A while ago I 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. 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.
Thanks to everyone who contributed their routes for these last four posts. You have opened a whole new world of local and regional gravel opportunities to those that want to try gravel, prepare for that upcoming ride or race and you provided some challenging routes for those training for the Almanzo races.
Trek introduced some of the new additions to its fatbike lineup last week at the Sea Otter Classic. New bikes including full-suspension and a new super light carbon hardtail model in addition to new color choices on previous models will be showing up at your local Trek dealer late this Summer. Trek is now taking pre-orders on the Farley EX full-suspension and hardtail models for early August delivery.
The Farley EX models have 120mm of "smooth front and rear suspension". How is this new Trek offering different from the Salsa Bucksaw? With the proven suspension technology of ABP, Full Floater and RE:aktiv, Farley EX "rolls faster with less bounce thanks to its bigger 27.5 fat wheels."
Farley EX 9.8
$5499.99
Image Credit: Trek
Trek's carbon full-suspension offering, the Farley EX 9.8 starts with an OCLV Mountain Carbon mainframe & seatstay, alloy chainstay, ABP, Full Floater, EVO Link and Mino Link. The 120mm of travel comes from a Rock Shox Bluto RL fork and Fox
Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper tuned by Trek
Suspension Lab. Carbon Wampa TLR 80mm wheels fitted with Bontrager Hodag (TLR 120 tpi) 27.5x3.8" tires make up the wheelset. The drivetrain consists of SRAM X1 11-speed shifter, SRAM XO1 carbon rear derailleur, SRAM XG-1150 10-42
11-speed cassette and Race Face Next 30T Direct Mount
narrow/wide cranks. For the cockpit, Bontrager Line Pro OCLV carbon bars, Bontrager Line Pro stem, SRAM GD hydraulic disc brakes and Bontrager's new Drop Line 100 dropper post finish out this model. Comes in color Matte Trek Black. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley EX 8
$3499.99
Image Credit: Trek
Trek's aluminum full-suspension offering, the Farley EX 8 starts with an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with ABP, Full Floater, EVO Link and Mino Link. The 120mm of travel comes from a Rock Shox Bluto RL fork and Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper tuned by Trek Suspension Lab. SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims laced with Bontrager Jackalope hubs and fitted with Bontrager Hodag (TLR 120 tpi) 27.5x3.8" tires make up the wheelset. The drivetrain consists of SRAM GX 11-speed shifter, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount
narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42
11-speed cassette. SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes and a KS eThirty remote lever dropper post finish out this model. Comes in color California Skye Blue. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley 9.9
$7499.99
Image Credit: Trek
New for 2017 is Trek's lightest all-carbon race version fatbike to date, the Farley 9.9. This North America-only build weighs in at a mere 22 pounds. The build starts with Trek's OCLV Mountain Carbon frame and a Bontrager Haru Pro OCLV fork with carbon lowers and carbon E2 tapered steerer. HED Big Half Deal 85mm (27.5") carbon wheels with HED Brickhouse carbon hubs are combined with the new Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 27.5x4.5" tires. A SRAM Eagle XX1 12-speed drivetrain (10-50 cassette) and a full carbon cockpit including SRAM Guide Ultimate carbon hydraulic disc brakes round off this lightweight race machine. Comes in color Matte Carbon Smoke. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley 9.8
$4599.99
Image Credit: Trek
The 2017 Trek Farley 9.8 has some minor changes over the 2016 model including a color change to Matte Silver, Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 27.5x4.5" tires, Bontrager Montrose Elite (hollow Titanium rails) saddle, Bontrager Pro OCLV Carbon seatpost and Bontrager Pro stem. Features that carry over from last year's model are the carbon Wampa TLR 80mm wheels, 100mm suspension corrected carbon frame and fork, SRAM/Race Face drivetrain and SRAM Guide RS hydraulic disc brakes. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley 9.6
$2799.99
Image Credit: Trek
The 2017 Trek Farley 9.6 has a few changes over the 2016 model which include a color change to Roarange, SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.50" tires, ESI Chunky grips and SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes. The drivetrain remains the same with SRAM GX 11-speed shifter, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley 7
$2399.99
