Dirty Girl Adventure Gravel Ride Welcomes Women To Try Gravel

Ride Like a Girl Cycling is hosting a women's only gravel ride that is a great opportunity for gravel veterans and newbies alike.  The Dirty Girl Adventure Gravel Ride takes place on Sunday, August 23rd where it will start and finish at the House of Coates in Coates. This free ride is a 30 mile trip that will take riders on a variety of surfaces including gravel, sand, dirt, mud and pavement through some beautiful countryside.

Ride starts off from the House of Coates and goes into UMore Park taking riders past old buildings and 4 and 5-tower coal power plants that were once part of the Gopher Works Ordinance Plant during WWII.  From there it takes riders into the Vermillion Highlands on gravel roads

 Next up is the Minimum Maintenance Road that leads to a short ride on pavement followed by a long stretch of gravel. 

A 2-mile stretch of pavement brings riders to gravel again on Blaine Avenue which turns into a 1.8 mile stretch of "No Motorized Vehicles" doubletrack through the woods and fields of UMore Park. 

Finally, a half mile doubletrack "No Motorized Vehicles" road through the woods that puts riders out on Co. Rd. 46 for a one mile paved ride back to the House of Coates.

Cyclocross, mountain and fatbikes are recommended for this ride, though road bikes can be used with wider tires (32c and larger).  Bring the necessary water needed as there are no places along the way to refill.  Cuesheets, gpx and tcx files will available in the weeks before the ride for navigation of the route.  Rider support will be provided by the Penn Cycle Support Ambulance.

Stick around at the House of Coates after the ride for burgers, beer, prizes and giveaways.  RSVP on the Facebook Event Page by signing in to Facebook and selecting "Join" so the necessary arrangements can be made by the House of Coates and for ride support.  Once again, this is a women's only ride, sorry guys.

Miesville FiftySix Returns for Second Year

The Miesville FiftySix returns for its second year (formerly known as the Miesville Grinder) on Sunday April 19th, 2015.  This is a ride through some of the best scenery that country gravel roads close to the Twin Cities can provide and according to the organizers, "The route consists of more than 90% gravel roads through Dakota County."  Like its namesake, the route will be 56 miles starting and finishing at Jack Ruhr Stadium (home of the Miesville Mudhens) in downtown Miesville.

The idea for this ride was that of Marsh Jones who realized the area around Miesville, New Trier, Vermillion and Welch was "...one of the few places within 45 miles of the metro that had enough gravel roads that were interesting enough to make a complete ride".  After last year's successful turnout for the Miesville Grinder, Marsh has passed the torch to Sean Pease and Angela Hop as the Miesville FifySix event organizers. 

This free and unsupported gravel ride will travel through areas North and West of Miesville, including passing by the Little Log Cabin Pioneer Village, Alexis Bailly Vineyard and Chimney Rock Scientific & Natural Area.  From there the route heads South across HWY 50, through a stretch of Minimum Maintenance Road before turning East through the rolling gravel roads of  New Trier.  Then riders will take a short stretch of paved road which turns into gravel again as it descends into the Miesville Ravine. Climbing out of the ravine turns the route into easy rolling farmland before heading up a big hill for a second fast descent into Miesville Ravine Regional Park.  A short ride along the Cannon River leads through the floodplain towards another big, but scenic climb out of the valley on the Orlando Trail.  One more long and fast descent heads toward the valley floodplain and river on the Welch Trail before the final long climb of the route.  Rolling hills flatten out as the route makes its way back towards Miesville.

The Miesville FiftySix is a free ride with no support and no signs.  You are responsible for you, so bring everything you will need.  Printable cue sheet will be made available on the Miesville FiftySix website.  This will be a mass start with the first mile being blacktop.

If you want in doing so is easy, just send a postcard with your full name, date of birth, email address and emergency contact information (name and phone number) to:

Miesville FiftySix
8490 Forestview Ln. N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369

Ride will be capped at 250 participants.  A waiver will need to be signed the morning of the ride and then you will receive your ride number and packet.

Rules

1. You are in charge of yourself.  100%! This is an unsupported ride
2. You must send in a postcard to register.  You will be added to the list.  The list will be posted.
3. Everyone must wear a helmet.
4. Be prepared for anything. Weather. Mechanical issues. Hydration. Food.
5. Keep the course clean.
6. Be respectful and uphold all traffic laws.
7. Communicate with other riders.
8. Ride safely and use good judgement.
9. Don’t be a Dusche (German for shower, English for something not like a shower).  
10. Expect nothing; but if you need something, ask.

After the ride be sure to stop in at Miesville FiftySix sponsor Kings Bar & Grill.  It's a great opportunity to relax and have a cold beer or one of the best burgers around with fellow riders.

This low-key ride is a great opportunity for those that love gravel and those that want to try it out and experience some great scenery while riding with others.  Whether you are an experienced gravel rider or would like to give gravel a try, I encourage you to sign up for the Miesville FiftySix and crush some gravel.  I'll See you on April 19th!

For more information and updates, visit the Miesville FiftySix website and Facebook page.