There is a story to the cheesy picture with the handsome model.  Sometimes I get ideas.  Sometimes they happen, and sometimes they don't.  And most of my ideas happen slowly because that's just the nature of people with ideas.  So a couple of months ago I mentioned to my mom, who is a genius in the artisan world of sewing and textiles, that it would be cool if she was to make me some cycling caps for the gravel grind I was organizing.  After careful studies of some top notch cap makers out there, this is what she came up with.  So please ignore the cheesy grin, but I thought it would be cool to showcase a handmade cycling cap, made in the USA, and made in Sterling, Illinois.  Yes, she did it all, right down to the rooster on the side.  Pretty amazing.  In the end, I feel pretty spoiled by my mom for doing things such as this.  Especially since we decided for the price Walz and others sell their hand made products, it would have been much more time and cost effective to just purchase one of their caps. 

Making these caps is a lot like doing an endurance gravel grind.  There isn't always a logical, tangebile, explicable reason for why we do it, but it is something done out of love.  We do it because it feels good.  There is something beautiful and fulfilling about it.  We do it because we like the challenge.  We do it because we can.  

A couple of lucky ducks will be getting one of these hand-made (from love) caps at the post-ride raffle.   

Today I finally polished off the cue sheets for this years Grumpy Grind course.  Total distance, 78.5 miles.  To my suprise, some of the roads that were still unplowed a month ago, and still unrideable even a week ago, have become rideable once again (at least mostly).  Weather permitting, they will continue to dry out and make for a very rideable course.  On the other hand, some of the dirt lanes on the course will become glorious hike-a-bike sections if rain and cooler temps come back our way.  But that is all part of the fun of it, and what can make this ride so grumpy. 

It has been brought to my attention that some individual (or group) have supposedly already downloaded the course onto their Garmins.  I find this to be rather odd (and entertaining) to say the least.  First off, my technological skills are rather archaic, and I have never placed this information onto any web based site.  And secondly, there is only one other who knows the course.  So unless these persons have coarsed this information from my wife, the actual course remains undisclosed to anyone.

In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter if someone already knows the course (which they don't).  A ride is simply a ride.  But the spirit of gravel grinds is to find your way as you go.  That is part of what makes a grind unique.  Choosing to follow a path other than the path specificly created on the cue cards is risky business.  I once had the TransIowa experience of blindly following those ahead of me and going about 8 miles off course at 5:30 in the morning.  Being lost felt terrible, and the feeling was made worse because I knew I should have been making my own decisions rather than blindy trusting another.  The moral of this story.  Trust only the issued cue cards.  They mark the couse, and they'll get you home safely.

For those who are coming into "town" the night before and would like to camp out, there will be camping available at the farmstead where the ride will begin and finish.  This farmstead isn't a state park, but Brent and Yogi, the couple who reside there, have kindly given permission to people to pitch a tent or sleep in their car on their property.  There aren't any showers or camper hook-ups available, but there will be a port-a-potty set up on the grounds.  If you wish to have a campfire, you should be fine there too.  If there is a weather emergency you can fine refuge in a barn. Brent and Yogi are both awesome individuals, and they will likely be most hospitable, but please do respect their property and "leave no trace."

Don't expect to find a whole lot in terms of entertainment or fine dining while in Milledgeville, it's a pretty small town.  They do have a pizza place, a couple of bars, and a Casey's (which is really all you need).  Sterling will be the closest "big" city.  If you need food like supplies, make sure you stop at the Krogers on Route 40 as you are heading north out of town.  If you need any last minute bike supplies, Mead's Bike Shop is also on Route 40 in downtown Sterling.  But they do close at 3:00 on Saturdays, so you may be out of luck if you come into town in the evening.

The farmstead is about 3 miles north of route 40 on Otter Creek Rd.  Be sure to look carefully for this turn as you head out of town, it comes up on you quickly.  If you have any specific questions regarding camping out the night before, feel free to contact me.

The Grumpy Grind does its best to mainintain a grassroots racing/riding style of atmosphere.  We keep it fun, try make it so people come away with both an experience and some goodies, while all the while keeping the event free!  But the truth is that nothing is ever really free.  Somewhere in the midst of all this comes time and funding in some sort of fashion.  With that in mind, I feel it is important to give a big shout out of thanks to all of our great sponsors, each of who values the spirit of adventure and bicycle riding much like I/we do. 

We have some pretty cool, and generous sponsors this year.  From butt cream to haircuts, and oral surgeons to bike shops, we have our bases covered.  These sponsors will be helpng provide things such as waterbottles, t-shirts (free to the finishers), and post-ride eats for all of the riders.  Lucky raffle winners will get to choose from products donated by Banjo Brothers Bags, Enzos Cream, Trek Bicycle Corp., Mead's Bike Shop, Airplay Sports, and Velocity Wheels.  Banjo Brother's Bags is giving out a special "DFL" award, and the top prize of some Velocity wheels will be given out.  

You don't have to win the ride to win any of the raffles, but you do have to hang around after the ride if you want a shot at recieveing any of this free swag.  Make sure you check out these  sponsors and see what they offer.  They are a special part of what makes the Grumpy Grind a great event..    

Decided today was a "good" day to ride the course and see what the roads are looking like.  Considering the weather three weeks agon, it's amazing just how nice the roads are right now.  This gradual freeze/thaw has been kind to the gravel, making it peanut butter smooth in some areas, packed down solid in others, and oozy muddy in some of the low areas.  There are still a few areas of slight ice, but those are rare areas where the sun didn see the road much.  The spring winds were the biggest battle, but you'll be happy to know that much of the course stair steps around, making the longest straight stretch in any direction only about 6 miles. 

