The Last Survivor

While it is customary to celebrate the triumphs of those who finish first, it has long been my opinion that the last person to cross the finish line should be celebrated just as heartily, for this person has endured the most suffering. Monster Bicycle company feels the same way, and so Jim created this custom beer mug for the 2013 last place finisher.

Doesn’t get much more legit than that!!

John Regions was the final Cedar Crosser to finish the  grueling 113+ mile course on Saturday evening. We put a beer in his hand, Jim gave him the finishers mug  let him stand next to the fire for a few minutes before we giving him the rest of his award….. the Sherpa Rack donated by Kuat Bike Racks.

A $400+ value, I might add

John reacted exactly how we wanted; with extreme excitement and appreciation. I don’t think we could’ve picked someone more deserving and appreciative than John, so we’ll call this year’s “Last Survivor Award” a solid victory.

Looking back at this year’s race, I don’t know how things could’ve gone much better. Granted, I had to cut out the hardest part of singletrack and make the course a bit easier.. but the overall winners donated their $500 to Team Noah, the Sapling route’s winner was a new father, the fastest female was one of my all-time favorite people and our Last Survivor was someone who truly appreciated the award. How could anyone not be happy about that?

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did, and I totally think we should do this again next year. I’ll see you all at Dirty Kanza next month!

 

Classy Victory

Well my friends, raceday has come and gone. As far as I can tell, most people had a good time and everyone is still alive. The facebooks are exploding with quality photos and before long we’ll be reading race reports from cyclist bloggers. But before all of that happens, I thought you’d like to hear about a few of the truly awesome happenings you may have missed out on while you were riding the course.

I love seeing photos like this

As you hopefully already know, this year’s first place finisher was to be awarded with $500 cash. My hope was that a few hammerheads would tear one another’s legs off trying to win and give the rest of us a great show. What actually happened was much more satisfying than that.

Instead of turning on one another in the name of monetary gain, the 6 cyclists pictured below finished together and donated the $500 to the Team Noah Foundation.

..And that’s just about the classiest thing they possibly could’ve done. I have enormous respect for these guys!!

The winner of the Cedar Sapling had to leave right after finishing the race, but we did manage to get his photo before he peeled out.

Guessing from his jersey, I’d say his $100 and swag bag can be dropped off at Walt’s bike shop sometime soon.

The fastest woman across the line was one of my favorite people, the silkiest of chromes and a model of true sportsmanship…Emily Korsch.

….and the Cinderella story of the day happened at about mile 30 when Don Daly, (a 45 year old Singlespeeder), saw his dreams of victory turn to ashes….when his GEARED bike sheared a derailleur. We picked him up on the side of the road and gave him shit relentlessly…for about four hours.

He was a good sport about it, though

I woke up on Sunday with a bit of a hangover, but was pleased to check my bank balance and see that we actually made some money off of the race this year:

                                         BOOYAH!!

I’ll get the results posted in the next week or so and once we get the details sorted out I’ll announce one more BIG winner from this year’s race. I truly hope you all had a good time, I know I did.

$500 to Overall Winner and $100 to Cedar Sapling Winner!!!

I told you I wouldn’t profit from this race and I’ll keep my word. The overall winner of this year’s course will receive $500 cash. Second place will receive a bottle of wine and a handshake. Race accordingly.

                                      Like the wind…..ride like the effing wind!!

I will, of course, need to see your gps link to make sure you rode the actual course. We can’t have anybody trying to cheat, ya know.

Come on.. you knew there would eventually be a Lance joke.

First place winner of the Cedar Sapling will take home $100, a bottle of wine and a small, but respectable swag bag. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Previous finishers of endurance gravel events are non-eligible for the Cedar Sapling’s 1st place cash prize. If you want to ride the short course, that’s fine…but sandbagging a beginner’s race is a dick move. Don’t do it.

The 4 dogs on South Millsite road. The white one is the asshole.

In other news: It’s raining buckets out here and the creeks are on the rise. I have removed my favorite section of singletrack from the race because it’s basically a giant mudslide right now, with a little bit of horseshit thrown in for seasoning. All efforts will be made to insure that this course is FUN and difficult

And after all of that, if you’re still on the fence about this race… I don’t know what else I can offer. I’m headed to drop off swag bags. Watch this website and the Facebook page for potential updates throughout the day!!

