Summer Solstice Sunday ride - Around River Falls (a paved ride!)

Boy, I've been remiss in updating the blog for the past few weeks.  Summertime hits, and I tend to be busy with doing, rather than writing.

First, to the hardy souls who came out for the Miesville Gents ride, thanks! I had a ball, and we'll do that again sometime.  For those who missed it, well - you missed it.

This weekend is something a little different, a little social and probably a little lower key for some.  We're riding <gasp> on the road!

The ride is out of River Falls and takes in some of the prettiest pastoral scenery around.  We generally average seeing about a car/mile on these rides, and while not all the pavement is butter smooth, it's all better than your average Minnesota pavement.  A couple of good climbs, a screaming descent or two, and generally a nice group ride.  I'd guess my group will average around 14mph for the distance (including photo ops), and will not be a testosterone filled hammerfest!
(Your mileage may vary - I know some people can't ride that slow, and that's your privilege, too.)

Hoffman Park has a nice bathroom with flushies, and we generally wind up at the Dish&Spoon cafe for lunch after.

Rules:
1.  Be NICE
2.  Have fun
3.  Wear your helmet. If you don't want to wear one, please don't come on my rides.
4.  Enjoy the scenery

The route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5081310 - 42 miles.  If you really need to extend, you could ride from the cities or Hudson!

Where:  Hoffman Park, River Falls, WI - Hwy 35 to Division St. (left exit, then right under the highway to the park)
When: Sunday, 22 June, 8:30 AM
Who: anybody with a bike who can ride 42 miles
Why: because it's going to be a lovely morning and close enough to the Solstice

Ping me if you have any questions or to let me know you are coming -- mnswamp@gmail.com

Miesville Redux, a Gent's Ride - June 8

All, I'm guilty of not getting a posting out recently with any updates, information or, well, anything.  It's paddling season, and I'm up to my ears in kayak race team projects, so this may be the last gravel ride I do until after mid-August.

Anyway...  Miesville Redux is happening Sunday, June 8 at 8:00 AM, departing from the Miesville Ball Field, and returning to the same about 3 hours later.  The route should be in really good shape, no glaciers this time.  It could be a bit muddy depending on the weather, so be prepared!

A few rules:
Rules -
No grumpy people allowed
Have a good time
Be gentle men and women out there
Wear your freaking helmet. If you don't want to wear one, don't show up on my rides.
Don't pee in the ballfield bushes, people's yards, or in front of them.
Tip well at Kings - they are nice people.
Introduce new people
Have fun

When:  8:00 AM, Sunday June 8, 2014
Where: Miesville ballpark (if there's something going on, park to the right of the ball field, there's plenty of parking back there
Distance: about 40 miles (if you want to go longer, there's an easy lap option of the best part of the course)
Cost: nada, zilch, zippo, zero
What do you get? a fun ride

Maps, turn lists, GPS files are here:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4852407

See you Sunday!

Miesville Redux - June 8- update with maps

We're getting closer to the Miesville Redux, a Gent's ride for Genteel Ladies and Gents.

The map and turn list are up at Ride with GPS.  You can generate a TCX or GPS file from there.  Long range weather is promising, and the burgers will be good!

A couple of notes about the route - I ride this area pretty often on a singlespeed CX bike with 28mm tires.  It's fine.  Road tires may get bogged down on the infamous "B" road, and there are a couple of spots where a little more float would be good, but even road tires may suffice.  Fat tire riders - enjoy!

See you in 2 weeks!

~marsh

Well isn't that embarrassing - Miesville Redux (date change) June 8

I've no idea what I was thinking, but I realized that I have a commitment on June 7, and rather than tell y'all to go ride anyway, I'm going to take the liberty that comes with putting on a ride, and CHANGE THE DATE.
Chris C - you can now ride!

Miesville Redux - JUNE 8 - that's EIGHT, no longer on Saturday, it's now SUNDAY.

What an idiot;)

Miesville Redux - a little more info

I added a sign-up form just so we can let King's Place know that we're invading.  Same deal as before - no fees, no times, no much of anything except a nice ride with good people.

Looking forward to riding without the glacier - but there could still be mud! And turkeys!