Due to a few sketchy road conditions the preplanned route looks like it will have to be modified to a distance of about 75 miles, but that is still subject to change.  For those thinking they will ride a road bike or use road cleats, please know that there may be a section or two of "hike-a-bike" depending on how the ground dries out.  So come prepared for that.  At the moment there is about 9 miles of pavement during the ride, with the biggest stretch of those miles being at around the midway point, which will be a welcome reprieve.

The checkpoint where all riders must stop and check in at is right around 37 miles.  There will be some water here for people, but nothing else will be supplied.  There will be bathrooms available at this location.  This point is also the bail out point for those who are thinking about only going half way.  I'll post this specific location in a post about a week prior to the ride.  There is a gas station/convenience store at about the 50 mile mark that would be a smart choice to refuel at. 

This winter, more than others, it has been difficult to do much consistent outdoor training.  Riding on the trainer indoors can help maintain some fitness, but it isn't quite like the real thing.  If you are like me, you are probably feeling a little concerned about your fitness, and wondering how riding 78 miles of gravel three weeks from now will feel.  For me, I'm also wondering how 336 miles of TransIowa is going to feel 5 weeks from now!

So here are a few thoughts for you (or how I mentally approach it).  The first step in doing any event is the mental commitment to knowing you are going to finish.  It's simply a decision you must make.  After you have made that decision, then it's time to slow things down in your mind and put together a smart ride strategy.  Probably the most important strategy, for everyone but those riders with an amazing base, is to not go crazy at the start.  Begin the ride at a pace that seems easier/slower than you think you should be going.  Adrenaline and the excitement of the start of an event are evil tricksters that can later go on to cook your goose.  Ride your own pace or try to ride with a group that rides the same pace as you.  Make sure you eat and drink regularly.  If you don't provide fuel for your fire, you will regret it later.  Don't forsake aid stations or necessary refueling at food marts along the way.  Be smart, it's your body and you need it to get to the finish.

Most of you don't need these words, but some of you need some peace of mind.  The mind is an amazing thing.  It can get you to the finish, or it can talk you out of finishing.  But you can finish, and you will.  It's all in your head.

The first edition of the Grumpy Grind provided a "bail out" location for those who really didn't feel ready to ride the entire distance.  This year I told myself that there would be only one ride distance and participants would either have to take it or leave it.  Having talked to some local riders who would like to participate, but are still hesitant about riding on gravel or riding the full 75 miles, I have conceded to disclosing a midway bail out point (which is also the one and only checkpoint).  The "bail out" point location will be at the 37.5 mile mark and will require that you arrange for your own support vehicle to bring you home. 

The one thing that I ask of any support vehicles that are going to pick riders up at the midway point is that they go directly to the pick up point and don't try to follow riders along the actual route.  Following riders on these narrow roads makes for more dangerous riding and takes the adventure factor out of the ride.  So please respect the nature of the event and go directly to the location.

For those die hard riders who think a "bail out" goes against gravel grind ethics, I'll just say that you respectfully have the right to think such.  But I am an advocate for riding, and if this is the springboard for future grind events for anyone, than so let it be.  

Please know that if you do not complete the full route, there will be no free t-shirt in your future.  If you choose to come back to the start/finish barn, you are still more than welcome to participate in the raffle and enjoy some tasty barbecue and beverages.  I'll disclose this "bail out" point about a week prior to the event, so check back regularly for updates.

A couple of people have contacted me regarding a deadline for registering for the Grumpy Grind.  My response has been that there is no deadline.  This event is not of such a status that I am concerned about setting a limit on the number of participants, nor creating a deadline.  The goal for this event is to create a challenging bicycle ride that can provide a memorable experience for those involved. 

I tried to create a ride that incorporates all the amenities that I would look for in a ride.  It is free, doable (not amazingly long), challenging, and will offer some cool swag to a few luck individuals at the finish.  The finish will also provide food and beverages, which are always most appreciated after a long ride.  I realize not all aspects of this ride will please everyone, but it should satisfy most.

In the spirit of the traditional roots of gravel grinds, the Grumpy Grind is also a free event.  How can something be free you ask?  Sponsorship and volunteer support cover a lot of what we offer (so nothing is really free).  Yes, donations are always welcome, but we do not rely on them.  The nice thing about something being free is that there is no reason for anyone to really complain about things, because it is solely their choice to participate.  

It is nice to be able for people to contact me in regard to whether they are planning to ride.   And if they are unable to make it, it is also nice to know.  Our planning for food and t-shirts is based around these numbers, so please contact me regarding your ride status if you haven't already.  It's the right thing to do 

I'm charting new territory and attempting a blog addition to the website.  Instead of changing things on the website and surprising people, I will try to put notable Grumpy Grind updates on this page.  In the future this page may include other "stuff" relating to bikes and life, but I make no promises and will just see how it evolves.

Today marks five weeks until the 2nd riding of the Grumpy Grind.  With the weather being what it has been, I thought I should maybe do a little course recon this weekend to see just what the roads looked like.  The good news is that the course is good to go.  A few roads might have to be rerouted, being that they haven't even been plowed yet, but it is all doable.  The ride may be sloppy, and the weather might not be perfect, but for those of you who are concerned, have no fear, the grind will go on!

Another update that some of you might like to know about is the exact location of the start and registration.  I have posted that on the "schedule" and "ride detail" pages.  The exact address is 5493 Otter Creek Dr., Milledgeville IL.  Updates on camping on the property the night before will come at a later date.