It's getting close to game day. The extended outlook on weather for Sunday's Grumpy Grind 5 looks to be near perfect. It could be a little chilly for those camping out at the farm the night before, but things should warm up during the ride. Last year temperatures reached about 80 degrees and people unprepared for those temps ran low on water, so come prepared with plenty of water bottles and hydration plans.
Where you will be going. Postcards have still been trickling in. The last minute enthusiasm among cyclists once they see the weather always entertains me. So it goes. If your name is not on the list, it means I have not yet received your postcard. If you choose to show up on the day of the event without having preregistered, you won't be turned away, but do know that I'm not currently prepared for more than the current pre-registered amount. That's my kind admonishment to you. The Grumpy Grind is a pretty low key grass roots ride. I would never be so pretentious as to turn anyone away from a good bike ride. Here is a quick list of Sunday's itinerary, along with some notes about the ride.
A view of where you will have been. ** If you haven't ridden this event before, you'll feel like your drive to Milledgeville is taking you to the middle of nowhere, which is precisely where you will be.
** Registration begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:45. This will take place inside the main barn. Those riders who are camping out should know that I will be at the barn around 6:30. If you are sleeping in the barn you will probably be woken up.
** Registration will involve all riders signing an event waiver and checking in to receiving a cue card.
** The ride will begin at 9:00 sharp. I will not wait on riders who are not prepared for this.
** All riders must check in at the checkpoint at mile 43.
** The second half of the ride involves much more gravel and will be more challenging.
** Any rider who feels they may not finish the full 80 miles can ask for an alternate cue card from my checkpoint volunteers that will supply them with shortcut directions back to the start/finish (still 10 miles away). They will not be considered an official finisher. Unofficial finishers should still check in with the finish line volunteers to let them know you safely made it back.
** Riders will veer off and ride into a grass ditch for the last 1/4 mile that will lead them to the finish at the barn. Please check in with my finish line volunteers to let them know you have safely arrived.
** The first 50 finishers will receive an event mug.
** Post ride food and drinks will be waiting for everyone after the finish
** I anticipate the fast riders to finish in possible 4.5-5 hours. Most will finish in the 5-7 hour range.
**I'll be cleaning up and departing the event around 5:30.
** Registration begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:45. This will take place inside the main barn. Those riders who are camping out should know that I will be at the barn around 6:30. If you are sleeping in the barn you will probably be woken up.
** Registration will involve all riders signing an event waiver and checking in to receiving a cue card.
** The ride will begin at 9:00 sharp. I will not wait on riders who are not prepared for this.
** All riders must check in at the checkpoint at mile 43.
** The second half of the ride involves much more gravel and will be more challenging.
** Any rider who feels they may not finish the full 80 miles can ask for an alternate cue card from my checkpoint volunteers that will supply them with shortcut directions back to the start/finish (still 10 miles away). They will not be considered an official finisher. Unofficial finishers should still check in with the finish line volunteers to let them know you safely made it back.
** Riders will veer off and ride into a grass ditch for the last 1/4 mile that will lead them to the finish at the barn. Please check in with my finish line volunteers to let them know you have safely arrived.
** The first 50 finishers will receive an event mug.
** Post ride food and drinks will be waiting for everyone after the finish
** I anticipate the fast riders to finish in possible 4.5-5 hours. Most will finish in the 5-7 hour range.
**I'll be cleaning up and departing the event around 5:30.
I try to make my cue cards as simple as possible. Riders will receive one cue card, which has directions and mileage printed on the front and back side of one piece of paper. The mileage you are at will be noted first, followed by a direction for turning Right, Left, Curving Right, Curving Left, Staying Straight, or making a Quick Right or Quick Left. If any of this makes you nervous, I promise it will be be quite obvious and simple to understand once you look one over. Please trust my cues. If the cue doesn't provide you with information about a road change or a need to turn, just stay on the path you are on and trust that the cue is pointing you in the correct direction. Don't over analyze things. If your mileage becomes off by .05 or .10 of a mile, I trust you will be mathematically able to make the corrections in your head. Over the course of 80 miles it's almost impossible that your odometer readings will remain perfect to my cues. At least that is my experience.
Leading up to the event, I probably get a little wordy with directions and thoughts. For that I apologize. Just know I want to have all my bases covered so that you have the best experience possible. Thanks again for reading this post and choosing to come ride. There may be one more blog posting before Sundays ride, so check back in one more time before Sunday.
Leading up to the event, I probably get a little wordy with directions and thoughts. For that I apologize. Just know I want to have all my bases covered so that you have the best experience possible. Thanks again for reading this post and choosing to come ride. There may be one more blog posting before Sundays ride, so check back in one more time before Sunday.
RSS Feed
