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  Free Range Rider

One Week Away.

4/15/2018

2 Comments

 
PictureCustom silkscreen tie-dyed souvenir bibs for each rider.

     Tis the ides of April and we are one week away from the 6th riding of the Grumpy Grind.  It's right around now when I get emails with often repeated questions, so I'll answer a few of them to the masses.  I apologize in advance if my answers are a little blunt, but that is the easiest way to respond to some questions.

*Question: Can I get the route ahead of time to download into my GPS.
 Answer:  No.  Cue cards will be provided to all riders who sign in the morning of the ride.  That's just how this event works.

*Question: Can I still sign up the morning of the ride even though I didn't send in a postcard?
 Answer: Absolutely!  I won't turn anyone away.  The purpose of pre-registering with a postcard is so I can plan ahead with swag and other provisions.  But the more the merrier!  Let's ride!

*Question: Will the food guy accept credit cards?
 Answer: No.  Bring cash.  It authentic and good Mexican food!

*Question: Are there showers available after the ride?
 Answer:  No.  Sorry, this is a farm in the middle of nowhere, not the YMCA.

​*Question: What does a cue card look like?
 Answer: Cue cards are very simple.  Refer to the image below. 
Picture
R or L- means turn "Right" or turn "Left".
QL or QR: means "Quick Left" or "Quick Right.  Usually this means a turn is around a tenth of a mile after the previous turn.
ST: means "Stay straight" on the road you are on.  Normally this isn't a necessary cue, but points where there may be some point of confusion it will be noted.
CR or CL:  means "Curve Right" or "Curve Left".  This is usually noted only if there is confusion or if the road changes name after the curve.
XX: Means you are at the "Checkpoint" or "Finish".  Both good places.
Your odometer should be pretty close to the noted mileage marked for each turn.  The cues really are simple.  Collaborate with your fellow riders and make a common sense decision if you are in doubt.

​*Question: Is there food at the Checkpoint?
 Answer: No.  There will be water, powdered Gatorade, and some sweets like gummy bears and fig newtons, but no buffet of energy bars.  Be prepared with enough food and drink to ride 86 miles.  There will be a bathroom available at the checkpoint.  The checkpoint is at Wishful Acres Brewery, and they do serve a cheese plate and soft pretzels, but they do not serve  a full menu, so don't rely on the brewery for nourishment (but the beer is delicious).

*Question:  What do I do if I have a mechanical breakdown or can't finish?
Answer:  I don't know.  This is a completely self-supported ride, so come prepared with a pit crew or some other plan for this type of unfortunate scenario.  There will NOT be any SAG to pick you up.  Sorry.

*Question:  Can I still get a t-shirt?
Answer:  Not likely.  Only riders 1-55 on the Official Rider List sent in their postcards by the deadline to receive a shirt.  If there are any extras, they'll be $10 a piece.  

Okay, that's all I've got for now.  I'll post a time or two more before it all goes down next Sunday.  The weather forecast is putting us at around 55 degrees with cloudy skies for the day of the ride, but who knows if that will change.  I'm getting pretty used to riding in this gloomy never ending winter weather we have, as I'm sure many of you are too.  We might not know what to do if the sun shines on us for too long.  It looks like things are shaping up to be a true "Grumpy Grind."  See you soon.

2 Comments
Nine
4/19/2018 12:23:14 am

Mark,

Greetings!

I could not get free from family obligations to do your fine ride since '14 until my dear Brother in law announced that he is expecting his eighth grand child this fall!

As the Bible says his quiver is certainly full!

Course the parties for the kids got consolidated for the relatives and you know how all those family squabbles go he he....

And I have this next Sunday free to do your ride...

Where did you say those Breweries would be?

My training for 86 miles is in the pits but hey it looks like spring might show up for your ride!

Nine

Reply
Mark
4/19/2018 02:40:04 pm

The checkpoint is at Wishful Acres Brewery. You should be able to find the address online.

Reply



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    Mark Johnson

    Rider of bikes, teacher of art, husband of a beautiful wife, and father of two awesome boys.

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