Minnesota Training Rides For Gravel Enthusiasts-Part 1

I recently put up a post on the MN Gravel Enthusiasts Facebook Group requesting gravel training routes around the state that I could share with those that want to start their training early this year.  I received several recommendations and I'm sure more will continue to come in.  Below I will have maps and links to these rides sectioned by areas of the state.

Some of these routes have been submitted by users and not tested by me, so ride at your own risk. Bring everything with you that you will need to be self-supportive to get you back to your starting point.  Also, bring plenty of food and water as there may not be any places along the way to get these items.  Please do not litter.  If nature calls during your ride, do not answer it in front of the locals.   You may experience aggressive dogs on country roads so be prepared and know how to handle the situation.

I will add more gravel rides to share in future posts as they become available.

Twin Cities Area

Welch South Loop
Chris Chavie

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

New Trier/Welch North & South Loop Ride

Chris Chavie

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Dirty Girl Adventure Gravel Ride Route

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

 Carlos Avery N Loop

Paul Peterson

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Miesville-Trier-Miesville

Marsh Jones

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Southern Minnesota

Northfield/Nerstrand Gravel Loop

Chris Chavie

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download 

Cannon Hill Torture V2

Melissa Hunter

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Cherry Creek

Charles Wolf

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Dickie Scramble 2015

Drew Wilson

Map Link

TCX Course Download

GPX Track Download

Twin Cities Winter Fatbike Season Wraps Up With King of the Hill Fat Bike Duel

Image Credit: Buck Hill/Penn Cycle

Buck Hill is one of the few spots left in the Twin Cities that still has snow remaining.  This Saturday, March 12th there will be fatbikes racing at Buck Hill for the King of the Hill Fat Bike Duel presented by Penn Cycle & Buck Hill.

Practice riding starts at 10:00am and racing at 11:30am.  Race format will be 4 racers with single elimination with the top two riders advancing.  Entry fee is $30 or $10 with a non-perishable food donation.  After the racing is completed there will be an open free ride until 4:30pm.  This will be your last chance to ride Winter downhill in the Twin Cities before Spring.  Don't miss it.  See the flyer below or visit the Facebook Event Page for full details.

Uruguayan teacher Victoria Dieste visits her sister city

Montevideo, Minnesota, welcomed Uruguayan teacher Victoria Dieste for a cultural exchange program where she visited each of the area's public schools. The Montevideo American-News profiled Victoria here.

Victoria also attended a Minnesota-Uruguay Partners board meeting hosted at the Wilder Foundation, as well as a chapter event featuring live-streamed Candombe music, among many other activities. 

Victoria shoveling snow on a glorious February day.

Riot Grrravel Returns for Third Year Introducing Women to Gravel Racing

Riot Grrravel returns in 2016 on May 21st with with several distance options to introduce gravel racing/riding to women of all ages and abilities.  What started out in 2014 with 82 riders by Riot Grrravel organizer Ellie Skelton was her way of bringing more women to come to enjoy this increasingly popular style of riding in a non-intimidating fashion.   

Image Credit: Kate Lockhart

"The idea for the Riotgrrravel ride came from attending several biking events where the field was predominantly male. After riding the Filthy 50 in 2013, I started thinking of ways to get women to try riding on gravel. The first Riotgrrravel was 30 miles because I wanted to make a low barrier to entry for women who may have heard about longer gravel races but were intimidated by the long distances. Having two teenage daughters, I wanted to expose them to gravel racing as well. That's really the goal: get more women & teens excited about gravel racing." - Ellie Skelton.

Image Credit: Kate Lockhart

Image Credit: Kate Lockhart

2016's race will have distance declarations of 10, 20 and 33 miles to open up the field to women of all abilities and experiences.  The 33 mile course will have more elevation changes from previous year's courses for those that want to challenge themselves with climbing in addition to distance.  While solo men are discouraged from attending, those men that are riding with and in support of wives, friends and daughters are welcome. 


This year's race will be capped at 250 riders and since registration opened a little over a week ago, the roster has reached the halfway point.  If you have never ridden gravel before or would like to challenge yourself with longer distance and/or some elevation change, Riot Grrravel is the event you need to attend.  Ellie's 17 year old daughter, Cedar is even going to be there to ride this year with a group of her friends.

Image Credit: Kate Lockhart

Ellie hopes to organize some info gravel sessions and possibly an in-town gravel pre-ride (weather dependant) before raceday.  Stay tuned to the Riot Grrravel Facebook page for details.  If you or your company would like to support women's gravel riding/racing, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.  Donations for swag and race prizes are also being accepted.  Please send a message to Ellie on the Riot Grrravel Facebook page if you would like lend your support. 

Image Credit: Kate Lockhart

Riot Grrravel will take place on Saturday, May 21st at Hope Lutheran Church in Hastings.  Roll out is 9:30am sharp for 33 miler, 9:35am for the 20 miles and 9:45am for the 10 mile riders.  This free unsupported women/family friendly event is being held rain or shine so dress accordingly and bring everything you will need to be self supportive.  The ride will be unsupported with the same, "you are responsible for you," philosophy that other free gravel races have." - Ellie Skelton
   
Registration is now open for Riot Grrravel 2016 and only takes a minute to sign up online.  Ellie would love to hear why you are riding Riot Grrravel in 2016, just visit the Riot Grrravel Facebook page and tell your story.  Updates can also be found on the Riot Grrravel Facebook Event page.

