Winter Updates

Ya gotta wonder what's in Courtney's thermos this time of year...

It may be only January, but I've been getting a steady stream of updates from those who love riding in the snow. Well, maybe it's not love.

Jeremi Walker already has a full century and two metrics in the bag. He wrote, "Well if this weather continues I might get my first cup by the end of January! I wish!!"  He did this here 86-mile ride on the 9th, and also finished the Triple D race yesterday (67 miles, a few more for those who happened to get lost).

Courtney Hilton bagged a metric on the 7th, riding on "southern gravel". He sent me the accompanying photo, but go to his regularly updated blog for more photos and details.

As for myself, I completed the Triple D race as well, marking my first metric for the year. Anyone looking to get started in the winter racing scene should definitely check it out. There were lots of finishers this year - historically, the bikers have about a 25% rate, this year it was around 75%. The running and skiing categories had much better representation than in the past as well, and it turned out to be a really fun event on what was (this year, anyway) a fast course.

Keep riding and keep the updates rolling in!

First 2011 Cupdate

It's only January 5th, but we've already got our first update. This one is from Jeremi Walker of Iowa City, who did 114 miles on January 3rd. He wrote:

The weather was great and I had the day off! I figured no better time to get my first hundo done for the year:) Oh and by the way, that special prize for the person or persons who finish a century per month, just as a suggestion, maybe a Mug O' Dirt? Thanks again for providing us crazy folk who like to ride gravel a place to mingle. Jeremi Walker

He also provided me this link to his ride on Map My Ride. Check it out - it looks like a fun route, and with a few hills. I like the Mug O' Dirt idea - maybe like one of those convenience store ultra-huge mugs?

2010 Cup Qualifiers So Far

I haven't received too many more updates over the last few days. But the good news is that there has been a lot of interest in the Cup O' Dirt for 2011! Here are the chasers I have down for getting a cup, along with their qualifying rides, for 2010.

Drew Wilson - 22 metrics, 15 full (that's two cups, man!)

Courtney Hilton - 12 Metrics - Courtney barely missed getting one a month. Maybe in 2011?

Adam Blake - 7 full and 12 metrics. Adam also gets two cups, and a shout out for probably doing most of those on single speed.

The Nearly Famous Dave Giegerich - 100 metrics (though from his Facebook and blog updates, there might be a few more unreported as of yet) I don't know if a Cup O' Dirt suffices for this accomplishment - maybe a 34,000-liter Tanker Truck O' Dirt?

And last but not least, my own rides: Nick Wethington - 7 full centuries and 9 metrics.

If you had enough qualifying rides in 2010 and are interested in getting a cup, please send me an email at iowacupodirt _[at]_ gmail - dot - com. I'll be accepting updates for 2010 until the end of January or so, when I start to get the cups a rolling.

Great work in 2010, all. You deserve more than a cup, but that's all I've got to give you besides my admiration. On to the 2011 chase!