The 2020 Postcard Post

Hello All -

So we're back on again for 2020! Pretty much the same details as always...

What: Ragnarok 105
When: April 18, 2020 (hoping for no blizzards this weekend!)

Where: Red Wing, MN

HOW:

We're going to be doing registration pretty much the same as we always have. We will be capping the registration at 150 riders as we have the last couple of years, and will be utilizing a lottery, again as we have in the past. Unless less than 150 folks send in their postcard... if that is the case if you properly get a postcard into our hands then you'll be in.

Where do you send the postcard? This year we're actually going to have you send the cards in to Jake, so if you are local to Denver, CO maybe you can drop them off... otherwise here is his address:

Ragnarok 105 
c/o Jake Huot
1243 Adams Street
Denver, CO 80206

Some "rules" for the cards:

1) Try to have them actually be post cards. They aren't that hard to find. Much easier for us to manage.
2) One postcard per person. If you start to send in multiple cards they will all be thrown out.
3) Don't send in a card for anyone but yourself. A key point of this event is that as a rider you are responsible for yourself. This begins with the post card. (Note... obviously we won't be able to tell if your significant others or kid sent in a card for you, but if we get 6 cards for you and your friends in the same pen, same handwriting, all at the same time... that isn't cool... again a postcard isn't that hard).
4)Make sure your handwriting is legible.

On the card need to be three things:

Name
email address
"I am responsible for myself"

Postcards will be received starting Black Friday (November 29, 2019) and must be postmarked by December 31, 2019.

To let the straggler cards in we'll probably do the lottery on or around January 11.

Any questions? Post them up here (or however you want to try and contact us... we have a facebook page... instagram... isaac.m.giesen@gmail.com etc...)

Thanks - Isaac

Get those Postcards Ready!

The traditional post-Thanksgiving registration open is fast approaching! Details will follow about where and what to send to get your name on the lottery list. But we always open things up the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Reminder for folks though that may have missed it:

Ragnarok 2020 - April 18, 2020
Same start/finish. My intention is always to change up the course in minor ways to force people to actually navigate but kids, work, and the weather generally conspire to cause me to hit the easy button and use the tried and true course and notes. No guarantees that your old GPS file will be accurate!

Thanks and talk to you soon!

Isaac

2019 Results!!!

I'll probably try and organize some thoughts in a few days... but more important than that...

HERE ARE THE RESULTS!!!

2019 MEN'S CHAMPION - Rick Curtis!!!

2019 WOMEN'S CHAMPION - LINDSAY WENTZ!!!

Great job to everyone that showed up though. It was pretty chilly and wet at the start and for the first couple of hours.

Let me know if anything is out to lunch (other than my wonky formatting).

Place	Bib	Rider		Time (H:MM)
1	442	Rick	Curtis	6:06
2	405	Josh	Molnar	6:07
3	429	Nathan	Wentz	6:30
4	445	Danny	Whipple	6:33
5	425	Scott	Ehlers	7:03
5	466	Dan	Naef	7:03
7	437	Steve	Yore	7:17
8	446	Kyle	Sobota	7:19
9	452	Scott	Hippen	7:29
10	401	Chap	Achen	7:36
11	455	Lukas	Eklund	7:36
12	444	Luke	Wood	7:36
13	453	Ben	Oney	7:36
14	394	Shane	Maxwell	7:56
*15*	433	Lindsay	Wentz	8:05
16	430	Kyle	Davis	8:10
17	450	Caruso	Shanafelt	8:12
18	409	Ray	Nickles	8:13
19	449	Todd	Shanafelt	8:13
20	482	Dan	Novak	8:25
21	408	Craig	Braun	8:25
22	491	Dennis	Dresler	8:39
23	468	Mike	Campbell	8:44
24	428	Chelsea	Strate	8:45
25	422	Ted	Clausen	8:45
26	441	Erin	Ayala	8:46
27	439	Michael	Groskreutz	8:54
28	440	Scott	Stroeing	8:54
29	479	Charles	Denis	8:54
30	419	Dave	Bucholtz	8:55
31	427	Rob	Mossimann	8:56
32	435	Alan	Eastlund	8:57
33	434	Grant	Braasch	8:57
34	471	Charles	Parsons	9:01
35	472	Trenton	Raygor	9:01
36	469	Matt	O'Laughlin	9:03
37	470	Justin	Kremer	9:03
38	458	Thomas	Erickson	9:04
39	424	Jonas	Nygaard	9:04
40	465	Scott	Klein	9:07
41	474	Joe	Clark	9:07
42	415	Eddie	Karow	9:08
43	457	Todd	Watchwaker	9:08
44	464	David	Strachan	9:09
45	443	David	Pollitt	9:12
46	461	Nick	McCulloch	9:12
47	460	Henry	Braun	9:26
48	426	Jay	Schneider	9:45
49	478	Meredith	Rambow	9:46
50	400	Andy	Weinzierl	9:50
51	396	Chris	Symons	9:50
52	414	Joel	Benton	9:51
53	459	Nate	Brennaman	9:53
54	475	Randy	Brendal	10:13
55	483	Alexandera	Houchin	10:13
56	432	Chad	Myhre	10:24
57	448	Tim	Lupfer	10:26
58	454	Paul	Fickle	10:28
59	406	Greg	Ivey	10:40
60	456	Dan	Funke	10:40
61	462	Char	Psihos	10:41
62	487	Svetlana	Vold	10:41
63	484	Dave	Katzmann	10:43
64	417	Nick	Lanners	10:44
65	410	Shawn	Cotter	11:23
66	411	John	Hoch	11:23
67	423	Luke	Brager	11:39
68	477	Michael	Landreville	11:39
69	421	Jim	Garrett	11:39
70	397	Kai	Schutte	12:25
71	416	Kristine	Benjamin	12:25
72	485	Nicholas	Quinn	12:25

