The latest update (not including 2010)

So, here's what I got so far:

Nick Wethington; 18 full, 12 Metric
Tim Riekena, 12 Metric
Dave Giegerich, 48 Metric, 6 full
Joe Meiser, 23 full
Matt Maxwell, 10 full
Drew Wilson, 12 metric
Steve Fuller, 6 full
Dave Mable, 0. Zip. Nada. None. Nuthin.
Ben Shockey 14 metric 4 full.

If ya want on the board, you have till 1/29 - then I'm ordering the Cups!

I'll be presenting the 2009 Cups and remaining 2008 Cups at CIRREM (2/27) Ya hear that Grelk? :)

Thanks for playing - and thanks to those sending some cash-ola! I totally appreciate it!! I'll be posting the 2010 chasers here: http://thecupodirt.blogspot.com/

Peace - Dave

Drew Wilson's 1/2 Liter O' Dirt!

Last year I went on an early season, April, training ride with a large group in which I logged about 65 miles. It took virtually all day because of stops and "no-drop". That ride started in Cannon Falls and swooped over to the Red Wing area and back.

I rode the Almanzoo (104 miles)

I rode back and forth to my parent's place (they live in Red Wing and I'm in Rochester) 3 round trips in April and May as well (approximately 68 miles on 90% gravel). One of those weekends I also got in a 70 mile, mostly gravel, ride that took me into the hilly part of Wisconsin just across the river. That part of Wisconsin is some of the best gravel I've had a chance to ride... All together that is 7 more metric centuries (3 of them back to back to back)

I took a long time off from the distance riding and focused on my xc racing in late spring/early summer.

I raced in the Salsa 2-4 in the 8 hr class. Made 10 laps and had a total mileage for the day of 68 brutal miles.

I rode down from my house to the start of the Almanzo Gentleman's ride and then to the 62 mile checkpoint before getting a ride home (had other responsibilities). Total mileage there was about 70 miles, again with plenty of it on gravel.

I rode the Heck of the North. What a fun race! and a milestone in my training. At that point I was very proud of staying with the lead group! 100+ more miles of gravel.

I got 3 more metric centuries in during the late fall on rides where I went out backwards on the Almanzo course and other gravel behind my house.

I guess that's 13 metrics and 2 full centuries (would have been a lot more if I hadn't put in so many lonely days on real roads prior to selling my road bike in August)

As I already emailed- I have two metrics on snow already in this year as are detailed in my blog. I intend to try for the full Almanzo course this Saturday. My goal for the year is to be 30 metrics and 14 fulls. I wasn't aware of the "cup" until just recently, but it's already helped me to push myself just a little bit further on a couple of brutal winter rides. Thanks for doing this, hope I can inspire others-- keep in mind that I couldn't ride 30 miles on pavement on a road bike 18 months ago.

thanks

-Drew

Cup O' The Day, Matt Maxwell

Dave,
If it isn't too late here are the dirty century rides I got in this year. I don't remember dates, but I do have vague memories of each of them.

1 To Eldora & Back
2 Des Moines River with Wade
3 To Cedar Rapids (135)
4 Dirty Kansa (140)
5 Crash on Y Camp
6 On the Pugsley
7 GRAID
8 GRAID (245 in 23 hours)
9 Ames to Cedar Falls
10 Cedar Falls to Ames

I'm pretty sure I did about six metrics as well, but who's counting...

Matt Maxwell

Cups O' The Day - Joe Meiser

This is a pic of Matt Gersib - who blogged about Joe once and rides a bike. Plus, he's sportin' a sweet pair of Oakleys.

Dirty ol' Joe - what's this I hear of you nailing the Cup O' Dirt in 21 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes? Oh, not just the Cup O' Dirt, but the Cup O' Mississippi Mud as well, as you've finished the 2300 mile Tour Divide Race on your #1 rated Salsa Fargo? Impressive! And for that, you've earned yourself a Cup O' Dirt! Congrats and thanks for playing! - Dave

"The GDMBR is the world's longest off-pavement cycling route. It's highlighted by long dirt roads and jeep trails that wend their way through forgotten passes of the Continental Divide. The Route travels through Canadian Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the United States of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. By Route's end a thru-rider will climb nearly 200,000 feet of vertical (equivalent to summiting Mount Everest from sea-level 7 times)." Visithttp://tourdivide.org/ if you're so inclined.

