Little Course Recon

Report from the course:

70% - perfect roads
20% - mostly nice roads
10% - slop

Note that this doesn't include the Minimum Maintenance roads... those are 80% snow covered 20% slop.

Remember this road?

How about now?

My guess is that these roads will be fairly dry by April... but who knows...

Start/Finish area is finalized

Got a quick confirmation from the Golf Club, and we're a go for using their lot as a start/finish area yet again. Thanks Mississippi National!

Some little details about the 9th...

We'll be set up and getting ready for day-of signing in by around 6 am. We'll try and start right at 7:30 or at least right around there... so please try and be checked in and with your cue cards in hand no later than 7:15.

We'll try and fill up the lower lot as efficiently as possible, but I'm sure we'll spill into the upper lot. I will do my best to communicate (and maybe bribe) the clubhouse to be open at 6 am for bathroom usage. To be safe I may also rent a porta-john... we'll see.

I'll also try and figure out what the food and drink options will be in the clubhouse. A freshly cooked burger tastes REALLY good after 100 miles of riding...

Have a great Tuesday!

April 9th is coming!

I need to update the race roster (only one more drop out than has already been updated!), but other than that preparations are going smoothly for this year's running of the Rok.

I'm waiting to hear a final confirmation on the start/finish location. Most likely we will be at the Mississippi Golf Links again. Our standard checkpoints will be utilized as well. They are just too handy/comfy etc.

Some notes (partially for myself):

- I will do what I can to make sure that we have at least one option for a nature break before the race at the start/finish. Whether that is a porta-potty or bribing the clubhouse to be open...

- I will also check with Zumbro Falls about a porta-potty at the checkpoint. Apparently they usually do have one in (they most years that I can remember), and we just missed it by a week last year.

- The checkpoint in Lake City should have running water, bathrooms, etc.

- We do allow outside support at the checkpoints. We can provide maps/directions for a helper to get to the checkpoints easily (along with expected arrivals at said checkpoints).

- Jake is now living out of state, but has verbally stated he'll be here for the big day. I'm not counting on that 100% though, so the "official" KOM will not be held yet again. Too much running around for a slimmed down crew.

- I'll try and find the retread tulip note reading 101 post. There are quite a few Rok newbies, so while I think most tulip notes are similar to ours, it will help those with a little question.

BIGGEST NOTE  -  IF YOU ARE ON THE ROSTER BUT CANNOT MAKE IT, LET ME KNOW SOONER THAN LATER! THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE WEEK BEFORE IF YOU CAN HELP IT! The waiting list isn't shrinking at all right now and history has shown that way more people don't make it from the original list... if we have a waiting list by the day of the event and you no show, I will most likely ban you for a year or something harsh. My email is isaacmgiesen@gmail.com . Thanks!

P.S. Unless we get a dumping of snow in March.... this is going to have potential to be a super fast edition. The gravel most likely will be FIRM!

Just over 2 months away!

Into February!

Remember, if you are on the race roster and need to drop out, please let me know ASAP. The folks on the waiting list will be grateful! isaacmgiesen@gmail.com or send a message on the Facebooks.

I got out for a quick ride with the warm weather. I wasn't really on too many Ragnarok roads, but the general state of the gravel roads were assessed. Predictably, they sucked. So it was fun (for a non-100 mile ride). Ice, packed snow, mashed potato snow, mud, water, grossness. We haven't had a ton of snow in SE MN yet, so unless we get hammered in Feb I would predict dry and fast gravel for the big day. (note that the pictures below were the softest, but practically the nicest section (climb) of the route.

Even if you aren't on the roster, the roads around Red Wing are awesome to ride. Come on down!