Update

Race/Ride start is 9 am at Sportman's Ballpark in Clearwater, MN.

From I-94 take exit 178 for MN-24 - Annandale/Clearwater.
Go north 0.3 miles into town on MN-24 take the 3rd left onto Co Rd 75 NW. Go 1.1 miles Turn left at Co Rd 143/27th Ave E park will be on left.

From US-10 take MN-24 /Center St south towards Clearwater
Go 3.5 miles on take a right onto Co Rd 75 NW
Go 1.1 miles Turn left at Co Rd 143/27th Ave E park will be on left.

Any questions/concerns let me know: bpdoom@hotmail.com
work:320-251-2453

Thanks.

Map-O-Course

Find a map of the course HERE. There is a optional gas station stop at mile 31 and a mandatory stop with water, energy drink, and Monster Cookies at mile 50.

Because of the recent cold weather we are 90% sure that the on site restrooms will be closed. The start is within a mile from town that has many lovely pubic restrooms for your enjoyment.

Countdown in On!

So far the weather for Saturday is looking to be the nicest of the week! Hopefully it sticks.
We will have more details on the blog this week as well, such as:

• Race location and how to get there, somewhat important.
• An actual map of the course. We decided this may be nice for some since we have heard from several being concerned about the distances.
• Cue card info. But will be just like the "other" gravel rides. How you carry them is up to you.
• We will have coffee, water, and bread at the start. We will have water, energy drink, and Monster Cookies at the checkpoint. You will go buy a gas station too.

Plus more I would imagine.

Any questions let us know. I'm excited for Saturday, should be a blast.

Thanks.

Registration Is Closed.

We are full!
I wish we could allow more but parking is the issue, and it's our first year so trying to keep it manageable.
Next year we will let more in.
Thanks for all the interest.

Brian and Ben

Update.

Well I'm pretty sure the course is all dialed in. Yesterday Brian and I drove the course, made que card notes, and finalized mileage. Yeah, Map My Ride was a bit off. Total mileage will be 82. So think of it as a metric century plus 20 miles for good measure, you know, to make sure you really got enough miles in.
I'm not sure on the exact gravel to pavement ratio but 70/30 is probably pretty close. There are a couple sections of pavement that were unavoidable in order to get to rest stops or water stops. Overall I am really happy with the course. It has a bit of everything. Well, we don't have a stream crossing...maybe next year.

The t-shirts showed up yesterday! The race director version.

Still a few spots open. The roster will be redone and finalized next week. I'm getting pretty damn excited.

bpdoom at hotmail dot com

Save Your Pennies.

Shirt design is done and being made! We will have a limited supply of these awesome shirts for sale...$15. The design is shown on a hooded sweatshirt but the final design is on a t-shirt.
The course appears to be 76 miles. Pretty close to our projections! I spotted a grader out on some of the most "wash boarded" roads so that should smooth them out some.
About 10 spots left!
Thanks for all the support.

Brian and Ben.

bpdoom at hotmail dot com

Location Change.

OK so the reason for the rider limit is we had to relocate the start. Warner Lake is hosting the Dog Sledding dry land racing that weekend. It's actually a pretty big event and will be one packed place. Too bad, Warner would have been a nice spot.

Not too worry we found another great spot less than a mile, ok maybe a mile, away. There isn't as much parking but there are more amenities to be had. Frisbee golf (still don't get the allure), playground, bathrooms if they remained unlocked, and grills. Heck, if you want to camp there is a Good Sam, previously Clearwater KOA, across the street. They have a sign stating May-October for operating hours so maybe check to make sure they will be open till the end of October. So the spot is the Clearwater Sportsman's Park. We will have directions and a map up soon.

Brian and I rode the first half or so of the course yesterday. We will reach a short stretch of gravel in about a mile and then be on pavement for about 5 miles. Treat it as a good warm up! The gravel is suffering from a severe case of the "washboard" syndrome! There are good lines through but if you get caught it's hard to get out. Everything is falling into place just fine. I am getting excited as it should be a blast.

We are up to 30 riders! That was my original hope but bet we fill up!
If you want in email me: bpdoom at hotmail dot com
If you have questions email them to me too or leave in the comments.
Thanks.
Ben and Brian.

Roster.

Roster as of 10/10/10:

1.) Chance Glasford
2.) Ron Crandell
3.) Marilyn Crandell
4.) Kyia Anderson (aka Dyra)
5.) Kris Anderson (aka Mr. Anderson, Evel, Mr. Green...)
6.) Brian Imholte (Dr. Imholte)
7.) Ben Doom (Benny)
8.) Jeff Bauerly (Jeffro)
9.) James E. White (crash)
10.) Mark Mondlock
11.) Bryon Amo
12.) Sheila Amo
13.) John Kern
14.) Charlie Farrow
15.) Rich Hendricks
16.) Jim Bell (Jimmy)
17.) Lance Beuning
18.) David Bucholz
19.) Morgan Pease (The Fast Crusader)
20.) Sam St. Pierre
21.) Dave Zeimer
22.) Jeff Weyrens
23.) Taggart Downare (Tag)
24.) Sam Francois
25.) Drew Wilson
26.) Jared Gazda
27.) Gregorio Ramirez
28.) Chris Skogen (Mr. Almanzo)
29.) Josh Kruck
30.) Martin Rudnick
31.) John Hatcher
32.) Paul Chenoweth
33.) Dave Pramann
34.) Tim Bekke
35.) Kristi Olson
36.) Leslie Semler
37.) Rudy O'Brien
38.) Ryan Horkey
39.) Katie (Mrs. Horkey)
40.) Jason Stukel
41.) Tim Roe
42.) Death Rider
43.) Mike Schroden
44.) Angela Williams Schroden
45.) Pete Bell
46.) Patrick Stoffel
47.) Gunner Rush/Amanda Rush(Tandem)
48.) Geoff Schley
49.) Dave Cizmas (Dirty Dave)
50.) Brendan Moore
51.) Matthew Abel
52.) Kari Gates
53.) Neil O. Cary
54.) Morgan Luzier
55.) Ross Hargrove

It's starting to fill! Send me an e-mail if you want in. With recent events, to be detailed later when I know the answer, I have decided to call for a rider cap. So the first annual Dirt Bag ride will be capped at 50 riders.
Thanks.
I'm stoked!

e-mail: bpdoom at hotmail dot com