If you are not busy this weekend and are looking for a good ride to do....

There is a WDB inspired ride that Joe Black is running with Jay Dellis starting in Chaska. More is info on the Twin Cities Westside Gravel Facebook group. Feel free to join!

Here are the details for the ride:

Saturday, June 3rd. 8am.
96.3 mile gravel ride from Chaska to Henderson & back.
Visit the Prince tribute in downtown Henderson.
47.4 mile gravel ride option from Chaska also available.
Roll out from the west end of the Fireman's Park parking lot.
Finish at Schram Haus Brewery.
Plan 8am start for the 96.3 mile option.
If you want to finish and hang out together, start the 47.4 mile option at 10:30am or so. You will finish a half hour before the longer route.
Parking available at a couple areas in Chaska: Fireman's Park parking lot [near Curling Center] or the Schram parking lot.
Plan to gather for a post ride beverage and food at the Schram Haus Brewery.
Routes are created and public on Garmin Connect and RWGPS.
"96.3 mile Gravel Ride - The Prince Pilgrimage"
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/163396262
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42801398
"47.4_mile_Gravel_Ride_from_Chaska"
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/163396039
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43003232
As with all rides, there is no guaranteed support [you are responsible for you]. We make every effort to make sure people have the route and ideally a person to ride with. Make sure you have the route downloaded.
Pace will vary depending on who shows up. Any group over 10 will likely split up into faster [16mph-ish] and slower group [13mph]

2020 WDB Pandemic Edition

Well at least the weather was good to us! I think we all missed the camaraderie and support of our fellow gravel grinders out there, hope we can get back to it as a group start next year.  Thanks to everyone who came out for the ride and congratulations to everyone for finishing the ride!

Here are the results, the classes were just divided up into Men  & Women. The + mileage riders times were based on their average speed over 99 miles with their total ride mileage in the next column

#	Rider	Class	Time	Mileage
1	Emily Flynn	Open Women	6:33
3	Sandy Marshall	Open Women	6:51
3	Jesse Stevens	Open Women	6:57
1	Josh Molnar	Open Men	5:02
2	Brandon Voltzke	Open Men	5:31
3	David Wargin	Open Men+	5:49	122
4	Dominick Rocco	Open Men	5:52
5	Eric Sundstrom	Open Men	5:59
6	Mat Boie	Open Men	6:00
7	Tim Karels	Open Men	6:01
8	Zach Goldberg	Open Men	6:01
9	Danny Storm	Open Men	6:02
10	Jesse Rients	Open Men+	6:04	112
11	Kurtis Wilson	Open Men	6:08
12	Brent Kvittem	Open Men	6:08
13	Daniel Keifenheim	Open Men	6:12
14	Scott Hippen	Open Men	6:19
15	Mike Campbell	Open Men	6:19
16	John Bestman	Open Men	6:23
17	Matt O'Laughlin	Open Men	6:30
18	Joe Black	Open Men	6:30
19	Prasanna Suryadevar	Open Men	6:31
20	Charles Wolf	Open Men	6:33
21	Badger K	Open Men	6:35
22	Timothy Hoffard	Open Men	6:35
23	Ian Price	Open Men+	6:36	145
24	Andy Wagner	Open Men	6:36
25	Chris Nelson	Open Men+	6:38	131
26	Joe Bell	Open Men	6:39
27	Ben Hey	Open Men	6:43
28	Steve Marshall	Open Men	6:44
29	Chris Van Ert	Open Men	6:44
30	Dustin Gaffke	Open Men	6:45
31	Ken Earley	Open Men	6:47
32	David Pollitt	Open Men	6:47
33	Tom Quinn	Open Men	6:48
34	Ben Oney	Open Men	6:49
35	Bryan Dougherty	Open Men	6:53
36	Danny Stevens	Open Men	6:55
37	Matt Stenerson	Open Men	6:55
38	Harlan Smith	Open Men	6:58
39	Jay Styba	Open Men	7:12
40	King Geoffrey	Open Men	7:13
41	Jason Stukel	Open Men	7:13
42	Justin Kremer	Open Men	7:18
43	Joseph Van Kirk	Open Men	7:24
44	Alex Price	Open Men+	7:36	139
45	Rohit Kumar	Open Men	7:40
46	Kevin Cleereman	Open Men	7:54
47	Matt Petersen	Open Men	7:57
48	John Carline	Open Men	8:03
49	Jay Dellis	Open Men	8:08
50	Joe Albrecht	Open Men	8:53
1	Cam Evjen	75 Men	4:41
2	Chris Sibley	75 Men	5:02
3	Pete Hall	75 Men	5:17

2020 Cue Sheets - GPS - Final Details

The course cue sheets and GPS route links posted below.

Course updates:
The Henderson Single track has been removed.
The gravel in LeSeuer County is freshly graded and pretty soft.
Trail section behind Carver is mostly dry as of yesterday, maybe 30 ft of rideable mud.