Cup O' The Day: David Giegerich

Hi Dave,
Hmmm How would I summarize the year? Let's see. "Lots and lots of bicycling and enjoyed every minute of it."

I have to blame some my craziness on Dave Mable. Yeap. Fall of 2007 I stumbled on the Cup O'Dirt blog. Spring of 2008 arrived and I modified my old road bike to ride dirt trails. After 12 metrics and realizing my addiction I purchased a Trek XO2, and banged out another 6 for 2008. After some snow riding I was chomping at the bit in 09to get started again. So 48 metric centuries and 6 full ones later, I wrap up 2009. I love it.

So now I ride year round, bought a Trek 6700 with Nokian studs, and as a matter of fact I rode 40 miles today (12/30/09)on snow mobile trails and I am entered in Triple D. Good grief.

It's been a good and/or crazy year. Maybe next year I can get one in once a month too. The snow is a killa.

March 22nd 1st Metric Century
March 30th 2nd Metric Century
April 3rd 3rd Metric Century
April 8th 4th Metric Century
April 11th 5th Metric Century
April 16th 6th Metric Century
April 22nd 7th Metric Century
April 29th 8th Metric Century
May 3rd 9th Metric Century
May 8th 10th Metric Century
May 10th 11th Metric Century
May 14th 12th Metric Century
May 28th 1st 100 Miler
May 31st 13th Metric Century
June 3rd 14th Metric Century
June 11th 2nd 100 Miler
Knee goes out one me
July 5th 15th Metric Century
July 11th 16th Metric Century
July 12th 17th Metric Century
July 14th 18th Metric Century
July 18th 3rd 100 Miler
July 24th 19th Metric Century
July 26th 20th Metric Century
July 31st 21st Metric Century
Aug 2nd 2nd Metric Century
Aug 6th 23rd Metric Century
Aug 9th 24th Metric Century
Aug 12th 25th Metric Century
Aug 23rd 4th 100 Miler
Aug 30th 26th Metric Century
Sept 2nd 5th 100 Miler
Sept 23rd 6th 100 Miler
Sept 6th 27th Metric Century
Sept 13th 28th Metric Century
Sept 19th 29th Metric Century
Sept 30th 30th Metric Century
APPENDECOMY
Oct 19th 31st Metric Century
Oct 20th 32nd Metric Century
Oct 21st 33rd Metric Century
Oct 31st 34th Metric Century
Nov 1st 35th Metric Century
Nov 7th 36th Metric Century
Nov 8th 37th Metric Century
Nov 14th 38th Metric Century
Nov 15th 39th Metric Century
Nov 16th 40th Metric Century
Nov 21st 41st Metric Century
Nov 22nd 42nd Metric Century
Nov 27th 43rd Metric Century
Nov 28th 44th Metric Century
Nov 29th 45th Metric Century
Dec 2nd 46th Metric Century
Dec 5th 47th Metric Century
Dec 26th 48th Metric Century


Way to go Dave! You've come a long way in a short time - You are motivation for the rest of us! Keep ridin'!

Cup O' The Day - Tim Riekena's Chase

Dave,

While my North Missouri riding weather is usually milder than Iowa's (and I should know since I grew up in Iowa Indianola HS-1977), getting in all 12 metrics has been a journey in itself. I have a lot of respect for you guys/gals up north.

From icy gravel to eating hot July dust, this challenge has been a blast. It's taken me all over North Missouri, and then some.

I never got in a true century which was disappointing, but I guess that's why we make goals.

Last July, I got in two metrics, which ended up being a good thing. During my cross
country season (I coach) I was diagnosed with a hernia. The doctor said he would do the procedure after the season was over. So, in November, two days after I rode my 12th metric, I had the procedure. Recovery was stupid slow, still is. I had my 12 metrics, but I was hoping to get in one every month (December). Time was running out.

