3rd Annual Halcyon Holiday Gravel Grinder

Save the Date! The best winter gravel adventure is coming up fast!!!

December 15, 2012
Start/finish @ Sunflower Bike Shop
9:00 am start
100k of your favorite Kansas crunchiness.
*There is a shorter route available that skips the Wellsville loop.

Course map here: http://www.mapmytri.com/routes/view/26131428

Get on it!!  Hope to see you there!

C4 wrap-up

Two weeks ago we had a badass mountain bike race.  My front room and I are finally recovered.  After reflecting for a while it was truly amazing the quality of event we put on.  Dirt lovin' good times were had by everyone there.  The one complaint I got was that I only made medals for the kids and not everyone (and maybe a couple USAC infractions that our wonder official, Curtis Martell, let slide).  We had a great course, great scoring/registration, great prizes, great venue.  We were cleaned up and could have left the park before 1:00 pm if the last few of us hadn't stayed to take it all in for a few minutes; most other MTB races aren't even finished by 1:00 pm and we had all awards out, the entire course markings picked up, all the trash in the right spots, and it literally looked like no one had been out there.  After expenses we ended up donating quite a chunk to the Trail Masons for continued work at WYCO (and CAT 1/SS/Marathon got paid and paid decently well, which is also unheard of for a local MTB race).  You all may not know, but the Trail Mason's master plan with WYCO parks calls for over 30 miles of trails like those to go all around the lake.  They have built the current 6 miles with less than $1500.  The race $$$ will go a long way to getting their next 2.5 mile section and more opened soon.  It is because of our great team and volunteer group that we brought it.  Everyone on this list helped clean up afterwards too!!!  Special thank you to the following for their contributions:

Thank you to UFD and the 118 racers that braved the heat!!!

Britton: Parisi coffee, Celler Rat gift certificates, numbers, prizes, Volker Bikes sponsorship, Tallgrass beer.  BK's the best.

John W: Food!!!  Amazing as always sir!

Ann Pai: Registration/Scoring.  

Venasa: Registration/Scoring.  Venasa and Ann held the reg/scoring down!!!  Without these ladies things would have been lost.

Kris Presnell: Reg/Scoring.  Irreplaceable.  Thanks, Kris!

Dan O.  Reg/scoring, finding pappy when his head was not good.  Thanks DanO!

Michael Ellis - Registration/scoring

Justin Bay - Registration/scoring.  Justin and Michael were part of our indispensable reg/scoring team.  You guys literally carried our event.  So critical in MTB races and all the more difficult with our number cluster.

Jake S: Parking duty, reg/scoring, Door to Door Organics gift certificates.  Jake also helped with pretty much anything asked of him.

Roger W: Water hoses and water!, chinese hats, course markings Saturday morning.  And he won the marathon race, amazing.

Erik Elving: Registration/Scoring, water hoses, Applebee's Gift Certificates, general badassery.  Erik, I can't even remember everything you helped with, which is nothing new, thank you!

Josh B: Parking duty.  Critical with what we were working with.

Jon Sink: Parking duty.  Showed up, took a piece of paper without me saying much, and it worked.  

Levon: Parking duty, staple gun, course marking Saturday morning, final clean up.  Thanks bro!

Adam K: Parking duty, Port-A-Potties, final clean up.  We didn't have shit everywhere.  That's a win!

David N: Parking duty, course marking Saturday morning, final clean up 

Nate S: Midwest Mountain Bike Patrol (MMBP), water hoses.  Thank you Nate and MMBP for your assistance, helping Pappy out, and for getting all our course markings after the races!!!

Curtis Martell - Our chillin' official.

Andy Schuette - UFD results, UFD webmaster/promoter, and USAC results

Cliff Jones - Co-promoter.  Cliff did as much or more work than I did getting this event ready.  He personally weedeated every single inch of our course, designed the race layout with Shane (really designed the whole system), hooked up the county permitting process, helped me mark the course Friday night, led group rides/race preview rides, got us zip ties in the morning, helped reg/scoring, did MMBP, helped with final clean up, etc etc etc.  He was truly the co-promoter of this event and it could have not gone off without Cliff or any of the rest of your contributions.

