Author: sixcoopers

Course condition update

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In Iowa, there are roads you take your most trustworthy friends or worst enemies down, but you don't route a race down them. I have done my best to route this race down roads that are in reasonable shape for bike traffic. If I have not taken my bike or my truck through it, it's [...]

Schedule update

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Packet pickup will be held Friday, October 5, at Madison County Winery from 4-6pm. in the outbuilding next to the tasting room. Please make every effort to check in Friday! If you must check in Saturday, please be there early! Saturday morning check in will be held at the winery from 4:30-5:30 am. We roll [...]

Course Conditions 9/27/17

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I pre-rode a big section of the course last weekend and drove the second half of the rain route yesterday. The Des Moines area had a few inches of rain fall Monday, but despite that, things are looking pretty good. The dirt roads in this area are generally sandy and dry out quickly. There would have [...]

Road Condition Update

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I drove the entire course over two days this past weekend. It is dry, dusty, and fast. A lot can happen to these roads in a week, and many are showing damage from the tractors and heavy truck traffic during the recent harvest. Remember, you are responsible for you, and  you must pay attention and [...]

Course Photos

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Here is a selection of my favorite course photos taken over the last year. The entire route was put together during my wanderings while training for Race Across the West. I have ridden it forward and backwards, in good weather and in bad. I've fallen off a few times, walked many miles, broken one derailleur, [...]

C-Stores and Checkpoints

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C- STORES AND CHECKPOINTS This event is entirely self supported. Volunteers on the course are only there to monitor your progress, and checkpoints are in the middle of nowhere. Your only opportunities to resupply are at the following locations. 200 mile: Murray mile 36.4 Afton mile 67.3 Orient 127.7 150 mile: Murray 36.4 Afton 67.3 [...]

Announcing the location…

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I am excited to announce that the start and finish for the Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra will be Wildwood Hills Ranch in St. Charles, Iowa. This is a great organization, with a mission I am proud to support, and in a beautiful location. "Wildwood Hills Ranch is a 400 acre non-profit facility, set in the [...]