I've had a few days off during Christmas Break and started thinking about trying to get the December one in. Local riders have told nothing but horror stories about our icy gravel we currently have. One buddy actually went to the doctor concerning injuries he sustained while riding our gravel. I didn't think trying to ride 62 miles on local icy gravel was a good idea. The last thing I wanted to do was crash and re-injure the hernia thingy.

Yesterday, I loaded up the bike and drove south. I went to the KATY trail down by the Missouri River. The KATY is a flat, 220+ mile crushed limestone trail. They had less snow there, but enough to make me to pull the plug.

The first 10 miles took me well over an hour... plus a lot of effort. I couldn't believe what was happening. Where I wasn't plowing through 2 inches of crusty snow, I would be on soft sandy-type gravel. The freeze/thaw cycle had already hit the surface making it like riding through sand. There was nothing easy about it. Surface conditions, plus the fact that I hadn't ridden in 7 weeks, took its toll. I got in another 8 miles and realized I wasn't' going to make it back to the truck if I kept going.

So I turned around. I think my total was around 36 miles. I'm glad I had the 12 metrics in, but I really wanted to get in that December one.

Since I've been riding MTBs, I've had a few DNF's due to equipment failure, or not making a cutoff time, but never have I had to DNF myself. Still, it was strangely one of my best rides. I saw awesome scenery, a bunch of bald eagles, zero cars, truck or tractors, and only a handful of people. When I rode up to the truck, I was much more tired than any other metric I've done.

Like they say, even a bad day on the bike is better than not riding.

Thanks again for putting on this challenge. I hope to get up to your CIRREM event...surly my hernia thingy will be totally mended.

Tim Riekena
Chillicothe, MO


"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm."
Henry David Thoreau

Cup O'the Day - Nick Wethington's Pursuit.

Dave,

Well, I set out at the beginning of this year with a dream of finishing all three of the available cups. My first ride for the cup was a long, single-speed slog out in hills of the Des Moines River valley, and the last one was at the Tuscobia Ultra, a 75-mile haul on nice loose snowmobile trail. I rolled over that last qualifying mile in the dark somewhere near Park Falls, Wisconsin, and it was quite a moment to realize that I had just finished my dream. So, yeah, that makes 12 metrics and 18 full dirty rides!

For posterity (and to remember how many I'd done), I kept a record of all the qualifying rides and their dates. Here's that for you:

January 18th - 62 miles
February 2nd - 135 miles
February 15th - 62 miles
February 22nd - 100 miles
March 8th - 62 miles
March 15th - 100 miles
March 29th - 115 miles
May 31st - 100 miles
June 11th - 62 miles
July 9th - 65 miles
July 13th - 110 miles - 6 Full
July 20th - 105 miles
July 27th - 100 miles
August 3rd - 165 miles - 6 Metric
August 9th - 100 miles
August 16th - 115 miles
September 17th - 65 miles
September 27th - 104 miles - 12 Full!
October 4th - 62 miles
October 17th - 210 miles
October 25th - 100 miles
November 1st - 65 miles
November 14th - 103miles
November 15th - 103 miles
November 29th - 63 miles
December 6th - 100 miles - 18 full centuries!
December 12th - 65 miles
December 19th - 78 miles - 12 Metrics!

I'd really like to receive all three cups, but I know that you're doing this all out of your own pocket and the kindness of your own heart, so let me know how much those cups cost and I will gladly tip you a few bucks to cover the cost of my three.

Thanks for putting this on - it really pushed me to add a lot more miles to my rides than I would have, and travel to some places that I normally wouldn't see. Plus, it was great training for my winter bike racing season.

~Nick Wethington

Ed: ROCK IT OUT NICK! Glad you enjoyed the chase - congratulations!

3 cups will be ordered (and delivered randomly throughout the year, right Grelk? #2 is here....) - or handed out at CIRREM?!?

And to the rest of you - watch for a new Cup O' The Day daily (or mostly, I hope!)

It may be quiet... but I am watching!

