February is upon us, and even though there is ten inches of snow currently out in my yard, I know that the spring riding season isn't really that far off. This years Grumpy Grind is 10 weeks away. That sounds like a long ways off, but it will sneak up on us quickly. As a rider, it makes you feel like you have don't have that long to train for an upcoming endurance event. And as an event organizer, well, there is that quiet lingering stress and excitement of having all aspects of the event come together. For the next ten weeks I'll try to make at least one post per week providing some general information about the Grumpy Grind.

Every year I deal with the challenge of trying to create a new route. The challenge of finding and tying together gravel roads isn't always easy when trying to achieve a specific distance. This year might be the last year I will be able to use "The Farm" as my start/finish (something I'll talk about more in another post), so I decided to make the ride include some of my favorite roads, include a favorite brewery, and not worry so much about the distance that needed to be ridden.
The distance for this years ride will be approximately 86 miles. Yeah that sounds a little long for the spring, but it is what it is. Come ride it or not. On a positive note, the midway checkpoint will be at Wishful Acres Farm & Brewery. This checkpoint will be at approximately mile 45. If you aren't feeling so great with your ride at this point, perhaps you can just hang out for a pint or two and call for your pit crew to come and get you. Who knows, maybe your pit crew will already be at the brewery waiting?
Registration Update: The registration postcards are slowly trickling in. Thanks to those who have already done so. My registration directions aren't too complicated, but some people already have failed to supply all the necessary information I requested. Please double check my list of required information. And please write legibly. I did request a t-shirt size, as I might have a sponsor willing to kindly get one to all participants for free, which is pretty awesome. On that note, if you know you are not going to come for any reason, please be kind enough to email me and tell me this so I'm not requesting more shirts than need to be provided. Despite its name, the Grumpy Grind is a pretty laid back event, so kindly keep me updated if you no longer plan to show up.
The distance for this years ride will be approximately 86 miles. Yeah that sounds a little long for the spring, but it is what it is. Come ride it or not. On a positive note, the midway checkpoint will be at Wishful Acres Farm & Brewery. This checkpoint will be at approximately mile 45. If you aren't feeling so great with your ride at this point, perhaps you can just hang out for a pint or two and call for your pit crew to come and get you. Who knows, maybe your pit crew will already be at the brewery waiting?
Registration Update: The registration postcards are slowly trickling in. Thanks to those who have already done so. My registration directions aren't too complicated, but some people already have failed to supply all the necessary information I requested. Please double check my list of required information. And please write legibly. I did request a t-shirt size, as I might have a sponsor willing to kindly get one to all participants for free, which is pretty awesome. On that note, if you know you are not going to come for any reason, please be kind enough to email me and tell me this so I'm not requesting more shirts than need to be provided. Despite its name, the Grumpy Grind is a pretty laid back event, so kindly keep me updated if you no longer plan to show up.