2016 Almanzo Stories

The 2016 Almanzo Gravel Races took place May 13-14 in the small town of Spring Valley, Minnesota.  What was started by Chris Skogen with a small group of friends back in 2007 has grown over the years into something truly special.  The gravel community has embraced the Almanzo 100 as the "Granddaddy" of gravel races.  Spring Valley Tourism with the assistance of Penn Cycle & Fitness made sure that one of the largest free gravel races in the country continued with the traditions that founder Chris Skogen set forth for this yearly event.

Once again, the 2016 Almanzo 100, Royal 162 and Alexander 380 did not fail to challenge racers.  Those racing the Alexander 380 faced strong winds, rain, sleet, muddy conditions and very cold temperatures while Royal 162 and Almanzo 100 racers experienced wind gusts up to 35 mph and a 34 degree temperature at race start.  I have compiled a list of racer accounts from blogs as well as links to photo galleries, some videos and local press.

Almanzo 100

Race Report: 2016 Almanzo 100 by 5th Place Finisher, Eric Thompson
Gravel Cyclist

This was my 4th year racing the Almanzo 100 and its become a yearly tradition for myself, my family and a few friends. It all started with my dad seeking out the newly created gravel scene in Minnesota, and with his excitement, momentum started between myself and several friends, also drawn to the event.  Read the full story

Race Report: 2016 Almanzo 100 – by Top 10 Finisher – Charlie Schad
Gravel Cyclist

The 2016 edition was my fourth year of participating in the Almanzo 100 event and I was pretty excited about going. Unfortunately I had to miss last year’s race, but was hoping to make amends with a good result; a decent block of training was bound to help. I examined the rider list and a few doubts began to creep in, namely due to the strong list of folks scheduled to take the line.  Read the full story

Almanzo 100: Wind and Gravel and Wind
pottermusings

Standing in line for a porta-potty, I was shivering uncontrollably. It was 37°F and extremely windy. The weather forecast for Spring Valley, MN slowly changed over the preceding days – wind increased up to 30mph gusts and temperature slowly dropped. Ted and I didn’t pack well for a cold, windy day. He forgot his knee warmers and ended up cutting arm warmers to fit over his legs. I just had thin knee warmers.  Read the full story

Hoven returns to biking during recovery
Rubicon Online

Widely known for his passion for biking, Upper School English teacher Matthew Hoven has picked himself up and dusted himself off after a fall in September and a severe concussion earlier this year. He recently participated in the 100-mile Almanzo 100 Gravel Bicycle race in Spring Valley, Minnesota, for the third time.   Read the full story

A Tough 2016 Almanzo 100
MN Bike Trail Navigator

2016 was my third year doing the Almanzo 100, on my third bike. I had finished it on my 29'er in 2014 and my cross bike in 2015, this year I would do it on my carbon Farley 9.6 with a 27.5+ wheelset. While I struggled last year on some of the big hills with my bike's gearing, this year I thought shouldn't be a problem with my Farley's 1x11 drivetrain. I was feeling good about the race even though I hadn't trained as much as I would've liked to. It would be a fun, but challenging day of riding with a lot of old friends and some new ones.   Read the full story

Almanzo 100
Mary Grove and John Ingham

Image Credit: Mary Grove and John Ingham

I had the pleasure of riding with Suzanne for much of the ride to Forestville. Suzanne called it quits at Forestville. The click in her bottom bracket was getting loud, and anyway she had been up at the crack of dawn to toss in an extra 40 miles BEFORE the start of the race in Spring Valley! That's grit for you, and you should have seen her bombing the downhills. Would that I had her skill and courage. But then again, maybe not. When you get to be an old codger you should probably be careful what you wish for. Suzanne's husband Jeff was serving up hot dogs at Forestville for any and all, on such a cold, windy day a nice precursor to the hot bacon at Cherry Grove.

