Dirty Kanza 200 2011 Race Report
This is it. I am making this one last post before the big day. Tomorrow I am helping with the Ride the Divide showing at Emporia’s Granada Theater. Everyone has a chance to win a sweet titanium rail WTB saddle or other giveaways at the show! All profits will go towards the charity 1gear1cause to help fight cancer.
Hopefully I will be able to create another post after June 4. If not, I was doing something I loved in my last breath.
Weather
Told ya. The weather forecast has changed again. Here’s the truth:
It’s been raining a lot. It is supposed to stop raining, get hot and the wind is supposed to pick up. That should dry the gravel up nicely by race day. Since we have had so much rain, I expect it to be a little steamy, but the forecast has the humidity low, so we may luck out on that one or this forecast could be completely wrong. Currently it feels quite humid here.
Temperature: 91 degrees – that would tie the record high for June 4th in Emporia, Kansas. I am bringing more water rather than less.
Humidity: 56% (I will be surprised if it actually is this low)
Wind: 15 mph from the SSW, that’s pretty tame people, so enjoy it. Although in my experience, as it heats up here the winds usually blow harder. Another tidbit to think about is that it seems that you can double the wind speed once you are out in the Flint Hills. That may just be what the locals say, but it seems to be about right.
Gravel Conditions: With all the rain we’ve had, vehicles have really flattened the gravel down which means right now the conditions are fast. That doesn’t mean they aren’t grating the roads right now as I write this, so keep your durable tire choices intact.
Course: It’s still just over 200 miles of Flint Hills Gravel. Enjoy!
Dirty Kanza 200 Tattoo
Jim Cummins, race director for the Dirty Kanza 200 is all in. Here’s proof:
Yes, Jim has freakishly long legs.
He seemed to be rather enjoying himself.
Lara’s drawing for the tattoo
Jen stopped by to get Lara her Never Give Up shirt. Don’t worry, we’ll have some available at our booth on race day.
A plant in the waiting area
The final masterpiece. Lara is one skilled Tattoo artist. I highly recommend her.
Thanks for all the support from Monarch Tattoo! Looks like a good tattoo idea huh? I have an idea in the works.
Good luck to all the riders coming from near and far to participate in the DK200! It will be quite a sight to see 350 cyclists leaving from downtown Emporia. Come wish us well this Saturday at 6:00 am. Or be a part of the DK Lite 20 or 50 mile rides! If that’s too early for you, come to the finish line and enjoy the beer garden! I hope with every ounce of my being that it will still be open when I roll across the finish line! Send all positive vibes my way all day this Saturday – I’ll need it!
Oh and before I was able to post this, the weather forecast has changed again. Don’t worry, it only looks to be getting hotter and windier. Welcome to the Flint Hills of Kansas! Yee Haa!
Feed Your Monkey!
Eric
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