Bike Decorah
Bike Decorah
Decorah, IA 52101
United States
ph: 563-419-1548
jes
News, Races and Events
News Ticker
Summer Sizzler
Summer Sizzler 1.5 went off with out too much trouble. The weather was great and 19 racers competed in 2 or 3 laps of Van Peenen Park. The course consisted of about a half mile of Quarry Hill Road, a lap in the Prairie, Little Big Horn, Dustbowl, North 40, Gunnar, Julia, Pines East and West, and some more Prairie. One lap was roughly 5.5 miles.
A big Thank You goes out to
Decorah Park and Recreation for supplying tables and handling the registration and letting us use the parks for this event.
Oneota River Cycles for organizing the set up of the course, materials, signage, timing, race organization and for the prizes donated for the Random Drawing following the event.
Steve Vandenbrink and Winneshiek Ambulance Service for their help in one of the first rescue missions in a Decorah Mt. Bike race. We were sure glad to have their help.
DHPT Members who helped out with course set-up, timing, results, and those who forfeited their race to assist in helping an injured Rider. Diane Osborn, Jeff O'Gara, Troy Whitehill, LeeAllen Hackman, Alice Bjergum, Rich Gosen.
Results
3 Lap Race
- 1:53:23 - Ben Shockey
- 1:54:49 - Dave Paquette
- 2:04:08 - Mark Folkedahl
- 2:06:48 - Steve Bullerman
- 2:17:20 - Jeff Friedhof
- 2:37:39 - Dwayne Bonnet
- 2:40:07 - Tyler Buck
- 2:56:33 - Brian Anderson
2 Lap Race
- 1:34:09 - Pete Blodgett
- 1:43:38 - Troy Whitehill
- 1:58:15 - Gunnar Rush
- 1:58:15 - Deneb Woods
- 2:19:05 - San Savoeun
Other Participants
Matt Kurke, Russ Drenth, Jamie Folkedahl, Diane Osborn, Doug Osborn
Great Weekend to Ride!
6-24-08
Thanks to everyone who came over, up and down to Decorah this weekend and hit the trails. There were at least 3 great group rides, with the Saturday evening ride being over 15 riders. We saw a lot of Gary Fisher Rigs, a few Vassago's, some Karate Monkeys, an El Mariachi or two, a Black Sheep, Trek 69er, and even a full suspension Turner 29er.
The single-track was in amazing shape. A huge thanks goes out to the Decorah Human Powered Trails Group for the over 200 hours they put in over the last couple of weeks to get the trails ready for this weekend. It may not have been the Ballyhoo, but it definately was a great time to enjoy Bikes, Beers, and Ride Stories by the campfire.
There were some interesting and impromptu events such as a Bike Toss, Fire Jumping, and a Log Crash to name a few.
All and all it was a really fun weekend to ride the trails. Thanks you for the hard work put in to get them ready to ride and thank you to those who came despite the official event being cancelled. We hope to celebrate the return of the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo next year.
2008 Big Wheeled Ballyhoo -
The hype has already started for the 2nd Annual Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. Click HERE for all the information about the Event.
2007 marked the first ever 29" Mt. Bike Event/Festival. The brain child of Guitar Ted and Tim Grahl of www.twentynineinches.com brought this event to our trails for 3 days of Bikes, Friends, Drinks and Dancing. See what they thought and what others had to say here.
I recently had the opportunity to do an interview with Guitar Ted about the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. Here's how it went.
June 28, 2007 marked the begging of the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. What is a Big Wheeled Ballyhoo? A huge party for like minded people who like to ride bikes, big wheeled bikes. For years the standard mountain bike has come standard with 26 inch wheels. The Big Wheeled Ballyhoo is a celebration specifically for those who like the idea of 29 inch wheels. Jesse Reyerson runs the local Decorah Bike Website, www.bikedecorah.com, rides a 29'er, and is really excited for this year's Ballyhoo. Mark Stevenson, more commonly known to the bike world as Guitar Ted, is somewhat of an expert in the realm of 29'ers and brought the first annual Big Wheeled Ballyhoo last year. He wrenches on bikes, and evaluates new bikes and 29'er parts on his website www.twentynineinches.com, which is dedicated to everything 29 inch mountain bike.JR: Before you were a 29'er guy, you must have been a bike guy. When did you get into riding bikes?GT: Well, that could be a novel in itself, but suffice it to say that I was hooked as a kid. I went everywhere on a bicycle!JR: I bought my first 29'er a year ago and I don't think I'll ever go back. When did you decide that 29 inch wheels were the way to go?GT: I came upon this thing called Mountain Bike Review when I first got hooked up on-line in 1999. I saw a forum called “29 inch Wheeled Bicycles” and the stuff I read there started clicking with me. At the time, you could only get a custom, (expensive) or buy a Gary Fisher,(hard to find a stocking dealer back then), so I didn’t actually get to riding one until my Karate Monkey in 2003. I was sold on the concept long before that though.
