12th Annual God's Country Fat Tire Festival

Come enjoy the start of spring and a day of outdoor fun! This year marks the return of the popular off-road duathlon. With long and short course events, as well as a Relay Team category, this is the perfect event to get the year started off right! Not a runner? New to mountain bike racing? Try the NEW Dirty Dirt Time Trial Mountain Bike Race, and race the clock on a single lap of the off-road course. Both events will be held at the Lawrence River Trails in Lawrence, KS, where you’ll find a combination of flowing dirt single track, bermed corners, and small rolling climbs. Both beginners and experts will enjoy these fast and fun trails. Pre-registration for all events is encouraged, as the event will be capped at 200 participants.

Calling All Ladies!!! Hellcat Racing, Kansas City’s premier women’s cycling club, will be sponsoring a women’s VIP tent with refreshments throughout the day’s festivities. Stop by and pick up a ride or event schedule, meet the ladies, and cheer for the racers going for the glory!

Info/Registration: www.fattireduathlon.com

Bone Bender Mountain Bike Flyer

God's Country Fat Tire Flyer

2014 Mountain Bike Event Dates

Join us for some fat tire fun in 2014.  

God's Country Fat Tire Festival
3/23/14
Lawrence River Trails
Lawrence, KS
http://fattireduathlon.blogspot.com

Bone Bender Mountain Bike Challenge
4/13/14
Clinton Lake State Park
Lawrence, KS
http://bonebender.blogspot.com

God's Country Mountain Bike Classic/
2014 Kansas State MTB Championships
6/22/14
Lawrence River Trails
Lawrence, KS
http://fattireduathlon.blogspot.com

Masons Midsummer Meltdown
7/6/14
Wyandotte County Lake Park
Kansas City, KS
http://masonsmidsummermeltdown.blogspot.com

Wyco's Revenge
8/9/14
Wyandotte Count Lake Park
Kansas City, KS
http://wycosrevenge.blogspot.com

LMBC New Years Day Ride

The year is coming to a close, and that means that it's almost time for the annual LMBC New Years Day ride.

When: 12:00 noon, New Year's Day
Where: Meet in the parking lot just north of the levee at 2nd (Mass St) and Locust.

This ride is suitable for riders of all abilities. We'll begin by riding the levee to the Lawrence River Trail, where you're welcome to ride as much or as little of the 9-mile trail as you like. The ride will be followed by refreshments at Johnny's Tavern. We'll be riding, rain, sleet, snow, or cold, so bring appropriate clothing for the weather. Have a Merry Christmas, and I hope to see all of you there to kick off a Happy New Year!

Cow Town Cross Updates

The 2013 Cyclo-cross season is past the half-way point.  Only a few more events left on the calendar before the State Championships in December.  Luckily for some the season will continue on into January. Maybe we will even get a few snowy cross races like last year. 

A sign that cyclo-cross has moved into a different stage of its life cycle, most event turnouts are lower overall than years past especially in the Beginner categories.  USA Cycling added a Cat 5 division but it appears our area does not need to separate the Cat 4/5 division in most cases. The beginners were once the largest division.  That honor now belongs to the Masters.  Most of the local events have enjoyed strong support from the maturing cyclocross community. The passion from this group of riders have kept the two-a-week races going with many racing twice weekly.

New venues with features like the above are showing up with more regularity. Could these venues and the experience that they provide be turning away the beginners? I know my bad back can only take some many of these rough courses.

Cow Town riders have been spotted at local events.  As the MTB season ends look for a few more the second half of the season.  Or maybe not.  Gravel Grinding season is about to take off in big way....

David Wathen been our most passionate rider. Dave has recently started getting good results after a slow start to the season.  He has his stable of cross rigs all tuned up and ready for battle the remainder of the season. 

Gerard Arantowics  makes a return to racing cross after a 10 year break. A 4th place at last weekends event showed he still has a passion for racing.

Another ride who made a return to cyclocross this year was former De Stad Cyclocross Van Kansas Champion Doug Stone.  A 5 year break did not slow down Doug much as he has turned in some very good results. Constant podium finishes shows his form improving just in time for the Championships.

Damian Almanza even made an appearance at a local event. Look for the always stylish Damian to bring out his vintage cross rig at some local Shawnee events.

Once a true cross addict, even this guy made an appearance.  That Ritchey Swiss Cross sure is a sweet ride.  Someone needs to take this ride away from this throttle twister and do that bike justice.  

Philthy become an Ironman!

While the MTB season has finished up and it cyclocross season here in the Midwest, our members of the Florida division of Cow Town are still enjoying some warm weather and finishing up on their Triathlon season with the Ironman Florida. 

 2700 triathletes participated Saturday's Ironman Florida race.  Participants enjoyed a 2.4 mile swim in the emerald Gulf of Mexico waters.  Next up was a flat and fast 112 mile bike ride where the absence of hills forces a consistent pacing and offers no time to recover.   The final leg is a 26.2 mile run which included the scenic St. Andrew's State Park.