Almanzo 100 Race Results

Royal 162

Royal 162 2016 - A Woolly "Race" Report
Woolly Bike Club

My attempt at the Royal started last year when Herr Woolly Starr rode Almanzo for the first time. She rode it on her mountain bike as her first century of any kind, let alone on gravel. At the end of it she said she was coming back next year, but if she was going to be on her bike for 11 hours, I had to be as well and I therefore had to do the Royal.  Read the full story

The Royal 162
Cup O' Dirt Challenge

After completing the Burleigh County Cup with no knee or bike issues, I was ready for the Royal 162. I headed down that Friday, took care of registration and found the city campground two miles out of town. I set up my tent and ate at the Dairy Queen in town. Two days prior, out of nowhere my knee was a bit sore. It was enough to make me cautious, because I knew the hills and distance would be a workout for it. I thought “I’ll just see what happens”. Hope for the best!!  Read the full story

Royal 162 Race Results

Alexander 380

380 miles of gravel mixed with rain, wind and cold-Survival, not speed, key in 2016 Alexander 380 bike race
Bluff Country Newspaper Group

The Alexander 380 held the weekend of May 14 is one of the most challenging gravel road races in the country under normal circumstances, but Friday’s driving rain, which included snow and hail for some riders, Saturday’s brutal 20- to 30-mile-per-hour headwinds and Saturday night’s sub-freezing temperatures made the 380-mile race even more daunting in 2016.  Read the full story

The Alexander: Part 1
melissa bikes

The Alexander. The little known big brother of its famous baby sibling Almanzo and the middle child, the still popular but slightly less known Royal. These three races make up a trio of notorious gravel rides in southeastern Minnesota. The Almanzo is 100 miles, the Royal is 162 miles, and the Alexander is 380 miles. Three. Hundred. And. Eighty. Miles. On gravel, unpaved roads, and with a few minimum maintenance roads thrown in just for kicks. The route travels through the driftless area of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, back to Iowa, and finally back north to Minnesota.  Read the full story

The Alexander: Part 2
melissa bikes

As we left the first gas station stop at mile 70-something, we soon crossed over highway 52. It was so tempting to cruise down the big hill to Decorah, to a hot shower, a warm bed, and excellent ice cream. Ugh. We pedaled on, and not long after leaving Kwik Trip the rain started to fall. First it was a few drops, and then the sky opened up with a vigorous rain. We were out in the middle of nowhere, and had no choice but to keep pedaling. I enviously eyed bars and outbuildings on the side of the road, pondering if we could seek shelter in there until the rain passed.  Read the full story

 Alexader 380 Race Results

Press

Partnership keeps spirit of Almanzo 100 alive-Local gravel bicycle races still a draw due to efforts of partners
Spring Valley Tribune

Although founder Chris Skogen stepped away from the Almanzo 100 and related races two years ago, they continue to draw a dedicated group of gravel bicycle enthusiasts thanks to the efforts of the Spring Valley Tourism Committee and Penn Cycle & Fitness of Minneapolis.  Read the full story

Riding Gravel Supports The Almanzo 100
Riding Gravel

The Almanzo 100 is, quite likely, the most popular grassroots gravel grinder event in the nation. Started by Chris Skogen in 2007, the free event has grown to have over 1000 riders yearly and encompasses three events ranging in distance from the original 100 miler to the crushing Alexander 380 which takes participants through three states and takes well over 40 hours to complete.  Read the full story

Almanzo 100 Report: Ringing the Bell
Guitar Ted Productions

Things changed when on Thursday I found out that my partner in RidingGravel.com was going to be stepping in for a company that had pulled out of supporting the third checkpoint on the Almanzo 100 course. Originally, Ben had thought he'd hang out, take a few images, and do a bit of a photo gallery, maybe, for the site. Well, when the opportunity came up to be the checkpoint support, he jumped in and well.......I couldn't just let him do it alone! I got with Mrs. Guitar Ted, did a bit of reconnoitering, found a willing partner in "New York Roll", and on Friday evening we were piling 20 gallons of water on a shopping cart along with some other supplies to take up to the Almanzo 100.  Read the full story

Photos

Almanzo 100 2016
The Morgan's Creations

Almanzo 100 & Royal 162
TMB Images

2016-05-14 Almanzo100 Royal 162
TMB Images on Facebook

Almanzo 100 Spring Valley Gravel Road Race
Post-Bulletin

Video

Almanzo 100 Roll-out

ALMANZO 100 - 2016 

jamesdefilippi

Penn Cycle & Fitness

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A Tough 2016 Almanzo 100

2016 was my third year doing the Almanzo 100, on my third bike. I had finished it on my 29'er in 2014 and my cross bike in 2015, this year I would do it on my carbon Farley 9.6 with a 27.5+ wheelset.  While I struggled last year on some of the big hills with my bike's gearing, this year I thought shouldn't be a problem with my Farley's 1x11 drivetrain.  I was feeling good about the race even though I hadn't trained as much as I would've liked to.  It would be a fun, but challenging day of riding with a lot of old friends and some new ones.