Image Credit: Trek
The Farley 7 has an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame, is 100mm suspension corrected with 197mm rear spacing Stranglehold rear axle dropout. An upgrade from the Farley 5 is a Bontrager Haru OCLV carbon lowers fork. Like the Farley 5, it has SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.70" tires but has SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes. The drivetrain consists of SRAM GX 11-Speed shifters, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette. Comes in color Matte Dnister Black. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Farley 5
$1729.99
Image Credit: Trek
Trek's entry level fatbike has an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame, is 100mm suspension corrected with 197mm rear spacing Stranglehold rear axle dropout. The drivetrain consists of Shimano Deore 10-Speed shifters, a Race Face Ride crank (36/22), SRAM X5 low direct mount front derailleur, Shimano Deore Shadow Plus rear derailleur and a Shimano HG50 11-36 10-speed cassette. Other features include SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.70"tires. Comes in color California Skye Blue. Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.
Open Streets MPLS returns for it sixth year with eight events that cover all quadrants of the city including downtown. What started as one event in 2011 has grown into something big that
gives cyclists, pedestrians, skaters and skateboarders a new way to see
the city without automobile traffic. These events are a great way to explore these neighborhoods, their local businesses and meet new people in a fun, family-friendly way. And best of all, they are all free. So grab your bike, walking shoes, skateboard or skates and enjoy these neighborhood streets that are free from traffic for one day.
Local community members plan out these events and around 100 volunteers
are needed for each one. If you would like to volunteer for any of the
Open Streets MPLS events, visit the Open Streets Volunteer page and fill out the sign up form.
Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning your Summer biking vacation(s). With so many biking destinations around our great state you may want to
get more information to help you decide where to go and where to stay. There are so many resources available at your fingertips that planning
your trip has become easier than ever. Cities and regions around
Minnesota are competing
for your travel dollars this summer and they have made it easy to find
more information about their destinations to attract you.
Minnesota has a lot to offer cyclists whether your discipline is road cycling, mountain biking, gravel, trail or bikepacking. A great place to start is the Explore Minnesota
website. There is a lot of information here to help you plan the kind
of rides you would like to take. It contains an array of brochures
that you can download, view online or have mailed to you. Quite a few
free regional brochures are listed for all areas of the state that can
also be selected for mailing. Go to the Explore Minnesota Travel Guides page to access these brochures. There are also planning tools
beyond just the website, Explore Minnesota Tourism staffs a
travel information center with travel counselors that will help you with
customized information (by phone, mail or e-mail) for planning your
trip.
The 2015-16 Pedal MN Minnesota Biking Guide is another great place to start. This free publication is available to view online, download or have mailed to you. It is full of information on paved trails, on-road touring and mountain biking around the state. It also contains links to trail maps, events and biking destination areas. Another useful source of Minnesota cycling information is the Pedal Minnesota website that is filled with upcoming events, places to ride, trail information and trip planning resources.
If you have a destination in mind for your trip, try heading to the
tourism or visitor's bureau website for that area or city. Sites like Visit Duluth, Iron Range Tourism, Cuyuna Lake Chamber of Commerce and Root River Trail Towns
are full of information that will help you find lodging, dining,
attractions, events and area trails. You may also visit my MN Tourism Resources page for a huge listing of online resources throughout the state.
Summer is right around the corner, so use the wealth of information
available on the Internet to make planning your next biking trip a
breeze. For easy to find trail maps and trail information for the Twin Cities Area, Southern MN, Central MN and Northern MN, don't forget about MN Bike Trail Navigator. I have already done the research to find the links so you don't have to.
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.