JR: How did you come up with the idea for a bike fest specifically for 29 inch bikes?GT: The credit for the idea really goes to George Wissel of Bike 29.com fame. He did a thing out there in Vermontcalled “The Meat-Up” which was a grilling out party with a 29”er ride thrown in. Basically just a bunch of guys and gals having a hoot riding and camping out. It sounded like so much fun that I suggested we do something like it here in the Mid-West. Well, one thing led to another and…………….JR: There are a lot of places with some really great bike trails. Famous places like Grand Junction and Fruita CO. Boulder City/Bootleg Canyon Nevada to name a couple. How did you determine that Decorah Iowa was the place for the Big Wheel Fest?GT: I’d ridden in Decorah back in the 90’s and knew it to be a great mountain biking area. Rich Gosen of OneotaRiverCycles had told me that the trail system had expanded when we were in discussions with him concerning Trans Iowaback in 2005. He showed me all this cool trail video and all the maps. When the idea for the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo came up, I knew that Decorah was a perfect fit.JR: Last Year Decorah was hammered with rain for an entire week before the event. Did that hurt the number of attendees?GT: Yes, I’m sure of it. Also, the La Crosseevent, the Wisconsin StateSingle Speed Championships were that same weekend. Those two things, but probably the rain, were not a good thing for getting folks out. That said, our promotions weren’t as good as they could have been, so I’ll shoulder some of the blame there for sure. This year we have stepped up things in that area a bit.JR: The 2007 Ballyhoo drew some big name 29 inch bike vendors including Salsa, Niner, SlingShot, Titus, Trek, and some samples from Raleigh. What can you tell us about vendors for 2008?GT: Many of the same vendors will be there, plus I believe that Decorah Bicycles will be featuring Vassago 29”ers, there may be a few others that we are working on yet. I can say that something new will debut there that you won’t want to miss. It’s going to be a really big deal, so check that out! Most all the vendors will be offering demo rides again too, so you can actually check out a 29”er if you want to.JR: One custom bike builder took the term "Big Wheel" to the extreme and brought his 36 inch bike to last years Ballyhoo. As I said he was a custom builder, but do you think 29 is as big as it's gonna get as a standard of the industry?GT: Well, the wheel size has come a long way in a very short period of time. It has widespread industry support, and new innovations are coming out all the time. That said, the wider mountain biking community has yet to discover 29”ers. Mostly due to the high cost of entry and the lack of availability of a longer travel, all mountain rig on a large scale. Those two things are about to change, and are in fact already changing. Once 29’ers offer all the niche products that 26”ers enjoy, I think 29”ers will see an increased share in the marketplace. No doubt in my mind, once people try a 29”er, they will see the benefits and want to own one. I don’t think 26”ers will ever “die out”, but I do think more folks will want to add a 29”er or two to their mountain bike stable.JR: So, where do you see the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo going in the future?GT: My vision for the Ballyhoo is to see it develop into a festival for Decorah to embrace and benefit from eventually. I see it like I do other cities annual festivals that occur all across Iowaduring the summer. Decorah has a great vibe, a wonderful bunch of folks willing to help, and tremendous outdoor opportunities for tourism and recreation. With today’s economy and fuel prices, Decorah stands to benefit as a Mid-West destination for mountain biking and outdoor recreation. Instead of driving all the way to Colorado, why not spend a week in Decorah riding all the fantastic trails? The Ballyhoo could be used as a way for Decorah to annually introduce itself to new potential visitors that will return on a regular basis. That’s my belief and hope.2008 Time Trials April 27
April 28, 2008
Jeff O'Gara of Decorah was the overall winner of the 18th Annual Time Trials. He was the first rider on the 12 mile course and finished in 1 hour, 3 minutes. The great part is that he wasn't riding his fast bike. Jeff slashed his tire during a warm up run about a half hour before the start of the race. Luckily his wife was able to bring him a backup bike in time for the start.
The start had to be one of the muddiest and toughest I've ever seen. After the initial ride though Lower Palidsades, the trails were in great condition. The last section of the race, a half mile trail along the Upper Iowa river, had to be cut out due to the fact that it was under water. A lot of the water and springs that were flowing heavily on Saturday were drying up in time for the race. The Weather was sunny and a little windy, and temperatures were in the 50's.
Over 80 racers participated. For Results check the Decorah Park and Rec website.
April 24, 2008
The official race course for this year's Time Trials is the longest ever at 12.5 miles. Almost ever park we have will be included, totaling over 5,400 feet of climbing. Rain has been forcast for the 3 days leading up to the race, but so far the trails have been in decent shape.April 25, 2008
3 1/2 inches of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours here in Decorah, but the race is still on. If neccessary, the course can be adjusted due to water levels.
