Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Time is Here! Ragnarok 105 Registration Info.

Hi All...

After a long hiatus I'm happy to say that we're gearing up for yet another running of the Ragnarok 105. So... here are the details (at least the upper level ones... we'll try and shoot out more detailed info in the coming days and weeks):

When: APRIL 11th, 2014

Where: Start and Finish in Red Wing, using many of the cool roads in Goodhue and Wabasha Counties

What: Same old, same old. A roughly 105 mile (might be a bit longer) ride on mostly gravel roads up and down the valleys, over hill, over dale, etc. etc. There will be at least a few minimum maintenance road sections that may or may not be rideable depending on the conditions. We will give you cue sheets (if you aren't familiar with them, we'll make sure you understand them... very simple) that will get you from the start, to the checkpoints, and then back. We are running our checkpoints the same as previous years... we will publish the checkpoint location(s) and allow you to have support at those points. We WILL NOT carry any bags or supplies for you. We WILL NOT be your ride if your bike breaks down, you get lost, you run out of steam, etc. You WILL BE responsible for yourself. We will keep loose track of time and places, but this isn't meant to be an all out race.

How much?: Free, zero doll hairs...

Registration Details: We will be having a lottery again. Previous winners of the race (you know who you are) will get in if you send in a card. Everyone else will go into the big bag. Due to us wanting to keep our sanity, keep our costs down, and make sure that we can provide a good experience for the riders, we are capping the active roster at 105 riders again (this also jives with the likely available parking if the golf club opens back up as rumored). Starting now you can send in a POSTCARD to Jake. His address is as follows:

Ragnarok 105
c/o Jake Huot
1121 Central Ave
Red Wing, MN, 55066

The Postcard MUST have the following information:

Name
Email Address
Male/Female

Here are a couple of things to keep our frustration down... we aren't always necessarily jerks, so we won't toss your card out, but still...

1) Write Legibly. If we can't read your name and email it will be hard to get you officially on the roster.
2) Don't send in a bunch of pieces of paper for you and your buddies in one envelope. They are NOT postcards.
3) Massive chunks of a box, while technically a postcard, can be annoying. If you are making your own hobo postcard please make it standard postcard size.

As stated, you can send your card in (one card per person) now. Your card must be postmarked by December 31st. Later than that... no dice. We'll draw the names on the weekend of the 4th probably, though we may wait until the 11th to make sure any cards that may be stuck in the postal process can get to us.

After the drawing, we will post up the roster and email the people that get drawn. This will be the official roster. We will also draw 25-30 folks to keep the roster filled as folks drop out. We'll keep the remaining cards in case there is a rash of drop outs.

If you have any questions, feel free to post up a comment. I may have forgotten something too... who knows.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Results

Sorry this has taken me a few days to get to.  Without further ado. 

1. Dominic Talerico
2. Jesse LaLonde
3. Charlie Shad
4. Sean Mailen
5. Mark LaLonde
6. Chris Schotz
7. Brandt Elson
8. Larry Sauber
9. Josh Roeser
10. Corey Shouse
11. Bruce Anderson
12. Joe Kjeer
13.Scott Hippen
14. Andy Tettmer
15. Jon Kern
16. Brett Swenson
17. Matt Kurke
18. Bob Grittman
19. Shane Busher
20. Heath Weisbrod
21. Parker Roenfanz
22. Megan Barr (First place female!)
23. Ryan Horkey
24. Charles Denis
25. Joe Pahr
26. Grant Braasch
27. Alan Eastlund
28. Patrick Menton
29. Dan Dittmer
30. Ken Zylstra
31. Jeremy Staff
32. David Strachan
33. Jeff Bushendorf
34. Jonas Nygaard
35. Tim Hau
36. John Carline
37. Ted Clausen
38. John Hoch
39. Gary Lindberg
40. Andre Wikenheiser
41. Eddie Karow
42. Ben Cox
43. Jose Perez
44. Phillip Carlton
45. Erik Peterson
46. Joel Benton
47. TC Worley
48. Devin O'Brein
49.Neil Cary
50. Larry Kirch
51. Joe Clark
52. Jeff Henkenmeyer
53. Mark Benishek
54. Max Dingemans
55. Dan Steeves
56. Matthew Webb

Thanks again to all 88 of you that started the 7th riding of the Ragnarok 105.  Make sure to thank the sponsors on the right for the support.  Hope to see your card next year.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Post race download

Thanks again to all who showed up. It was a drizzly, cool morning so we weren't sure how many of the over 100 that hadn't already dropped would show up. 88 intrepid souls picked up numbers and would tackle the roads and whatever mother nature would dish out.