After working with the Penn Cycle crew in setting up the finish chute at Willow Park, I headed back to the hotel to relax a bit, grab a bite to eat and get my bike and gear set up for the morning.  The only thing that had me a little nervous was the strong winds that were forecast for raceday.  I knew I could do the miles and the elevation gain, but the wind would make a challenging race a bit tougher.

With a good night's rest and some breakfast I was ready to head to the Spring Valley Community Center to get some video of the roll-out of the Royal 162 and to chat with friends before the start of the Almanzo 100.  Our group of friends (Velo Lush) lined up for the start and we all rolled out together at the sound of the starting gun.  The fast guys in our group (you know who you are) pulled ahead on the roll-out and I stayed back with Sarah and Michelle who were riding their first Almanzo 100.

The morning air was a bit chilly and the winds were steady with some gusting but I was feeling good and maintaining a steady pace.  Coming around a bend on Nature Road, about 8 miles in, an oncoming car forced me and many other riders to move to the far right side as it passed.  This is where I would have my first and only crash of the day as my front tire washed out in loose wet gravel sending me down at about 12 mph smashing my left knee.  I got up and dusted myself off as I jumped back on my bike, trying to ignore the pain in my knee.  After a while the pain dulled and I felt good climbing the first big hill on 181st Ave.

The winds were pretty strong out in the open areas and I was looking forward to rolling into Preston to take a break, eat something and get some more water to last me until I reached Forestville.

A brief stop in Preston was my plan where I fueled up on snacks and chatted with Pat from Penn Cycle who hooked me up with a whiskey coke before I took the climb out of the Valley.  I was still feeling very optimistic about the rest of the day.  I knew there were a lot of hills ahead of me and my 1x11 drivetrain made climbing them much easier than the year before on my cross bike.  Because of this, I wasn't so much worried about the hills but rather the consistently strong winds that took a lot out of me as the day went on.

Riding on 27.5+ tires made the downhills very fast and fun allowing me to make up some time from the long, slower climbs.  I hadn't experience any cramping in my legs yet which was due to keeping hydrated and taking a Saltstick capsule every hour to replace my electrolyte salts.  This was a nice change from my previous two Almanzo 100's where I had intermittent leg cramps.

Somewhere between Preston and Forestville I would end up rolling from time to time with my friend Drew.  I would pull ahead or he would do the same but we would manage to end up riding together for quite a few miles as we chatted to dull the sound of the crushing gravel beneath our tires.  By this time I was in need of a break, some more food and was looking forward to the stop in Forestville.

As I pulled into the checkpoint at Forestville and got off my bike, I could feel the inflammation in my knees and lactic acid burn in my quads.  I ate, drank and talked with Pat and Andrew from Penn Cycle for a little bit.  I was starting to feel a little drained from riding in the wind for so long.  Pat asked me if I was feeling OK and I told him I was starting to get worn out.  He asked me if I wanted a ride in the Penn Ambulance and I told him I'm going to try to finish this thing.  I knew I only had about 34 miles to go and I didn't want this to be the first year I didn't finish.

The next ten miles to Cherry Grove would be the toughest of the day for me.  The winds started to pick up even more out in the open and it felt like the temperature, most probably the wind chill, was beginning to drop.  Somewhere in the middle of this ten mile stretch I was passed by some fast riders on a tandem bike who said "hi" to me, It was Tina and Joe Stiller who were doing the Royal 162.  I recognized them right away and said "Hi Joe and Tina".  They were moving at a pretty good rate and climbed the hills quickly sending them out of my view in a short time.  I continued on my way but the winds were very demoralizing.

By the time I reached Cherry Grove and the Riding Gravel oasis, I knew my day was over.  I had tried to eat and drink enough to keep my energy up but the strong winds kicked the shit out of me and I knew I didn't have it in me for the final 25 miles.  I didn't want to take a DNF this year but my energy stores were spent and I was getting cold.

