am very grateful for the job I have for its flexibility, the opportunity it allows me to work with my hands, and for being able to hang around bicycles on a regular basis. I have met some of the finest folks I have ever met in any job through being a shop mechanic. It is by far the most satisfying job I've had in my life. No- it does not pay all that well. But that's par for the course.

Should bicycle mechanics get paid more? Probably, yes- they should. However, I feel it will take a fundamental change in the view of what bicycles are worth to the average American before it starts to change, and I do not foresee that happening anytime soon.

Because This Cold Can't Last Forever

Wrenching for the future......

Uh-huh.......back to the deep freeze at least once more. The temperature of this air mass does not agree with me! That said, it seems that a change is in the air. I am seeing double digit numbers projected for high temperatures coming soon. temperatures above freezing! This will mean that things will get real messy real quick.

This calls for one thing- FENDERS! I spent Sunday doing some fitting of fenders on three different bicycles. Two are good to go, and one needs a few oddments to get the fenders to work. I think I may be able to find the bits and peices I need at work in my stash. We'll see.

The hope is that some of these bikes will get commuter duty and maybe some sloppy gravel action soon. I have a set of 32mm MSO's that need to get thrashed on, and I also need to finish up my impressions on the Surly Knard 41's. Mostly I need to do some gravel road action when it isn't hovering around zero with some double digit wind chills. I may also need a new pair of fenders because the ones for the "Orange Crush" are getting long in the tooth and showing their age a bit. We'll see if they fail or not. For now, I think they will do.

Because This Cold Can't Last Forever

Wrenching for the future......

Uh-huh.......back to the deep freeze at least once more. The temperature of this air mass does not agree with me! That said, it seems that a change is in the air. I am seeing double digit numbers projected for high temperatures coming soon. temperatures above freezing! This will mean that things will get real messy real quick.

This calls for one thing- FENDERS! I spent Sunday doing some fitting of fenders on three different bicycles. Two are good to go, and one needs a few oddments to get the fenders to work. I think I may be able to find the bits and peices I need at work in my stash. We'll see.

The hope is that some of these bikes will get commuter duty and maybe some sloppy gravel action soon. I have a set of 32mm MSO's that need to get thrashed on, and I also need to finish up my impressions on the Surly Knard 41's. Mostly I need to do some gravel road action when it isn't hovering around zero with some double digit wind chills. I may also need a new pair of fenders because the ones for the "Orange Crush" are getting long in the tooth and showing their age a bit. We'll see if they fail or not. For now, I think they will do.

Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #38

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

We were done with going any further with Trans Iowa v6. The weather was just too crazy, and with all this rain, David was sure a B Road just two miles from Checkpoint #3 was going to have a section about 3-6 feet under water. It was going to be very dangerous for the riders, and for this reason, we were calling off the event. Now it was just a matter of how to do that and get everyone off the roads. While we were discussing options, I received a text from Joe Meiser wondering if we were calling off the event. I was punching in an answer when he called and asked me direct.

David Pals with John Gorilla at the EV Malt Shop in North English

The deal was that if we were not calling it off, Gorilla and Meiser were going back out. They were going to ride until (a) everyone else dropped, or (b) they somehow made it to CP#3 on time, but they'd rather not do either. I said we were calling it off and I asked where they were. The EV Malt Shop was the answer, and we were told they would be closing up soon, so we should hurry. I was also told that they were quite sure no one else had passed them. Joe said it took them 2.5 hours to get to North English, and that was only 25 miles past Checkpoint #2! If these strong cyclists took that long, how in the world would anyone have made Checkpoint #3 in the allotted time?

Matt Braun shortly after we flagged him down. Note the rain!

David and I arrived at the EV Malt Shop and made contact with Joe and John. They told us no one had made it there since we had spoken to them nearly a half an hour beforehand. Furthering our confidence in stopping the event here, since with such deteriorating weather conditions and in the pitch black of night, rider progress would have been even slower than it had been.