What would Mother Nature dish out? Within 15 minutes of the start there was lightning... Rain...eventually hail... And the temperatures were in the low 40s. As a race organizer/director it was a bit nerve wracking. (in a totally different way than if I was biking....I really don't want someone to die out there!)

There were lots of drops before the Zumbro Falls checkpoint as the cold rain, wind, and messy roads were wreaking havoc on bikes and brakes, as well as sucking the heat from anyone without the right clothing.

By the time folks were through ZF and onto Lake City the rain had stopped, but the wind hadn't. Luckily it was a mostly tailwind after the second checkpoint. 58 folks got to the LC checkpoint by the cut-off time. 56 would go on the finish all 107 miles.

Thanks again to:

- the riders - thanks for riding safe, riding hard, and inspiring. Those that didn't finish are no less inspiring.

- our families - you put up with us being gone while riding or driving the course or planning... You put up with us throwing money at something that is done only for the fun of it. It would be impossible to put on the event without your support.

- our swag sponsors - it always floors me that anyone would bother sponsoring our race. Yes we have an awesome course, but we suck at the promotion side of things. Thank you HED Wheels. Another sweet wheelset in the hands of a grateful rider. Twin Six and Angry Catfish brought bottles, socks, hats, shirts, etc. thank you!!!

- Angry Catfish - the tent and coffee was a godsend with the rain. It would have been a miserable registration process without it

- Red Wing Brewery - we got 20ish people checked in early. Thanks for hosting!

- MNGL - thanks for letting everyone take over your parking lots. Now about those bathrooms....

I know Jake was finalizing our chicken scratches into a list of final times and places, so it should be up in the next day or two (silly other homework).

In the next week or two we'll have a meeting about next year and if we have a date and any details we'll post up here.

Finally - if you have a blog and do a race write-up let us know in the comments. It's always fun to read about experiences out on the roads of the 'Rok.

Thanks again!

Isaac

Friday, April 11, 2014

Race Day

Hey, just a couple points to make.

Remember you are on your own for this race.  Directors will not pick you up if you drop out.  Please, please, please be prepared for the worst.  Watch out for your fellow riders and act like good humans out there.  The roads are open so please obey all traffic laws.  You are not allowed to get support outside of the checkpoints.  We will have info for support crews if you have one.  We will give you contact numbers to call if you drop out.  Most important, THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE FUN, no matter what your reason is for riding do it for you and ride happy.  Also equally as important, you are responsible for you!

The golf course club house will be open around seven for bathrooms, but be prepared in case they are not open.  The last couple of times the club pro didn't show up on time.  If you are able to use the club house, be respectful!  Make sure to not track dirt in. 

Make sure to thank any sponsors listed on the side of the blog.  What they offer is worth finishing for. 

Sleep well, see you in the morning.....or if your in Red Wing tonight at Red Wing Brewery. 

For last minute information please follow facebook and twitter.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Updates and Information

Howdy!

So... it's been a while. Winter is still trying to improve the roads as I type... so far in Red Wing it has stayed fairly liquid with leanings towards ice... no real snow yet, so we'll see if the forecasts were close or not by the end of the day tomorrow.

Here is some important things to know leading up to next week.

1) Night before sign-in

The last few years we've been holed up at Wheelhouse Cycles on Friday night to check people in ahead of time. This is a good way to get an extra 30-40 minutes of sleep! Unfortunately Wheelhouse Cycles had to shut their doors, so we had to find a new location. With a new location comes a slightly new time.