I had no cell phone reception so I asked Ben from Riding Gravel to give Pat a call to see if he could pick me up.  It turns out that Teri who was recording the results at the finish line had become very ill so Pat and Andrew had to take over for her.  It would be some time before one of them could pick me up.  So I sat in the Cherry Grove Community Center and had a couple of beers while trying to warm up.  It felt good to be out of the wind.  I chatted with another group of riders who's day was also over and they were waiting for their rides.  The wind was really rough on them and a major factor in their decision to drop out.

A Cherry Grove Community Center volunteer by the name of Ross asked me if I had a ride back into town and I told him "eventually".  He said he could give me a ride to Spring Valley after he dropped off some trash he had in his truck from the oasis.  I thanked him and he returned a short while later where I loaded my bike into his truck for the ride back.  We swapped stories about this and last year's Almanzo.  He thought us bikers were crazy to do that kind of distance on gravel with all of the hills, but loved to hear our stories.  When we got into Cherry Grove I slipped him some cash for the ride and thanked him once again.  He was happy to help out.

I had gotten back to the finish line while several of my friends were still out on the course.  I was able to be there to record video of them as they came across the line.  The first two were Erik and Aj.  They looked physically and mentally wore out.  Aj proceeded to collapse on the ground and rest for a little bit after a very tough day out on the gravel.

Next across the line were Tina and Joe who passed me miles back.  They were greeted with cheers and hand claps by those gathered at the finish.

Sarah, who I had started the day off riding with came across the finish before I could get any video of her first Almanzo 100 finish, so I had to settle for a photo.  Great job Sarah!

The most emotional finish was when Michelle came across the line at her first Almanzo 100.  She has only been riding since last October and had come along with me and many other friends on several gravel training rides leading up to Almanzo.  She had a lot of determination that day and it paid off.  Way to go Michelle!

And finally,  Drew was the last of our crew to cross the finish line.  We were all proud of each other's accomplishment on that long tough day.  I had mixed feelings about taking a DNF for the first time at Almanzo but I was glad I was able to be at the finish to capture the moment and cheer on my good friends.  I am already looking forward to next year and the challenges it may bring us.  A big "Thank you" goes out to Spring Valley Tourism and Penn Cycle from all of us for keeping this iconic race alive and free.

2015 Almanzo Stories

Image Credit: Gal Alon

The 2015 Almanzo Gravel Races took place May 15-16 in the small town of Spring Valley, Mn.  What was started by Chris Skogen with a small group of friends back in 2007 has grown over the years into something truly special.  The gravel community has embraced the Almanzo 100 as the "Granddaddy" of gravel races.  This year was the first without Chris Skogen at the helm as he handed over the reigns for Almanzo to Spring Valley Tourism.  With the assistance of Penn Cycle & Fitness, one of the largest free gravel races in the country continued with the traditions that founder Chris Skogen set forth for this yearly event.

I have compiled a list of racer accounts from blogs as well as links to photo galleries, a couple of videos, some audio and local press.  If I have missed some content, please bring it to my attention by sending me an email and I will add it to this post.

Almanzo 100

I won the 2015 Almanzo 100
Drew Wilson - "Ride on Purpose"

This has been a blog post that has kept me from writing blog posts for a while.  The title says it all, but it wasn't easy to say or accept. Those who follow my blog know what that means to me.  It's hard to say it because of the luck I needed luck to make it happen.  I've come to terms with it now.  Perhaps two years in a row of inopportune flats in the same race meant I was "owed".  Maybe it's more likely that if you just keep trying long enough eventually something works out.  Maybe it makes no difference whatsoever.  At this point it's simpler than that stuff.  I simply rode my best race and the results were the results.  The luck aspect of it is nothing to me anymore but that doesn't mean I don't desperately want to back it up next spring.  Read the full story

Fulton, Almanzo, Many Thanks! and Thank God it's taper time!
April Morgan

This past Saturday was my first Almanzo 100 experience and it was just about as awesome as predicted with over 1000 racers!! I'm pretty sure when Chris designed this course way back when, it was with a big shit grin on his face, as I'm certain he found just about every single hill in southeast Minnesota. Nearly 8,000 feet of gravel torture...I swear I can still taste the suffering.  Read the full story

Take Two
Beast-Biker-Beauty

The race started shortly after 9 and we hit the pavement for a brief distance before making the turn for gravel. The rain had settled the dust on the course, but also created mud on the top layer, which resulted in plenty of muddy faces and butts for everyone that day. After hanging with a large pack for a few miles, Loretta and I made a move to start to get ahead of people. It was a little risky at times, due to the loose gravel we were plowing through, but we did finally get ahead and settled in to a quick pace.  Read the full story

