3/31 Gravel Route

Here's the route for SA. 58.5mi.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/79255794

Next Gravel Grinder - March 31st

Start time: 8AM
Mileage: 60+
Route: TBD

Stay tuned for details.

Sure was windy!

Great day as usual out on the gravel roads in Sogn Valley with Chad, Todd, Grant and Paul. Wind go pretty fierce as the ride went on and the route back into the wind was a slog. Couldn't ask for much better weather this time of year. Gravel hard packed for most of the ride with a few soft/wet/icy sections. Saw some good wildlife - deer running out of the woods and right across the road, a pack of deer running along side of us like they were running for their lives, and a few dogs. Total ride was 57 miles followed by some burgers, cajun saugages and beer. Thanks to eveyone who joined the ride!

Sogn Valley Gravel Opener this SA

We're starting a little later than normal at 10am.

Ride route (56miles)

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/73407490/?new_route=1

Start location in Northfield

http://northfield.patch.com/listings/sibley-swale-park

See ya there!

SA 8/6 Gravel Grinder - CANCELLED.

See ya next year on the gravel. Signing off.

SA Aug 6th - Let's crush some rock

It's time for another gravel grinder. Route should be up in a couple of days.

Same place: Sibley Swale Park

Same time: 8AM

See ya there!

Government shutdown. Gravel Still Open.

Headed down to Sogn Valley early this morning on a solo mission to ride gravel. Got on the bike at 6:55am and set out on a shorter 45mile route. Explored a new climb previously only ridden downhill and rode further south where I found some good gravel.

This is the entrance to Bow Trail, a minimum maintenance road that I discovered and proved to be exactly that! The small print on the sign says "travel at your own risk" and it definitely got exciting!! Details further in the post.



First part of the ride featured some fresh gravel.




Not sure what the "Former Site of Fagen" was. A quick search on Google didn't result in anything, but what's important to note is that each time Paul and I have I've passed this location, there are two dogs that are bored and love to chase bikers! Today I was rolling through and thought they might be inside still sleeping, but NO. Chase ensued!! I saw about six dogs all day and I really like lazy dogs.



This is the start to a road we have only gone down. It's probably one of the steepest in the area and with the recent rains the gravel was soft making the climb very difficult. The next four pics were taken on the way up.










Dan's favorite field was mowed!




Wonder how old this barn is?





So, here's why Bow Trail is minimum maintenanc - road closed!. With cross bike there was no turning back but was quickly confronted with dog #6 of the ride, a Doberman! I thought the quicker I get down this road the better. So, with Doberman heading toward me, I go around the barrier, ramp up the speed and head down the road. Around the corner I suddenly find it's totally washed out and with the shade it's hard to see the deep ravines. I was very suprised I didn't go over the bars with the speed I was carrying, dog chasing.





I dismounted and got partway down the hill. Doberman is smart not chasing me down the road, instead, it's going down the tree line looking for a spot to attack!



There are a lot of beautiful churches in this area.

The new SS wheel with WI hub worked great. Need to figure out how to turn that freewheel down!!