Men aren't prohibited from racing but we ask that they ride with a woman or teen- this is your chance to introduce someone to gravel racing! More girls on bikes! More women on bikes! More families on bikes! - Ellie Skelton

Product Review: 2016 45NRTH Wölvhammer Winter Cycling Boot

45NRTH introduced its newly redesigned Wölvhammer Winter cycling boot for 2016 late last Fall and the changes they made were a huge improvement on previous models.  Anyone who had a pair of these older models knew the problems with them such as sticky zippers and difficulty getting them on and off due to their double layer boot design.  Gone are all of those problems with this new single layer boot construction.  The outside of the boot now has a full grain leather and Ballistic Nylon Cordura shell for warmth and durability giving it the look and styling of a traditional mountaineering boot.

One of the first things I noticed is the improved Power Strap at the top of the boot, gone is the restrictive D-ring of the older style.  This will make putting them on easier and allow adjustments to be made while wearing gloves.  The lace-up design with gusseted tongue makes it easy to get the right amount of comfort when putting them on and it keeps the snow and slush out while keeping the warmth in.  The lacing has a Velcro tab on the end that can be tucked underneath the Power Strap so it is out of the way and secure.


With this new gusseted tongue, getting into them is easy.  It's just like putting on a traditional Winter boot.  This is especially handy when wearing thicker wool socks for colder temperatures.

The deep lug pattern Vibram sole provides plenty of traction for those times when you have to hike-a-bike or put a foot down to keep yourself upright.  This new model is two-bolt SPD compatible only but comes with a cleat plug giving it the versatility to be used with flat pedals too.

Where I found these boots really excelled for warmth was in the late Fall and early Winter when temperatures were in the twenties and thirties.  I was able to wear a thin wool sock and be warm and comfortable for hours out on my fatbike.  The wicking properties of the wool socks and the lining of the Wölvhammers kept my feet dry even when I became a little overheated.

My toes tend to get cold easily so when temperatures dipped into the teens and below I would use chemical toe warmers and thicker wool socks to extend the length of my rides.  The larger toe box on the new Wölvhammers still left me with plenty of wiggle room to keep blood circulating properly, even when wearing the thicker socks and toe warmers. 

For really cold temperatures I would pair them with the 45NRTH Bergraven Gaiters to add an extra layer of insulation over the boot and keep the snow out for those first tracks and bushwhacking rides in deeper snow.

During the Winter I will clip in (using Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3's) about 75% of the time.  The times I don't and use flat pinned pedals are during icy conditions, doing a little bushwhacking or on rare occasions like downhill (Fat Bike Gravity Fest).  The Vibram sole of the Wölvhammers really works well with flats providing plenty of grip on the pins of the pedals.

Wölvhammers  keep my feet dry during wet conditions or creek crossings where shoe covers with MTB shoes don't.  Because they are breathable and keep moisture out, I plan on using them through the Spring thaw on some of my cold weather gravel rides on the fatbike.

The real test for the Wölvhammers came back in mid January when temperatures got really cold here in the Twin Cities.  Some friends and I decided to go out early one Sunday morning for a creek/bushwhacking ride through the Minnesota River Bottoms.  At ride start the temperature was -14° F and after 2-3/4 hours it had warmed up to -6° F.  I had used chemical toe warmers and thick wool socks for this ride and by keeping my core temperature up with constant movement the Wölvhammers kept my feet warm but my toes were beginning to get a little cold near the end.

In conclusion, 45NRTH Wölvhammer boots are an excellent choice for both clipless and flat pedals in the Winter.  Their comfort rating is 0° F to 25° F and in these conditions they work quite well at keeping feet warm and dry.  Everyone is different so sock choice and chemical warmers will definitely help those who's feet get cold easily.  These boots are very comfortable and don't seem bulky like other non-cycling specific boots.  The new design is a huge improvement over the older models and has become much more user friendly.  For those that race ultras or ride many miles in extreme temperatures the Wölvhammer may not keep your feet warm during these extended periods of a sub-zero climate.  For this reason 45NRTH spent several years developing the ultimate extreme cold weather boot, the Wølfgar with its comfort rating of -25° F to 10° F.  But for most of us recreational and enthusiast riders, the Wölvhammer does a fine job.

45NRTH Wölvhammer boots are now available in Mens extra wide 38–50 (no size 49), full sizes only at Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops for $325.

Disclosure:  45NRTH provided the review samples for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.

My Favorite Winter Fatbike Gear-Part 3

Winter is my favorite time of the year to ride my fatbike, it opens a whole different world of exploration possibilities.  But, cold weather does present its own challenges that that can be overcome with the right gear.  I have tried a lot of products over the last four Winters and have come up with a new list of some of my favorite items that I use regularly.  This is part three of a three part series where I highlight my favorite Winter fatbike gear.