~marsh

Miesville Redux - Gent's Ride - June 8

Since there doesn't appear to be anything on the calendar on June 8, I'm going to offer up the Miesville Redux - a 40 mile "gent's ride" (for genteel ladies as well).  The course will be up in the next week or so, but count on it hitting the 'best bits' of the Miesville Grinder, including stopping at King's after.
The idea of a gent's ride is that people will start out together, and generally stay as a group for the first half of the ride.  That means waiting at the tops of climbs, floating back to check on folks who are stopped/drifting backwards, and generally making it a social occasion instead of a typical testosterone filled 'I can hurt worse than you can' event.
Once we hit the top of Miesville Ravine, you are on your own. A couple of downhills, a couple of good climbs, and done.  Nobody's going to take times, sweep the course, or anything of the sort.  This is just for fun and gravel.

Also, no signup this time.  Just show up.

Rules -
Have a good time
Be gentle men and women out there
Wear your freaking helmet. If you don't want to wear one, don't show up on my rides.
Don't pee in people's yards or in front of them
Tip well at Kings - they are nice people.
Introduce new people
Have fun

When:  8:00 AM, Sunday June 8, 2014
Where: Miesville ballpark (if there's something going on, park to the right of the ball field, there's plenty of parking back there
Distance: about 40 miles (if you want to go longer, there's an easy lap option of the best part of the course)
Cost: nada, zilch, zippo, zero
What do you get? a fun ride

Some final thoughts about the Miesville Grinder

The 2014 Event is all wrapped up, buttoned down, put to bed and I am happy it's done.
Thank you to everyone who came and made it a fun day.  King's Place invited us back for next year already!  I hope everyone had a fun ride, found a little new scenery and got a good warmup for the Mammoth, Almanzo, Dickie Scramble or whatever your next event is.  Even though I didn't get to ride my own event, I had a lot of fun bopping around the course taking pictures.  I apologize if I didn't get your picture in the album. I tried to grab as many as possible, but I recognize that there are more of the leaders than the back end.

We had a pretty good turnout, especially considering the conditions.  I counted 70-72 riders, which isn't bad on a 100 rider registration.  I discussed this some after the ride, and there does seem to be a bout a 30-40% 'no show' rate on free races.  I'd assumed without dollars committed, the social contract would be less firm, and I think that is the case.  Some thought needs to go into this aspect of gravel riding and the 'free' ethos.

I was pretty irritated to see someone riding without a helmet.  I'll say it again, and I hate to be blunt, but - if you come to an event that I put on, wear your helmet.  If you have an issue with wearing helmets, please don't bother coming to my events.  This is a huge safety item, and regardless of how you feel about it, *I* view it as a safety issue, and important enough that I'm willing to risk your negative feelings about *my* event rather than have you participate. Enough said.

While I was out touring around, taking some side roads and short cuts, I did find a couple of really nice roads that I hadn't ridden on before, and I've already toyed with how to incorporate them without adding a bunch of distance.  Trust me - next year will be more of the same and yet with a few improvements!

So we move on and enjoy some other events.  Thanks again to everybody who came out and made it a memorable event!

Miesville 2014 Photos

Apologies on photo quality.  Next time we'll try to have someone who actually can take pictures

Also very frustrated with Google+ and blogger, which considering they own both seems silly:(

Anyway, here's the link.  As a rule, my photos are Create Commons, with Attribution, which means you are free to share it as long as you give the photographer credit.

Miesville Grinder 2014 Photo Gallery

2014 Miesville Grinder WrapUp

[The 2015 edition of the Miesville gravel event is called the Miesville 56. New and improved promoters, minor tweaks to the route, it'll be great! - ed.]

The 2014 Miesville Grinder is done.  On what turned out to be a cool, dry and quite breezy day, we had about 70 riders actually start - which is not bad considering 100 was the cap.  I'm not sure how many

Ready to roll out

actually started - it could've been a few more.  We had a few 'possums', a few last minute arrivals, and a few who just didn't get over to register.  But I think most folks had a pretty good time.
The roads were in good shape, with some obvious work by Dakota County to grade and fill some of the worst spots (not on our behalf, but thanks anyway!).
The B road section was everything you'd hope.  A little gnarly, a little muddy, but generally not too bad. Nicky Terpstra (winner of today's Paris-Roubaix) would've felt right at home on it.
My heartfelt thanks to the riders who braved the elements and came out today.  I think King's Place was pretty happy as well. I counted at least 30 people at the tables, on what was probably an otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon.