So, send my your stuff - Cups will be ordered by mid Jan - and presented in the snow and rain at CIRREM!

dave@bikeworldiowa.com

Peace! - Dave

18?! At one time?!? Are You CRAZY?

Yep.

Here's a little note from Joe Meiser - Trans-Iowa veteran... and now Trans United-freakin-States-via-the-freakin-Continental-Divide veteran - congrats Joe! Dave,

Completed the Tour Divide Race on July 3rd. It's hard to say how many
centuries were in there for the 21.5 days that I rode. I know there
were at least three days under 100 miles, somewhere in the 50-85 mile
range. So I'll call it 18 centuries for the whole event, most of them
120+ mile days with some in the 140+ and three 170+ days. I guess I've
hit the goal...

Photos and info here: www.eojmeiser.blogspot.com

Feel free to use/post any of the Flickr photos that can be accesed via
the sidebar on my blog.

Thanks for putting this good fun on!

Joe

And this is from Nick in Ames:


Dave,

I saw you updated the site. It's good to know that there are other
crazy people out there trying for the cup! I did a sweet 165 miles on
Sunday last, riding up to Mallard, Iowa to see some family, then back
down to Humboldt along part of the Three Rivers trail. My girlfriend
thankfully picked me up in Humboldt so I didn't have to camp, but it
was a gorgeous day for such a long ride. That puts me at 9 full and 6
metric, exactly halfway for my projected three cup goal. I'm hoping
to get a full at the 24-hour race this year. Are you gonna be there
again for the fun? (maybe!-ed)

~Nick

July Cup' Dates

I've been lurking - reading your email entries - and waiting for a little computer time to update the site - and as that little ride across Iowa came and went - I decided to do a cumulative update for July -there's been alot of riding going on!

Nick Wethington is A) enjoying his Cup (read on)and B) enjoying his bike. He's now racked up 8 full and 5 metric centuries - and only has a little road rash to show for it! He's been riding with Matt Maxwell and the two are exploring every dirty little nook and cranny of Story and Boone counties!

Dave,

Well, I just got my 2008 cup, and let me tell you, coffee tastes much
better from a mug earned than one bought. It's also inspired me to
continue my quest for at least two but hopefully three cups in 2009.
I got another century in three weeks ago. I rode out to Seven Oaks
from Ames, met up with some friends there and did a lap, then rode
back, switched to my gravel bike and rode down to Big Creek. I took a
short nap at Big Creek by the lake, then rode back to Ames to get
about 102 miles. It seemed more like a series of shorter rides than a
century, and the nap in the middle made it feel like little work at
all! I've also done two metrics since I last wrote, so that puts me
at 5 full and 5 metric. Now that summer is in full swing I expect to
get a few more under my belt before the weather turns cold again.
Thanks, as always, for inspiring to ride just a little bit more.

~Nick Wethington

From our friend in Mizzou: (this is an early entry - but I liked the story!)

Dave,

Put me down for another metric.

Last Saturday I raced in the Lumberjack 100, except for me it ended up the Lumberjack 50. I broke not one, but two spokes on my second 25-mile lap. I decided to DNF the race, but was still able to get in a total of 62 miles by riding service roads in the park. Plus I had five hours to kill waiting for by buddies to finish.

This wasn't the century I was looking for, but it was the most fun so far.

Have a great day,

Tim Riekena
Chillicothe, MO

And from Colorado, as Drew prepares to battle a 'race ready' Lance Armstrong:

Did my third metric of the year last Friday....a pre-ride on the Leadville 100 course from Leadville to Twin Lakes Dam and back. Eighty miles total, but 10-15 on pavement. A legit 62 or more on the dirt though...will try to post to my blog soon!?

Did it solo in about 7.5 hours....too bad those fast guys do the whole hundred in that time or less! Rain threatened most of the day but never materialized in any major way. Should be stacking them up with a bit more regularity through the rest of the year between events and training.

Hope everyone is well in Dirty Cup land. Would love the opportunity to hook up at Cheq if the schedules permit!