Friday night check in will be from 8 pm - 9 pm at the Red Wing Brewery (1411 Old West Main St.). Really good pizza, and I hear the beer is pretty tasty as well.

2) Saturday Morning check-in

We'll be shooting to open up check-in at about 6:15 or so in the parking lot of Mississippi National Golf Links.

We'd like to start the ride at or around 7:30 am, so unless you're Mr. Tri we suggest getting to the golf course by 7:00 at the latest!

3) Notes on the Golf Course

We have use of the lower parking lot yet again (where we were two years ago, not last year). I'm guessing that the golf course won't be open by next weekend with the persistant cold and the deep frost, but I could be wrong. My guess is that if they aren't open for golf, that they may not be open for much else either. There is new "management" and I think they may have shut down the grill, and we've never had good luck getting bathrooms open. I'll post next week about the bathroom situation. There should be at least one porta-john but we may be able to improve that situation.

4) Roster 

Jake is keeping track of this (this is Isaac typing) and I'll have him get on here to update everything that isn't up to date.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Let us know if you aren't going to be able to make it so we can let in someone who can.

5) Tulip Notes

Same drill as previous years. If you are new to the gravel game, here is a primer that we've posted before. CLICK FOR KNOWLEDGE

6) Checkpoints

As in previous years, the cue sheets that you'll get at check-in will get you to checkpoint #1. At checkpoint #1 you'll get sheets to get you to checkpoint #2. At checkpoint #2 you'll get the cues to get you home. If you've done the race before, you'll recognize the checkpoints. Zumbro Falls, and Lake City will be your stops.

We will have cutoff times that you have to beat to get the next set of cues. They are as follows:

Zumbro Falls - 11:45 am
Lake City - 4:45 pm

Technically we want everyone to finish by 7:30, but if you get to LC by 4:45 that shouldn't be a problem.

Phew....

I think that is it for administrative stuff. Post up if you have any other questions. Jake and I will be driving the course one last time to make sure that the counties haven't thrown us any curve balls. We'll post up on conditions and stuff this weekend.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Ragnarok 105 2014 rider list

Anderson Bruce
Barnes Brian
Barr Megan
Bauer Josh
Bell Pete
Belz Rob
Benishek Mark
Benton Joel
Boehnlein Michael
Braasch Grant
Buelow Brian
Buscher Shane
Bushendorf Jeff
Cardinal Craig
Carline John
Carlson Mick
Carlton Philip
Carragee Christine
Cary Neil
Chang Kevin
Clark Joe
Clausen Ted
Cleary Rick
Cox Ben
Denis Charles
Dingemans Max
Dittmer Dan
Dukek Brian
Eastlund Alan
Elson Brandt
Engen Mark
Felling Jim
Gonzales Kevin
Grenzow Tyler
Gritman Bob
Halstrom Mark
Hansen Boyd
Hau Tim
Henkemeyer Jeff
Hippen Scott
Hoch John
Holey Garrick
Horkey Ryan
Hyma Jeff
Johnson Fed
Johnson Matt
Karow Eddie
Kern Jon
Kirch Larry
Kjeer Joe
Klees Drew
Koppi-Kohn Alex
Korkowski Paul
Krawczyk Brandon
Kurke Matt
LaLonde Mark
LaLonde Jesse
Larson Mara
LeWin Chris
Lindberg Gary
Loosen Ted
Mailen Sean
Meiser Joe
Menton Patrick
Miosek Michael
Moody Pete
Nickles Ray
Nygard Jonas
Oney Ben
Pahr Joe
Parr Brandon
Perez Jose
Petersen Matt
Peterson Erik
Riley Matt
Roenfanz Parker
Roeser Josh
Rudnick Martin
Ruess Abby
Sauber Larry
Schad Charlie
Schotz Chris
Shouse-Tourino Corey
Sloma Brett
St. Pierre Sam
Staff Jeremy
Steeves Dan
Strachan David
Swenson Brett
Talerico Dominic
Tettenmeyer Andy
Tri Charlie
Ward Denise
Webb Matthew
Weisbrod Heath
Wikenheiser Andrew
Wilson Drew
Worley TC
Wright Jerry
Zylstra Ken