Slight Changes and more info

First off: THE START WILL BE AT 552 FOSTER RD, MY HOUSE, AS WELL AS THE FINISH. We will do a neutral roll on some bike path to a road and then there is about five miles of pavement and then lovely gravel. I drove the course on Saturday and then again today. The course should be a lot of fun, but very challenging as well. There are a few long grueling climbs, and the latter portion that was posted earlier is one of the roughest sections and doesn't come until the end.

Second, registration will be from 5:32-7:19 at 552 Foster Rd, Iowa City, Iowa 52245...nonsense...but seriously no earlier, no later... maybe a bit later, but not much.

The cue sheets will have mileage and turns, and I am also going to try to have the course almost entirely marked. The markers are going to be fluorescent posts placed on on the side of the road where you are about to turn and then one about 10 feet down the road to verify. This is how it was done at Dirty Kanza and it worked amazingly. If you don't see a marker you don't turn. That being said, I can't stop some rascal in a pick up from stealing pretty posts, and that's when the cue sheet becomes super important. If you don't have a way to carry a cue sheet this is a great post by Joe Meiser. Another alternative is to take a zip-loc quart sized bag and cutting a piece of duct tape the length of the short side of the bag. Place the bag on 1/4 of the tape and the fold the tape in half. Cut two holes in the tape only section a few inches apart and secure it to the handlebars with zip ties. This way you can flip the cue sheets over the bars when you don't need to pay as much attention to the sheets.

Obviously I don't think I have to mention that everyone MUST HAVE A HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, AND HELMET OR THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE... but you always have to mention things. Be very aware of what this event is, and your ability level. I want to encourage everyone interested to participate in the ever growing Midwest gravel scene. I also want to make sure that everyone can participate as safely as possible to ensure that they can have a great time. I don't necessarily have the ability to send out a rescue vehicle at all times, I just don't have the man power. I just ask that if people are confident they will be able to cover 50, but doubtful about 100, that they have a way to be retrieved. Friends and family will be able to hang out at the Start/Finish, or enjoy one of MANY of Iowa City's attractions which will for sure be alive after the football game.