 

Garmin Links!!!!

Tags

BackCountry Research, Cedar Creek Trail, Cedar Cross, Cedar Cross Endurance race, Dirty Kanza training, Endurance gravel cycling, Gas station breakfast is delicious, It's on, Monstercross, Team Red Wheel, Team Virtus, The Cedar Cross, we need a beer sponsor

Alright, here are the Garmin links.

Garmin Connect – Cedar Cross

Garmin Connect – Cedar Sapling

MapMyride.com – Cedar Sapling

I’m sad to report that one section of singletrack was so completely “horsed” that I’ve decided to remove it from the course. Total mileage is pretty close to the original, but the difficulty level is drastically reduced between miles 48-51.

I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but trust me… unless you’ve got a fat bike you don’t want to be on that trail right now.

An updated cue sheet will be posted later tonight and/or there will  be one included in your race packet.

Please remember it’s in your best interest to visit Red Wheel Bike Shop tomorrow, beginning at 10am to collect your swag bag and get your race number. There isnt enough free shit to make sure everyone gets something, so as they say…the early bird will get the worm.

On raceday, sign in will begin at 6:30, I’ll have a few announcements around 730, and then Kayne will play the Star Spangled Banner at 745.

The race begins with a neutral, escorted rollout at 8am.

Any questions can be posted in the comments section or emailed to me at bobjenkins@team-virtus.com. Or wtf…hit me up on the Facebooks.

Trails are lookin horsey..

Hello, Bob Jenkins here..reporting to you live from “the field”.

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update; I’m clearing the final section of singletrack today and will have garmin links posted tonight…probably later in the evening.

Sorry for the delay, but Im out here trying to build bridges across creeks so you don’t have to go ass-deep muddy water this weekend.

I’ll answer any and all texts\emails this weekend as well, so dont be shy.

I still cant wait to gear Kayne play the national anthem on an electric guitar.  Holy shit.

Big News…and Details About Racer Check-in on Friday and Saturday Morning.

Tags

bitches!!!', It's on

Since the beginning, my intentions with this race have been simple:

1. Have a kickass time with friends new and old.
2. Provide a quality race to prepare ourselves for Dirty Kanza.
3. Provide that special “something” that makes this race stand out from the rest.

Well my friends, on Tuesday we had a serious breakthrough. This Saturday, the Cedar Cross will bring you something you’ve never experienced…..

We’re gonna have a 13 year old kid playing the Star Spangled Banner on an electric guitar. Meet Kayne:

I nearly shit my pants when I saw this photo.

I have been assured that Kayne Kirchner, guitar shredder for the band “Blackwater“, will lay down the patriotism in a way we’ve never experienced.  I’ve never personally heard him play, but the photo above is all the proof I need.

Seriously.

Here’s a more updated photo of our young hero:

Let’s just hope he learns to use his powers for good.

Please do me a huge favor and “like” Blackwater’s facebook page.

This really is gonna be awesome.

Moving on: For those who don’t already know, Cedar Crossers will have an opportunity to check in on Friday at Red Wheel Bike Shop, in Jefferson City. Once there, you’ll get your swag bag and your race number.

Nick will be offering all racers a 20% discount on any basically anything in the store, (other than new bikes or bike-racks), so please take this opportunity to rip him a new one.

Swag bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis..so it’ll be to your advantage to check in on Friday. Nick is open from 10am to 6pm and he’s got a baby boy to feed, so spend some money while you’re in the store. If it’s late in the day, you can usually hang out and drink a few of his beers, too.

But don’t panic if you can’t make it to Redwheel on Friday; you can still sign up on Saturday near the Starting line. We’ll have people there to check you in starting at 6 am.

Post any questions or expletives of profanity below. Seriously, go for it.

I can’t wait to hear this kid shred the guitar!!!!! He says he’ll stay and play til the last rider is gone, so post your requests in the comments section and let’s make this guy earn his money

4 Days Til the Horseshit Hits the Fan

Tags

BackCountry Research, Cedar Creek Trail, Cedar Cross, Cedar Cross Endurance race, Dirty Kanza training, Endurance gravel cycling, Gas station breakfast is delicious, Monstercross

                                                 As of yesterday, the final 10 miles of gravel were in excellent shape

Well folks, It’s Cedar Cross Week. By now your bikes are all dialed in and you’re deciding which type of facial hair you’ll need to conquer the second installment of Missouri’s first and only, (as far as I know), Monstercross race. A stranger approached me today and told me my beard was awesome, so I’m feeling pretty confident. I hope you can say the same.