It wasn't long before we started seeing riders. We knew we had two of the eight folks we were looking for and Corey Godfrey came in next, making the total now five out on the road. David and I were spending a lot of time standing out in the rain looking for folks, so we weren't aware that the shop was to close at 8:00pm until it was almost time for them to close up. I was a bit frantic about where we would move this to next, and some talk was made of going up the street to the convenience store, when the manager of the shop came out and spoke with me.

Order up! The EV Malt Shop pretty much saved our day at the last minute!

He assured me that it was going to be okay to have our race end there and to boot: He even reopened the kitchen, his staff stayed late to serve us, and everyone had fresh, hot food to eat after a rain soaked ending to T.I.v6!

Matt Braun, Eric Brunt, then the Petervarys came in. Finally Charles Parsons showed up, and we had all eight riders accounted for. The owner of the Malt Shop even had a garden hose out back so the riders could hose off the grime and mud accumulated throughout the day. What a fantastic ending to a really crappy day. David and I were astounded by the EV Malt Shop's owner and employee's sacrifice and service to us and the riders. Words still cannot convey how much David and I still feel grateful for that night. Amazing!

 We had about three different groups coming out from Grinnell to get the riders and bicycles back to the motels. Even our Checkpoint #3 folks showed up  to help! I am still blown away by all the volunteered support we saw happen that night as well.

After counting him out, there was Eric Brunt at the end after all!

 In the end, we saw everyone off, and then thanked the owner of the EV Malt Shop profusely for his help and for that of his employees. He was just stoked to have been a part of Trans Iowa, and I think we were probably the talk of the town for at least a few days afterword.

We tried to get the word out about the Barn and that we would be meeting folks there after we had gotten back from North English. The drive back was not an easy one either! The winds were such that the rain was blowing sideways and I recall that passing semi-tractor trailer rigs was a big exercise in faith. David couldn't see anything for a few seconds after each pass of a big rig, and there were a lot of those on the way back.

Joe Meiser, Charles Parsons, John Gorilla. L-R In the Barn

 When we parked at the nature reserve and got out to walk the half mile to the barn, the rain was blowing so hard sideways I thought that it must be what being in a hurricane was like. David and I agreed that we made a good decision when we called the event when we did. It was really a good example of inhumane conditions and in no way did we want to have to be out there ourselves.

Inside the Barn, we met with a small group of folks. Beers were had, prizing was handed out, and much talking was done. It was here in this setting that I asked the guys present to tell me what, if anything, should be changed about Trans Iowa. All around, there was agreement that it was good as it was. John Gorilla is credited with one idea that has been implemented into Trans Iowas since V6. That had to do with registration. It was thought that finishers should be granted first crack at the roster, since they had overcome the challenge at least once and earned the right of first choice. Then the Veterans of Trans Iowa could be allowed in, then Rookies.

We didn't figure out how that would actually work out then, but it was the number one change that came out of this event. That and a few tweaks would be made for V7. Oh yes, David and I agreed already by this time to do it again. That was the end of the event for this time though. David and I slept the evening in the motel. The next day we were packing up and other racers were telling us thanks and were hoping to see us again in another year. It was very humbling.

Despite the weather, Trans Iowa v6 was a seminal event in the history of Trans Iowa. There was no doubt in David's mind or in my mind that we should come back to Grinnell. The city actually wanted us, the venue was great, and we had "unfinished business" with the area. There would be no changing venue again for a while at least.

Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #38

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

We were done with going any further with Trans Iowa v6. The weather was just too crazy, and with all this rain, David was sure a B Road just two miles from Checkpoint #3 was going to have a section about 3-6 feet under water. It was going to be very dangerous for the riders, and for this reason, we were calling off the event. Now it was just a matter of how to do that and get everyone off the roads. While we were discussing options, I received a text from Joe Meiser wondering if we were calling off the event. I was punching in an answer when he called and asked me direct.