Finally, we gotta shout out to our sponsors.  Nothing is free/cheap without them :)

Trail Masons!

Wyandotte County Parks and Recreation!

Pot Pie!

Door to Door Organics!

Celler Rat!

Applebee's!

Parisi Coffee!

Colavita Pasta and EVOO!

and of course,

Volker Bicycles!!!

I know I forgot a lot...

We do it all again in 6 weeks for Manion's Cyclocross baby!!!  Then Colavita Cup in November!

thank you all again.  After it's been 2 weeks, I can say, yes, I do want to promote a race again :)  ...one thing is for sure, C4 will definitely be back at WYCO!!!

--brett

PS:  Since this is super long, here are some of the upcoming MTB opportunities still left:

Swope Dush Dash, A group night ride, Swope Park Trails, 8.11.12

Cruise the Blues 5 hour endurance solo/team race, Glen Elder Kansas, 8.25.12

24 Hours of Iowa solo/team race, Boone Iowa, 9.8/9.12 (I WANT TO DO THIS AS A TEAM!!!)

Slaughter Pen Jam (all disciplines), Bentonville Arkansas, 9.8/9.12 - or this would be cool too :)

Sac River 6/12 hour endurance solo/team race, Springfield Missouri, 9.8.12

Tour de Lizard, Ark City Kansas, 9.9.12 XC/Marathon, UFD West #8

Northwest Arkansas Championships (all disciplines), 9.15.12, West Fork Arkansas (Devil's Den)

Tall Oak Challenge 6 hour solo/team race, Jeff City Missouri, 9.23.12

Rhett's Run, Columbia Missouri, 9.30.12 XC/Marathon, UFD West #9, Series Championship

Castlewood Race Two XC/Endurance, UFD East #10/UFD Series Finale

Burning at the Bluff 6/12 hour solo/team race, Potosi Missouri, 10.13.12

Berryman Epic, Steelville Missouri, 10.27.12

Attila the Hun XC/marathon, 11.18.12, Little Rock Arkansas

Swope Dusk Dash

I'm calling for a big ole honking group night ride at Swope Park Trails to get the fiz out of this heat....Come join the fun!

Saturday August 11, 2012
Swope Park Trails
8:00 pm...We'll roll out soon after that, MTB time.
Main Trailhead and parking lot off Oldham Road and Oakwood Drive.

Bring your lights and your smiles. Fun is only thing allowed on this ride. We'll ride for a couple hours/laps/until lights go poo-poo.

grainy waters to be drank after...


see you there!!!

Roanoke Park Trail Maintenance

You may not know, but I am the trail steward at Roanoke Park...check it out and come help me this weekend!!!

We'll be using part of the singletrack for cross races this year, yay!

7.28.12 Roanoke Park Trails maintenance...weedeating, blowing, some lopping (and maybe a chainsaw on one thing if a bow saw won't do it), and a couple things to destaub.  Also have one or two areas that may need a scraping/tamping after a couple months of use since opening and going to move tools to our new on-site shed the neighbors got us!

Let me know if you can make it.

Saturday 7.28.12
8:00 am...earlier the better if anyone wants to get out there...
Westport-Roanoke Community Center or find me on the Layover or Devil's Dip.

CCCC results

Colavita Cross Country Challenge tomorrow! UFD West series race...

The eve is upon us...

Info here: http://www.facebook.com/events/115980758539805/

Colavita Cross Country Challenge

Summer 2012 events

It's time for some fun....come join if you can at the following MTB-KC events this summer:

June 23 - Jackson County Journey : MTB Century


Not for the weak at heart or legs.  This is a strict no PAB ride...


