We're back....

Dirty Lemming - Troika

We had a few complaints last year about the mild weather so we moved the ride to the day that is on average the hottest day of the year.

Note we are moving the date to Saturday July 20th.   There is a festival called Rails to Trails and there are a couple fun events that riders could stick around for (after the post ride party), BBQ, Street Dance, ....

Details to follow:

Date:  Sunday July 21, 2013  Saturday July 20, 2013
Time: 7AM
Road surface: Deep, loose, gravel.  Occasional washboard.
Distance: 100 miles, 100 kilometers
Location: Watertown, MN
Weather: Gale force winds, sweltering heat, unbearable humidity
Trophies:  More and bigger
Party: Better beer and tastier brats (when you finish)
Rider limit: 50 or so would be nice.

We'll do the post card thing again starting April 1st and run until we fill the roster because I really like getting mail.

Thanks and Results

Special thanks to Suzanne, Becky, and Race Director Mark for the cookies/bananas at the church and the watermelon/bananas in Biscay.   That was nice.   


Wish you guys had ate a few more brats and drank a few more beers.


Again, there were a couple route variations this year.   It was such a nice day, who could blame Doug for wanting to ride 126 miles or the Mayor and Marty for wanting to ride 108.


We didn't get all the times so we took a few guesses based on finish order recollections from the riders at the Survivor Party.    This was after a beer or two so if we messed something up, let me know.

Rider	Age	Distance	Finish
Tim Lupfer	30	103	6:46
Bryce Rasmussan	24	103	6:46:00
Paul Wyatt	60	103	7:18
John Barten	61	103	7:50
Steve Schoo	49	103	7:50:00
Mark Fontaine	54	103	7:50:01
Wayne Bishop	45	103	7:50:03
Gary Lindberg	48	103	8:05
Bob Mueller	51	103	8:10
Doug Krone	55	103	8:28
Steve Gleason	48	103	8:28
Greg Fields	50	103	8:29
Jim Smith	53	103	8:31
Craig Gustafson	50	103	8:31:01
Ed A. Matthiesen	57	103	8:34
Jeff Loso	43	103	8:34
Steve Porvaznk	53	103	9:00
Marty Martens	40	103	9:00
John Carline	45	103	9:20
Charles Wild	35	85	8:00
Dave Bucholz	48	63	4:08:17
Pete Morey	43	63	4:08:17
John Hokanson	57	63	4:48
Chuck Barden	56	63	4:48
John Matthiesen	23	20	1:45

Details, details, details

In case you didn't get the email.....

Last minute details:

Start at 7AM, July 28, 2012, if you arrive late (Krone!, Carline!) look for the cue cards on a minivan wind shield in the parking lot.

If you ordered a T-Shirt I'll have them at the start.   They are $16.    I'll also have a waiver for you to sign.   

You are going to want to bring plenty of water.   And some type of energy food.

For the 100 mile route there is a stop at 48.5 miles in Silver Lake where you can get water, (and an ice cream cone!) or other food.   The bar in Biscay is closed at 69 miles, but there is a city park that has a water spigot.   So no bar food lunch this year.   At 92 miles there is a grocery store in Winsted.

For the 100K route the only stop for water/food is at the grocery store in Winsted at 51.5 miles. 

I'll have cue cards printed, here is a map that you may want to print.   http://goo.gl/maps/nx5s

Here is an elevation profile and map where you can download a gpx file.   If you have that capability we would encourage it.   http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1680895

Maps only show the 100 mile route, the routes are the same until 45 miles where the 100K and 100 mile route split.   That's shown in the Cue Cards.   Instead of turning right to Silver Lake on the Luce Line you turn left to Winsted.

We'll have details on the post ride party at the start.   We will supply brats, beer, chips, .....   If you can bring a lawn chair that would be nice if we get a big crowd.   The party will start sometime after I finish since it's in my back yard about a mile from the start.   Last year the majority of us rode in small packs and regrouped at stops.   Then we had a 10 mile sprint to finish up after the stop in Winsted.   So most people finished with 10 minutes of each other.   We'll do that again.  But if you are in a hurry, feel free to fly.   If you are fast, or if you end up doing 100K, you can always spend a couple hours shopping in Watertown.  ;-)

This is a self timed ride.   I'll collect the times and come up with a finish order afterwards.    We do have some awards this year.  But you have to be present at the post ride party to get one.

As of today, it looks like the heat will break at the end of the week and we could have cooler, less humid weather on Saturday.    

Again! Plan to carry plenty of water.   I'll be carrying 100 oz.  