David Pals with John Gorilla at the EV Malt Shop in North English

The deal was that if we were not calling it off, Gorilla and Meiser were going back out. They were going to ride until (a) everyone else dropped, or (b) they somehow made it to CP#3 on time, but they'd rather not do either. I said we were calling it off and I asked where they were. The EV Malt Shop was the answer, and we were told they would be closing up soon, so we should hurry. I was also told that they were quite sure no one else had passed them. Joe said it took them 2.5 hours to get to North English, and that was only 25 miles past Checkpoint #2! If these strong cyclists took that long, how in the world would anyone have made Checkpoint #3 in the allotted time?

Matt Braun shortly after we flagged him down. Note the rain!

David and I arrived at the EV Malt Shop and made contact with Joe and John. They told us no one had made it there since we had spoken to them nearly a half an hour beforehand. Furthering our confidence in stopping the event here, since with such deteriorating weather conditions and in the pitch black of night, rider progress would have been even slower than it had been.

It wasn't long before we started seeing riders. We knew we had two of the eight folks we were looking for and Corey Godfrey came in next, making the total now five out on the road. David and I were spending a lot of time standing out in the rain looking for folks, so we weren't aware that the shop was to close at 8:00pm until it was almost time for them to close up. I was a bit frantic about where we would move this to next, and some talk was made of going up the street to the convenience store, when the manager of the shop came out and spoke with me.

Order up! The EV Malt Shop pretty much saved our day at the last minute!

He assured me that it was going to be okay to have our race end there and to boot: He even reopened the kitchen, his staff stayed late to serve us, and everyone had fresh, hot food to eat after a rain soaked ending to T.I.v6!

Matt Braun, Eric Brunt, then the Petervarys came in. Finally Charles Parsons showed up, and we had all eight riders accounted for. The owner of the Malt Shop even had a garden hose out back so the riders could hose off the grime and mud accumulated throughout the day. What a fantastic ending to a really crappy day. David and I were astounded by the EV Malt Shop's owner and employee's sacrifice and service to us and the riders. Words still cannot convey how much David and I still feel grateful for that night. Amazing!

 We had about three different groups coming out from Grinnell to get the riders and bicycles back to the motels. Even our Checkpoint #3 folks showed up  to help! I am still blown away by all the volunteered support we saw happen that night as well.

After counting him out, there was Eric Brunt at the end after all!

 In the end, we saw everyone off, and then thanked the owner of the EV Malt Shop profusely for his help and for that of his employees. He was just stoked to have been a part of Trans Iowa, and I think we were probably the talk of the town for at least a few days afterword.

We tried to get the word out about the Barn and that we would be meeting folks there after we had gotten back from North English. The drive back was not an easy one either! The winds were such that the rain was blowing sideways and I recall that passing semi-tractor trailer rigs was a big exercise in faith. David couldn't see anything for a few seconds after each pass of a big rig, and there were a lot of those on the way back.

Joe Meiser, Charles Parsons, John Gorilla. L-R In the Barn

 When we parked at the nature reserve and got out to walk the half mile to the barn, the rain was blowing so hard sideways I thought that it must be what being in a hurricane was like. David and I agreed that we made a good decision when we called the event when we did. It was really a good example of inhumane conditions and in no way did we want to have to be out there ourselves.

Inside the Barn, we met with a small group of folks. Beers were had, prizing was handed out, and much talking was done. It was here in this setting that I asked the guys present to tell me what, if anything, should be changed about Trans Iowa. All around, there was agreement that it was good as it was. John Gorilla is credited with one idea that has been implemented into Trans Iowas since V6. That had to do with registration. It was thought that finishers should be granted first crack at the roster, since they had overcome the challenge at least once and earned the right of first choice. Then the Veterans of Trans Iowa could be allowed in, then Rookies.