Garmin Edge 1000

After using a smartphone with Strava for the past few years I finally upgraded to a Garmin Edge 1000 for ride tracking and navigation.  Battery life was always an issue using a smartphone but with the Garmin Edge 1000 I don't worry about it anymore and it doesn't seem to be affected by very cold temperatures like other rechargeable battery devices.  It's full of functions for both road and off-road riding making it a great choice for cyclists that ride a little of everything.

This unit comes preloaded with Garmin Cycle Map and has a round-trip routing feature that allows the input of a ride distance and it will calculate three ride options to choose from.  Ride statistics are very accurate and after a ride they can be uploaded to Strava through a Bluetooth connection with my smartphone.  Incoming call, text and weather alerts are also displayed when connected to my smartphone.  The large 3" touchscreen display is easy to read and with an ambient light sensor I can view it in a variety of lighting conditions.  Creating routes on Garmin Connect is easy and they are synced with the Edge 1000 so I'll never miss a turn or get off course again.  

These are just a few of the many features the Edge 1000 has making it my every bike, every ride cycling computer.  Available from Garmin, Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops for $499.99.  A bundle version (speed sensor, cadence sensor and heart rate monitor) is also available for $599.99.

45NRTH Wölvhammer Boots

45NRTH's Wölvhammer cycling boot is my choice of footwear during Winter fatbike season.  Redesigned for 2016, this boot is easy to get on and off with its new gusseted tongue lace-up drawstring that does away with zippers.  I pair the boot with the appropriate thickness of wool sock based on the outside temperature.  My toes tend to be the first to get cold so sock choice does help and with a larger toe box the Wölvhammer has room to wiggle my toes increasing blood flow.  This boot claims a 0°-25° F comfort rating and my feet stay warm for hours with just light to medium weight wool socks when temperatures are in the 20's° F.  When temperatures dip into the teens and single digits I will switch to a medium or heavy weight wool sock.  For longer rides, the addition of chemical toe warmers give that little bit of warmth to extend my time outside by hours.

This is a very comfortable boot that is waterproof and breathable.  200g of Primaloft ECO Gold insulation with a fleece lining wick away moisture keeping feet dry and warm.  It can be used with flat pedals or install 2-bolt cleats for use with clipless pedals.  The NASA approved Aerogel insulation of the footbed eliminates cold transfer from cleats.  A deep lug pattern Vibram sole provides plenty of grip on a variety of snow and ice covered surfaces.  Pair these boots with gaiters for extra warmth and to keep the snow out when bushwacking or making first tracks.

45NRTH Wölvhammer boots are now available in Mens extra wide 38–50 (no size 49), full sizes only at Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops for $325.

Outdoor Tech Wired Chips

Universal Helmet Audio

I enjoy listening to podcasts and music while I ride but the use of earbuds can interfere with hearing approaching vehicles or passing cyclists.  I recently got a Smith Vantage helmet and like most snow helmets it has snap fit earpads with an audio drop in.  Immediately I purchased Outdoor Tech's Wired Chips snow helmet audio kit to take advantage of this feature.

The Wired Chips have 40mm drivers for great sound and plenty of volume.  They function fine in cold temperatures and the right ear chip button controls everything form playing/pausing a track, changing tracks and answering phone calls.  There is also a built in microphone, secondary control button and volume wheel control.  They even have Siri and Android voice activation.

I have really come to like the Wired Chips because of the great sound quality, the simple controls and they still allow me to hear outside sounds so I can be more aware of my surroundings.  If I receive a  phone call I can take it  while riding without having to stop and grab my phone or take my gloves off.  It's a simple design with great sound that is easy to use.

Outdoor Tech Wired Chips Universal Helmet Audio are compatible with Bern, Giro, Smith, Anon, Pro Tec, Bolle, and others that have slots for audio drop ins.  Available from Outdoor Tech and sporting goods retailers for $39.95.  A wireless version is also available for $129.95.

Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3 Pedals

This is my second Winter riding with Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3 pedals and I absolutely love them.  I never have any problems with them or my cleats packing up with snow where I have difficulty clipping in.  I like their minimalistic design that lets me unclip quickly if I need to put a foot down or perhaps misjudged a technical feature.  Made of stainless steel, I don't have to worry about corrosion or the occasional pedal strike.

Eggbeaters can be customized for angle of release (15° or 20°) and still allow some float while pedaling.  I have my cleats set to release at a 15° angle so I can get out of the pedal in a hurry if I need to.  They have become my year round choice for mountain biking in all kinds of weather and conditions.

Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3 pedals are available in four color choices from Crank Brothers, Penn Cycle and other fine bike shops for $120 to $135.  For the more budget minded there is the Eggbeater 1 for $59.99 and the Eggbeater 2 for $94.99.

Member in the News: Lyndel King

Lyndel King, a longtime member of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners who recently traveled to Montevideo along with advertising executive Shelly Regan on a travel grant from Partners, was featured on WCCO television news yesterday. Check it out! Congratulations on your continued success, Lyndel. 

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2016/02/09/weisman-art-museum-ponders-the-magic-of-clouds/