If something comes up and you can't make it, please let me know.   We've had a few people drop and we've added a few.   Should be over 30 riders.

If you have any questions, drop me an email.

Thanks,

Jim 

Route Scouting Report

Ed, Schoo, and I did another scouting ride this last weekend to review the southern portion of the route.   We stopped at Molly's in Silver Lake and the ice cream was quite good.  


The Biscay Bar has closed, so we'll be getting water in the Biscay city park where they have a nice cool water spigot.   No food or beer may make this stop shorter than last year.  


Below is the 100 mile route, 100K is the same until 45 miles when 100 milers turn right towards Silver Lake and 100K turns left towards Winsted.  


It will all be in the cue cards and I'll post a gpx so you can put it on your phone or gps device.




View Lemming 2012 in a larger map

Silver Lake - That's a big single scoop of vanilla bean.

Biscay City Park - You can tell that Ed works with water.

We got hardware, yes we do, we got hardware, how about you!

Categories will be revealed at the end of the ride.   Consensus thinking is that you might be wise to finish with the Lemming Pack and attend the after party to increase your odds of scoring a gold plated lemming.  

3 weeks to go... Plan to carry plenty of water!

I ordered the T-Shirts yesterday.    The cost will be $16 for the t-shirt if you ordered one.   That is our cost.   Our quantity was low and # of colors was high.


Also, the rider list has been updated.


We have a little over 3 weeks to go.   Best to be training and working out the kinks in your setup.   It wouldn't surprise me if the weather was similar to what we've had the last few days.  Hot and nasty.  Plan to carry plenty of water!       


For the 100 miler, there already is a stop for water around 50 miles, 75 miles, and 92 miles. Plan to carry plenty of water!


For the 100K the first water stop is around 50 miles. Plan to carry plenty of water!   


If it is really hot we'll figure something out for a 25 mile stop. Plan to carry plenty of water!  


I personally would plan to bring at least 120 ounces of water.  

Zefal makes a 33 oz. Magnum water bottle.  You can get them on Amazon if you follow the link below.  


Magnum Water Bottle Link on Amazon

Plan to carry plenty of water!

Some details in case you didn't get the email

Dear Fellow Lemming,

July 28th is approaching fast and with it another Dirty Lemming Gravel Grinder.    Hopefully you've been out riding some of the spring classics.   Almanzo was very difficult, again.  Dirty Benjamin was very fast, again.   

So to continue the trend we are hoping for very hot and very humid, again.  Not to worry, we have added a mandatory ice cream cone stop at 50 miles for the 100 milers, and of course the Biscay biker bar at 75 miles.   

I'm going to be ordering t-shirts in a week or so.   Follow this link to the roster and verify that I have your shirt option and size filled out correctly.  If not let me know asap.  I'm thinking this shirt would make a very nice Christmas gift for that special lemming in your life.   

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzIVucTGqQpWb0Q4TXFFbzl0bms

Here is the rendering of the graphics for the shirt.  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzIVucTGqQpWRHFsbERmZ1NybEU/edit#

It will be a nice heavy cotton t-shirt.   Same style as the Crush Gravel shirts at the Almanzo.    I'm thinking with the quantities we have right now it shouldn't be more than $16, probably less.   

mens: http://www.ooshirts.com/t-shirts/short-sleeve-shirts/gildan-ultra-blend

ladies: http://www.ooshirts.com/girls-style-shirts/short-sleeve-shirts/gildan-ultra-cotton-ladies

Of course if something has come up and you can't make it let me know as soon as possible.   No worries, we've had a few people drop and I've added a few.  

If you want to drag a friend along let me know.   We will take a few more riders.  To be fair I might make them send a post card since I like getting mail.   

Again, we have a 100 mile and 100 K option and you can make that call at around 46 miles or so.   We're also going to have a newbie gravel rider or two riding a 40 miler that starts a bit later and hopefully will finish with the 100 milers.

Watch the blog www.dirtylemming.com for information as the date approaches.

If you have any questions, drop me an email.

Thanks,

Jim

jim@dirtylemming.com

Dirty Benjamin

Once again the guys who put on the Dirty Benjamin did an outstanding job and had outstanding weather.   Bit warm and quite humid with a little rain, but seemed like the winds shifted mid ride so there was a lot of tailwind.   I saw quite a few lemmings: Death Rider, Gams, Popo, Schoo, and Tim, and DOUG!


Rode for awhile with Chis Skogen (Mr. Almanzo).   He is every bit as much of a gentleman as you would think from reading his blog.   He slowed down to my pace for quite a stretch to chat.   He is truly the ambassador for the gravel community.