http://www.facebook.com/events/469780563038707/


Who: Anyone
What: 100+ miles of a pure Jackson County Journey
When: June 23. Start at 8:00 am
Where: Begins at the Trolly Track Trail trailhead, Volker and Brookside (near UMKC, Russell Stover, Plaza Library)
Why: It is time.
How: Trolly Trail-->BuRP (River, BoHaCa, Ox Bow, Wagon, Serengeti, Ox Bow, Basement, River)-->Blue River Road-->Swope (Wudchuck P1/2, Rancho P4, Wudchuck P3, Wudchuck Offshoot, Rancho P3/1)-->Blue Springs Lake (Lake Vista, North Shore)--Adams Dairy Parkway Trail-->Landahl (Tasty, Lollipop, Rim Job, Family+Offshoots, Scott's New Loop, Family/Dave's Maze, Will's)-->Little Blue Trace-->Stadiums-->Brush Creek Trail

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/96596365 

We'll stop somewhere in Blue Springs together after the lake trails to regroup and get a real meal (where exactly TBD). Other than that, food, water, and other support is on your own. Won't try to drop anyone, but won't sit around all day waiting on you either. Got 100+ miles to finish, hopefully before dark. All the trail systems have water available at them.

Probably try to keep around a ~15 MPH average on the road sections to get us between the gnar. Hopefully a bigger group will provide opportunity for rest (drafting).

Come on out and join the fun. If you've never done a century with dirt included, come gitchyasum. I personally promise you will make it back home (unless you don't...)

Should end up being right at 110 miles or so...about 40% dirt, 60% gravel and pavement.

July 21 - Colavita Cross Country Challenge @ WYCO Lake Trails
http://www.facebook.com/events/115980758539805/
mtbkc.blogspot.com


Part of the UFD West Series.  Traditional MTB-XC Races for all ages and abilities.  At Wyandotte 
County Lake Trails.  Should be a nice little loop :D  More info soon...


August 11 - Dusk Dash @ Swope Park (Evening MTB Race)
mtbkc.blogspot.com

Title pretty much says it all :)  More info soon...

see you around!

Postponed-Colavita Crocodile Rock

Hello:

It is with great regret that I must postpone the Colavita Crocodile Rock originally scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 2012. My father is quite near to losing his 9 year battle with cancer, and the next few days/couple weeks are going to be dedicated fully to him, my mom, and the rest of my family. I've already missed one week of work and school and will likely miss all this week as well. I just do not have the time, and frankly will not make the time over my family, to tie up the last loose ends, and do the finishing & preparation work that needs to be done the next 2 weeks so that I can promote a successful event.

It kills me that I have to postpone, especially since it is my first "real" promotion attempt, and since we have had perfect weather so far this season. My head is just not in the right spot right now to promote a race within the next 2 weeks. There is also a possibility that we will be in Arkansas for his burial depending on when he finally does pass. I guess this is more of a precaution than anything; I'd rather do it now than have to do it the day before the race.

We will reschedule for July 21 (the original date of the "Endurance Race"). The endurance event will be replaced with the typical XC/3 hour events (basically the endurance day will now be our series race). I would like to make this weekend into more of a festival type atmosphere, perhaps even doing the races at night for a change of pace/something cool to do in the summer.

Thank you all for your guidance and support,
Brett Shoffner

Colavita Crocodile Rock flyer

halcyon wrap

thanks for coming everyone. heard there were some unexpected surprises, sorry about that.

it was a great day to be out on a bike. i was jealous, definitely.

see you next year!

SATURDAY MORNING!!!

Looking like absolutely PERFECT weather for a day of gravel! Should be around the melting point starting out, warming up to 51* by the afternoon with lots of sunshine the next couple days to dry those roads out a bit, but not too much to make them dusty

I've also heard a rumor that Dan the Man (Dan Hughes, owner of Sunflower Bike) is stepping up HUGE and wants to bring everyone coffee and doughnuts before we start. This cam completely FROM DAN with absolutely nothing from me. I didn't even tell him we were meeting outside the flower!

From what I'm gathering underground, there should be a TON of people on this ride, at all ability levels. The 40 mile course if "fairly" flat except down by Baldwin, while the 63 mile route has some good rollers and is a hell of a workout for the tough dogs. If you're still on the fence, get off and get your ass to Lawrence saturday morning!

halcyon holiday this week!!!

see the two posts below for all the super details...

Halcyon Holiday!

