Click Here for 2016 Grumpy Grind photos. Thank you Linda Kuhns!
2016 Finishing Results and Ride Report
Every year the Grumpy Grind is a little different. The biggest changes for Grumpy Grind 4 was that I made specific registration requirements, and I limited the field of riders to 100 participants. Registration filled up about four weeks before the ride. Of the 100 riders that signed up, only 71 showed up to ride. Being that this years ride proved to have the nicest forecast of any Grumpy Grind, the number of no shows was a little surprising.
For the 71 committed riders, they experienced one of the most challenging, yet satisfying Grumpy Grind rides yet. Temperatures at the beginning of the ride were in the low 60's, making for perfect riding conditions. I had all my veteran volunteers in place, and was able to do the ride as well. The first 25 miles were perfect, with mostly rolling hills, flats and false flats. Riders were fresh a this point, and the tailwind/crosswind had people cruising along. Around mile 33, things started to change. The big hills and climbs of the course began to kick in. This was by far the most scenic part of the ride, with terrain that almost made one feel like they were no longer in Illinois. Recently grated roads and fresh gravel made for loose traction, and the heat that riders weren't yet accustomed to began to steadily climb.
The one checkpoint at mile 46 allowed riders to fully stock up on liquids. Those who chose not to paid the price for it later. Several riders checked out of the ride at this point and enjoyed a tasty meal at the "Slurp and Burp" bar. I'm never an advocate for not finishing, but it's always better to know your limits and make a wise decision. Those who plunged into the last 38 miles of the ride were treated to a very challenging 3/4 mile climb out of the Loran Valley. And the hills didn't relent until mile 54. By this time, temperatures had reached the low 80's, with the heat of the gravel making riders feel even hotter. This area of the course was what I liked to refer to as the "dead zone". There was little scenery, headwinds, lots of false flats, and still 25 miles to go to the finish.
The final 25 miles are always psychologically challenging. There are especially challenging when there are few turns and you are just grinding out the miles. These are the times when a water tower in the distant horizon never seems to grow closer. The final miles were a slow grind. As the finish grew near, riders were greeted with a challenging 1 mile dirt lane that might have been the final punch in the gut. The temperatures were catching riders off guard, and survival was more of concern than overall placing.
One of my favorite parts of the event was being there to watch others finish. Most of the 42 finishers wore a painful smile as they crossed the finish. They had earned their finish. It was not any easy ride. The early season hills and heat had taken it's toll. I thank all of the riders who chose to come, and every participant had my whole hearted respect (finish or not). It was a challenging day. The Grumpy Grind might not attract the numbers that other gravel rides do, but for those who chose to come, I think it will have left a lasting impression.
Below is the list of finisher and times. If something seems incorrect, please let me know.
(times based on cumulative ride time)
1. Bryce Mead - 5:09.30
2. Mark Johnson - 5:11.11
3. Dominic Cozzi - 5:12.47
4. Kae Takeshita - 5:12.48
5. Colm Flannery - 5:16
6. Joel Chamberlain - 5:16
7. Bruce Grell - 5:20
8. Matthew Wagner - 5:28.28
9. Bailey Newbrey - 5:38.45
10. Tom Flynn - 5:47.30
11. Jan Maner - 5:47.31
12. Greg McLane - 5:50.30
13. Gregory Anderson - 5:51.58
14. Jason Fergurson - 5:55.40
15. Tom Kabacinski - 6:08.03
16. Zachary May - 6:14
17. Joe Behan - 6:14.01
18. Ian Frink - 6:14.01
19. Jim McPherson - 6:17.20
20. Steve Foster - 6:35.38
21. Sean Hayek - 6:44.95
22. Dennis Sandquist - 6:45.25
23. Brandon Hall - 7:00.01
24. Trent Williams - 7:00.30
25. Peter Monko - 7:00.32
26, Brett Ratner - 7:01.22
27. Jon Schratz - 7:02.38
28. Keith Kocunik - 7:05.20
29. Daniel Szokarski - 7:06.30
30. Dave Spangler - 7:06.31
31. Mark Suri - 7:07.20
32. Brandon Todd - 7:30.05
33. Kristina Young - 7:32.45
34. Brad Birkholz - 7:33.05
35. Joel Hukill - 7:35
36. "Bionic" Bob Anderson - 7:35
37. John Rockwell - 7:35.45
38. Deb Vomhof - 7:36.05
39. Eric Alexander - 8:51.30
40. Kelly Alexander - 8:51.31
41. Joe Gatz - 9:01.58
42. Eric Kuhns - 9:01.58
2016 Finishing Results and Ride Report
Every year the Grumpy Grind is a little different. The biggest changes for Grumpy Grind 4 was that I made specific registration requirements, and I limited the field of riders to 100 participants. Registration filled up about four weeks before the ride. Of the 100 riders that signed up, only 71 showed up to ride. Being that this years ride proved to have the nicest forecast of any Grumpy Grind, the number of no shows was a little surprising.