Map below, even though they go through Watertown and Winsted, there is only about 3 miles of common gravel between the Dirty B and Dirty Lemming.

2012 Dirty Benjamin Gravel Grinder

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near St. Paul, Minnesota

Race Director

Mark Bliven will be the 2012 Lemming GG race director.  First thing on his to-do list is to create some fresh gravel for the route.


I'll be sending out an email soon with some details and will confirm any t-shirt requests.


If you are doing the Dirty Benjamin, stop by the red PT Cruiser and say hi before or after the ride (oops, I mean race).


Thanks, Jim da Lemming

This gravel needs some crushing

Lemming Poet

I wish to ride the Dirty Lemming,
From where is this desire stemming?
I don't know, I don't care.
I'm a Lemming. I'll follow anywhere.

Gary Lindberg - Poet and 2012 Dirty Lemming Rider.

Almanzo

Fellow gravel lemmings,


There are studies that have found that for every hour you exercise you live two hours longer.    Chris Skogen's  Almanzo added almost 20 hours to my life on Saturday.   I plan on spending those hard earned hours wisely.   


I thought that after surviving the Almanzo test last year in the rain and cold, that a sunny breezy day on gravel would be a piece of cake.    It was anything but....  90F and winds gusting to mid 30's and sustained at mid 20's pretty much all day.    Lots of fresh gravel that Craig correctly compared to riding on ball bearings.   I finished a half hour faster than 2011, but my on bike time was about 20 minutes longer.    No long stops in Preston or Forestville this year.     


Luckily I bailed on the single speed and put the 10 speed gearing back on the Pickle Bike which gave me enough gears.   I ran a 1X10 with a 36 in front and 11-32 in back.  For the most part this worked well. Using this gearing I had a vision of riding the entire route (slowly) without walking a hill.   This plan seemed to be working until the second to last hill (90 miles?) which I had to walk last year.   You know which one I'm talking about.  I'm told 28% grade in places. I turned the corner, looked up, and fell off my bike.   Technically I accomplished my goal since I think I actually crawled up the hill.  Think Donner Party.


I limped in.   The highlight was the congratulatory handshake from Mr. Class, Chris Skogen.   I saw a lot of people cramping.  I've never had a cramp.  Probably too slow to cramp.  Doesn't look like a lot of fun, I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing and avoid that situation.  All the fellow lemming riders that I know of finished in front of me.  Don't know exact times, but I think the order was Tim, Doug!, Craig, Steve, Steve, Me.  Steve claims he would have beat Doug! if he had rode faster.


The Dirty Lemming Ride may take us as long, but it won't be nearly as hard.   We will stop for nice long breaks to keep the pack together and have a nice long lunch in Biscay.    Biggest hill might be 60 feet at a 2% grade.   Gravel will be just as nasty though, probably worse, but with no 35 mph descents it will be relatively safe.


The picture below that Steve P. took pretty much sums up my ride.   You gotta love the Almanzo dust whitewalls on the Pickle Bike.


Thanks again to Chris Skogen for putting on another monster test.   I can't wait to see what he cooks up for next year's test.....


Jimbo

Jimbo Whitewall

Registration is closed

Registration is officially closed.  I expect we may get a few more post card stragglers next week that we will include.

The average rider is 45.87 years old and 96.7% male.

We ended up with over 30 riders, so no lottery necessary.   Yeah! No questions about favoritism.   The smaller group should allow us to upgrade the post lemming survivors party.

If you registered and something comes up and you can't make it let me know.  We'll let someone else in if we get requests.   We had two cancellations last week.

We won't take anymore guys named Steve or John, unless they are women.

Thanks,

Jim

Best way to contact me:   jim (at) dirtylemming (dot) com

Clarification of ride distance

There are 100K or 100 mile options.   We are toying with the idea of starting the 100K at 9:30 so the finish syncs up.   Makes for a better survivors party.     We could even be talked into creating something shorter if there is interest.

Sample post cards.....

Registration has slowed to a trickle (1 postcard last week).   Good news is we have some volunteers lined up.  Looks like barring an end of the month rush everyone who sends in a card will get in.   

We've got some great post cards.   Here are three that made us chuckle....

  

Lemming finishers should expect similar
crowd enthusiasm.

Anyone have a matching mid 90's fisher XC ski?

Are there Lemmings in Wisconsin?

Mid Registration update

We are half way through the month and it looks like we are half way to 50.   It's slowed down a bit and we have a few volunteers lined up even if we go over so it looks like we won't need to do any lottery thing.


Jim

Registration update

The postcards are coming in at an average of about 2 per day so we're looking good.  


