I recently put up a post on the MN Gravel Enthusiasts Facebook Group
requesting gravel training routes around the state that I could share
with those that want to start their training early this year. I
received several recommendations and I've contacted some of my gravel
riding friends for their routes to share also. I'm sure more will
continue to come
in. Below I will have maps and links to these rides sectioned by areas
of the state.
Some of these routes have been submitted
by users and not tested by me, so ride at your own risk. Bring
everything with you that you will need to be self-supportive to get you
back to your starting point. Also,
bring plenty of food and water as there may not be any places along the
way to get these items. Please do not litter. If nature calls
during your ride, do not answer it in front of the locals. You may
experience aggressive dogs on country roads so be prepared and know how
to handle the situation.
I will add more gravel rides to share in future posts as they become available.
I recently put up a post on the MN Gravel Enthusiasts Facebook Group
requesting gravel training routes around the state that I could share
with those that want to start their training early this year. I
received several recommendations and I've contacted some of my gravel riding friends for their routes to share also. I'm sure more will continue to come
in. Below I will have maps and links to these rides sectioned by areas
of the state.
Some of these routes have been submitted
by users and not tested by me, so ride at your own risk. Bring
everything with you that you will need to be self-supportive to get you
back to your starting point. Also,
bring plenty of food and water as there may not be any places along the
way to get these items. Please do not litter. If nature calls
during your ride, do not answer it in front of the locals. You may
experience aggressive dogs on country roads so be prepared and know how
to handle the situation.
I will add more gravel rides to share in future posts as they become available.
The Filthy 50 returns in 2016 for its fourth year and has become a tradition for many gravel enthusiasts. Cyclists come from all over Minnesota and neighboring states to the
small town of Stewartville to race on the rolling gravel roads of
Olmstead and Filmore Counties. The scenery along the route is amazing and at the end of the race you will know why it was named The Filthy 50.
The Filthy 50 has introduced many to the joys of riding gravel and for some, it was their first gravel race. This will be my fourth Filthy 50, of which I have done it on a different bike each year and so the tradition will continue in 2016. October gravel is amazing with the Fall colors, scenery and weather this area offers to those that take the challenge. I highly recommend that you register and experience this race that is very special to me and many others that continue to do it year after year. Below are the details and rules direct from race organizer Trenton Raygor.
The Details
The Filthy 50 will take place on Sunday, October 9th, 2016.
The event will start and end on the north end of Stewartville, MN.
The start will take place at 10am and the riders will have until 4pm to
officially finish.
Registration will open on Sunday, March 20th and can be completed quickly online. Visit http://the-filthy-50.com/registration
and complete the form before the 800 rider cap is reached. We trust
that you will register and make it a priority to show up and ride on
October 9th. If you're not sure that you can make it, we kindly request
that you hold off on registering until you are certain.
Thanks to our sponsors, registration for The Filthy 50 continues to be a FREE and first come will be first served.
This event is completely unsupported. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU.
Individuals should bring EVERYTHING that they need for the ride and
expect absolutely NOTHING to be provided to them on the day of the
event.
GPX and TCX files, as well as cue sheets, will be made available for
download to all riders who end up on our official roster. Navigating
the course is critical, so we will do our best to prepare you for that.
Elevation profiles of the course will be provided through Filthy 50 social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) prior to Sunday, October 9th.
Days before the ride, those on the official roster will be sent
event day logistics as well as some other crucial information about what
to expect.
The Rules
It
is of utmost importance to us that everyone stays safe and enjoys The
Filthy 50. These are the rules. We think they are reasonable.
You are 100% on your own. Take care of yourself.
We would appreciate it if you would REGISTER with us.
This ride is unsupported. Bring EVERYTHING with you that you will need.
Always wear your helmet.
Respect the course and keep it clean. Please do not litter.
FAREWAY - An economical food store located in Stewartville, MN.
HED - The best wheels on the planet. Seriously.
THE HUB BICYCLE CO-OP - Worker Owned and Operated
KURT KINETIC - Making the BEST indoor trainers from Minneapolis, MN.
PENN CYCLE - Your Twin Cities bike shop.
MICROSTAT LABORATORIES - ESD Specialists
RIDING GRAVEL.COM - The gravel enthusiast’s resource
ROCHESTER CYCLING - A Rochester, MN bike shop for all of your bike needs.
SUNSHINE SANITATION - Sanitation professionals from Stewartville, MN.
SURLY BREWING - Give a damn. Do good. Drink beer.
2 WHEEL WEATHER - Where cycling and weather come together.
Despite this being a free event, it wouldn’t be able to happen as intend
without the support of these amazing sponsors and incredible
volunteers. If you are interested in sponsoring this
year, please send an email to thefilthy50@gmail.com. You can also show your support by donating to The Filthy 50 here. For those not racing that would like to volunteer you can do so by sending an email to the above address.
