The Date:
The GRAID will be on the weekend of March 29 and 30, 2008.
Make sure to read the report on the GRAID here!
Keeping your eye out for the GRAID 2!
March 28th Update:
Well, I don't really think we could ask for a better forecast at this time of year! We will have to change our plans a bit, but that is just fine with me. We will be leaving from Lamoni on Saturday morning. I have made reservations at the Super 8 in Lamoni. Which is located right on the gravel road that we will take us north (unless we decide to ride to the border which is just 3 miles away). If you would like to do the same here is the number: (641) 784-7500. I talked with Dennis yesterday and asked about a ride and he is willing to pick Matt and I up in DM. Steve, if you can give me your address Matt and I will be there at 6:00 tomorrow night. We can then go out to eat in Des Moines, or wait until we get to Lamoni. I know that they are suppose to have a great pizza joint there. I am game for about any place that has carbs!
I called down to the hotel and they have a continental breakfast that starts at 6:00 so we should be able to be on the road between 6:30-6:45 am!
So, you guys excited? I know I am! This snow that we are having is just trying to scare us off! I am not too worried as we should see dry roads come Saturday!
Questions? Email me or call 515 233-3058 or my cell number is 641 232-0027.
Thanks!
Paul
March 27th Update: As I sit here in my basement at 5:00 AM checking all the weather reports I can find it appears that the wind will be consistently out of the SE for nearly all of Saturday. I will continue to watch the weather reports and later this afternoon to around 6:00 I will make the call on what direction we are going to go. As of right now we have the following riders committed to riding:
Matt Maxwell
Steve Fuller
Dennis Grelk
Paul Jacobson
David Allen
If you would like to join in on the fun let me know asap by emailing me at thejacobsons@q.com .
March 18th Update: The North to South route is complete. Check out the route here. 265 miles total. With the wind it is totally doable. Against the wind, um, no comment. %^)
Ride will start at 7:00! We will meet shortly after 6:00 in Emmons at the Family Tree Restaurant for breakfast. We can unload and have everything ready to go. Warning! There is not a convenience store in Emmons so bring everything you need! The restaurant opens at 6:30. Hopefully we can get on the road by 7:00!
View Larger Map
The goal is to make it to Lamoni for lunch on Sunday. We will end the ride at the Pizza Shack in Lamoni, Iowa. Once we get to Lamoni, we will have to make the decision on riding the hardest 6 miles! We will leave the comfort of the finish to go three miles to the boarder and then back! I will admit, this will be a tough decision for me. I think.
View Larger Map
Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me at thejacobsons@q.com or calling me at 515 233-3058.
March 10th Update: I have been battling a bit of achilles tendonitis. I am going to ride 70 or so miles this weekend to see how it goes. I have been feeling better as of late, but not 100 percent. If all goes well this weekend I am in for sure unless the weather goes to hell. If you are interested in this ride and have not emailed me please do so at thejacobsons at q.com. Thanks, Paul
Feb.29 Update: I have one person that has officially contacted me about this ride. We are one month away so I am wanting some feedback. I am planning on doing this ride unless we have horrible weather or something, but I would love to do this as a group ride. I am very aware that the conditions may be nasty at the end of March. I postpone this until the summer or fall would more people be interested?
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks!
UPDATE! I am seriously considering renting a big van to provide transportation from Lamoni back to the start or anywhere along Interstate 35! There will be a fee for this to cover the expenses associated with renting the vehicle, gas and hooking up the driver (likely my dad!) will all the food he wants! Let me know if you are interested!
Another update (Feb. 10)
So, do you want in? If so email me (thejacobsons at q.com) with the following information:
Name and address:
Emergency Contact Info (Name and two phone numbers):
Cell Phone number:
I have a connection now with a 15 passenger van. With a seat or two out of it I am looking at maybe 8 people plus their bikes. First come, first served! There will be a $60 dollar fee that will be required at the start of the ride to cover the rental and the gas. This will get you back to the start from Lamoni or the Diamond Jo Casino (near Emmons, MN) depending on which direction we want to go. By the looks of the profile we want to go north to south with the wind!
The Start/Finish:
We will plan on starting in Emmons, Minnesota at 6:00 AM on the morning of Saturday, March 29. and finishing in Lamoni, Iowa sometime in the morning of Sunday the 30th.
We will plan on staying over night in Forest City, Iowa and then the morning of the 29th we will get a ride to Emmons as my parents live in Forest City and have offered to drive. Obviously, this depends on how many riders we have! If this ride gets some attention and we have 10 or more riders then we will stay at the Diamond Jo Casino just 3 miles shy of Minnesota. This would only add a few miles to the course.
Will there be support?
Yes and No. This is meant to be a self supported ride (not a race!). We will go through Garner (mile 35), Belmond (mile 55), Jewell (mile 100), Ames (mile 127), Dallas Center (175), Adel (180), Winterset (205), Lamoni (277). You will need to arrange transportation from Lamoni unless we go with the van rental (see above).
What is the route?
Here is the north "half" of the route. We will have a pit stop at Welch Ave Station in Ames for pizza and beverages. This will be around the 120-127 mile mark. We may get to this point by 3 in the afternoon or it may be 9 at night. Who knows!??!
This is the second "half" of the route. We will likely make a small detour off of this route for an additional two miles or so to stop in Adel.
What about the wind?
Okay, I will admit it, I hate the wind. The plan is to ride with the wind if possible. Normally the wind is from the northwest, but you never know. There certainly are those beautiful 70 degree days in March when the wind is from the south. If that happens we will run the course in reverse! If you would rather ride the whole 275 miles against the wind feel free. I want to finish.
What will the conditions be like?
Well, it will likely be pretty cold at the start, likely in the 30's. We could top out at 40 for the whole ride, or we could hit the 70's and 80's by the end. I can promise there will be wind. Lot's of it. The gravel will likely be soft for at least the first half of the ride.
More info to come. If you have any questions email me: thejacobsons@q.com
Paul Jacobson
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