Photos from last year:
http://mtbkc.blogspot.com/2010/12/hhgg-photos.html

Gravel grinder tips (written for this ride last year, new version coming soon, but this gives you some ideas):
OK, I am riding a fixed gear, mtb frame set up with cx components (skinny carbon fork, drop bars, etc). My gear ratio is 2:1 (34-17), but I like to spin a little more than the average guy to save my knees for later. If this were a race, I would probably run something more like 2.3:1 (34-15, 39-17, 46-20, 43-19, -ish ranges). I have front brake only and feel like this should suffice, not too many hardcore sketchy downhills, as long as the roads aren't too icy :) For tires I have a 38cc Specialized Crossroads in the front and a 35cc Ritchey Speedmax on the rear (both are faster rolling treads with side knobbies, highly recommend them for gravel) and I plan to run about 55 psi up front and about 58-60 psi in the rear. I would recommend around the same PSI ranges for your Cross bike set-ups. (Now I run 34-15 exclusively on gravel, the 17 was just TOO much spinning, especially on a fixie)

If you're coming on a mtb don't worry! I've done plenty of gravel grinders on my fat knobbies. Definitely try to get some fast rolling tires if you can or even some fatty slicks would work. I've done gravel grinders on full suspension bikes, full rigid mtbs and front suspension mtbs. For full suspensions I recommend putting on your pro pedal or locking out the rear suspension and probably the front for most parts too, until you get fatigued (suspension on gravel is really nice sometimes :) Run 60 psi in your fatty tires, they'll suck up a lot of shock and higher psi will let you roll faster.

For rigid mtb guys, 50 psi will take a little of the edge off and still not make you feel like your bogging in the sand. Ergon grips are helpful as hell, so are bar ends. Dead wrists due to bad position and lack of position options is way too common in these type of rides...move around your bars, a lot, your arms will thank you later.

gear:
make sure you have at least 2 tubes, and a hand pump or co2. I will have a schreader adapter for gas station air when we roll through towns so we can pop some in there if needed, but you gotta get there! Also recommended is multi-tool, chain breaker, extra links, zip ties, patch kit, and emergency tire boots. And TP. This is what I'll be packing, along with 2 water bottles.

dress in layers...it's supposed to be 28 when we take off and around 40 by rides end. I recommend starting cold, we'll warm up fast in the rollers south of town, and go through 3 towns for warm-up opportunities and gain 12-15 degrees during the time we'll be out.

See you December 17!

halcyon holiday gravel grinder...

it's that time of year folks! time for some dirty roads, and here's one of the best routes all year!!!



love this route. trying to figure out a dirt bike/ATV/car situation so i can provide support :)





Map here: http://www.mapmytri.com/routes/view/26131428

Start sunflower bike shop.

Go south until 19th street, turn right (west)

Continue through KU Park and Ride to gravel access road at last parking lot.

Take that south through to 23rd street & Lawrence Avenue.

Continue south through the light on Lawrence Avenue.

At 31st street turn right (west) and go a short distance to the Kasold Curve.

At the Kasold Curve, turn left (south) and continue to K-10.

Cross K-10 and follow the road around the couple curves to CO road 458.

Turn right (west) on CO 458 then left (south) onto Hastie Road.

Hastie Road will turn into gravel at some point, then back to a little pavement.

You’ll intersect CO Road 458 again, turn left (south) and continue straight.

Stay straight! On E 1000 road. (should be right before/right at mile 10 on cyclometer)

Continue south on E 1000 road.

Turn left on N 900 road.

Turn right on E 1050 road.

Turn left on N 800 road.

Turn right on E 1100 road. (Mile 13 will be soon) Stay straight when intersecting CO road 460.

Turn left on N 550 road (~mile 15.5)

Turn right on E 1400 road.

Turn left on N 400 road.

Turn right on CO Road 1055/6th street/E1700 going into Baldwin City (mile 23)

Continue on 6th street south to Dearborn Street. Turn right (west).
Go 2 blocks and turn left (south) on 8th street.

Take 8th street out of town to Orange Road/N200 Road. Turn right (west)

Turn left at E 1600 road. (Mile 25.5) This turns into Nevada Road in Franklin County.

