Comment from Rob Reed
Time November 29, 2009 at 11:07 am

fantastic ride! clearly marked, well supported given the context; very happy to do this again next year

I like it as a race, even though I am not a racer, just to keep the field a bit narrower and the ride a bit more focused.

Could use more single-track or trail to balance the scales between cross and mountain bikes, but a minor thing overall.

Thanks for putting in the time and effort to allow all of us riders to see parts of beautiful southern indiana that we might not ever have seen.

-R

Comment from Tim
Time November 29, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Thanks to you, volunteers and sponsors for making it happen. Very challenging and lots of fun! I agree with comments above. Time, place, distance were great. You could add a bit more trail (maybe #19 in Hickory) but I was generally happy on my 29er MTB w/ fat tires bombing by CXers going down Combs Rd both ways and then getting burnt in return on the gravel road rollers. I don’t know if my back would’ve held up with rigid fork and skinnies.

I liked the out-and-back and where it was placed so I could see and cheer friends and mark competitors.

On tough issue of how to deal with those who choose (not unrationally I would add!) to go a shorter route, I would offer a non-competitive 50 miler option (no 10 mile out-n-back) and give these folks different plates and also figure out how to have volunteers “convert” plates of those who sign up for full 100 km and then change their mind at the out-n-back to go shorter.

Nice job! A highlight of my season. We will be back. Story Inn was great too.

Comment from Eric
Time November 29, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Not sure the chip timing would solve all issues. Someone posted at intersections to make sure who don’t stay on route get their number plate marked or something.

I would like to thank Rob Reed and Jay Church for letting me hang with them a while. I would have stayed longer, but cramps kept me from holding my speed.

Comment from jeff
Time November 30, 2009 at 8:56 am

Loved the course and event…the group reminded me of MTB racing in the early 90’s…i would like to thank the volunteers who really helped make that event work, which was key. I think timing chips might help, but really I think the course cutting could be fixed by recording plate #s at the loops. But that would take more volunteers. But really, if you won, you know you won, and 2nd place is the first loser…

Comment from Doug Mattingly
Time November 30, 2009 at 9:47 am

Thanks for a great event! Nice course and scenery – more challenging than I expected. Shame that the results can’t be confirmed. I slogged through the whole thing at an admittedly slow pace, and it’s frustrating to know that people who didn’t complete the course are listed above me in the results. Maybe having someone mark the number plates at the midway points of each loop and at the turn around would work. Hope to be back next year.

Comment from gravelgrovel
Time November 30, 2009 at 12:06 pm

I feel terrible that we were not better prepared for tabulation of accurate results. This will be a major focus of our planning for next year. I am also looking at ways to reward ALL finishers of the entire course, it is well deserved, as this is an extremely challenging course. Thank you again to everyone for attending.

Comment from shawn wolf
Time November 30, 2009 at 2:30 pm

this race was awesome! hands down the hardest race ive ever done. though my bike of choice was unconventional i had a blast!(fixed gear track bike) I felt very comfortable with the route it was marked well and with my experience of putting on small races i know the volunteers were a key aspect and they did great helping direct the route. great support from helpers and riders themselves. looking foward to next year.. i think ill have to build a cross bike haha. im glad i did it fixed anyway thanks to all the people who made it happen!
-shawn

Comment from Doug Mattingly
Time November 30, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Didn’t mean to sound too negative, because my overall experience was very positive. Great job Mike, and I’m looking forward to next year! Any way to make it harder? How about a century option?

Comment from gravelgrovel
Time November 30, 2009 at 4:32 pm

We could do it counterclockwise, McPike Branch is a real treat from the west…hmmmm, I might be on to something there.

Comment from Rider
Time November 30, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Since it seems to be a concern, maybe you should email all of the participants and direct them here. I think that those that did not complete the entire course may not even be thinking of the tabulation of the results and may not come back to this site.

Comment from Dave Crandall
Time December 1, 2009 at 7:17 am

Great Ride!! I was dead tired by the end. Toughest 62miles I’ve ever done. Can’t wait to do it again next year. Thank-you to the ride leaders and volunteers for putting on a great ride.

Comment from Glenn Hein
Time December 1, 2009 at 4:29 pm

This was a great ride…lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I felt more exhausted at the end of this than I did after 75 miles of the Brown County Breakdown. Some sort of plate checkmarking at random points is probably the cheapest solution to making sure results are recorded properly…can’t let those course cutters have finishing glory…:-)

Comment from Mike Sherman
Time December 1, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Shortcut? Why didn’t someone tell me? I recommend shortcuts be clearly marked next year so I can follow them if I choose to!!

Thanks to the organizers and volunteers – this was a solid event – a great motivator to keep the training going late season.

Comment from Chuck Baden
Time December 2, 2009 at 6:44 am

What bike was Greg Strock riding, anyone know? Looking forward to joining the punishment next year.