Photos are now up.  If you have photos from today, please send me a link and I'll post those as well.

Results...   I billed this event as a no fees, no forms, no frills, but at the end of the day results are fun.  What I didn't have was a finish line crew to do 'real' results, but I hung around the finish for about 75 minutes after the podium places were decided.  Here are the RAW results.  There are some obvious errors and glaring omissions.  "Possum" is someone who didn't register for a free race.  If you have a correction, have a time, but don't know where you finished, want to record yourself as a DNF or any other issues with the results, please feel free to contact me (mnswamp@gmail.com).  I'll try to correct the record!

~mars

Place	Time		Name
1	3:13:27		tim norrie
2	3:13:27		Randall Dietel
3	3:13:27		nick c vetter
4	3:18:18		G$
5	3:29:57		Jay Henderson
6	3:29:57		Alex Oenes
7	3:29:57		Pete Schow
8	3:29:57		Jill Gaulding
9	3:31:53		Andrew folpe
10	3:31:53		Dan Gaz
11	3:33:19		Steven Yore
12	3:37:08		Johnny Woodside
13	3:37:28		devin palmer
14	3:39:41		Pete Morey
15	3:39:41		dave bucholz
16	3:40:52		Bill Stuber
17	4:00:36		Troy peterson
18	4:01:23		bob schwartz
19	4:02:47		Thomas Eibner
20	4:06:47		chris petersen
21	4:07:02		Stuart Raymond
22	4:07:09		Adam Turman
23	4:07:09		Ben McCoy
24	4:07:34		Rob Glieden
25	4:08:42		Mike Mason
26	4:08:50		jeff ingram
27	4:08:50		tess hohman
28	4:11:06		alex anderson
29	4:11:16		Paul
30	4:11:16		Rigel Menard
31	4:20:00		Joel Raygor
32	4:20:00		Tony Thomas
33	4:20:00		trenton raygor
34	4:32:55		Tim Peissig
35	4:32:55		John Powell
36	4:36:00		Sveta Kovalchuk
37	4:36:00		Julia Winkels
38	4:36:30		Shaun Flynn
39	6:00:00		Jack Rayburn (co-Lantern Rouge)
40	6:00:00		Tom Engstrom (co-Lantern Rouge)
1	2:37:28		Ross weinzierl (40K)

h

Mielsville Grinder Update #7

I emailed MN Bike Trail Navigator's Chris Chavie to do a quick recon on the B-road glacier, and I'm happy to report we're going for it.  Barring a severe storm tonight that dumps feet of rain, the road is soft, muddy in spots, but passable.  Chris suggests MTB and Fatboys will do fine. I think a lot of CX riders will do as well. It will test your skills for a hundred yards or so.

Hopefully everyone has figured out that tomorrow will be somewhat cool and maybe a bit damp.  I'd love to draw analogies between riding Miesville and riding Paris-Roubaix, but alas.  Paris-Roubaix will be 60 and only a slight chance of precip.  I still have mental images of hard men in wool sorts, all a uniform sort of brown from riding PB in the wet.  Maybe we'll get some good pictures here tomorrw!

See you in the morning!

~mj

Miesville Grinder Update #6

We are good to go!  Only 66 hours until we head out on a small adventure...  Without jinxing us, the forecast is shaping up to be mid-40s and cloudy with a northerly breeze.  Just pretend it's Tour of Flanders with the wind coming off the North Sea.

A couple of last minute points.  Bathrooms may be open, (and probably will be) but space is still a bit limited.  If you have a choice, go before you get there! Otherwise, King's or the gas station may be accessible too.

Parking is at the ball field. It's going to be a bit tight, so please park responsibly, and make SURE you don't block the public works building access! (very bad karma).  No parking at the church either.  If we get in an overflow, there's some space in the field behind the ball field (better spot for hiding to change, too); otherwise if you ask you can park behind the gas station.