Two weeks to go!

Two weeks to go. If I can believe the forecast (both meteorological and river level) I think the course should actually be pretty good. The MMRs most likely will be quagmires, but nothing that vets won't be used to. The roads themselves are awesome right now.

I'm still monitoring the Zumbro and will be ready to make some major adjustments if need be.

I'll be confirming a few things this week, but for those of you who come down Friday night, assume the same plan as always and that night before check-in will be available if you'd like. Most likely 7:30-9:30 or something. Just need to confirm location.

On the big day we'll be set up around 6 am in the LOWER lot of Mississippi National Golf Links. Try and park nice. If the weather stays warm there is at least a non-zero chance that the course could be open... they are happy to have us, but I also want to affect their day as little as possible (unless people are heading in for beer/food/etc.).

Please be checked in by 7:15 or so. We'll have some last minute announcements and then try and start as close to 7:30 as possible. Neutral roll out until we hit gravel.

For those that are new to the event know that we hit the first climb of the day pretty much from the start. This strings things out pretty well, but please be mindful of everyone around you as you begin your descent. It can be a little squirrely and there tends to be random animals wandering around at the base of the hill.

Some notes:

1) The weather and work has kept me from making my normal multiple drives/walks/rides of the course to triple check the cue sheets. This MAY mean we just go with the "standard" course. I'm sure most of you will probably actually like that, and any changes made to the course would really only be to make the Garmin files that are out there obsolete and wrong. We pretty much hit the areas and climbs that I want to showcase....
2) There are a lot of hills and descents. Please ride within yourself! When going around corners or approaching the tops of hills be aware that any oncoming car cannot see you either and will definitely not really be expecting to see you. Ride to the right. Ride safe. Ride smart.
3) Don't litter. The quiet roads that we love to ride may have the random Busch Light suitcase in the ditch, but try and keep the litter to just that. Also, if you happen to need to use the bathroom please don't do it right in front of someone's house. There are plenty of remote places to go #1 (or 2!).
4) YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF! What does this mean? This is an organized ride but we require you to sign a waiver stating that you are responsible for yourself and we mean it. Are you lost? Figure it out. Bike break down? Legs break down? Etc Etc. Have a plan! We cannot be everyone's support vehicle. Obviously we know the area well and will do what we can, but you need to be aware of what is going on and have a plan if things don't go as planned.
5) We require you to have a helmet and prefer you to also have blinky lights.
6) CHECKPOINTS! Zumbro Falls and Lake City are the checkpoints again. Feel free to have someone there with support. These are the two places that we allow outside support. Both towns have convenience stores to use for restocking food and water if need be. The past couple of years there have been no port-a-potties in either place (and in LC the bathroom has been locked). So, if you need the facilities, again CONVENIENCE STORE!
7) Checkpoints part two - PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN/THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT! It makes our day much less stressful if we can easily see your number, write it down, and know roughly where you are.
8) Cue Sheets... I'll resurrect the post on how to read them. Each leg of the ride fits on an 8x11 sheet. We fold them in quarters and voila... easy to stash/clip/read tulip notes.

