Deets

Saturday, June 11, 2011
Westside Dirty Benjamin
Schimelpfenig Park
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 - Sliders till they gone

First of all I gotta give a shout out to the sponsers!! They are really stepping up and are making this event special for everyone involved. Another shout out to all the folks showing up to ride!!

Word!!

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. I will be emailing everyone the form so to make things move quicker, bring it all filled out. If you are under 18, have your parent/guardian sign it otherwise it's a no go for ya. Your registration packet will contain cue sheets and a map of the course. 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-

If you pack a drop bag, we will take it to the checkpoint which is near Winsted, around 50 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. It could be a hot day and there is a water pump there but pack extra water just in case. Some snacks for energy definitely helps too. 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 70 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 through 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 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.

The catagories are as follows: Open, Single/Fixed, Tandem, Masters

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

Where we at

It's been a few hectic weeks here at Dirty Benjamin HQ. The course is pretty much finalized and the numbers are getting printed up. We had to make a few changes from last year because of flooding issues so unfortunately the initial trail riding is out. We'll make up for that though, just sayin...

There will be a bag drop and the mid-point will be located near the Winsted. There will be more details including the 8:00 am start at Schimelpfenig Park on June 11, in Chaska posted shortly. Until then, remember those delicious sliders provided by Kings last year? Well, they be back and they be delicious! Here is some more icing on the cake from:

Twin Six

Planet Bike

Banjo Brothers

Rider Withdrawls

We have been hard at work finalizing the route for the Dirty Benjamin and more posts will follow containing necessary information. We have been receiving a few cancelations lately and this has opened up spaces for those on the waitlist. Not only do we appreciate it, but those who got a spot at the start are also stoked. Just a reminder, please let us know if you are signed up and can't make the start. You can email us at westsidedirtybenjamin@gmail.com.

Recon Power

Took a day and we logged 80 miles doing some recon on the Dirty Benjamin course. While the weather cooperated, the gravel was all over the place. About 20% was all good, perfect. About 20% was straight up peanut butter. The other 60%, was soft and a work out. Oof. We built some character out there.

Outside of the energy leeching conditions, the route is real nice.

That is the nicest stretch of the ride...some blue gravel. Aw, yeah.

We also reconed a new addition to the route. In the distance behind this water pump



is a trail into the woods. A nifty off road detour that will be added to the route. Very nize!

So what's next you ask. We're waiting to see what is going on with the flooding around Carver for our other off road section. Will it be like Gloria Gaynor and survive? You can be sure that we will be watching that. As for up-and-coming good times, we are preparing to have some fun at the Almanzo 100 with hundreds of good people, riding the Chequamegon 100 and prepping the course for your pleasure.

Keep an eye out for updates as the time until the Dirty Benjamin starts wanes. Otherwise, get out there, ride and enjoy the time between rains.



Recon + Water, and more water

Got out on the course this week to check all the trail sections for flooding and there are 2 still under about 3 feet water. One being the trail behind downtown Carver. Hopefully things will dry out closer to race day, if not the start will have a little more pavement.

We did find 3 new trail sections for this years course and one will definitely have a couple of dismounts since we can't count on the weather to knock over a giant tree the night before the race again.

Also found close to the course is a park that has a drinking water well pump. Not 100% it will be working but it looks promising. We'll probably route the course through that park, if not it's will only take you about 1/4 mile off course. This falls near the 70 mile point or at the end of the Luce Line section.

....more course updates & details in the coming weeks!

Registration Has Ended

We have reached 200 riders so registration is closed. Postcards will be grandfathered in if they have a postmark date of March 10 or earlier. Postcards with a later postmark will be put on a waiting list. Thanks to all who have sent in their postcard. I'm stoked to see you on June 11. If something comes up and you are unable to make it, please email us and let us know so we can get your spot filled.

We are excited about the course this year and you know we will be out on it this weekend. Fo' Sho'!!

The Breakdown So Far...

The list is waxing and is almost there. One month into it and we have 174 folks signed up to have a blast in June taking in the gravel goodness of Carver County. Just so you know, Duluth will be representing it so I gotta say that it is on. You say you want to see some stats:

18 50+ Masters
14 Women
20 Singlespeeds
4 Tandems
and A grip of Geared Gravel Junkies

I don't know bout you but me thinks that it's about time to start logging some miles out there in the wind. Spring is a few weeks away and there are gravel centuries to log so rubber side down and enjoy it above all.