Winter Gravel Grinding Season

The winter has set in and it is officially Gravel Grinding time. Cow Town Cycling will be leading gravel rides throughout the winter.  Come join us on these fun adventures.

Some upcoming gravel rides:

• 12/23/16 - Festivus of Nights 
• 01/21/17 - The Mullet (oldest gravel grinder in Kansas) 
• 01/29/17 - Lake Dabinawa Challenge
• 02/19/17 - Flint Hills Express
• 02/25/17 - Power Team Grinder
• 2017 - Bean Lake Gravel Challenge
• 2017 - Spoke Pony 

 Please check out Guru's Gravel Grinders for more event dates, post event pictures and updates. 

The Gobbler Grinder

Looking for a fun ride over the Thanksgiving weekend? Look no further...

Traffic Skills 101

Bike Walk KC is hosting the Traffic Skills 101 class. This bicycle skills class gives cyclists the confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail.

Traffic Skills 101 course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student text book. Recommended for adults and children fifteen and older, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.

When : 9/27/2011 6:00 PM through 9/29/2011 8:00 PM

Where: Kansas City North Community Center, 3930 NE Antioch Road, KC, MO 64117

More info: Traffic Skills 101

The Mullet Ride

The Mullet Ride has gained popularity over the years and due to this a winter version of her was dreamed up by out ride leader Gerard Arantowicz. We added this years Mullet Ride to our little Gravel Grinder series.

Thank you to everyone who came out to ride with us today and enjoy a very fine winter day. The forecasted rain/snow stayed away and fun was had by all.

Pictures from out little Mullet Ride are below.

Guru's Gravel Grinders

This is the first of a dozen Gravel Grinders during this winter.

What: Guru Gravel Grinder #1

When: Sunday, December 20, 2009 - 10:00 am start time

Where: Start at E.H. Young Riverfront Park, Riverside MO

Who: Any and all are welcome

Why: Because there is way too much pavement in the world

Route: A mix of gravel, levee and back country roads. Mostly road, but plenty of gravel to keep us sane. Some hills will be climbed. You will experience some discomfort depending on pace. We will try and stay off any high traffic roads. Any road bike with a good sturdy set of wheels can be used. Cross bike preferred, but not required. Distance from E. H. Young is about 38 miles.

This is a Show-N-Go ride, please bring food/water and anything you require.

Weekend Training Rides

This weekend a few of us got together on Saturday and Sunday mornings for some LSD (long slow distance). Chris Locke, Randy Cartwright and Dan Grier met up early Saturday morning with light snow still covering the roads. Chris and Dan ended up with 40 miles, while I (Randy) accidentally ended up with almost 60 (Darn gmap-pedometer.com underestimated my route by about 13 miles). We rode a route around Smithville Lake then back to the Northland.

Sunday Richard Anderson, Ashley Blum and Randy met up at Ashley's house in Independence for a good 3 hour ride. The route was great for active recovery as well as base miles, predominately flat and following the Missouri River eastward from Independence. I really like the ride and the best part was that Ashley's wife Dana had made a great "brunch for a bunch" for us when we returned. We will have to definately do that route again, if for no other reason than the meal at the end, Thanks Dana.

Rich, Randy and Ashley just after the ride

Us enjoying Dana's great brunch.

Landahl Winter Wonder Ride

Landahl Winter Wonder Ride Results

Participants: Shad, Randy, Rich, Eric and Chris.
Ride time: ~ 3 hours with a few stops - some planned some not...
Temperature: 5 degrees with a - 3 wind chill
Course conditions: Most of the trails were packed and traction was good for the most part.
Number of crashes: At least 5, but who is counting.
Number of flat tires: 2
Number of broken helmets: 1
Number of goofy snow boarding helmets: 1
Number of broken egos: 1

Some pictures:



A group of us are meeting at Landahl Saturday morning. Yes it will be cold (10 degrees), but riding in the trails always makes you feel nice and warm in side....

Landahl Winter Wonder Ride
Landahl Park -- Argo Trailhead
Time: 9:30a.m. (Rich doesn't get off until 8:30...)
Pace: Slow enough to ride ~ 3hours, but fast enough to stay warm.

Sunday we are meeting at Clinton Lake for another fun ride in the snow.

Clinton Lake Snow Ride
Clinton Lake SP - Free Parking area
Time: 1:00pm
Pace: Slow and easy...unless Mark and Tige show us then we will jump on the Pain Train...

Night Rides I

A Night Ride at Smithville Lake

Randy readies himself as the sun sets.

John thinking "why am I out here in when it is 25 degrees, windy and dark as all get out..."

Locke just happy to be away from work for a few hours.

Anderson ready for an all nighter - ride 3 hours then work 10 hours. It must suck to work the night shift...

Harter cruising on his fixed gear just past the Bonebender trail head.

Cartwright glowing in the dark.