The 2016 Lake Dabinawa Grinder Recap

Jeff leads the way out on the levee for our ride up to Lake Dabinawa Grinder.  A little chilly and windy at the start but overall a beautiful day to be riding gravel.

Thank you to everyone who came out today.  Very strong turnout and we appreciate it.  Course and conditions were very nice.  I especially liked the easy pace the first 4 miles up on the levee.

Jeff Arnaud is the Man.  He designed the perfect course - first part was a lot of climbing and into a headwind with the return trip everyone got to enjoy a nice tailwind and plenty of fast rolling gravel downhills.  Thanks again for hosting another fun and exciting Lake Dabinawa Grinder Jeff!


Bob Billings was out and recorded some good video of our ride.

Several riders got flats today including yourstruely and Michael Ruder of Power Team Coaching above.

Flats were not the only problem today.  Some riders like my good friend Gerard was just lucky to be riding after his bike fell off his rack. Those Giants sure are tough.

Nice to see so many smiling faces out today especially from our Women's Free State Racing team.

LeLan Dains of DK200 enjoying the ride back south.  Thanks for coming out and supporting our rides LeLan.  You Rock!

We got some good photos from todays ride.  Check them all out - 2016 Lake Dabinawa Grinder Photos. 

2016 Lake Dabinawa Grinder

What: 5th Annual  Lake Dabinawa Grinder
When: Sunday January 31, 2016, 9:00 am
Where: Lawrence, KS (Lawrence visitor center)
Why: Come enjoy a beautiful 44 mile tour of North Lawrence.

Jeff Arnaud brings us the 5th Annual Lake Dabinawa Grinder. A very popular ride with a route that all ability levels will enjoy.  This ride will tour North of Lawrence and visit Lake Dabinawa . Meet in the Lawrence visitor center parking lot across from Johnny's Tavern. Cross bike or MTB needed.  For those who want some post ride food, maybe a crowd favorite pizza, head over to Johnny's Tavern after the ride.

Lasts event was hit with some bad weather.  Still a hardy group showed up to take on the challenge.

Course was 44 miles of frozen gravel.  Not the best thing for a drive train. It made a few riders consider building up a single speed for such conditions :-)

The forecast for this years ride looks a lot warmer so we should have conditions like our 2014 ride.

The Course - The Lake Dabinawa Course 

**Remember, you are responsible for yourself and you ride at your own risk.  You are totally on your own.  There are no rider services.  There is no support. If you choose to participate, you agree to taking full responsibility for what happens to you out on the course.Always follow all traffic laws and rules. Always choose safety first and be prepared.**

The Bean Lake Report

First we want to thank everyone who ventured up North to ride the Bean Lake Gravel Challenge.  We have been wanting to hold a ride around the lake for several years.  Finally got done in 2016.  Expect this ride to be a staple on our "Good Times Gravel Tour".

Lots of lonely gravel miles have been put in by this rider.  It was awesome to get so may fellow gravel riders to share the roads with.

Plenty of Fat Bikes out today.   The Fat Boys sure looked like they were rolling along good on the soft snow that we had to deal with during the trip up to Weston.

It is always fun watching a trail full of gravel enthusiast.  

The first section of our route was on the Weston Bluffs Trails.  Overall I think everyone handled the snow pack that was softened up by hikers very well.

Gary it was so nice seeing you today.  You looked good.  Next time I will put down the camera and ride some with you.

The Dirty Dogs were out in force today.  John Porter rolling the fat boys.

It is nice to see so many women out enjoying our rides.  Smiles on most everyone's face today at the beginning.  Maybe not so much out on Mt. Bethel Road.

Shout out to my son Christopher for riding back with me out of Iatan.  My hip was not up for the full challenge today.  We enjoyed a nice ride back and even caught with with Carolynn and Tara on the way back.

Speaking of them, Both Carolynn and Tara did a shorter version of the route and stayed on the West side of 273 - the flat side.  There were still a few little hills that they had to conquer.

2016 Bean Lake Gravel Challenge Photos

The remaining photos are above.  I accidentally dropped my camera and the settings changed.  I only noticed after I took about 30 more photos. Sadly they were some good photos of the route East of 273 - the hilly side.

Bean Lake Gravel Challenge

Updated: 01/23/16

Map My Ride link added below along with a tick sheet.

What: Bean Lake Gravel Challenge
When: Sunday January 24, 2016, 9:00 am
Where: Weston, MO
Why: Come enjoy a scenic and challenging ride to one of the few remaining marshes left in the Missouri River Floodplain.

Course conditions are great.  See pictures below.  Course is 95 percent gravel with most of it packed or with very little snow cover.

We will meet at the Weston Bluffs Trail head just south of the Weston Bend State Park.  We held a fun ride here several years ago and it is about time to venture out that way again.  See map below for parking.

 The main trail head only has room for about 25 vehicals.  If that lot fills up there is additonal parking on Beverly Drive - see pictures below.

The main route is just under 40 miles in length.  A combination of scenic trail along the Weston Bluffs Trail and the Missouri River.  Hills?  Yes there will be some hills and some of the finest gravel around.  There are several bailout options for those not up to the full challenge.

A little history on Bean Lake...Bean Lake  in a section of the Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area. The 400 acre oxbow is home to migrating waterfowl and shorebirds during spring and fall. Amazingly, more than 130 species of birds have been seen here though the number of birds depends on the water level. There is half a mile of disabled accessible trail that is perfect for hiking with families and friends. This leads to a viewing platform over the freshwater marsh. Another 200 yard trail leads to a viewing blind overlooking Cottonwood Slough.

This the route we plan to try on Sunday.  As I mentioned above I will recon the route and make and changes Saturday night.

Create Routes or Search for a route from millions at MapMyRide

 Old school directions:

Disclaimer for the Bean Lake Gravel Challenge:
You are 100% responsible for yourself! You are totally on your own.  There are no rider services.  There is no support. If you choose to participate, you agree to taking full responsibility for what happens to you out on the course.  Please have someone you can call to come get you in the case of emergency, fatigue, freezing weather or bike failure. 

The Mullet Review

The Mullet Review.  

Photo by Kim Morris

Kim Morris was onsite and took some great photos.  Check out Kim's pictures - 2016 Mullet Ride by Kim Morris

Boneyard Bicycles has a nice video of his Mullet Ride -Riding the Mullet 2016

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