Drew Miller
Buena Vista, CO


And Pete Lira is knocking off centuries left and right down in the heat and hills of Kansas:

Hey Dave,

Had some great fun this weekend in Madison Kansas. The Flint hills Deathride was 81 mile this year. What is great about this ride is that it is different each year. This was my 6th trip down and I still found myself on new gravel.

Pete Lira

Up in NE Iowa - David G is cranking out mile after mile - and kilometer after kilometer - he's up to 20 metrics this year - I'm so proud of that boy!!!!

Ben Shocky isn't asleep either - as he's taking advantage of a broken frame and getting a full hundy in. (what? His race bike broke - so he decided to ride a long gravel ride since he couldn't race... - We're sorry to hear about your bike!)

And a whole group from Des Moines had fun on the chase:

Dave,

Congrats on the tri yesterday! Still, you missed out on a pretty fun ride. Sedore, Oakley Rob, Kurt Benson, Fuller, Joe from BW West, and myself took off from Legends on 60th and Ashworth and the crack of dark Saturday night which equates to roughly 10:20 PM after some food and liquid fueling. Heading west on EP True we went baja style riding through the dead end past Jordan Creek and eventually worked our way down to Booneville road and over to Booneville proper by 11. We briefly debated the first beer stop of the evening, but eventually bypassed the Waveland in favor of heading to the Cumming Tap for our first round of the evening. We hit the tap somewhere need midnight and split a pitcher between us while Kurt also thought it was necessary to bolster our spirits with a round of Red Bulls as well. Most everyone chugged theirs down, but I wisely packed away that gem for a later pick me up.

From Cumming we decided to try for last call in Martensdale. A mile or so out of town we had our first flat of the evening on Joe’s trusty La Cruz. Now here’s how you can tell you’re in Iowa. Here we were at 1ish in the morning, a group of 6 guys standing around working on a bike and 2 separate cars happened to roll by, both checking to make sure we were good to go and offering to shine their headlights on the situation to help. We got the flat repaired in time to make last call. After another pitched split, we headed back from whence we came. Somewhere about halfway back to Cumming we decided to stop and break out some food. I think we were all feeling a bit punchy at the time as the stop also included a rousing game of duck-duck goose played in the midst of the gravel road in the wee hours of Sunday morning. We wound our way back through the Booneville loop and made our final break at the Waveland west where we enjoyed their great hospitality. Of course they weren’t actually open at 4 in the morning (who knew?), but we did find the patio furniture to be quite inviting. After a bit more snacking on processed meat sticks aka Slim Jim’s, we headed back towards town only to stop for the 2nd flat of the evening.

Rather than run through the bigger rollers on Booneville road, we opted to head back out to Grand and roll it double file paceline style clear down to Raccoon River Park to let the heckling and shananigans begin for the Hy-Vee Tri. All told, I showed 68 miles and change with 3000’ of climbing for our overnighter along with more laughing, fun, and folly than I can remember having for a long time. One punctuation to the evening was experiencing flying down the various hills at 25+ mph in the pitch of night which was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. I finally rolled back home and to bed around 10:30 after having eclipsed the 26th hour of awake time before dropping like a ton of bricks for a few hours nap.

Thanks,

Rick

Adding to that - Fuller wandered around with some friends for dirty hundy with some friends while the rest of the state was gathering in Council Bluffs for RAGBRAI -

Went on a little Death Ride with Guitar Ted, David Pals, Jeremy Fry,
Craig and Doug on Saturday morning. Left West Union around 7:00 AM.
Got back quite a while later. Camped out, drank some beers, rode some
flats, climbed a few hills, enjoyed the conversation and scenery, and
had damn good time. 118 miles, 9994 feet of climb. Route link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/9148382

Steve Fuller

Finally - one thing I suck at is mailing stuff - I've got Cups headed to Cedar Falls via the State Road Race, Dubuque via the mail and to Mr. Never Rest via the mail - sorry it takes so danged long - but the Cups are like a fine wine - better aged!