Lots of new riders and a few vets.


I'll scan and post some of my favorites in the next couple days.


Jim

Postcard Registration opens March 1st

Registration is closed.

Registration will be via a postcard sent to:

Dirty Lemming Gravel Grinder

Include this information on your postcard.

Name (or alias):

Age:

Sex: 

Bike type:  Single Speed, Fixie, Geared

Email address:

T-Shirt (Y/N) (Size: S,M,L,XL)

Indicate on your post card if you would like to purchase a t-shirt.  The cost will be something around $20.  The t-shirt will have a logo something like below.

Credit Dr. John Hokanson

As of right now we are limiting the ride to 50.  If we can scrounge up a few  volunteers we will increase this accordingly.   We really would like to get to 100.

At the end of March, if we get more entries than the limit we will select the riders from the post cards sent in.

Selection criteria:

1. John Hokanson for doing our logo work. 

2. Vets (we have 14 vets from last year and they get priority, IF they send in a postcard)

3. Remaining entries will go into a bucket and will be awarded via lottery.

A waiting list will be created based on postmark.   So there is a reason to get your card in early.

We will give out cue cards with turn by turn instructions and a gps file so you can ride at your own pace.   There will be a 100K turn off at around 45 miles if you want to try something shorter or decide to bail.

Our hope is that most riders will think of this as a 100 mile gravel lemming pack pub crawl with the idea of finishing around 9+ hours.   (we stop at one roadside bar for lunch).   The benefit of finishing with the lemming pack is that you will be invited to the survivors party to hose down and enjoy beer and brats after the ride.

This sound like fun, and it is, but this will not be an easy ride, it will likely be very hot and windy.   The actual distance is around 104 miles and over 100 miles are on gravel.   Many of the gravel roads are downright nasty with treacherous loose deep gravel.  There isn't much to speak of for hills.   There is no shade.  It is very remote, we pass through two small towns.   You probably won't have cell coverage for some of the ride.   You will want to carry a lot of water.   The first water stop is at around 50 miles, second at 75 miles for lunch.

This is a founder sponsored ride.   We'll supply blue collar (Pabst) beer and brats at the survivors party.   You are welcome to bring your favorite libation, if you have a favorite micro brew, please bring at least one extra to put into the founders cooler.

Questions?   Post a comment and we'll post an answer.  (or email jim@dirtylemming.com)

Jim and Ed (Founders)

Mid February Trail Report

Got the aluminum pony out and did a little gravel scouting this weekend.    

They have already started to erect the
grandstands in anticipation
of the large crowds for the Dirty Lemming.

We will probably not be riding on one of these surfaces.

Registration / Ride Details

We've been getting a few requests to clarify the registration details.   We will open registration on March 1st.   Registration will be via a postcard sent to a TBD address.

Include this information on your postcard.
Name (or alias):
Age:
Bike type:  Single Speed, Fixie, Legacy (antique models with gears)
Email address:

As of right now we are limiting the ride to 50.  If we can scrounge up a few  volunteers we will increase this accordingly.

At the end of March, if we get more entries than the limit we will select the riders from the post cards sent in.

Selection criteria:
1. Vets  (we have 14 vets from last year and they get priority, IF they send in a postcard)
2. Remaining entries will go into a bucket and will be awarded via lottery.

A waiting list will be created based on postmark.   So there is a reason to get your card in early.

We will give out cue cards with turn by turn instructions and a gps file so you can ride at your own pace.   There will be a 100K turn off at around 45 miles if you want to try something shorter or decide to bail.

Our hope is that most riders will think of this as a 100 mile gravel lemming pack pub crawl with the idea of finishing around 9+ hours.   (we stop at one roadside bar for lunch).   The benefit of finishing with the lemming pack is that you will be invited to the survivors party to hose down and enjoy beer and brats after the ride.

This sound like fun, and it is, but this will not be an easy ride, it will likely be very hot and windy.   The actual distance is around 104 miles and over 100 miles are on gravel.   Many of the gravel roads are downright nasty with treacherous loose deep gravel.  There isn't much to speak of for hills.   There is no shade.  It is very remote, we pass through two small towns.   You probably won't have cell coverage for some of the ride.   You will want to carry a lot of water.   The first water stop is at around 50 miles, second at 75 miles for lunch.

This is a founder sponsored ride.   We'll supply blue collar (Pabst) beer and brats at the survivors party.   You are welcome to bring your favorite libation, if you have a favorite micro brew, please bring at least one extra to put into the founders cooler.

Questions?   Post a comment and we'll post an answer.

Jim and Ed (Founders)