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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

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!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

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!

Monday, December 12, 2011

halcyon holiday this week!!!

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

Thursday, November 24, 2011

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!

Monday, November 7, 2011

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!

Monday, October 31, 2011

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.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

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).

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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!

hyde park #2

mark horn wins an awesome race last night!!! tons of peeps out once again, the course is pretty burned in now...go ride!!! and see you next Tuesday!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Hyde Park I

Andy Lucas wins! New park, new champ. Where you at BK?

Hyde Park course is fun and super fast. Come next week. Same course, same time, same place all month. I'm gonna start staying in for 90%-100% of the time now so some more self awareness will have to be undertaken.

It's been great to see everyone come out and race Tuesdays. It's a good day to hammer hard after 2 days of weekend racing and recovery Monday. See you Tuesday!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

October 8th Berryman Training Ride

Who: Long distance MTBers

What: Long distance MTB (8ish hours)

When: 9:00 am Saturday October 8

Where: Starting at JC Nichols Fountain, 47th and Cleaver, Kansas City Country Club Plaza

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

How: Bring your MTB and come ride.

Stuff to be ridden: Trolley Track Trail, Blue River/Minor Park trails, Swope Trails and whatever else we decide :)

hope to see you there!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

keeping it up!

awesome turnout tonight again! Heard someone say there was "like 90 people here". Not really but a lot. Thanks for coming and pushing each other. We all get better and KC CX gets better by you coming.

REMEMBER!!!! Next week starts out time at the Hyde Park "bowl" at 37 and Gillham. you can't miss it. start bringing lights if you got them. Hyde has installed some new light posts but still not enough to light the entire park really well. We should be good there for at least 2 more weeks before it starts getting really darkish early :/

NEXT WEEK and ALL of OCTOBER
Tuesday Night Universes-Cross Races
Hyde Park
37th and Gillham in "the bowl"
FREE 10-15 minute warm-up, 30-40 minutes.
Courses are usually 3-6 minute laps depending on how hard you go.

Monday, September 19, 2011

remember

tuesday night universes...roanoke september, hyde october, paseo november.

halcyon holiday gravel grinder...saturday december 17, 2011...metric century gravel goodness.

see you there.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

tuesday night universe

next week. 6 pm warm-ups on course. be there to figure the course out. 6:15--40 minute race will start. park at the community center again if you drive in. We'll be in the northern part of the park next week. (away from the kiddies football practice). come find us.

last night--britton won. AMAZING TURNOUT! i literally put the course together as i rode it the first couple times around the park. i'll do better next week when I'm not putting my race bike together at 5:45 still in the Volker shop. HUGE THANKS to everyone who came out.

see you next tuesday. 2 more races at Roanoke then we'll be heading to Hyde Park.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tuesday Night Universes

Thought Tuesday night worlds was big? Check this out!!!

Tuesday Night Universes
aka Tuesday Evening Cyclocross Races

Who: KC area Cyclocross folk.

What: Cyclocross practice races

When: 6:00 pm Tuesday nights in September, October, and November (bring lights in November if you got them!)

Where: good question...
September's races will be at Roanoke Park @ Karnes Blvd. and Roanoke Road.
October's races will be at Hyde Park @ 37th and Gillham.
November's races will be at Paseo Park @ 59th and Paseo.

Why: Get in shape lazy ass. Don't cost nothing.

How: Race 30-60 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 champion of the Universe.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Courtois Challenge this week!

details can be found in posts below...check them out please, it'll benefit you.

Original details:
THIS RIDE/RACE IS TOTALLY SELF-SUPPORTED! (ie: no "official" aid stations, see below)

Courtois Challenge
MTB out and back ride/race
100% singletrack!
55 miles.
From Council Bluffs Lake to Berryman Campground, and back again!
Camping and riding all weekend at Council Bluffs Lake.

Saturday July 23, 2011
8:00 am start time
From Wild Boar Campgrounds, Council Bluffs Lake National Recreation Area.

THIS RIDE/RACE IS TOTALLY SELF-SUPPORTED!
However, there are plenty of trail heads between CBL and Berryman (Hazel Creek is about halfway between both) that you can have a support crew meet you at if so desired, or if everyone was smart, they'd find someone to lug a bunch of shit up to Berryman for everyone :) WHICH WE CAN DO FOR YOU!!! SEE BELOW.

How's this gonna work?
No money, no license, no excuses, and absolutely no bitching. PLEASE be prepared, I cannot stress this enough. I highly recommend a water filter/water purification tablets so that you don't have to carry 300 oz of water (which still may not be enough during mid-July).
We'll meet at 7:45 am in Wild Boar Campground, at the self-pay kiosk (entrance to campground) to make it easy on everyone. We'll then roll out neutral until we hit the actual Ozark Trail (I will be leading so it will stay neutral :) I will be camping both Friday and Saturday nights at CBL, I recommend you do the same and drink cold beer with me after this epicness.

and of course, I'll be single speeding it :)

This will be an amazing, no pressure ride/race and great training for the upcoming Berryman Trail Epic. I will have a clipboard stashed at Berryman (I will be there). I will let people know where it is the day of the ride/race, once you find it, you will sign it, time stamp it and head back to CBL.

More stuff:
water/gatorade and bag drops. These will be available for you. I'll be on/off riding the route. We will have water/gatorade for you at BOTH Hazel Creek and Berryman. Also, if you want to have us take anything to berryman for a bag drop, we will be glad to do so (MAKE SURE YOUR BAG IS MARKED! WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, yada yada yada). This should make the ride A LOT more tolerable and doable for folks.

Disclaimer: However, you are still responsible for you. We will NOT have room for people who bonk. we will not have maps. We will not have food/nutrition for you other than blue powered gatorade mixed with ice cold water and ice cold water at Hazel Creek and Berryman. Please have all your necessary tools/tubes/butt creme/water filtration devices/etc present and at your disposal.

See you saturday!!!