Post up any questions you might have...

Thanks for reading!

Official Waitlist - Sorry!

I always feel bad about the waitlist... but I get terrified trying to keep track of everything with more and more people out on the roads, so I don't know that we're going to grow anytime soon... So without further ado... the waitlist.

Historically we have had a lot more drops than we have this year. And this year we have more snow, so I don't know if everyone has a fat bike and is getting extra fit or what...

Please let me know if you cannot make it on the 6th! The people on this list would really appreciate it!

Tina Olson Brian Bernard Sam Tobias Brett Sloma Cody Condon Ted Loosen Mike Lee Jared Lewis Thomas Woods Erica Mueller Brenton Jaynes Matt Christianson Brad Birkholz

Official Roster for 2019 - updated 4/4 - FINAL ROSTER

UPDATED 3/27/19 8:29 PM

PLEASE LET ME KNOW via email isaac.m.giesen@gmail.com if you have to drop out.

So... without further rambling (this time in alphebetical order of LAST name):

Chap Achen Carmen Aiken Eric Applen Daniel Ayala Erin Ayala Steve Bailey Rob Belz Joel Benton Sam Berkland Brian Bernard Keith Bianchi Brad Birkholz Joe Black Grant Braasch Luke Brager Henry Braun Craig Braun Randy Brendal Nate Brennaman Dave Bucholtz Brian Buelow Mike Campbell John Carline Philip Carlton Paul Carroll Michelle Carter Rob Chose Matt Christianson Joe Clark Ted Clausen Colleen Click Cody Condon Shawn Cotter Rick Curtis Kyle Davis Steven Deckert Charles Denis Dennis Dresler Brian Dukek Alan Eastlund Scott Ehlers Nate Eide Nicole Eikenberry Lukas Eklund Mark Engen Thomas Erickson Hurl Evertone Johanna Ficatier Paul Fickle Todd Foster Maggie Fournier Richard Franco Jeff Frane Dan Funke Josh Gamble Jim Garrett Chris Gauron Dennis Grelk Michael Groskreutz Trisha Groth Leah Gruhn Aaron Halfaker John Hammje Robert Hest Scott Hippen John Hoch Timothy Hoffard Ian Hoogendam Alexandera Houchin Emily Houser Risa Hustad Greg Ivey Brenton Jaynes Brian Johnson Mike Johnson Amanda Jorgenson Jacob Jungers Eddie Karow Dave Katzmann James Kauth Jon Kern Scott Klein Justin Kremer Matthew Kurke Brent Kvittem Craig Laing Michael Landreville Nick Lanners Matt Lawrence Mike Lee Nick Lemke Jared Lewis Ted Loosen Jon Loye Tim Lupfer Bob Lyng Gabe Masiulis Chris Matthews Shane Maxwell Fred Mayer Nick McCulloch Kent McDaniel Garry McFarlane Joe Meiser Jere Mohr Josh Molnar Marcos Montano Ron Moore Rob Mossimann Brady Mueller Erica Mueller Chad Myhre Dan Naef Andrew Nepsund Ray Nickles Andrew Novak Dan Novak Jonas Nygaard Matt O'Laughlin Tina Olson Jeff O'Neill Ben Oney Charles Parsons Jeff Pettes David Pollitt Char Psihos Nicholas Quinn Meredith Rambow Bryce Rasussen Trenton Raygor Franz Rinkleff Benjamin Roshko Lisa Rowenhorst Larry Sauber Jay Schneider Kai Schutte Caruso Shanafelt Todd Shanafelt Patrick Sheedy Jason Sheldrake Corey Shouse Jeff Shupe Brett Sloma Kyle Sobota Steve Soltis Bob Stoltz David Strachan Chelsea Strate Ryan Stringfield Scott Stroeing Chris Symons Benjamin Tallin Christopher Tallin Sam Tobias Derek Van De Velde Jeremie Van Ryswyk Svetlana Vold Paul Warner Todd Watchwaker John Weatherhead Matt Webb Isaac Weeks Andy Weinzierl Nathan Wentz Lindsay Wentz Danny Whipple Robert Williams Kurtis Wilson Drew Wilson Stephen Wilson Charles Wolf Luke Wood Thomas Woods Jerry Wright Steven Yore Lee Zettler