We didn't figure out how that would actually work out then, but it was the number one change that came out of this event. That and a few tweaks would be made for V7. Oh yes, David and I agreed already by this time to do it again. That was the end of the event for this time though. David and I slept the evening in the motel. The next day we were packing up and other racers were telling us thanks and were hoping to see us again in another year. It was very humbling.

Despite the weather, Trans Iowa v6 was a seminal event in the history of Trans Iowa. There was no doubt in David's mind or in my mind that we should come back to Grinnell. The city actually wanted us, the venue was great, and we had "unfinished business" with the area. There would be no changing venue again for a while at least.

Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #37

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

A muddied and weary Jeremy Fry resupplies in Pella during T.I.v6

 As the afternoon wore on, we were hanging out at Pella at a convenience store watching a group of about seven elderly ladies decked out in purple doing something related to the annual Tulip Festival. It was a surreal site seeing these nattily dressed ladies while we stood across the street all wet, muddy and watching our riders come through looking more like vagabonds from a traveling mud wrestling troupe than cyclists. Definitely two different worlds there!

I recall the most memorable thing was watching the Petervary's tandem riding skills as they came in, stopped and then left back out on the course. They stood, seated themselves, pedaled and coasted without exchanging any words. It was as if I was watching a well choreographed team from some bicycle based ballet do a performance for me. I think it was the most beautiful piece of riding I've ever witnessed, to be honest.

Well, we were calculating and trying to guess when the time would come when we could leave our post knowing we wouldn't see anymore riders come though with a chance to make the cut off in What Cheer Iowa. I remember seeing Eric Brunt come in right before we took off and saying to David that I didn't think he had any chance of making the cut off in What Cheer. We peeled out and headed up the road, thinking we'd seen the last of Eric for the day.

Me making a Trans Iowa Radio post in What Cheer: Image by K. Wilson

On the way over the roads were really nasty. David's Element pitched sideways this way and that as the all-wheel drive spat mud off the tires high into the air. The skies were looking grayer and heavy with rain. We were in communication with David's wife who was relaying weather conditions to us live from cable TV radar. What we were hearing was not good. More thunderstorms were on the way. By evening, the winds were forecast to rise to 30 miles per hour with higher gusts and there was a 100% chance of rain. So much for a "few tenths", which is what the prediction for the day was the evening before.

We made a brief stop at the checkpoint, after running into some light rain, and we bugged out again to re-route out some B Roads we knew were only going to put folks outside the time limits. I remember our frantic staking of flags and running into rain showers. The wind was picking up as well. It was late afternoon on Saturday, and although we were keeping a positive attitude, I think we both knew it was only a matter of time before we would be up against the weather again and having to make that tough decision to end the event.

Meanwhile, back at Checkpoint #2, we were getting news of a most unusual sort. Apparently there was a meeting between the leaders to decide whether or not to drop out "en masse" from Trans Iowa.

Dennis Grelk, Joe Meiser, Sean Mailen, John Gorilla L-R Image by K Wilson

This was fascinating. The rain had returned and apparently, with the deteriorating roads, the riders were calculating whether or not Checkpoint #3 was a reachable goal. Eventually, the majority of the riders quit right then and there, but Meiser and Gorilla decided to make off with an attempt to get to CP#3 anyway.

Meanwhile, while this was going on, six more riders blew through the checkpoint and continued on up the road. These riders were Corey Godfrey, Matt Braun, Eric Brunt (!!), Charles Parsons, and the tandem team of the Petervarys. About this time the skies unleashed their fury and it was raining again heavily.

I remember it well. David was driving on a gravel road just East and South of Brooklyn Iowa. We'd just crossed I-80, and a torrential barrage of rain came down, stopping us in our tracks. It rained so hard, we couldn't speak to each other due to the rain on the roof without yelling. The rain came down so hard it bounced off the road about two feet upwards! I looked at David and asked him if he wanted to be out here driving anymore. He said no. I said then we should call this thing off. We made some quick decisions, and decided to backtrack the route to head off Meiser and Gorilla, if we could. Then we'd worry about the other riders.

