Postcard all the way from Ireland. This is the fourth year of the Grumpy Grind and I still feel very much like the amateur event director. Each year I learn a little more and and make a few tweaks to the event. This year I decided to go the route of postcard entries, with the thought that it would be a fun and simplified way of entering an event. I have participated in events, such as TransIowa, that also used postcards, so I figured it would be a smooth sailing format. I have quickly learned why the promoter of TI is so particular about how a postcard is filled out. First off, it's amazing how many people have non-legible handwriting. I really do try to spell peoples names correctly on the rider list, but when the handwriting is unreadable, well, so it goes.
Postcards from Japan too! Kind of. I've also been amazed by how many people have failed to provide me with a contact email and emergency contact number(as asked for). Some sort of contact information is nice to have in case I need to get in touch for any reason. And even though people always expect to have a safe riding experience, if something goes wrong, an emergency contact number is very important to have. I'm pretty relaxed about this ride and I'm all about trying to make the entire Grumpy Grind experience positive, but if you are one of those people who still has yet to enter, please fill your postcard out the correct way, and in a legible manner. Thanks.
May the "Force be with you" on the Grumpy Grind. If you've read this far, I apologize for the rant, but it was on my mind. On a positive note, there are already 43 riders already signed up for this years Grumpy Grind! This number blows me away. year. I set the field limit to 100 riders this year, with the mindset that I wouldn't likely even come close to that number, but I may be proven wrong. Many of the postcards I have received have been from returning riders. And many of those returning riders wrote short notes of kindness that made me all the more motivated to put on as great an event as possible. From my experience, the people I have met doing gravel grinds are all part of the reason to want to sign up for another event. So thank you to all who have signed up. I'm looking forward to the snow melting, the weather warming, and seeing you all in April.
RSS Feed
