new web site

we have graduated from wordpress to being a .com. the geniuses at dk200 have decided to change our look. so we had to go big( sort of) or go home. please change your link to dirtykanza200.com

thanks for understanding. we will see you on the gravel.

big grin…joel

salsa joins the dk200 family!

jim & i would do gravel events even if we didn’t get prizes we just love the stuff. but we want to show you that we want to reward & respect your hard work. in the end no racer makes money doing this riding is a labor of love.we have worked hard to get sponsors that are things we use. last year without any advertising salsa gave us a bunch of prizes . not expecting anything while supporting dirty kanza.
this year we have salsa as the newest major sponsor. they have been a joy to deal with. salsa cycles supports grass roots cycling like our gravel goodness.we will have a fargo frameset for the raffle one of my favorite gravel machines. we are pleased as punch to have salsa cycles as a dk family member. i’m still trying to figure out how to use their chili pepper in the web site!

big grin…joel

registration opens! soon.

jim our gravel guru has been getting lots of questions from our gravel addicted brethren. when is registration opening! well the dirty duo put our heads together & flipped a coin & JANUARY 10TH was the answer. we are pretty sure it will be at midnight. but we will see if the online reg. guys will do a kinder time.
on other gravel news we are revamping our website. i’m waiting on graphics for the header & sponsor graphics & we will have a sweet new look. we will be doing a calendar for all the gravel events like ours & TI & GLGA. if you know about something really cool i haven’t heard about drop a email to me. joeldyke@yahoo.com & i will post it. we need to spread the good word of gravel !

big grin…joel

new sweet video

the guys at im design group , scott bolley & company. made us a sweet video. have a looksee.

tha whole gang in emporia have been such a great support. the tourism board , the high gear family, the moen’s, lelan,garret, & too many others to name here. they are the support that makes this race possible. thanks all!

watch for a even better dk200 next year.

big grin…joel

2009 Race Recap

 

Each year since the inaugural Dirty Kanza in 2006, approximately 50 – 55% of the riders who start this race have completed the 200 mile course. Based on that trend, our hopes were that at least 50 of the 85 riders processed during Friday night’s sign-in would successfully conquer this year’s route. That was, however, before we realized that unseasonably high temperatures would be coupled with an also stronger than normal southwest wind. That combination of heat and high winds proved to be a two-headed monster that absolutely devoured the field.

In typical fashion, Dan Hughes (2006 Winner, and 2nd place in 2007 & 2008) wasted no time in going to the front of the field. A group of a dozen or so, led by Dan, set a blistering pace and quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the pack. That group eventually got whittled down to three… Hughes, Corey Godfrey and Troy Krause. This three-some pulled in to the first checkpoint in Cottonwood Falls (Mile 61), in just 3 hours and 45 minutes. That’s just over 16 mph. Not that big a deal, you say? Keep in mind that includes a 4 mile long neutral rollout through town. Still not that big a deal? Remember that “stronger than normal” southwest wind I mentioned earlier? By some reports, it was blowing at 25 to 30mph. And this first leg was almost entirely south and west. Rounding out the Top 5 at Checkpoint One was Mike Marchand at 12 minutes back, and Gary Calton at minus 16 minutes.

From Cottonwood Falls, the course headed due west, then north toward Council Grove. Riders were surely looking forward to the long northward march, anticipating a reprieve from the brutal Kansas wind. How does that “First Rule of Cycling” go? Something like “There is always a headwind.”??? Well, that certainly proved to be the case on this day, as the winds slowly but steadily began to swing, almost as if on queue, from the southwest, to the west, to the northwest.

Seemingly undeterred from the constant blast in the face by warm, humid air, the lead three riders continued their 16.5 mph average all the way to Council Grove. Hughes and Godfrey pulled in together, with Krause just 2 minutes back. The three quickly and methodically went through their own pre-determined mid-race process of refueling and preparing for the second half of this grueling sufferfest. To the casual observer, each of the three riders may have seemed equally as strong as the other two. My assessment? Hughes was a cat playing with his catch, just waiting to bite down on their necks.

By this point, the rest of the field was quickly dwindling. Of the 85 starters, 82 reached Checkpoint One in Cottonwood Falls. However, fewer than 60 made it to the halfway point in Council Grove. Less than 50 would continue from there.

Shortly after the lead three left Council Grove to begin the northward trek to the next checkpoint in Alma, my wife and I jumped in the pickup and headed out. We were scheduled to meet our volunteer crew in Alma to setup the third checkpoint. After a brief delay (“Sorry, Officer… I thought the speed limit was 65.”)… we pulled into the town of Alma.