News Release From Trenton
The Filthy 50 will be returning to Stewartville, Minnesota for our fourth year and we couldn't be happier. For those of you who have committed to ride with us for the past three years, soon there will be a special tribute to you. You and everyone who has committed to ride with us year after year since 2013 has made The Filthy 50 what it is. You have made this ride yours and we are honored to be a part of what you have helped create. For our sponsors and those who have participated in our infamous "meat raffle" or donated anonymously, thank you for helping us make The Filthy 50 extra special for everyone. Lastly, to my family and friends who have volunteered their time and skill sets to helping us pull this thing off, we couldn't do it without you, nor would we want to, so thanks for coming back and making us do it again for one more year.
This year, there will be some added action. Alternative family friendly routes [12 and 24 mile routes] will be available upon request. We would love to see more young people out there. Just email us at thefilthy50@gmail.com after signing up if you are interested. Minneapolis based musician, Ben Weaver, will be performing live musical selections during the post ride party. In addition, Minnesota's Surly Brewing Company has joined the ranks of our sponsors and is looking forward to providing post ride libations to you all. There will also be a few mid ride surprises, so make sure to look around and don't blink.
After you register, as always, we highly encourage you to go ride your bike. The only ride you will regret is the one that you don't go on. Trust us.
I recently put up a post on the MN Gravel Enthusiasts Facebook Group requesting gravel training routes around the state that I could share with those that want to start their training early this year. I received several recommendations and I'm sure more will continue to come in. Below I will have maps and links to these rides sectioned by areas of the state.
Some of these routes have been submitted by users and not tested by me, so ride at your own risk. Bring everything with you that you will need to be self-supportive to get you back to your starting point. Also, bring plenty of food and water as there may not be any places along the way to get these items. Please do not litter. If nature calls during your ride, do not answer it in front of the locals. You may experience aggressive dogs on country roads so be prepared and know how to handle the situation.
I will add more gravel rides to share in future posts as they become available.
Practice riding starts at 10:00am and racing at 11:30am. Race format will be 4 racers with single elimination with the top two riders advancing. Entry fee is $30 or $10 with a non-perishable food donation. After the racing is completed there will be an open free ride until 4:30pm. This will be your last chance to ride Winter downhill in the Twin Cities before Spring. Don't miss it. See the flyer below or visit the Facebook Event Page for full details.
Riot Grrravel returns in 2016 on May 21st with with several distance options to introduce gravel racing/riding to women of all ages and abilities. What started out in 2014 with 82 riders by Riot Grrravel organizer Ellie Skelton was her way of bringing more women to come to enjoy this increasingly popular style of riding in a non-intimidating fashion.
Image Credit: Kate Lockhart
"The
idea for the Riotgrrravel ride came from attending several biking
events where the field was predominantly male. After riding the Filthy
50 in 2013, I started thinking of ways to get women to try riding on
gravel. The first Riotgrrravel was 30 miles because I wanted to make a
low barrier to entry for women who may have heard about longer gravel
races but were intimidated by the long distances. Having two teenage
daughters, I wanted to expose them to gravel racing as well. That's
really the goal: get more women & teens excited about gravel racing." - Ellie Skelton.
Image Credit: Kate Lockhart
Image Credit: Kate Lockhart
2016's race will have distance declarations of 10, 20 and 33 miles to open up the field to women of all abilities and experiences. The 33 mile course will have more elevation changes from previous year's courses for those that want to challenge themselves with climbing in addition to distance. While solo men are discouraged from attending, those men that are riding with and in support of wives, friends and daughters are welcome.
This year's race will be capped at 250 riders and since registration opened a little over a week ago, the roster has reached the halfway point. If you have never ridden gravel before or would like to challenge yourself with longer distance and/or some elevation change, Riot Grrravel is the event you need to attend. Ellie's 17 year old daughter, Cedar is even going to be there to ride this year with a group of her friends.
Image Credit: Kate Lockhart
Ellie hopes to organize some info gravel sessions and possibly an in-town gravel pre-ride (weather dependant) before raceday. Stay tuned to the Riot Grrravel Facebook page for details. If you or your company would like to support women's gravel riding/racing, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. Donations for swag and race prizes are also being accepted. Please send a message to Ellie on the Riot Grrravel Facebook page if you would like lend your support.