Peace all and safe riding! - Dave

New Guy

Let's all welcome the new guy, Pete Liera, to the chase! He's got a few in already, and had this to say:

"Thanks Dave,
So far this year I have one full century and 4 metrics. I have been planninig a route between the Illinois and missisippi rivers,but the bridge is out to get there.
Ill let you know how it goes.
Pete"


On a side note - we're getting jazzed about the Honey Creek Fall Cycling Festival - and plan on calling the gravel road races (100m and 100k) the Midwest 100 mile Champships - a real midwest throwdown!

Info here: www.tworiverstouringco.com

I hope to see you all there!
Peace - Dave

Anutha full hundy for DaveyG!

Hi Dave,
Well, last Saturday I wrote you and stated I was headed to a 100 miler the following day. I waffled. I didn't do. Didn't even make 30 miles. However!! :-) Today I rode 107 miles. My most ever in a single ride. 95% on dirt. I want thee "CUP" It is a long ways away. We shall see. Pictures of the ride attached.
Thanks for the chase.
Dave Giegerich

Send Me Your Addresses!

Cup earners from afar.... - send your shipping address to dave@bikeworldiowa.com

I am sending the Ames Cups to the Ames Bike World for you to pick up - and I'm hoping to get to CF for the TTT next weekend and deliver that crews Cups up there.

Fuller, stop in the shop - I've got yours there - and it's always good to see you.

If you ain't among those 3 groups - send me your address!

Peace - and happy riding!

Dave

PS - I'm thinking maybe I should be going for a real Cup this year... hard to smack-talk without putting up myself, eh?

Lessons On Modern Cycling, A DK Top 10, and other fun stories from around the World

Shockey's old bike



Shocky had this to say:

"hey dave,
got out for my harmony-and-back metric yesterday and ended up finishing a metric in under 4 hours for the first time. i think people might be onto something with these "freewheel" things. they're kinda fast and kinda fun. weird.

shockey"

Shockey and his newest bike:

First of all, Mr. Shock-meister - that's pretty quick - nice ride... secondly - you'd be shocked (pun intended) at all the new-fangled developments since man first stepped off the Ordinary! All kinds of sweet stuff - gears, pnumatic tires, frames made out of stuff other than iron - bikes these days rock! Ya should check into em!


Fuller rocked out a 10th place finish at Dirty Kanza - a HOT Dirty Kanza too! You should read his write-up - but for those who have full time jobs, I'll summarize: Early morning, Flint Hills, Kansas - a whole herd'o folks take off for this crazy, hilly, dirty 200 mile race. It gets hot - real hot (like - 94!). A whole herd'o folks call it a day, cept for our own, intrepid traveler, Mr. Steve Fuller - He plugs on to the finish line some 20 hourse later - in an impressive 10th place! Great job Fuller!!!

A DK fan from Tennessee stumbled upon our little Cup chase and decided to throw his hat in the ring:

"Just found this website after looking for post write ups on dirty kanza. This is an awesome idea and I want to join in on the fun! My name is Scott McConnell. I am from Nashville, Tn and ride with a group of gravel grinder enthusiasts here. We hit the gravel a lot more last year, but hoping to get back at it more throughout the remaining part of the year. My new ride is a Moots Mooto-x Slider that is set up to run single speed. Thus far this year, I have completed the Cohutta 100, and 104 miles of Dirty Kanza. I also have the Shenadoah 100 on the agenda this year as well as a 24 hr race. I'll work on getting you some pics and forward your website to the rest of the crew. This will give me a target to shoot for. Let me know if you need anything else from me.

Scott"

Welcome aboard Scott!

And from Mizzu:

"Dave,

Got in another metric yesterday, May 30. Nothing too spectacular, but once again, got to see some country side that didn't know existed.

Headed southeast out of Chillicothe, Mo and shot straight north to meet up with a buddy in Laredo. We got in another 25 together and then we headed back in his truck. Kinda a neat way to get in some miles.

Total mileage was 62 and average was 11.8 mph.

Tim R."

Meanwhile, in northern Iowa, David G. is racking up the metrics - maybe on his way to a couple of 1/2 Liters??? Maybe on his way to a Cup O' Mississippi Mud? We shall see! We shall see!


Keep em rolling!

Peace -Dave

Att'a Boy!