Mullin's 2015 Almanzo 100 Report
Cyclova XC

I wasn't positive I was going to ride Almanzo this year even after it was resurrected from the dead. But in the end Starr was able to get the day off so we made our plans and were off to the Maple Springs campground Friday afternoon.  Read the full story


Crushing Gravel part 10: What does www.weatherpessimist.com say about Almanzo conditions?
Two Wheels From Home

I swear I haven't learned my lesson. I still look at weather.com a week before events, then again 5 days, 3 days and 1 day prior. Why do I do this to myself? Who knows. Maybe somewhere deep inside, I feel the need to freak myself out a bit. Of course weather.com was calling for up to 80% chance of rain/thunderstorms and high wind. Did I believe them? You bet. Although I'd like to consider myself an eternal optimist, I'll be honest, I'm not. This is how events go down for me. I plan and check everything within my power...then check again.  Read the full story

Failmanzo : 8 Thoughts, Observations, Recollections
The Minneapolis Musette

Almanzo 100 Race Results

Royal 162

Royal Ride
Blowing & Drifting

Saturday’s Royal 162 gravel race was exactly the race I needed to have. In the weeks leading up to the event – my longest-ever, at least in terms of distance – I felt that I hadn’t done nearly enough riding to prepare but that I needed to do well to rebuild my sense of confidence in my riding.  Read the full story

Royal 162 Race Results

Alexander 380

Alexander Race Report, Part I  
Tour Divide

This race report is a hard thing to write (and not just because the Alexander chewed me up, spit me out and then somehow managed to wind itself right into my soul!) Reconstructing the race is difficult, because my affinity for endurance events stems partly from my capacity to retreat deep into my own mind. (I would have made a “good” POW – terrible but true. Sometimes I think this “special skill” ought to be used for some good – some good outside my own good, that is!) But either way, I do have some crazy stories, plus a word or two (or three!) for the beauty and sheer magnitude that is the Alexander.  Read the full story  

Alexander, part II 
Tour Divide
 
I think there are a few things I skipped over at the end of part I. Riding out of PDC was interesting, and not just because of the fireworks in my stomach. We crossed the Mississippi again (back into Iowa), and there was some sort of party going on in a restaurant suspended above the river. It was a strange clash - my ruggedness and their civility. Shrill laughs and clinking glasses echoed in the dark night - a few garish party lights lacing the dark.  Read the full story


The Alexander 380 
sixcoopers

I stood in my kitchen the morning after the Alexander with my wrist in a brace, one arm in a sling, and more sore than I have been in a long time, struggling to remember the basics of making coffee. Scrapes and bruises, swollen legs, a huge knot in my hair that stuck out from the side of my head that I couldn’t get out…I’m sure I looked as dismal as I felt. I hadn’t intended to end up in such a miserable state, but apparently it’s just not a good gravel race unless I arrive home exhausted, starving, and a little battered. Viva la gravel!  Read the full story

Alexander 380 Champion Mark Skarpohl (Audio)
Over the Top Cycling 
Over the Top Cycling

Alexander 380 Gravel Race with Balvindar Singh (Audio)
Over the Top Cycling

The Alexander 380 with Sarah Cooper (Audio)
Over the Top Cycling

Alexander 380 Race Results

Photos

Almanzo 2015
Penn Cycle/Chris Chavie

Almanzo 100 2015
Brandon Sullivan

Almanzo 100 2015
Kim Mensinger

Almanzo 100
Todd Bauer (TMB Images)

Almanzo 2015
ME Photography

Rode the Almanzo 100 this past weekend. As always, it was a fantastic event. Even with the significant changes of this year…
Fuzzy Images

2015 Almanzo 100
Spring Valley Tribune

Almanzo
Bike Jerks

2015 Alexander 380 by #chubbybike
Balvindar Singh

Fallout: Ursula post-Alexander 380 by Emir (@scrvyknvs)
Balvindar Singh

Video

When the bikers got to gravel!
Valerie Pherson 

Press

Everything comes together for successful Wilderfest weekend
Bluff Country Newspaper Group/David Phillips

Miles and miles of gravel: Riding southern Minnesota's Almanzo 100
StarTribune/Patrick Stephenson