2014 Details!!

Saturday, June 14, 2014
Westside Dirty Benjamin
Schimelpfenig Park (Click on the Start/Finish push pin on left)
Chaska, MN
6:15 am - 7:45 am - Registration
7:46 am - 8:00 am - Staging
8:01 am - 8:00 pm - 100+ miles
10:00 am - 2:30 pm - Checkpoint is open
2:00 pm - Cap's Grille sliders till they gone (+ Veggie Sloppy Joe's)

First of all I gotta give a huge shout out to those donating goods and time!! Planet Bike, Banjo Bros, Twin Six,  Penn Cycle, Chrome and more are really stepping up and making this event special for everyone involved. Another shout out to all the volunteers and all the folks showing up to ride!!

Word!! Oh, and a word to the wise, set yourself up with some sunscreen!!

The Westside Dirty Benjamin will be held at Schimelpfenig Park in Chaska, MN. It starts at an early 8:00 am so we will be there by 6:30 am for registration. Staging will begin at 7:45 am so git your breakfast on and git on over to Schimelpfenig early. There is a shelter at the park and a parking lot. The lot should hold 40 - 50 cars so if you show up later, there may not be much space for parking. Across the street is the VFW. Please do not park there. We don't want to take up their parking lot and please do not park in the parking lot for the Fireman's Park. You can pull along Creek Road for a spot but it is not the most comfortable. Best bet is to carpool but if that doesn't work out an option would be to park in the neighborhoods around Cedar and 5th St. You can see that in the map linked above. It is only a block away from the start/finish and the streets are wide.

For registration all we really need from you is a filled out release form. To make things move quicker on the morning of the race please print out and sign the release form. If you are under 18, get at your parents or guardian and get that signature. Link to Release Form.

To qualify as a finisher of the Westside Dirty Benjamin, you gotta follow the cue sheets. You wanna do some cheatin, you are only cheatin yourself so stay home, yo. Nuff said. Regarding the cue sheets, printing up yourself a set is the goal. Here are the new 2014 cue sheets.

Page 1
Page 2

You will notice that they start out at mile 7, we will be neutral rolling out to the trails and then it is going on in the outback. Once pavement is reached again, the mileage is logged. We do reserve the right to change the start because of all this rain we have got but that will be a decision made a couple days before go time. We will not have enough the morning of so take control, do yourself a self service and be prepared!

If you pack a drop bag, we will take it to the checkpoint which is near Winsted, around 55 miles from the start. When you show up, volunteers will have the bags grouped by 10's and will help you locate it. Once finished with the bag, please give it back to a volunteer and they will load it into a car to return it to the start finish. We ask that you do not give us a cooler to haul out there...just a small bag, ideally plastic, of necessary items. Transporting 300+ bags is the hardest part of the day to organize. We do not have many cars so space is tight. It could be a hot day and there is a water pump at the checkpoint. Some snacks for energy definitely help to have for the ride. The real challenge is to pack all you need for the century at the start and carry it with ya the whole day. Watertown has a great coffee shop if you are gonna be interested in feeding or having a coffee or whatever but that is gonna be around mile 75 or so. The checkpoint will be open until 2:30 pm. At that point the volunteers will be cut loose and remaining bags will be brought back to the start/finish.

Ride on back to Chaska where you will see any family and friends cheering for you as you finish in Schimelpfenig park. The park facilities include a shelter, hoops, archery, horseshoes, a playground, pork sliders, swag table, lake with beach and big fun!! It's one of the longest days of the year so plan on hanging out and have fun.

For those who have not ridden in any 100 mile gravel races before, there are a few things you should know to help prepare yourself for the ordeal.

Keep going - No matter what you are thinking...keep pedaling. You will be stoked once you have completed the century. Like the Men's Warehouse guy says, "I guarantee it!"

When riding, keep aware of what is approaching you from the front and rear. If you find a nice line on the left side of the road, be especially careful of oncoming traffic, particularly on the hills. Most aren't expecting a bike to be in their face so try not to be. Be aware that traffic coming from behind you may catch up eventually and need to pass. Keep an ear open and let them go.

There are dogs about! There is always the potential for loose dogs and other animals but be careful of the chasing kind. A good acceleration can discourage many-a-dog but if that ain't there, a squirt of precious water may work, pepper spray, a switch, yelling or throw them that tainted steak you may be carrying around with ya. Please show some respect cause you could make that dogs day.

Ride your pace - The hills are not too bad at all so the fear of climbing is for the most part not there but be aware for the potential for looser gravel. I would rather not hear of any accidents. Rubber side down. You heard it here.

There are bathrooms at the start/finish. Woot!

The cue sheets contain lists of intersections and mileage. It is best to have an odometer to follow them. If not, many just follow the tracks and a person they are with or can see. Not necessary but do yourself a favor and ride with an odometer.

The cue sheet directions are the standard arrow pointing the direction you are going with the street names and mileage next to it. Sometimes the arrow points straight through an intersection. This could be done in case the street name changes or just to make you feel good.

You are responsible for yourself! No Sag wagon

Wave to folks if you wish and help a fellow rider if you want good karma.

The race cut off is going to be at 8:00 pm...that being said, we may still be hanging out after that but I hope that 12 hours is enough.

There are grillin facilities at the park too so come prepared or you can always hit the local liq and food stores.