Chaska Starters please start and stop Strava at Veteran's Park
LeSueur Starters please start and stop Strava by The Jolly Green Giant

Chaska: Veterans Park's 619 Creek Rd. Chaska, MN (formerly Schimelfenig Park)
LeSueur:  The Jolly Green Giant Peck St. & Main St. LeSueur, MN

The cue sheets have the mileage set for the Chaska start. If you are starting from LeSueur and want to use the cue sheets there are notes on them for the start and continuation out of Chaska.

A 75 mile GPS route has been added as well however you the ride from Henderson to/and around LeSueur which maybe the best part of the route.

Time will be based on moving time. This means if you stop for food, traffic, beer, etc. your result won't be effected.  This is to keep the event more laid back and safe.

If your Strava setting are set to private please change them before riding the event you we can see your ride data.

!!!PLEASE REMEMBER SOCIAL DISTANCING AND BE AWARE OF OTHERS COMFORT ZONES!!!

Links:

Chaska Cue Sheets
Chaska Start GPX
Chaska Start TCX
Chaska Strava Route

LeSeuer Start GPX
LeSeuer Start TCX
LeSeuer Strava Route

Chaska 75mile GPX
Chaska 75mile TCX
Chaska 75 Strava Route

2020 Route and Event Plan

The Westside Dirty Benjamin felt irrelevant the past couple weeks as we go through the tragedy of the George Floyd murder.  I hope everyone has been getting through these difficult times, are safe, and able to support your family & community. 

We still are planning on having a ride next weekend, here is the plan:

The route is similar to the 2017/2018 versions that runs from Chaska to LeSueur is just shy of 100 miles.  The GPS and Cue sheet files will be posted by Wednesday night, along with more course details.  Link to google map is here

-The timing for the event will run through the Strava app.   

-The ride may be completed anytime Friday 6/12, Saturday 6/13, or Sunday 6/14

-If you are interested in riding in a group consider starting on the hour 7am, 8am, 9am etc.  If you wish to avoid riding in a group consider starting between quarter after - quarter to the hour. 

-No registration in required for this event. 

***PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S SOCIAL DISTANCE.  NOT EVERYONE MAYBE AS COMFORTABLE AS YOU ARE***

The start locations are:

Veteran's Park - 619 Creek Rd. Chaska, MN 55318

The Jolly Green Giant Peck St. & Main St. Le Sueur, MN 56058

Timing and Strava fine details:

-The times will be based on moving time.

-There will be a +/- 1 minute time variance that will result in a tie.

-If you have an alias on your Strava account and would like your result posted as your name please send an email to westsidedirtybenjamin@gmail.com

-If you end up riding to the event or add extra miles add a + sign to your ride name, We'd like to give props to those ride a bunch of extra miles (otherwise known as the Royal Benjamin)

-If you don't want to run Strava and want your name on the results page please send an email with a photo of your cycle computer or timing device.  Strava is needed to be enter into the the top 20.

Link to map of route:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221njjFPQL13LcfB-HGLB15Pm08fkSe0NIK%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22114385605428067284752%22%7D&usp=sharing

2020 Update

Here's the Update! As of today, Westside Dirty Benjamin is still planning on a ride this year. Dependent on the guidelines from the CDC and the Governor, at the time of the ride, things may change or be cancelled. Of course, the biggest concern is the health and safety of each rider. With that in mind, the idea is to have a cool, adventurous, gravel course planned that people can safely (from a social distance) enjoy. And, if you wish to have your time entered for the 2020 results, then we will put that together. 

The tentative plan is as follows...

• 2 or 3 start locations (Carver, LeSueur, and possibly Henderson)
• The ride may be started at any time on Friday (6/12), Saturday (6/13), or Sunday (6/14)
• Event timing will require the Strava app. and will be based on 3 to 5 segments, plus overall ride time.

As we know more about safety guidelines we will keep you updated with changes, and or, cancellations. Course details and timing guidelines will be posted around the end of May. 

Thanks everyone for your support and understanding in these crazy times! Stay safe and well! 

Version 11

Sorry for the crickets around here.  We are stoked to announce that The Dirty Benjamin will be back in 2020 on Saturday, June 13th with the start location around the Chaska/Carver area.   We will be doing some exploring this spring so be prepared for an awesome ride!

All riders on our current roster do not need to re-register for this year's event.  Registration for new riders will be open on May 1st.  There will not be a rider limit.  Typically the event draws between 100-175 riders depending on the weather.

Stay tuned for more details.

2019 Wrap Up

Thanks everyone for showing up for another year of the Westside Dirty Benjamin and big thanks to Donkey Label for the awesome gear including super fine jerseys for our Men’s and Women’s Champs: Luke Russell and Veronica Hudacek. Also thanks to Molten Speedwax, Mavic, and Podiumwear.

Another hot one but not too bad by Dirty Benjamin standards.The gravel was soft but 108 of 144 starters still found the finish line. We had 3 people who completed their first century by bike on Saturday. Amazing rides by everyone who participated!