Congratulations to Cow Town own Phil (aka Philthy) Carter who overcame a tore cartilage in his knee to finish the Florida Ironman in 13:33.  This is Philthy's second Ironman distance event. .

Wyco's Revenge - Ride into the Night

The Wyco's Revenge returns for 2013.  Look for some fun new single track that has been added to this years course as well as more class options for this years event.  Also added is a Chili Cook-off contest to be held and a costume contest for the Sprint Division. 

Registration opens on 9/11/13.  Be sure to register in the first week for the discounted entry.

Official website: http://wycosrevenge.blogspot.com

MTB State Games

There are currently 31 states conducting or organizing statewide sports festivals known as State Games. Modeled after the Olympic Games, State Games provide a motivational goal for all athletes within the state in which they are organized. Recreational and competitive events alike are offered in most states, so whether participants compete for the fun of it or as the first step to their Olympic dream, there's something for everybody in the State Games.

This past weekend Kansas and Missouri each held their respective mountain bike events.  Great turnouts for both events with plenty of new participants at each event.  How popular are the State Games?  The Sunflower State Games had a record year with 9,111 participants. The Show-Me-State Games had over 30,000 participants in 40 sports. 

Results are below:

Sunflower State Games MTB Results

Show-Me-State Games MTB Results

Roger Harrison was out taking more great pictures as usual - Sunflower State MTB Pictures.

 Damian Almanza looking good on his trusty 26er - the only 26er in the Expert field.  A 3rd place and well deserved Bronze medal on the day for Mr. Almanza.

 Junior Shane Martin moved up to race with the 19-29 group. Shane had a strong ride to earn a Silver medal.

 Steve Brack showed great form taking the win in the Sport Cat 2 40-49 group. 

 The Sunflower State Games added a "Fat Tire" class to this years event.  Our own Jeff Arnaud powered that beast of a bike to earn a Gold Medal taking 1st in the class.

Masons MTB Meltdown Report

I do not think you could have asked for better conditions for the inaugural Masons Midsummer Meltdown mountain bike race.  Luckily for all the temps were low enough to prevent any real meltdowns and recent rains combined with all the trail work that was put into the park showed with trail conditions near perfect.

First time Race Director Cliff Jones  put in a lot of hard work on this event and it showed.  He surrounded himself with a great team and put on a very fine event. 

Cow Town Cycling was out in force and had strong showings in all classes.

The Marathon class get to start out first and they also get to ride for 3+ hours.  We can tell you from experience that that final hour can be trying.  Doug Stone, who by the way is looking splendid in that Cow Town kit, put in some fast lap times and earned a strong 6th place in the highly competitive Marathon class.

After a long two month hiatus James Maynard dusted off his rig and came and to race hard on Sunday.  Result was a visit to the top place on the podium - Congratulations  James on your 1st place in the Cat 3 Men 40-49 division. 

Shane Martin took a break from his job as a Life Guard to come out and play in the dirt.  Shane only got lost once but still was able to earn a 2nd place in the Junior division. 

Looks like we know where Shane gets his MTB skills from.  His father Donald had a great showing to earn 2nd place in the Cat 3 Men 50+ division.  Way to do Martins!

We do not really think you are suppose to have this much fun while racing, but Christopher Locke looks like he can in route to a win the Junior class.  Look for Locke junior to move to the Marathon division or the Single Speed division in coming events. Rumor is he want to kick his old mans butt.....

Sporting a cool set of jean shorts, Steve Brack settled into his new ride for a 5th place on the day.

Tim Greene usually races the 3 hr Marathon class decided to act his age and race in the 50+ class.  Tim had a strong ride up front early and finished off the day in 4th place

UFD Series points leader in the Cat 2 30-39 division Brad Crain made the leap forward to the Cat 1 division. Brad rode hard and earned 2nd place in his first Cat 1 race.

Jeffery Arnaud made the trip over from Lawrence payoff with a podium position.  Jeff rode well to earn 3rd place in the  Cat 2 Men 30-39 division

Jenny Clark looking good in her new Cow Town kit.  A strong showing today for Jenny with a 1st place in the Cat 2 Women Open class.

Shane Jones rode his trusty Surly SS a 4th place finish.  A flat tire on the second lap cost him a podium position for sure. 

Ron Schnick returned to racing this week and had a great time out on course.  6th place on the day for Ron.

 

Tige Lamb overcame a first corner (first 10 feet actually :-)) mechanical to charge through the field to earn a well deserved win in the  Cat 1 Men 40-49 division. 

Mr President had a good ride going in the Single Speed class - leading the first hour of the race.  Chris ended up replacing a derailed chain and dusting himself off after an encounter with a tree for a 2nd place finish in the Single Speed division.