Spring Break 2008
March 21, 2008
Some friends and I headed down to Rolla, MO for some spring break riding. We ran into some trouble getting to our destination due to the flooding that has washed out bridges and roads earlier this week. We eventually made it to Route 66 Bicycles in Rolla. Owner Dan Fuhrmann took us out for some gravel riding as soon as we got to town. Part of the trails were washed out and under water, but we crossed over anyway. All we brought down were our single speed bikes, so we spun for about 2 and a half hours. It was nice considering Decorah has been buried under several feet of snow and sub zero temperatures since December. Click here for pictures. We have 3 more days of riding planned, check back for more pictures.No Single Speed or Beginner Class in '08 Time Trials
Feb. 27, 2008
The Decorah Time Trials was designed to be a non-intimidating venue to scale youself against like riders. That's why there are so many classes, to reward lots of riders for their achievements. The Single Speed class was introduced in 2001 and the idea was to make the race more interesting and give people an incentive to ride a single speed bike.
"Our job is done" - Richard Gosen, Time Trial creator on creating an incentive to ride a SS. "Single Speeds are no longer considered a disadvantage. It's really just a different riding technique, its more about momentum. The kind of bike you decide to race is your choice, some of the fastest finishers last year were single speeders."
The Begginer class was added to get people into riding bikes, which does not seem to be an issue anymore. People are out on their bikes.
So what's the next class to be added to the Time Trials? A Tandem Class?...
DHPT Prez wins 3D in Dubuque
Jan. 24, 2008Quote of the day:
“Sense when did my 29” x 2.3” tires become skinnies”
– Ben Shockey, 2008 Triple D Bike ChampionBen Shockey, current DHPT President, Raced in Dubuque on Sat., Jan. 19 from Dubuque, IA to Dyersville, IA and back to Dubuque in sub zero temperatures. Ben finished ahead of the 2nd place rider by nearly an hour. Click Here for the official race results. Scott Marx who is also a DHPT member raced and ended his race at the half way point as did the majority of the participants due to the sub zero temperatures.- Ben Shockey, 8:17 – 59+ Miles (Overall Bike Winner)
- Joel Cahalan, 9:10 – 59+ Miles (2nd)
- Josh Peterson, 9:16 – 59+ Miles (3rd)
Photo by Lance Andre
Photos by Julie Shockey
Bicyclist Required to get a Bike License?
1-18-2008
Iowa State Senator John Putney proposed a bill to the state Legislature on Monday that would require all bicyclists, adults and children, who ride on primary or secondary roads to have a bicyclist's license. The License would cost $10 and be valid for 5 years. Exeptions include RAGBRAI, out of state riders, and any specifically designated bike paths. If you are caught riding without your license, you could pay a fine of up to $100.
Personally, I am not a fan of the idea. Why would the state propose anything to hinder bicycling? What other ramifications can come from this? I'll be following this story and updating as more information comes available.
See News Stories by clicking on the links below.
http://www.kcci.com/politics/15064268/detail.html
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/13847217.html
Click Here to see the Actual Legislative Bill
Highlights from the Actual Bill
Section 1. Section 321.236, subsection 10, Code Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
10. Regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of the same, including the requirement of a registration fee.
"License" means a privilege granted by the department to ride or operate a bicycle.
Except as otherwise provided in paragraph "b", a person shall not operate or ride a bicycle on a primary or secondary road, including bicycle lanes, without first obtaining a license and paying a ten dollar license fee.
Paragraph b. A license issued pursuant to this section shall not be required: (1) To ride or operate a bicycle on a municipal street. (2) To ride or operate a bicycle on a designated bicycle path. (3) To participate in a race or event of more than thirty participants where one of the primary activities of the race or event is riding or operating a bicycle. (4) To ride or operate a bicycle as a participant of a parade.6. A person riding or operating a bicycle on a primary or secondary road shall show the person's license to any peace officer when requested by the peace officer to do so. A failure to carry or refusal to show or exhibit the person's license is a violation of this subsection. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 4, paragraph "d". Upon the conviction of a person under this subsection, the person's license shall be revoked by the department. Upon revocation of a license the department or a license agent shall not grant the person a new license for a period of one year. However, a person charged with violating this subsection shall not be convicted if the person produces in court, prior to the court date indicated on the citation, a license issued to the person and valid when the person was charged with a violation of this subsection.
Trout Run Trail Progress
01-15-2008
This is the third Bridge I've seen added to the Trout Run Trail. It is less than a mile from the Fish Hatchery. As you can see, this is no small project and a lot of locals are very excited to ride it.Bike Decorah Goes Live!
Jan. 3, 2008
Bikedecorah.com goes live! Keep checking for information on DHPT, Trout Run Trail, and other bike events in the Decorah Area. Also, Check out the Bikedecorah blog.
Got a News Story?
If you know of Bike News in the area and think it should be on bikedecorah.com, please let me know. Send an e-mail to jes@bikedecorah.com with a short description of the story and I'll check it out.
Decorah Events
Time Trials
Summer Sizzler
2007 Cancelled
2008 August 10th
Big Wheeled Ballyhoo
Night Shift
2008 TBA
Bike Decorah
Decorah, IA 52101
United States
ph: 563-419-1548
jes