Weather conditions have been less than ideal in the weeks leading up to this event, so it’s safe to assume we’ll be riding through a bit of mud on Saturday. Epicnicity abounds, and I say we should embrace it. Beginning tonight, I’ll be camping at various locations along the course.. weedeating, leaf blowing, barbecuing and drinking beer like it’s 1999. I can’t control the moisture or horseshit content of the trail, but I can certainly control how many trees and thorns are laid across it.

                                          I love this old house

I’m also hoping that waiting until the last minute to finish trail work will keep a few horses away. We’ll see how that goes.

On a more exciting note, I’ve received word that my good friend Rich Clark of Backcountry Research has mailed off our sponsorship package…and it should be here tomorrow. To say I’m excited is a dramatic understatement.  If we get anywhere near as much gear this year as we did in 2012….There’s plenty to be excited about.

And speaking of excitement, tomorrow I’m announcing how the prize money will be distributed. Let’s just say the difference between first and 2nd place is….significant.

I guess that’s it for now. As always, all questions are welcome and appreciated. See you on Saturday!!!

78 Confirmed Riders…and all the Paperwork is DONE!!

These are growing all over the place right now

Well folks, the clock is winding down and raceday will be here pretty damn quick. Bikereg.com tells me we have 78 riders joining us on May 4th, and I’m pretty stoked about that. I’d like to see the number pass 100 by raceday, but as long as everyone has a good time..numbers don’t really mean anything to me.

Today is a joyous day, because about 10 minutes ago I finally received the final permit allowing us to have the race. I’ve been pretty stressed out about it, as I’m sure you can imagine. You would literally not believe the amount of paperwork, fees, licenses, insurance, etc that goes into one of these events once you charge an admission fee. It’s a whole bunch of fun, let me tell you.

                              The old Burnett School..on Burnett School rd.

On that subject, you may have noticed that the race fee went up to $30. Here’s the shorthand version of why I’m doing that:

Since we’re charging an admission fee this year, the Forestry service needs me to have insurance before they can issue a ($75) permit. The cheapest insurance quote I got was “at least $1,000. “Apparently beer-swilling gravel cyclists are high-risk..go figure. Out of options, I got a Gran Fondo permit, ($25) from USAC, after paying them $150 to be listed as a race director. There have been plenty of other expenses, but I think you get the picture.

So, everyone who doesn’t already have a USAC license will need to sign a 1-day license for $10. I don’t like it anymore than you do, but that’s how it goes. If you’re already signed up, you can either pay the $10 on raceday or tell me to kiss your ass. Either way, I won’t hold it against you 

All that aside. this is STILL the best deal on endurance cycling in Missouri. The course is Awesome, the sponsors are awesome, the free beers and baked potatoes will be awesome, and the list goes on. If anyone has a serious complaint about the extra $10, please don’t hesitate to keep it to yourself.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to talk about the course.

A few days ago, I took the leaf blower out and cleared the 2nd and 3rd sections of singletrack. I’d say the horse damage right now is a 4/10. The trails are presently cleared of weeds, leaves and horse-poo…they are ready for your enjoyment.

                                         You’re welcome

I’ll be clearing the final 2 singletrack sections in a few days. Hopefully the rain quits and they dry out before raceday. The woods are really beautiful right now, and I hope while you’re riding/pushing your bike through them, you take a moment to appreciate the beauty that will surely surround you.

                              The creek crossing just off of North Millsite road

In other news, the Cedar Sapling has 6 riders signed up. That means there will be AT LEAST a $60 cash prize for the winner of that category, and I now have $60 of prize money to contribute to the “Race within the Race”  between Don and Corey. Yes sir, this thing is shaping up very nicely.

I guess that’s it for now. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or post them in the comments. And if there are any locals who would like to help do some weedeating soon…let me know.

