#almanzo100

[ornotbike]

Who’s going to the @almanzo100? How do you register? Send a postcard. How much does it cost? $0.00. How long has it been going on? Since 2007. Thanks guys! #ridetodayornot #almanzo100 https://www.instagram.com/p/BsWQ6IjlD0l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oejjqu5chk2c

[fuzzyimages]

More from yesterday's #almanzo100 Rode with #shimanoambasadors Nick and Dave a few times, sharing stories about rides on the east coast and here in the Midwest. #dust was super fine and collected on everything. The #sun came out for a little bit later in the day. . . . #crushmiles #gravelroadlyfe #midwestgravel #ruralroads #climbing #cycling #gravel #crushgravel

[t6ryan]

Good luck and Godspeed to everyone slogging themselves through the seemingly endless miles of cold, windy and wet gravel roads today at the #Almanzo100. #gravelgrinder #Almanzo #logo #Minnesota #bikerace #foreverforward #TwinSix (at Spring Valley, Minnesota)

[pr1ncessl4yup-blog]

This beautiful postcard by @lynnmariezapp will be on its way to #almanzo100 soon 🚴🚴🚴 #excited #getrad #cycling #gravel #shredthegnar #thechainlink #bikes #livbeyond #rccchi #rapha #womenracebikes #2017 #stayradadventureteam #womenrideforchange #womencycling #twc2017goals #twcweride #strongher #ridelife #exploremore #outsideisfree

[stayradadventureteam]

The Roads Are Clear

It's still happening.  AMENT100 or just AMENT, or something.  It's not really 100km anymore or maybe it will be.  We're still hammering out the details and riding new versions.  Still a bunch of crazy grade hills.  Maybe less gravel.  Maybe more gravel.  

While riding out there, every side road is screaming, "hey come check me out".  This is probably how 10,000 was born.  Not being able to leave any of the roads out of the party.  We're still drawing maps and heading out there to explore more and decide what to keep and what to leave.

What we do know is, this year will be INVITE ONLY.  We had way too many people interested in coming.  People we don't know or trust to take care of themselves out there.  There will still be ZERO support.  This will also be on the same day as ALMANZO100.  We're not trying to compete with that.  Having ridden it several times, it's a fantastic event and will make you fall in love in Minnesota.  But it's a time suck.  This meant to be an alternative for those who can't be away, or don't want to be away a couple of days.  Also to showcase that Illinois isn't totally lame.  We got rad stuff too.

Keep your eyes pealed.  More info coming soon!

Just incase you haven't figured it out yet, 10,000 is two weeks after.  This will be your Spring Classic into a Grand Tour.

-STAY RAD

[teravail]

The #weekend is meant for conquering new roads and finding yourself surrounded by ribbons of hard-packed #gravel #roadslikethese #crushgravel #almanzo100 #ridegravel

[track-drops]

It's in the details. #photonotes #delta #triX #gotfilm? More #Almanzo100 photos coming soon. #wheredoiscanthesefuckerz

[fuzzyimages]

Fuck yeah. #almanzo100 in the books. PR time. (at City of Spring Valley)

[banjobrothers-blog]

Brothers and Sisters Unite. Dispatch from the road by #BanjoEric: "Jenna (just graduated from Scholastica) snapped her chain. Peter's field repair attempt only lasted a few miles so we took turns pushing her home the last 4 miles." #almanzolives, #almanzo. #almanzo100 #banjobrotherhood

[stayradadventureteam]

ILLmanzo

Lets start off by making it clear that this is/was in no way a DIS or a put down to the legendary ALMANZO100.  Rather, this is more of a pastiche of that race.  Almanzo is a beautiful ride, with challenging climbs and decents.  It's what made us fall in love with Minnesota.  Illinois desperately needs something like that.  Illinois has the perception that its flat, windy, and boring.  Get your ass in gear and come ride with us.

We start our ride about 2 hours north west of Aurora in a part of the state known as the Driftless, an area of the state that wasn't smashed flat by that damn glacier.  The weather report for the days leading up was all over the place, 20, 80, 60% chance of thunderstorms.  The morning was clear and almost cool, but humid.  REAL humid. 

We were 10 strong for a ride we made up less than a month before hand, and about half were people I'd never really meet before.  That's pretty much a win.  We rolled out at 10:00 am, and it was pretty much GO TIME for the 1st ten or so miles, until we found the giant barrel mobile home thing on the side of the road.  We all took pictures and bullshited for a bit.  After that we more or less stayed as one crew, sure some would break of the front to stretch legs, others were riding safe to protect injured legs, but we would almost always come back together.  The humidity on top of the climbing really tested your heart and will to be out there.

Each climb presented a new challenge.  Some you could maintain your momentum from the previous decent, others you had the montra "spin to win" going over and over in your head.  Each climb also brought a reward, seemingly never ending descent.  Some you were happy you survived the loose as marbles decent to make the next climb.  Others were on pavement were you could reach 50 mph.  Your eyes would tear, from either joy, fear, or wind. 

All while trying to keep your eyes on the road, which was easier said than done.  With some of the most beautiful rolling green hills straight out of a story book, or at least a Jolly Green Giant add, your daily life stress evaporated and left you feeling fresh.  All the hills also had small bubbling creeks with meandering cows, lamas, and every kind of bird of prey you could imagine.

As the ride grew near to an end, some took off to make a break with 15 miles left.  Everyone was caught by the much welcomed down pour, and DOWN POUR it did.  With little visibility and no braking power for those running rim brakes we all made it safely back to the cars, eventually.

We got cleaned up and rolled out for brews & soda at a local brewery that wasn't that good and had crappy service.  It was still a DAMN GOOD DAY.  We will make this a yearly alternative to heading Spring Valley.  

THANK YOU everyone that came, and thank you for hyping it up for next year.  If you didn't go, you should have.

Ride totals: 66miles/5,800ft 

[thehubcyclingteam]

Team bikes ready for that #Almanzo100 are you! #ride gravel @hub_bike_coop_mpls

[track-drops]

Completely Shattered. Courtesy Jim Nesheim #Almanzo100

[jordanhadler]

Thank you Chris!

Almanzo lives. After speaking closely with the folks at the Spring Valley Tourism Committee, I have decided to hand over the reigns. Yes. There will be an Almanzo in 2015.

[crossn81]

First Century Ride Completed

First Century Ride Completed

I am a Gravel Grinding, Century Riding, Crazy Biker!! On Saturday evening May 17, 2014 at about 7pm I completed what was probably the hardest event/day of my life.  Completing a century ride (100  miles) is a pretty good accomplishment in its own right.  But doing so on a 100 miles of gravel in the rolling hills of Southeastern Minnesota is a huge deal!

The Almanzo 100 is a free bike race/ride…