"Mr D. Mable,

Well once again you have been an inspiration to me to go past my "norm" "What will you do? What will you do?" Had the day off to ride. Rode 40 miles out from house on Trek XO2 riding gravel and dirt trail. Realizing that I had 40 miles to get home, making it 80 miles. Made it home, had a coffee and some home made breads for carbs. Back on the bike again, back to the "trails" for another 20. That would be my 4th life time 100 miler ever. The previous three were 12 years ago on pavement, younger man, on a road bike. Feels good. Hope do some more. Had great energy levels today, it has been 2 weeks since my last metric.
Thanks again
Dave Giegerich"

Way to go Dave! And best of luck to all those taking on the back roads of the Flint Hills of Kansas this weekend! May the wind be at your back, and your bikes behave flawlessly!

- Dave

New guy... and I love the title of his most recent blog post!

Dave,

My name is Drew Miller and I live in Buena Vista, CO. I'd like to throw my hat in the ring for this thing. I've got two metrics this year so far:

12 Hours of Mesa Verde: 80 Miles all dirt (mostly singletrack)
Original Growler: 65 Miles (60 on dirt)

My blog site is www.millersmile.blogspot.com.

I'll let you know when I have pics/updates for you to post.

Cool idea...Thanks for doing this!

Drew

Some New Players! (and Dave G & Shockey get a Mug!)

All kinds of going's on this month, kids. Where do I even start?

Well, for one, David G. nailed his 12th metric to earn his 1/2 Litor O' Dirt! Congratulations Dave... there's alot of year left! What will you do? What will you do?!

Shockey's got his 1/2 Liter O' Dirt too - with 9 metrics and 3 full centuries - that's a total of 12 - unless, of course, he wants to separate them and get the 1/2 Liter AND either some Mud or go for a full Cup! (???)

Fuller completed the Almanzo 100, getting a full century in as he continues his preparation for the Dirty Kanza (a 200 mile beauty in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Kansas ain't flat, Dorothy!)

Rick Blackford is back at it- actually enjoying the CIRREM course in the warmth of May! (Hmmm - now THERE'S and idea, Jed)

And O'l Robert Campbell has rejoined the chase: Read up on his report:

"Hello!

It's been a long time since I first attempted this way back on
January 31st. Yesterday, it all started when I changed my front
rubber from knobby trail thing to Vulpine gravel thing. The mercury
was nudging north to the eighties for the first time all year, and it
would be in the nineties before the day was done. I had no idea I
would ride sixty-two miles before it was over, and while there were
lengthy stops for various good reasons, in a stretch of twelve hours
with various other tasks thrown in, I'd logged 64.5 miles,
predominantly gravel even when I had to ride the shoulder...

here's the write-up, you decide if it qualifies for my first:

http://bandersandbruises.blogspot.com/

I figure I had ten blacktop miles; six during the first stretch when
I didn't know I was started a dirty 100km, and four more in/around
town the few times I needed to start/do another loop after eating,
meeting friends, etc. It could have pushed twelve, not sure.

Robert Campbell"

Matt Maxwell is adding to his quest - with a whole bunch o' riding during the Trans-Iowa weekend and a couple O' others, he's added 2 metrics and a full to his tally - and he's on his way to Dirty Kanza next weekend too -

And finally, Joe Meiser, of Trans-Iowa fame, has thrown his hat into the ring.. read his report and watch for his stories about the GDR in June. All goes well, he'll have a few Cups under his belt by June 30th!

"Dave,

What a great idea! I'd love to get in on this. I'm up to 5 so far
including: Ragnarok, Almanzo, and TransIowa (How many for this event?
I assumed 3). I'm fairly certain I'll hit the quota. I head for
Banff and the Tour Divide on the 10th of June!

Joe"

Yes, Joe - I, too, am fairly certain you'll hit the quota!

So, what'r you all chasing? I dunno - why don't you ask the poor schmucks who chased these Cups down last year? After all, they'll be sipping some sweet coffee from their hard earned mugs shortly... assuming, of course, they re-send me their shipping address - dave@bikeworldiowa.com (Cups are done and will be shipped asap!)

Keep riding!