For the 71 committed riders, they experienced one of the most challenging, yet satisfying Grumpy Grind rides yet. Temperatures at the beginning of the ride were in the low 60's, making for perfect riding conditions. I had all my veteran volunteers in place, and was able to do the ride as well. The first 25 miles were perfect, with mostly rolling hills, flats and false flats. Riders were fresh a this point, and the tailwind/crosswind had people cruising along. Around mile 33, things started to change. The big hills and climbs of the course began to kick in. This was by far the most scenic part of the ride, with terrain that almost made one feel like they were no longer in Illinois. Recently grated roads and fresh gravel made for loose traction, and the heat that riders weren't yet accustomed to began to steadily climb.
The one checkpoint at mile 46 allowed riders to fully stock up on liquids. Those who chose not to paid the price for it later. Several riders checked out of the ride at this point and enjoyed a tasty meal at the "Slurp and Burp" bar. I'm never an advocate for not finishing, but it's always better to know your limits and make a wise decision. Those who plunged into the last 38 miles of the ride were treated to a very challenging 3/4 mile climb out of the Loran Valley. And the hills didn't relent until mile 54. By this time, temperatures had reached the low 80's, with the heat of the gravel making riders feel even hotter. This area of the course was what I liked to refer to as the "dead zone". There was little scenery, headwinds, lots of false flats, and still 25 miles to go to the finish.
The final 25 miles are always psychologically challenging. There are especially challenging when there are few turns and you are just grinding out the miles. These are the times when a water tower in the distant horizon never seems to grow closer. The final miles were a slow grind. As the finish grew near, riders were greeted with a challenging 1 mile dirt lane that might have been the final punch in the gut. The temperatures were catching riders off guard, and survival was more of concern than overall placing.
One of my favorite parts of the event was being there to watch others finish. Most of the 42 finishers wore a painful smile as they crossed the finish. They had earned their finish. It was not any easy ride. The early season hills and heat had taken it's toll. I thank all of the riders who chose to come, and every participant had my whole hearted respect (finish or not). It was a challenging day. The Grumpy Grind might not attract the numbers that other gravel rides do, but for those who chose to come, I think it will have left a lasting impression.
Below is the list of finisher and times. If something seems incorrect, please let me know.
(times based on cumulative ride time)
1. Bryce Mead - 5:09.30
2. Mark Johnson - 5:11.11
3. Dominic Cozzi - 5:12.47
4. Kae Takeshita - 5:12.48
5. Colm Flannery - 5:16
6. Joel Chamberlain - 5:16
7. Bruce Grell - 5:20
8. Matthew Wagner - 5:28.28
9. Bailey Newbrey - 5:38.45
10. Tom Flynn - 5:47.30
11. Jan Maner - 5:47.31
12. Greg McLane - 5:50.30
13. Gregory Anderson - 5:51.58
14. Jason Fergurson - 5:55.40
15. Tom Kabacinski - 6:08.03
16. Zachary May - 6:14
17. Joe Behan - 6:14.01
18. Ian Frink - 6:14.01
19. Jim McPherson - 6:17.20
20. Steve Foster - 6:35.38
21. Sean Hayek - 6:44.95
22. Dennis Sandquist - 6:45.25
23. Brandon Hall - 7:00.01
24. Trent Williams - 7:00.30
25. Peter Monko - 7:00.32
26, Brett Ratner - 7:01.22
27. Jon Schratz - 7:02.38
28. Keith Kocunik - 7:05.20
29. Daniel Szokarski - 7:06.30
30. Dave Spangler - 7:06.31
31. Mark Suri - 7:07.20
32. Brandon Todd - 7:30.05
33. Kristina Young - 7:32.45
34. Brad Birkholz - 7:33.05
35. Joel Hukill - 7:35
36. "Bionic" Bob Anderson - 7:35
37. John Rockwell - 7:35.45
38. Deb Vomhof - 7:36.05
39. Eric Alexander - 8:51.30
40. Kelly Alexander - 8:51.31
41. Joe Gatz - 9:01.58
42. Eric Kuhns - 9:01.58
