Rides and Races - Race Idea

A friend and I are planning to put on a road race/ride and I'm looking for feedback/ideas.

Tenitively called the Almanzo 100, it will start in Rochester, MN and end in Mankato, MN. Approx length should be about 100 miles. We want to focus it on fixed/singlespeed riders but maybe offer an "open" class for geared riders.

We are thinking of having about 3 or 4 checkpoints where riders will need to pick up cue-sheets to the next checkpoint.

I guess what I'm wondering is: should we have this "open" class? Or is there enough fixed & singlespeed road riders to keep it closed off? And should we include a little bit of gravel road to make things interesting?

Anyone have any other thoughts, ideas or even if think this is stupid? If you want, you can also visit our board and chime in there. Rochester Alleycat (http://tribes.tribe.net/alleycat). There's two threads about it started titled Mankato and Almanzo 100.

Thanks.

there are plenty of fixed and ss riders in most places (can't speak for mn but i wouldn't be surprised).

people who are willing to do a century fixed or ss are a little more rare. it's your race, if you've got the interest then restrict it however you want. all of the rides i organize are "open" but that's just my style.

I guess I just wonder if having an "open' class will scare away the fixed riders. And given the option, would a fixed rider still choose a fixedgear if they can race a geared bike?

dude a century? that's ****ing harsh. you're talking a minimum of a 5 hour race. i held a race that went from boston to providence that fixies and roadies both raced. it was 45-50 miles and it took the fastest rider (who was on a road bike) 2 and a half hours and he is one fast mother ****er. everyone would need to bring at least 2-4 tubes plus tools, tons of water and a few snacks.

i'm sure there are some riders out there who'd be down for it, but i can't say i would, and i love racing

We are totally looking to really challange riders. This is more of a classic road race than an alleycat. Similar in concept to Trans Iowa (http://www.transiowa.blogspot.com/), but on the road and not as far. And mainly for fixed and singlespeed riders.

We are totally looking to really challange riders. This is more of a classic road race than an alleycat. Similar in concept to Trans Iowa (http://www.transiowa.blogspot.com/), but on the road and not as far. And mainly for fixed and singlespeed riders.

If you want people to ride ss/fixed, then make a ss/fixed catagory with better prizes (if you have prizes).
Geared riders have a pretty big advantage over a 100mile road race, particularly if you have hills/wind.

The casual riders who make up the bulk of most races will probably not turn out, so the field will be pretty small.

If you want people to ride ss/fixed, then make a ss/fixed catagory with better prizes.
I think we may do this. Plus I don't want the geared riders working for any fixed riders, so maybe we'll start them 5 minutes earlier or something.

thanks.

Are you going to have a bus to shuttle people back to the starting point? Seems like you'll be having everyone ride 200 miles rather than your planned 100...

Are you going to have a bus to shuttle people back to the starting point? Seems like you'll be having everyone ride 200 miles rather than your planned 100...
Hmm.... You bring up a good point. Is it cruel to leave it up to the riders to figure out thier own way back? Heh-heh. Hmm... Not sure about that part of it?

Hmm.... You bring up a good point. Is it cruel to leave it up to the riders to figure out thier own way back? Heh-heh. Hmm... Not sure about that part of it?

If you have sequential checkpoints the riders have to visit in order, then you can make the route a loop.
Otherwise, try to look for some kind of public transport.

Report had it that the train back up after the boston-providence race was a good time.