Peace - Dave

I'm Back... Finally!

Sorry for the dirth of postings - time has been unkind to me lately.. anyway - Your centuries have not gone un-noticed - and you all have been racking them up like cord-wood in the fine Spring weather we've been having!

Most notably, Cup Chasers Paul Jacobson, Ben Shockey and Steve Fuller toe'd the line at Trans-Iowa last weekend for a glorious 300plus mile non-stop dirt-fest. Shockey never quit pedaling for the entire event - and as such, became the 2nd person to finsih the event on a fixed gear bike. Crazy.

Paul Jacobson stuck out the hills, headwinds and dark of night to become the 15th and final finisher of this years event. He must have liked it... "Dave, you really need to sign up for TI. It rocked this year!" Paul

Steve Fuller found his way to the check point at 150 and and was done. Luckily, that counts for 2 metrics - so his efforts were not in vain - that and the fact that he's signed up for the Almanzo 100 and Dirty Kanza, both later this month. (Note to self: If Fuller asks if I wanna go for a ride, say 'no' cuz it will be an 8 hour gravel ride.... and a short day for him!)

Congrats to all who dared toe the line at this annual ritual called Trans-Iowa. With Pauls urging... maybe I will rethink my "NEVER AGAIN" attitude and get up the guts to sign up for next years event... maybe. (Hey Guitar... can you guarantee no rain next year??? I still have nightmare from TI2!!)

Meanwhile, David Gie has been just enjoying the dirty trails in NE Iowa and has posted another 3 metrics since our last update. I tell ya - when this dude applies for a job with any of you readers out there - hire him. When he decides he's gunna do something... he does it!!!

In central Iowa, Tim B. got to it at the end of April, " A combination of drizzle, rain, mud, wind and soft gravel made for a very long day. I finally got home with 110 km." - A long day indeed.


Down south, Mr. Rienka got some riding in - here's his note:

Dave,

Yesterday, (April 28) I got in another Dirty Metric. I'm still chasing that "real" century, but had to get creative just to get in 62 miles.

I took off from Chillicothe, Mo and headed mostly north. I didn't get started until after school let out, so I knew I needed my lights. When it got dark, and I still had 40+ miles to go, I just kept riding back and forth on a 6 mile strech until I had enough to head home. I was a little worried about getting too far from home.

I probably confused the dogs on that strech because not only did I do an out-and-back, I did an out-and-back, out-and-back and out-and-back. They seemed pretty organized on my last pass.

I finished after 10:30 PM. My speed was 11.7 MPH and my overall milage was 64 miles.

Have a great day!

Tim Riekena
Chillicothe, MO

Keep up the riding - I appreciate your efforts and stories!
And I promise the Cups are on thier way!!!!

Peace - Dave

Giegerich Nails #5

Hello Dave,
I took advantage of gf at work, and took a day off from work and rode Dirt Metric Century #5. Pushed the pace after a faster rider passed me and I tried to hang with him. Needed that. Notice picture of mother cow, dead, with head trauma laying on her mutilated calf. I don't know what happened here it was eerie to say the least.
Dave Giegerich

Yikes!

Blog http://mrdaveygie.blogspot.com/

ed. Keep rolling Dave!

Shockey Shocks Ouachita!

hey dave

had a great time down in arkansas with a very successul finish at the ouachita challenge. ended up 1st ss and 19th overall. 63 miles (race total, more counting warm-up) and a finishing time of 5 hours and 44 minutes. great weather, awesome trails, good results...not a bad weekend to pick up my 9th metric. only the second one so far not fixed. like the shirt idea but i'd vote dirt=brown and go with a brown shirt. but i don't mind rocking pink occasionally.

thanks again!
shockey

ed: All of us, here at Cup O' Dirt HQ, chasers past and present, would like to congratulate Mr. Shockey on his great ride to single speed victory!!! We'd also like to recognize, and congratulate Mr. 24, Jeff Kerkove, on his overall victory in the Ouachita 60 this past weekend. I'm sure it's his Iowa roots, not his high altitude training of Colorado, that helped him to victory!!! ;)