The Bacon Ride was delicious

Sunrise on the Mopac heading for Platte

Saturday!

Rollin' out on the Jamaica Trail

We had a great Saturday morning crew today. Thanks again for patiently waiting for the departure out of D Street. Yeah, when we say 7 AM that usually means 7:15 roll out. That's the way it is with a big crew of folks. There's always gonna be someone running a bit late. Usually it's Gersib, but today it was Malcolm. Maybe we should make the late person wear a jersey or helmet of shame decked out in annoying flare for the entire ride. That might motivate folks to get there on time. Or maybe we should set the ride times 15 minutes earlier....like 6:45 AM. Then maybe we'll actually leave on time. But then again that would necessitate me getting my lazy arss out of bed 15 minutes earlier. Did I ever mention how I love having rides leave from my house...somehow I find a way to be late all the time too.

The Saturday Morning Road Ride crew meets up with the Saturday Morning Gravel posse

We rolled down to Cortland and coincidentally met up with the road crew. The gravel posse purchased some beers, sodas and candy bars while the road crew bought some Smart Waters, ate some gels, and reviewed their Powertap data. Kidding. Great seeing you guys!

PCL crew members up front on the Salsa rigs

For some reason Jeff and DK decided to hold hands the entire way home to Lincoln. Later on, during a pit stop they disappeared together in the trees for a bit and came back covered in dirt and grass. It was weird.

Next generation of gravel riders?

Ummm, yeah...probably not, but ya never know. Maybe they'll get inspired and try to join us someday.

Thanks again for the ride today everyone. Tomorrow is Bacon Ride action! 6 AM from the Mopac Trailhead.

Gravel Worlds!

The Jersey - Thanks Jay!

The Trophies - Thanks Scott!

Setting up with CVO at 4:30 AM - Thanks buddy!

Riders gathering for the 6 AM start - Official headcount was 96 with 10 to 20 others pirating the Pirate race.

And they're off!

Oasis #1 (thanks again Reinkordt Family) - Rafal and Scott examining Bruce's exposed posterior from a crash earlier in the ride - Ouch! Talk about a gnarly sunburn!

Mike Marchand rollin' in to take the overall win - he crushed it in under 9 hours!

Mark Savery rode great all day and took second overall and first high five and "good job buddy"

Lance Andre of Iowa or Florida rollin' in to take fourth overall

Dale Pinkelman took fifth overall, but won the biggest smile at the finish contest

Coach took sixth overall and also a digger somewhere on the ride. Several others went down too. Carnage!

Folks at the finish trying to find some shade - it was a cooker!

Jeremy Eisenhauer won the Saltiest Rider contest sponsored by Morton Salt

Not sure what's going on here...

DFL! Wills, Butch and Fob! Great job fellas!

Gravel Worlds final prep

The final prep is almost complete. It's been a hectic week without much riding. I only got out for one ride this week and that just plain sucks. Definitely need a recharge after this weekend. The sacrifice has been worth it.

The beauty of an event such as the Gravel Worlds is it uses a surface that most cyclists wouldn't even consider riding let alone racing. Gravel and dirt roads are a unique cycling surface that gets back to the roots of cycling. Before pavement, dirt and gravel were all cyclists had. I feel very lucky to have such an abundance of gravel and dirt surrounding Lincoln and throughout the Midwest. Folks in other parts of the country don't have access to gravel and dirt like we do here.

Cyclists who haven't tried riding on gravel or ridden in a gravel event are missing a unique experience that can change their whole perspective on competitive cycling. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

All that we've poured into this event should be evident tomorrow morning and throughout the day. A lot of folks have gotten behind this event and all I can say is thank you. Without your help and contribution this event wouldn't be happening.

It's gonna be a great day on the gravel!

Gettin' old

Worst cake ever! Thanks Mom!

Come down to Yia Yia's on Friday night at 7 PM to wish me and Matt T. a Happy Birthday.

More random bike-cation pics

Thanks for the ride in Fort Collins SDA!

Riding with the Kelley Clan in Grand Lake

Lost in Leadville with Pua

Gravel Worlds Recon and Carnage

Morning fog on the eastern front during Saturday morning recon

Saturday recon crew on at the most northern part of the course

Sunday morning recon crew rolling out the Jamaica Trail

Homestead Trail carnage - heal up Malcolm and Troy!

Finished up the recon...the course is wicked!

Missing the mountains

Hagerman Pass

Mountain lion?

Spotted this fella in Grand Lake, CO - look in between the two aspen trees

Gravel Worlds!

GRAVEL WORLDS 2010 from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Wilber Czech Days!

Rollin' out with the crew via the Homestead Trail to the Wilber Czech Days

Emcee getting the polka band goin'

Refuelin' on Kolaces from the Wilber Bakery

Yummy Kolace goodness

Czech Pilsner style rehydration at the Wilber Hotel

Laramie Enduro, you complete me.

Last Saturday I had the privilege to participate in the Laramie Enduro. This was my fourth time racing there and each year it has been a blast. It almost wasn't to be because I missed the boat on the online registration (filled up in less than 10 minutes!). Luckily I got a spot on the waiting list and was eventually offered a spot. There's a reason this race keeps getting more and more popular!

Linin' up and being warned about a hawk that has been attacking riders on the course - yikes!

First singletrack of the day after the log jam at the start

Stringing out on the gravel

Evan, former Midwesterner and current Laramie resident, up front and having fun

Tacky singletrack goodness

Beautiful two track goodness

Thank you volunteers!

The volunteers at the Aid Stations were fantastic! They'd grab your bottles as you rolled up and asked what you needed. I had fresh bottles and a mouthful of food in less than thirty seconds. The volunteers make this race great.

Climbing through the sage

This one was a hike a bike for me

Almost done!

Post race wash up

Rehydration station courtesy of New Belgium

I'm super stoked on this event. It's a top notch mountain bike race with plenty of flowing singletrack, challenging climbs and descents, technical rocky sections, and outstanding aid stations manned by friendly volunteers. Even though I had a tough day on the bike I still crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. If you haven't raced the Laramie Enduro yet, put it on your list for next year. I'll be at my computer and ready the minute registration opens for next year!