There are one or two (or maybe 3) confusing intersections if you don't pay attention.
- Lewiston -> 205th -> Lewiston ---- maybe not that bad, but somebody is bound to try and go the wrong way.
- Lewiston -> 220th ->Goodwin->220th ---- Don't miss the turn to 220th. If you get to the big arrow in the sky, you just missed it.
- 220th -> Inga. ---- If you are going 56 -- TURN LEFT.  This is where the 40s TURN RIGHT!.
- 220th -> Inga - Deja Vu. ---- You suddenly get the sense you've been here before.  TURN LEFT!
- Inga ---- The 'b-road'.  Hopefully there's a path through the glacier.  It hasn't rained much, so there may still be a snowy spot or two.  Enjoy the challenge, but please stay out of the farm fields!
- Inga -> 280th - 40 riders take note.  The turn list omits the bend to the left and treats it as a continuation.  Bad turnlist. Bad!  According to the turn list, you'll go about 13.9 miles without turning off of Inga. Just follow the road.

After that, just watch out for wildlife (turkeys, deer, possum, skunk) and enjoy the ride.

Miesville Grinder Update #5

Morning Y'all.

I did a brief course recon on the trouble spots this morning, and it's good news.  It looks like the south metro got significantly less snow (or it all blew sideways) than we did in the north.  So unless something changes, we should be full course - with one possible exception - the B road.

Turn on Lewiston from 205th - sign missing

Lewiston 

Watch out for the locals!

Lewiston -> 220th - if you get to the big flag, you went too far!

Deja Vu corner - you'll hit this from both directions

It's melted here!

The B road

Looking back - Will it melt?

There is a road, no simple highway

We walked the B road section this morning, and it's got one spot that is - and I kid you not - a 6' deep snowdrift.  There's a gully forming, and if temps hold this week, it will be big enough to ride down, but - be prepared to climb off and run/walk for a few yards in sloppy conditions!

I've had several queries about tire advice.  My advice - wider gravel tires. I think cyclocross riders would be fine on 28-30mm nail treads, but if you have the option of a slightly wider tire (like a Challenge Chicane, Gravel Grinder or similar), you might opt for that.  This morning the course was firm but not rock hard. Be kind to your fellow riders and clip on a fender if you have one.

On my soap box for a moment.  This ride is through 'rural' Dakota County farmland, but there is a bit of residential traffic (and residences) along some of these roads.  Also there are two golf courses adjacent to the course, so PLEASE RIDE friendly and cautiously, even if the locals and golfers don't!  This means:

• If you are riding in a group and someone yells car up/back, skinny up to single or double lines, not road packs.  The law is no more than 2 abreast and as far to the right as practicable. Please do that. 
• Centerline rule is IN EFFECT! (ok, the old cycling commissaire is sneaking its head out here, but there are a lot of narrow roads, blind corners and hilltops that you can't see through, and neither can the cars.  Becoming a hood ornament is a lousy way to start the season.
• Wave (with more than one finger) and/or say hi to the locals - they live here, we just ride through.  All it takes to ruin a course is one negative  encounter, and the event won't grow - it won't even be allowed back!
• Stay out of the farm fields.  Those are private property, and tromping around this time of year is really bad. You don't have any idea what's in them, on them, or soon will be - stay out!  Oh yeah, and that 2 lane wide gang plow that's moving toward you? Get out of his way - he's working, we're playing.
• It looks like we may have restroom access at the ball field and/or at Kings.  Please treat it like it's your own - I have to clean them up!

Otherwise, please just ride with your wits about you and have a good ride!  This stuff is fun.

