Team Red Wheel

Nice group ride Sunday

Nice ride on Sunday. Big group, warm weather, dry trail, and plenty of sunshine.

Dirty Kanza

If you're looking for a different type of challenge on a mountain bike or cross bike, check out the Dirty Kanza.

http://www.heartlandrace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=83&Itemid=26

It's a 200 mile gravel and dirt road race in the Flint Hills of Kansas.  I did it last year and it's not as bad as it sounds.  The Flint Hills are some really unique terrain.  Cary and I are signed up for this years race which is on May 31.  Plus the entry fee is only $40.  That's only $0.20 per mile!  And they give out lots of North Face swag.

Peat

Check out the rack on this one!

Looks like this set-up might "catch some air"...but how many racers are on Team Red Wheel? Thinkin' we could haul 'em all!

That's What I forgot!

I thought I had everything packed for the MIddlefork trip.  Of course, I didn't figure out what I had forgotten until 10 miles into the ride.  Totally forgot to bring my skillz.  Left them sitting on the workbench in the basement.  I realized it as my front tired washed out while I was weakly navigating through a tight switchback.  Here's the result, a nicely bruised and swollen hand.  Should have landed on my head instead.

Bike handling skillz...don't ride without them.

0 for 4

Cary, Guy and I met up with Dan and Jeff from Rolla to ride the Middlefork Section of the Ozark Trail on Monday.  Temps started out cold.  I saw 12 degrees on a sign as I drove through Potosi.  It was windy too.  Brrr!  MIddlefork is an out and back ride - 24 miles one way.  The plan for Cary, Guy and me was to ride to the turnaround point and then back for a total of 48 miles.  I've attempted to do this 4 times now.  Middlefork is and awsome trail.  Nothing too technical but long climbs and fast, fun downhills.  Well, we made it most of the way.  We got to a stopping point at a creek crossing with a gravel road that can be used as a fast way back to the cars.  Dan and Jeff opted to take the roads back.  The three of us decided to head on to the halfway point - until we took a good look at the creek crossing.  It was possible to cross the creek on some logs but they were icy and a fall would have resulted in full body imersion (see pic below).  After much discussion, we made the executive decision to turn around and ride the trail back to the cars.  This turned out to be a good decision as we were all pretty cooked by the time we got back to the cars.  We ended up with 38 hard earned miles.  Money in the bank for Ouachita.  Yeah, baby!

Trailer

We're not sure exactly why we built it, but we can't wait to use it.  

Syllamo's Revenge

Registration opens for Syllamo's Revenge tomorrow (1/15).  This event is shorter than Ouachita (50 miles) but consists of all singletrack.  The guys in Arkansas have laid out some pretty good trail in the last few years and this event is used to showcase it.  An after event dinner is included.  Peat and I are interested.  Any other takers?

For more info check out http://www.syllamosrevenge.com/

Sunday was a smoker

That was a tough ride for this fat boy. 6 of us meet up at the paved pavilion parking lot to try and get some miles in and tackle a few of those monster hills. We did an extra 12 mile loop in the river bottom first as a warm up and to make the ride a little longer. Going out was fine, but when we got on the Katy Trail for the return trip to Claysville we had a 15 mph head wind and a soft trail to ride on. By the time we got to Claysville and made our way up to Hwy 63, half of the group decided they had enough and turned back. Jason W, Andy, and myself continued on to do the gravel road loop north of 63.  It was a nice ride. The road was in good shape, no dogs, few cars, and big hills. By the time we made it back from what I think was a 45 mile ride the three of us were smoked.

I'm excited about putting this loop together, it's not too long but it's not too EZ ether. I think this will be a great winter/early spring train ride, when the trails are too wet and the roads are too cold. Jason and I were talking about adding this ride with other roads we know to make it even longer. We'll see what we come up with.

Sunday's big ride

A group of us are getting together Sunday morning to try and get some miles in. We're meeting at the paved pavilion parking lot at noon. Bring your cross bike or MTB, a light, and food to eat along the way. We're hoping to get 40+ miles of Katy trail, pavement, and gravel road. Yes, it will be hilly. Who's in?

Cougar?

From the Council Bluff ride.

With almost supernatural ability, Nick suddenly senses a cougar nearby.  Fortunately, just the sight of NIck's imposing presence scared the cougar away.

But check out the size of the crowd that showed up for the ride.  And this ain't even all of 'em!