Based on the previous pace, expectations were for the first rider to pull into town at about 2:40 pm. The smart money was on Hughes to be that rider. We were half right. (Almost.) Hughes was the first to arrive, but at 3:43 pm. As we all began to clap and whistle in appreciation for his effort, Dan quickly waved us off. He pulled up to the tent and announced he was out. Dan had gone down hard on a rain-rutted descent on Lil’ Egypt Road. In addition to the nasty gravel road rash down the outside of his left leg, Dan had tweaked his back. He was in obvious pain. Dan somehow found the strength to pick himself up off the ground and ride to town, but had taken a short cut to town. A decision made only to put an end to his suffering as quickly as possible. It was a bitter end to the day for a tough competitor. Dan, you are a class act.

Some time after 4:00 pm, the next rider was seen coming down the street. It was Mike Marchand. Shortly thereafter, Mike was followed in by Troy Krause, then by a very weary looking Corey Godfrey. It was now Mike’s race to lose. All three riders, Marchand, Krause and Godfrey, took an extended stay in Alma. Then in an almost reluctant fashion, pulled away for the final 65 mile stretch to the finish line back in Emporia.

The pace had clearly dropped. Ten hours in the saddle, fighting a stiff wind, coupled with high temperatures and humid air is enough to crush anyone. These three were putting in a valiant effort. But there comes a point that a rider can only do so much. The conditions were also wreaking havoc on the rest of the field. Ultimately, only 23 riders would continue past the third checkpoint.

In the weeks leading up to this year’s race, talk centered on the performance put in by 2008 winner Cameron Chambers. Would anyone be able to beat, or even match, Cameron’s record time of 11 hours, 58 minutes? Clearly, Cameron’s record was safe for another year.

If the frontrunners were able to maintain the pace set during the first 100 miles, the first rider should arrive in Emporia at about 6:45 pm. Spectators and support crews began arriving to the finish line shortly before that time. They were in for a long wait.

Hours passed and things grew very quite. A cell phone rang. “Riders spotted… 10 miles out… going 20 mph.”

The finish line area was now buzzing with anticipation. Who would it be? Then, a lone rider is spotted, cruising down 18th Ave, head down, hands in the drops, chain in the big ring. It was Mike Marchand, looking like he had just finished a 30 mile workout.

In the end, of the 85 starters, only 15 riders completed the 205 mile course. The 2009 running of The Dirty Kanza 200 will certainly go down as the most difficult year in our brief 4-year history. The most sincere of “Congratulations” go out, not only to you fifteen finishers… but to all who accepted this challenge and stepped up to the starting line. You are all winners in our eyes.

Complete Results:
1st Open Men – Mike Marchand – 14 hours, 23 minutes
2nd Open Men – Troy Krause – 14 hours, 54 minutes
3rd Open Men – Corey Godfrey – 16 hours, 32 minutes
4th Open Men – Joe Fox – 16 hours, 53 minutes
5th Open Men – Peter Krause – 17 hours, 16 minutes
6th Open Men – Tom Liebl – 17 hours, 17 minutes
1st Single Speed – Mike Beck – 19 hours, 26 minutes
Tie, 7th Open Men – Greg Bachman & Chad Minert – 19 hours, 26 minutes
9th Open Men – Steve Fuller – 20 hours, 10 minutes
Tie, 10th Open Men – Chris Van Alstyne & Jim Fobben – 20 hours, 13 minutes
2nd Single Speed – Jeff Scott – 20 hours, 13 minutes
Tie, 12th Open Men – Keith Clark & Kevin Doggett – 20 hours, 50 minutes

Mike marchand – Overall Winner

Troy Krause

Corey Godfrey

Joe Fox

Peter Krause

All Dirty Kanza 200 finishers will receive one of these.  It ain’t no belt buckle.  But this is something you can really use.  (The beer glass, that is.)

New DK Course Markings

In an effort to keep those of you who are “navigationally challenged” from getting lost at this year’s Dirty Kanza, Joel and I have developed these new corner markers.  Flourescent Pink ribbons will be easily visible during the day.  Reflective tape for night time viewing. 

Tic Toc…

Only three weeks away from the 2009 running of The Dirty Kanza. Joel and I are busy making final preparations. We are absolutely giddy about the course we have in store for you this year. The new northern section is chock full of roller-coaster hills, panoramic vistas and picturesque native limestone structures. One small word of caution… In years past, checkpoints have come every 50 miles. This years course begins with a 61-mile leg, then a 40-ish second and third leg, then concludes with another 60+ mile long leg. That final leg is a doo-sey. No short-cut back to town. It’s 64 miles anyway you cut it. Be ready, particularly if we have the customary southwind that Kansas is known for. You have been warned.

See you Friday evening (May 29th) for registration.
Jim C.

dirty kanza in only 29 days

thanks for coming to the dirty kanza new blog we just started this after getting back from trans iowa late at night. so we will be getting more info & other good stuff out soon .we have a few changes of format to be announced so look for that soon.

big grin…joel

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