1200 Miles & a Cup O' Dirt & a little Mississippi Mud!

Take the year long challenge of completing a dozen or half a dozen dirty centuries and join the fun in December! Everybody who completes this challenge will be rewarded with a custom hand-made stoneware mug as well as be in a drawing for other prizes. Read the FAQ for details, and welcome to the fun!

I've increased the fun to give some more folks a shot at the cup - a bit 'watered down' - We'll have the 1200 Mile Cup O' Dirt and a 600 Mile Cup O' Mississippi Mud and new in 2008 is the 1/2 Liter O' Dirt - earned by completing 12 metric centuries in the year! A special award will be presented to anyone completing either a dirty century or metric century in each month of the year.

Friday, October 19, 2007

A Lurker Emerges From The Shadows!

Paul Jacobson (http://happytraining.blogspot.com) has been working all year for the Cup - and with some very impressive rides! - The dude loves gravel! What's not to love? We live in Iowa!!! - anyway - on to Paul...

In his training for Trans-Iowa V-IV (that is confusing... 'Version Four') he hit a 107 miler - for his first log towards said Cup. He also put a 94 miler in - ooooo soo close - let's have a vote - to count or not to count? You decide! Vote with a comment - your vote will be public, so Paul and his 'thug' friends will see just how we all voted. As keeper of the Cup - I will refrain from voting, except in the case of a tie. Vote by 10/31/07. Editors note: This voting thing was MY idea!!! Paul had nothing to do with it - didn't ask for it - In the spirit of Leadville - where it is always up to the finishers to allow a 12:01 (or close to it) finisher the honor of the buckle, and last ass over the pass - this was my idea to allow a 'so close I could taste it' ride into the cup chase - so - you decide!

Next - 200 miles at the Trans Iowa - impressive. And finally - 200 miles of Dirty Kanza. I call that 5 (rules stated that you can do them in quick succession)

So - Paul - welcome to the chase! The rest of you - sound off!

Peace and happy riding (and when - oh when - will this rain stop??!!?) - Kercove - you laughing? Hey - it's snowing in Colorado!

Dave

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Mike Johnston Hits 'Pay Dirt'!

Mike got some of his friends - LT 100 partner John Adamson, Kat - I'm always ready for a hard workout Porter, and Jeff the grips pimp Kerkove to join him for his 6th dirty hundy. Our fast and friendly 100 miles of gravel took us south to Dike, Reinbeck and Trear. The best part of the ride was on Ridge Road - which snakes along the ridges west of Trear with great views to the north and south.
On the way home we dropped Jeff off at his place and wished him well with his Ergon adventure in Ft. Collins. Jeff has been a real asset to our biking community. Kathleen had an excellent ride - her 5th gravel ride. Her comment was "it sure makes you appreciate the pavement." John got his 7th dirty 100 and declared that Mr. Pickle is the man. Mike enjoyed the ride, training, company and considered the ride as the start of his preparation for the LT 100 in 2008. Ride on, Mike. He didn't enjoy the last 15 miles of the day when he rode in the pouring rain.
John



Editors Note: Congratulations on joining a very elite crowd, Mike! You, Big Johny and GPickle are so far the only ones to have earned the coveted 'Cup O' Dirt' - a bit muddy, mind you, but a Cup, none-the-less! Cully? BenG? what're you two up to? Come on, let's go! It is high time that I got my sorry rear off my chair and onto my saddle for a couple more hundys to join you in a toast to dirt! - Dave