Next: End game at a malt shop.

Trans Iowa: Ten Years Of Tales #37

In mid-November, the idea of Trans Iowa was hatched. The year was 2004. In the ten years since then there have been many stories and memories. These posts will tell of the most prominent ones to my mind. Maybe I'll even spill the beans on some things you never knew....

A muddied and weary Jeremy Fry resupplies in Pella during T.I.v6

 As the afternoon wore on, we were hanging out at Pella at a convenience store watching a group of about seven elderly ladies decked out in purple doing something related to the annual Tulip Festival. It was a surreal site seeing these nattily dressed ladies while we stood across the street all wet, muddy and watching our riders come through looking more like vagabonds from a traveling mud wrestling troupe than cyclists. Definitely two different worlds there!

I recall the most memorable thing was watching the Petervary's tandem riding skills as they came in, stopped and then left back out on the course. They stood, seated themselves, pedaled and coasted without exchanging any words. It was as if I was watching a well choreographed team from some bicycle based ballet do a performance for me. I think it was the most beautiful piece of riding I've ever witnessed, to be honest.

Well, we were calculating and trying to guess when the time would come when we could leave our post knowing we wouldn't see anymore riders come though with a chance to make the cut off in What Cheer Iowa. I remember seeing Eric Brunt come in right before we took off and saying to David that I didn't think he had any chance of making the cut off in What Cheer. We peeled out and headed up the road, thinking we'd seen the last of Eric for the day.

Me making a Trans Iowa Radio post in What Cheer: Image by K. Wilson

On the way over the roads were really nasty. David's Element pitched sideways this way and that as the all-wheel drive spat mud off the tires high into the air. The skies were looking grayer and heavy with rain. We were in communication with David's wife who was relaying weather conditions to us live from cable TV radar. What we were hearing was not good. More thunderstorms were on the way. By evening, the winds were forecast to rise to 30 miles per hour with higher gusts and there was a 100% chance of rain. So much for a "few tenths", which is what the prediction for the day was the evening before.

We made a brief stop at the checkpoint, after running into some light rain, and we bugged out again to re-route out some B Roads we knew were only going to put folks outside the time limits. I remember our frantic staking of flags and running into rain showers. The wind was picking up as well. It was late afternoon on Saturday, and although we were keeping a positive attitude, I think we both knew it was only a matter of time before we would be up against the weather again and having to make that tough decision to end the event.

Meanwhile, back at Checkpoint #2, we were getting news of a most unusual sort. Apparently there was a meeting between the leaders to decide whether or not to drop out "en masse" from Trans Iowa.

Dennis Grelk, Joe Meiser, Sean Mailen, John Gorilla L-R Image by K Wilson

This was fascinating. The rain had returned and apparently, with the deteriorating roads, the riders were calculating whether or not Checkpoint #3 was a reachable goal. Eventually, the majority of the riders quit right then and there, but Meiser and Gorilla decided to make off with an attempt to get to CP#3 anyway.

Meanwhile, while this was going on, six more riders blew through the checkpoint and continued on up the road. These riders were Corey Godfrey, Matt Braun, Eric Brunt (!!), Charles Parsons, and the tandem team of the Petervarys. About this time the skies unleashed their fury and it was raining again heavily.

I remember it well. David was driving on a gravel road just East and South of Brooklyn Iowa. We'd just crossed I-80, and a torrential barrage of rain came down, stopping us in our tracks. It rained so hard, we couldn't speak to each other due to the rain on the roof without yelling. The rain came down so hard it bounced off the road about two feet upwards! I looked at David and asked him if he wanted to be out here driving anymore. He said no. I said then we should call this thing off. We made some quick decisions, and decided to backtrack the route to head off Meiser and Gorilla, if we could. Then we'd worry about the other riders.

Next: End game at a malt shop.