Continue south on Nevada Road then turn left (east) on Thomas Road.

Turn right (south) on Utah Road (mile 33.5)

Turn left (east) on Stafford Terrace/West 7th Street. Entering Wellsville (mile 35ish)

Turn left (north) on Main street.

Turn left (west) on 1st Street/Thomas Road.

Continue west on Thomas Road to Utah Road.

Turn right (north) on Utah Road (mile 38ish). This turns into E2100 Road in Douglas Co

Continue north on E2100/Winchester Road until N 100 road.

Turn left (west) on N 100 road. (Mile 40)

Turn right (north) on E 1800 road.

Turn left (west) on N 200 road/Orange Street.

Turn right (north) on 3rd street. You’ll be in Baldwin City again. (mile 45)

Cross HWY 56 and stay going north on Eisenhower Street/E1750 Road.

E 1750 road has quite a few curves but stays the same road.
Please consult your map for forks in the road!!!
*Also there is a great lookout point and pretty gnarly downhill after the lookout point. ☺

Continue north on E 1750 road until N 900 road. (mile 52)

Turn left (west) on N 900 road.

Turn right (north) on E1700 road.

Turn left (west) on N1100 road.

Turn right (north) on E 1600 road.

Turn left (west) on N1175 road. It intersects with another road (E1550) and curves around to the north. Follow this. (mile 57)

Turn right (north) on E 1500 road. This becomes Haskell Avenue once into Lawrence.

Continue north on Haskell Ave to 29th street. (mile 59ish)

Turn left (west) on 29th street. Follow it back to the Haskell Rail Trail.

Continue north on Haskell Rail then Burroughs Creek Paved Trails their entire distance.

At 11th street, turn left (west). (Mile 61.5)

Right on Delaware.

Left on 9th. Into Downtown Lawrence.

Mass street north back to 8th and Mass. Sunflower Outdoor and Bike.

You kick ass.


see you there!

news...

Broke my leg at Boss Cross yesterday. Micah Gordon and Nick Valdez are going to be coordinating Tuesday Night Universes for a few weeks probably. I'm still going to try and be there if I can, but look for these two on the bikes to lead for the night.

Halcyon Holiday is still a go! Obviously, I won't be able to ride, but am trying to figure out a car situation with the parents for that day so I can play support crew for everyone. I graduate the day before, so I'll throw some guilt at them ;)

see you on the dirty.

HYDE PARK CX

tdonn wins again! next week...same time, same place, same course! BRING LIGHTS, IT'S GETTING DARK EARLY!!!

Rain will help alot. It was DUSTYYYY last night.

UNIVERSE FÜÇKNG CHAMPIONSHIP! (TNUFC)

UNIVERSE FÜÇKNG CHAMPIONSHIP! (TNUFC)
DECEMBER 13, 2011
muhahahahahahahahahahaha!

Who: KC area Cyclocross folk.

What: Cyclocross practice races

When: December 13, 2011

Where: Hyde Park @ 37th and Gillham.

Why: LAST FREE CX RACE OF THE YEAR!!!

How: Race 40-50 minutes of intense shit.

Cost: FREE. Always is, always will be.

RAIN OR SHINE. IT'S CROSS!

mtbkc.blogspot.com for the latest.

Come be the ULTIMATE FÜÇKNG CHAMPION of the UNIVERSE.

until then, don't forget we're there every tuesday evening. 6 pm. bring lights if you got 'em!

hyde park #3

tdonn wins last night! see you next week, same time, same place, same(ish) course, rest of the season (through MO States).

There are a couple small changes I'll throw at ya once or twice. Should be fun (hard).

Berryman Training Ride #2

Who: Long distance MTBers

What: Long distance MTB (6ish hours-50ish miles)

When: 10:00 am Saturday October 15

Where: Starting at Volker Bicycles, 39th and Bell

Why: To see if you are ready for the Epic baby!

How: Bring your MTB and come ride.

Stuff to be ridden: Gravel/road to/from and the Wyandotte County Lake Trails

hope to see you there!