Common sense tips for riding gravel

There's a whole cadre of really experienced gravel/adventure riders out there, and y'all are welcome to chime in with your thoughts.  This post is for the new to gravel riders, who maybe are used to doing well organized centuries, club rides and weekend rides with friends - but not 4+ hour totally unsupported, where-the-heck-am-I rides in the puckerbush.  (Actually, Miesville isn't puckerbush. Far from it - you are <15 miles from the start no matter where you are on the course, and usually no more than 1/4 mile from somebody's farm.)
So here goes with the tip sheet.
Know where you are - bring turn list, map, GPS, phone - and KNOW HOW TO READ A MAP!!! GPS devices have batteries that die. Phones may not connect and batteries may die. Maps seldom lie.  Pay attention to your map and turns even if you are with a group.  You may decide to stop for a nature break and the group may not.  Keep track of where you are on the course!
Be prepared for the weather - and pay attention to what's coming.  If it's 85 degrees, your biggest weather concerns are hydration and sunscreen.  If it's 45, a sudden shower can bring on hypothermia.  Make sure you have enough clothing to add a layer if you have to stop for a while. (I carry a jacket, stocking cap and long finger gloves on spring rides).  No cotton is the first rule.  Know your body and the weather is the second.  Especially in the spring, be prepared for a sudden storm.  If there is any chance of thunderstorms, keep an eye on the horizon - especially behind you!  Spring storms can travel at 40+mph, and bring wind, rain, lightning and hail. Be prepared to find cover quickly if you see one approaching.
Make sure you have enough to eat.  If you are used to road rides at 15mph, and view 60 miles as a 4 hour adventure, make sure you have enough food for 5-6 hours of riding.  (400 kcal/hour is about right for most people).  Eat things that sit well on your stomach, but not simple sugar based food (like candy and pop).  These cause an insulin rush followed by a crash.  The exception - Shot blocks or gel packs are an essential element in dealing with 'the bonk'.  Quick calories to consume while your body processes better foods.
Carry enough tools, but don't go crazy.  At a minimum 2 tubes, tire irons, patches (none of which you need if you run tubeless), hand pump, optional CO2 inflators, multi-tool, $21 (1 dollar bill makes a dandy boot for a cut tire), a couple of zip ties, quick link for your chain.
Headlight/taillight.  It's amazing how much more visible you are when you use these.  If it's a gray day, maybe a neon vest, too.
Riding habits.  When the going gets rough, you need to ride more lightly.  Soften up your elbows, loosen your death grip on the bars, sit lighter on your saddle, and transfer more weight to your hands and feet.  And maybe click up a gear harder if you have them.  And don't stare at your front wheel.  It's not going anywhere, but the bumps it'll hit are up the road in front of you.  Keep searching for the smoothest hardest line.  I will change lines fairly often as I see patches that look firmer, drier, smoother, or whatever.  If you are in deep loose stuff, look at the shoulder and even at grassy strips.  Don't be afraid to experiment.
Challenge rollers - go down them as fast as you dare, pedal up as hard as you can without going over redline, and strive for the top.  You'll get a quick recovery over the top anyway, so if you can use your momentum to help blast UP that roller, you'll have much less to do to finish it.  This can save many minutes on a typical south Minnesota/Iowa rolling farm road, without spending any extra energy.

Final tip.  Don't forget to enjoy the ride.  There's always going to be someone who has their head down, hammering away and never realizes that they missed a herd of deer, or goats being silly on a farm.  They never see the green valleys, classic cars, waving farm kids or talking to the people they were riding with.  Which really makes me wonder why they are out here. Much more fun to smell the roses.

Enjoy.

~marsh

Miesville Grinder Update #4

Wow.  Registration is officially CLOSED!!!  However, if you've spoken to me about registering (there are a couple of you), we can still accommodate a few random stragglers.
The melt today and tomorrow, plus forecasted rain could help either fix or completely flood the two problem spots.  I'm not worried about lingering snow that's on the course today. That'll either be gone or just a minor nuisance - but I draw the line at flooded roads, and will make decisions appropriately.

Not much more to say today.  It was a fantabulous day to be on a bike, and that's where I was!

~marsh

Miesville Grinder Update #2

Maps, gps files and a raw, unformatted turn list are up on the Miesville Grinder page

If someone has the time or motivation to beautify the turn list, I'll buy them a beverage after the ride!

Reports are coming in that most of the course is in really good shape (to wit - still frozen), but it'll probably soften up a bit over the next 2 weeks.  In fact, I'd count on it.

Recommended minimum tire width - 28 for some, 35 for many.

There are reports of a large dog that chases bikes at one point of the course.  I've never encountered the beast, but be forewarned.

One thing to note when you look at the map -- at no point does the course actually cross itself, but we do return to the same intersection(s) at times.  It's possible you might find yourself looking at another rider approaching a corner from the opposite direction.  Just sayin - it's OK.  Make sure where *you* are!

Please let me know if you have any issues, problems or concerns about the course.  This is an enjoyable loop, and we should have a fun day!

~marsh