Image Credit: Kate Lockhart
Riot Grrravel will take place on Saturday, May 21st at Hope Lutheran Church in Hastings. Roll out is 9:30am sharp for 33 miler, 9:35am for the 20 miles and 9:45am for the 10 mile riders. This free unsupported women/family friendly event is being held rain or shine so dress accordingly and bring everything you will need to be self supportive. The ride will be unsupported with the same, "you are responsible for you," philosophy that other free gravel races have." - Ellie Skelton Registration is now openforRiot Grrravel 2016 and only takes a minute to sign up online. Ellie would love to hear why you are riding Riot Grrravel in 2016, just visit the Riot Grrravel Facebook page and tell your story. Updates can also be found on the Riot Grrravel Facebook Event page.
Men aren't
prohibited from racing but we ask that they ride with a woman or teen-
this is your chance to introduce someone to gravel racing! More girls on
bikes! More women on bikes! More families on bikes! - Ellie Skelton
45NRTH introduced its newly redesigned Wölvhammer Winter cycling boot for 2016 late last Fall and the changes they made were a huge improvement on previous models. Anyone who had a pair of these older models knew the problems with them such as sticky zippers and difficulty getting them on and off due to their double layer boot design. Gone are all of those problems with this new single layer boot construction. The outside of the boot now has a full grain leather and Ballistic Nylon
Cordura shell for warmth and durability giving it the look and styling
of a traditional mountaineering boot.
One of the first things I noticed is the improved Power Strap at the top of the boot, gone is the restrictive D-ring of the older style. This will
make putting them on easier and allow adjustments to be made while
wearing gloves. The lace-up design with gusseted tongue makes it easy to get the right amount of comfort when putting them on and it keeps the snow and slush out while keeping the warmth in. The lacing has a Velcro tab on the end that can be tucked underneath the Power Strap so it is out of the way and secure.
With this new gusseted tongue, getting into them is easy. It's just like putting on a traditional Winter boot. This is especially handy when wearing thicker wool socks for colder temperatures.
The deep lug pattern Vibram sole provides plenty of traction for those times when you have to hike-a-bike or put a foot down to keep yourself upright. This new model is two-bolt SPD compatible only but comes
with a cleat plug giving it the versatility to be used with flat pedals too.
Where I found these boots really excelled for warmth was in the late
Fall and early Winter when temperatures were in the twenties and
thirties. I was able to wear a thin wool sock and be warm and
comfortable for hours out on my fatbike. The wicking properties of the
wool socks and the lining of the Wölvhammers kept my feet dry even when I
became a little overheated.
My toes tend to get cold easily so when temperatures dipped into the
teens and below I would use chemical toe warmers and thicker wool socks
to extend the length of my rides. The larger toe box on the new
Wölvhammers still left me with plenty of wiggle room to keep blood
circulating properly, even when wearing the thicker socks and toe
warmers.
For really cold temperatures I would pair them with the 45NRTH Bergraven Gaiters to add an extra layer of insulation over the boot and keep the snow out for those first tracks and bushwhacking rides in deeper snow.
During the Winter I will clip in (using Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3's) about 75% of the time. The times I don't and use flat pinned pedals are during icy conditions, doing a little bushwhacking or on rare occasions like downhill (Fat Bike Gravity Fest). The Vibram sole of the Wölvhammers really works well with flats providing plenty of grip on the pins of the pedals.
Wölvhammers keep my feet dry during wet conditions or creek crossings where shoe covers with MTB shoes don't. Because they are breathable and keep moisture out, I plan on using them through the Spring thaw on some of my cold weather gravel rides on the fatbike.
The real test for the Wölvhammers came back in mid January when temperatures got really cold here in the Twin Cities. Some friends and I decided to go out early one Sunday morning for a creek/bushwhacking ride through the Minnesota River Bottoms. At ride start the temperature was -14° F and after 2-3/4 hours it had warmed up to -6° F. I had used chemical toe warmers and thick wool socks for this ride and by keeping my core temperature up with constant movement the Wölvhammers kept my feet warm but my toes were beginning to get a little cold near the end.
In conclusion, 45NRTH Wölvhammer boots are an excellent choice for both clipless and flat pedals in the Winter. Their comfort rating is 0° F to 25° F and in these conditions they work quite well at keeping feet warm and dry. Everyone is different so sock choice and chemical warmers will definitely help those who's feet get cold easily. These boots are very comfortable and don't seem bulky like other non-cycling specific boots. The new design is a huge improvement over the older models and has become much more user friendly. For those that race ultras or ride many miles in extreme temperatures the Wölvhammer may not keep your feet warm during these extended periods of a sub-zero climate. For this reason 45NRTH spent several years developing the ultimate extreme cold weather boot, the Wølfgar with its comfort rating of -25° F to 10° F. But for most of us recreational and enthusiast riders, the Wölvhammer does a fine job.
45NRTH Wölvhammer boots are now available in Mens extra wide 38–50 (no size 49), full sizes only at Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops for $325.
Disclosure: 45NRTH provided the review samples for this article,
but offered no other form of compensation for this review.
