Lots of miles, lots of hills, lots of dirt.

In a tie for the mostest biggest deal ride of the month (you didn't know we had that competition, did you?!)- Nick Wethington, Matt Maxwell and Tom Anderson each logged some centuries.

Nick and Matt decided enough was enough and hosted the 2nd(?)Annual TOBASCO ride, logging 201 miles - and earning a Cup O' Mississippi Mud each! Nick's first and Matts second! Congratulations! Here's their report:

Maxwell and I were both at 4
until Saturday, on which we did a very long, somewhat windy 201 miles
for the TOBASCO ride. We couldn't fool anyone else into going, so it
was just he and I this time around. I think we'll likely do another
ride of the same length about this time next year.

We went through Ledges, then North along the Des Moines River valley
to Stratford, were blown East to Gilbert and past McFarland park,
then fought the wind all the way down to Maxwell. It died down a bit
and we went over to Polk City to see my girlfriend, who gave us
cupcakes. After that, we went just north of Big Creek and then were
basically blown home by that wicked West wind that picked up about
10pm and made Sunday all windy up here. Started at 5am and got done
around Midnight. That puts us both at 6 centuries, and a Cup O' Dirt
earned apiece! When do you send those out? Hope all is going well,
and thanks so much for organizing this: it inspired me to ride a lot
more this summer than I would have.

~Nick Wethington

Meanwhile, back in Des Moines, Tom Anderson completed what many have been talking/thinking about for years - a full century on the Center trails! Sweet!
That keeps Tom in the One-A-Month Club - and in great shape for Cross season!

Here's his report: http://iowagriz.blogspot.com/2008/10/center-hundy-completed.html

Dave Giegerich fell in love with this sprot so much - he bought himself a sweet Trek XO2, and had to nail a bonus 100k! It must be lucky 13!

I'm pretty sure Fuller nailed a hundy the same day as the Dr. Bob ride - (I'll verify) and I was the only one to take me up on my offer to count the distance ridden at the Dr. Bob ride - as long as it was on a mountain bike on fat tires... 100k of pavement... and wind... and very fit people on road bikes... I was tired!

Anyway - Keep riding and enjoy the Fall!

Peace - Dave

Ten...... eleven.......

Mr. Grelk did a couple metrics last weekend...In his own words:

30 miles of unassisted longtail from work to home, then switched to the mtb for another 35 on Friday: Details

And another pretty hilly 63 on the mtb with a little trail mixed in with the windy gravel, Sunday: Details

Meanwhile, Tim Bierbaum has been logging the dirty miles -

Hi Dave, finished up another two metric centuries over the past couple of weekends.
Way back on Sept 21st, I got out of Des Moines and headed west. Didn't go anywhere, just west and then I turned around for a total of 103 km.

On Sept 27th, I went out for another metric and had mechanical problems. I ended up
hiking a couple of miles to the Kum & Go at the I-35 and highway 92 where my absolutely wonderful wife came and picked me up.

Finally, last Sunday I went out and headed towards Indianola and then wandered around in circles just south of Norwalk for a total of 102 km.

-Tim Bierbaum

I must say that I'm pretty amazed at what people are willing to do for a chunk of clay - that being said - I'd imagine that, whether you finish out the year with one century, or a whole bunch of em - just getting out on dirt and enjoying the day was worth the chase! I know I've enjoyed each of my long dirty rides - from a couple of long gravel rides on the tandem with Dee, and, of course, Leadville, to my 100 miles of Seven Oaks - each ride stands alone as a great day on the bike. Nuthin wrong with that!

As a little bonus - I'd like to offer this to anyone out there looking to fill their Cups this weekend... Saturday is the Dr. Bob Ride - and if you do it on a mountain bike (fat tires - not cross bike, not 29'er with cross wheels.. but a real mountain bike) I'll give you credit for your distance. The ride is either 100k or 200k -
Why? Because Dr. Bob was a good friend and I'd love to see ya'll out there supporting the ride - and the cause - The proceeds from this ride benefit area trails - both paved and dirt- (Richard Brown, the DSM Park and Rec Trail Guru, is a huge proponent of the center trails - and supports CITA and it's work in a big way!)

Anyway - the ride starts and finishes at Bike World West at 7:00am Saturday. Cup O' Dirt logo designer Brian Duffy will be along for the ride - as will the girls from the All9yards Cycling Team -- and it's always a treat to ride with them! (If I DO say so myself!!) So - get those fatties out and get out and RIDE!

See you in the dirt! - Dave

Fuller Continues.... and gets a new steed!

Steve Fuller nailed a hundy this weekend: "101 miles from Johnston to Adel. With the ride home on the RRVT from Adel, 118 miles total. 7800+ ft of climb. Plenty of critters, a plethora of combines, and one shaken up pickup truck driver."

I think there is a story or two in there somewhere.... maybe he'd be willing to regail us of the stories while riding his shiney new steed -a Specialized One-Cross won at the Crohn's and Colitis raffle at the Cross Mafia race last weekend - congratulations on your great victory!

Reguarding this little cup chase - I thought I'd share with you a bit of history of the cups, themselves -

See - back in the mid-seventies my sister, Jackie, went to UNI to earn an art and teaching degree - and upon graduation, and maybe during the summers during her stint at UNI, she worked at Living History Farms - She worked in the Textile building - you might have seen it on your right as you head up to get your dognuts after the Living History Farms Race! Anyway - she met this potter, see - Russ - He worked in the pottery shop which was right behind the textile building... and they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes - fell in love and got married.

Russ continued to be the potter at LHF for many years - until he voiced his oppinion on organic farming during a Dow Chemical company picnic... and he was promply excused.. so began New Harmony Pottery!

Russ and Jackie have been creating authentic stoneware pottery ever since - selling their wares at Folk Art in Valley Junction, the State Fair and at the Covered Bridge Festival - as well as creating custom pieces for special orders, like the Cup O' Dirt! They have created awards for races such as Living History Farms Race, the Most Excellent Run and the Sycamore 8... and now these hand thrown, custom mugs for your Cup O' Dirt!

Only a limited number of these exclusive mugs are ever created - and to sip a bit of joe from one is surely an honor - an honor that the sipper had worked hard all year to achieve!

So - there is still time - get out there and ride -and share a toast with GPickle, Big John, and others - in your very own Cup O' Dirt!