A New Sponsor…Or Two

Sometimes things just have a way of happening on their own. A few days ago, my buddy Luke and I were hanging out at the local winery having a few beers/potato skins…. and a new sponsorship basically fell into our laps.

It is with great joy I announce that the Canterbury Hill Winery will be donating 3 bottles of their delicious wine to the Cedar Cross.

The race will coincide with their Cinco de Mayo weekend, so they’re throwing together a discount package for Cedar Crossers and their families. Now, your support crew/family will have a place to chill while you ride your bike all day. Apparently there’s gonna be a Mariachi band and all kinds of cool stuff going on. Very cool if you ask me, and I highly recommend the Dragon Skins..they pair nicely with a Schlafly.

So then, I’m clicking through the Facebooks one night and I stumble across a company called Pure Clean Powder.

They seemed like a good group of folks, so I contacted the. After a quick conversation, they agreed to sponsor us as well. Here’s a blip from their webpage:

“Pure Clean Powder is a company built for endurance athletes.  Most endurance athletes know that beet juice can increase endurance, power, speed, performance, results….But juicing beets is not always easy.  

A professional cyclist created Pure Clean Powder to solve the beet juice problem. You can’t take juice on the plane. The juicer is too big, awkward and heavy to travel with. Juicing in a hotel room is a mess. Exploding beet juice in your luggage is an issue you can only deal with once. 

With beet juice powder, all you do is tear open a packet.  It can travel with you anywhere and doesn’t put you over the 50 lb. luggage limit.  

Best of all, our powder has all the organic, natural nitrates you need to boost performance.  You never have to race again without your beet juice. 

Pure Clean Powder.  Problem solved.”

So it looks like the swag-pile is growing by the day. We’ve got a kickass course, kickass swag and a bunch of kickass people coming to the ride. All we need is MORE people and more stuff to give away. So, tell all your friends and tell them to tell their friends. The Cedar Cross 2.0 is going. to. kick. ass!!

The Race Within the Race

So, a guy like me never really has a shot at the podium. I need to focus on other things to keep myself going. Before any race where I’m “competing”, I generally pick out another fat guy in the crowd and focus on beating him. I’m sure I’m not the only one that does this sort of thing. For me, it’s all about the race within the race.

Then there are guys like Don and Corey.

If you’ve been watching the Cedar Cross Facebook page lately, you’ve probably noticed there’s a little bit of a pissing contest going on between these two. Granted, it’s all in good fun…but it’s still pretty fun to watch. And since I knew that neither one of these guys would back away from the challenge, I’ve decided to throw a little bit of gas on the fire. But before we get to how I’m doing that, let’s get a little bit of history on these guys:

Corey Case, aka “Scardick”

Corey is a big, hairy American winning machine. His obsession with blazing-fast bike speed is rivaled only by his passion for Diet coke, Pina Coladas and hotwings. He’s made a habit of being near the front of the pack over the last several years, finishing the Dirty Kanza in 2012 and pulling off a top 10 finish at the 2012 Cedar Cross. (He also played a critical role in Cara and I becoming a couple, but that’s another story altogether.)

Don Daly

Don is pictured here after an awkward trip to the Men’s restroom. Don is a successful business operator, family man, DK finisher, Cedar Cross Veteran and all-around endurance cyclist. He’s 45 years old, rides a singlespeed and fondly remembers the time I passed him at Syllamo’s Revenge while he was carrying his bike.

These guys love competition, so let’s give them one.

This year’s Cedar Cross will handsomely reward the victor of Don and Corey’s “Race within the Race.” From the week of April 22-28, half of all race entry fees shall be applied toward a trophy, (designed by me), to be presented to the loser of this contest…. by the victor. That’s right, the guy who wins will be giving the trophy to the guy who loses.

I’ll use the other half of all entry fees from the same week to amass a cash prize for the winner of our short course option,  ”The Cedar Sapling.”

Both men have agreed to this contest and now there’s no way out. A trophy will be given and a cash prize shall be generated for the short course winner. I have to admit, I’m pretty damn excited.

So, if you’re planning on racing and haven’t signed up yet.. quit screwing around and sign up. If you can’t ride the full 100+ but you still wanna ride.. sign up for the Sapling. Either way, this is going to be a kickass race and you better not miss it. I’ll be announcing our newest sponsor in a day or two, so stay tuned.