There seems to be Randonneuring on pavement, and ultra distance off road, but what about just plain old Dirt Road? Is there anything out there that encourages long distance dirt road riding? I have a 200k permanent I am riding next week through some fairly remote forest in Northern Arizona. I am curious to know if there is anything else like it out there, or perhaps even longer? Any crazy long remote dirt road events out there for bikes that aren't necessarily suspended but also don't have crazy skinny tires either?

Seems like AZ would be the perfect state for exploring the back roads on a CX bike.

C&O Canal finishing in DC is about 180 miles of dirt/gravel ex-tow path.

train safe-

C&O Canal finishing in DC is about 180 miles of dirt/gravel ex-tow path.

train safe-

Nice. Anyone hold any events such as brevets or permanents on it?

i believe a 600k out here later this summer will include some dirt/gravel sections, but probably not longer than 50 km or so.

i'd be interested in exploring off-road and some forest-service roads if i had 32's - but my wimpy 23/25 combo i'm running now wouldn't work.. sounds like fun tho.

i believe a 600k out here later this summer will include some dirt/gravel sections, but probably not longer than 50 km or so.

i'd be interested in exploring off-road and some forest-service roads if i had 32's - but my wimpy 23/25 combo i'm running now wouldn't work.. sounds like fun tho. When I rode The Deerfield (http://newhorizonsbikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=347) a couple of years ago, I saw a few cyclocross racers on 25s and 28s. It's certainly possible to ride some groomed fire roads on skinnies. It's the stuff with tree roots and boulders that tend to require fatter tires.

The Boston 600k also has three dirt road segments, and I've seen guys take those sections with 23s, no problem.

My recent training rides for my permanent next week I tried slicks but found that with steep descents and climbs even on fire roads the fatter tires increased my speed due to better control and thereby not having to slow down so much to stay in control. On flatter road skinny tires come into their own. Incidentally, above 9% grade on dirt spins your tires out if you stand up even with Knobbies :) . Seated though I pulled more than 15% last week on one climbalicious hill and people were cheering me on like it was the alp d'huez.

When I rode The Deerfield (http://newhorizonsbikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=347) a couple of years ago, I saw a few cyclocross racers on 25s and 28s. It's certainly possible to ride some groomed fire roads on skinnies. It's the stuff with tree roots and boulders that tend to require fatter tires.

The Boston 600k also has three dirt road segments, and I've seen guys take those sections with 23s, no problem.

Ah, the D2R2, some day I will have the time, strength and guts.

I ride quite a bit on dirt here in N VT - on 28's as I like to keep my fenders on. (I'll also get out for shorter rides on my fixed cross bike with knobby 32's. Descents can be tricky on the 28s - but once I got comfortable with my bike I find the shadow / pothole problem from tree lined routes to be more trouble than the actual road surface... I'm always sketchy as to what can swallow my wheel. Climbing is interesting on the loose stuff - most compacted dirt is fine on 28s and even on my 25s - there is a stretch of road here that tops out at 13-15% and its all dirt. We road it 2 weeks ago and everyone stayed in the saddle till the very top - probably do-able out of the saddle - but we were also at the tail end of a ride. Another local road is 15%, switchbacked, and loose gravel / sand / dirt - I stood up for about .5 seconds, realized it was a bad idea, then dropped as many gears as I could to keep moving forward... :)

I have a few permanents mapped out here in VT - should be able to submit them after some friends and I pre-ride them in late summer. I've been working out 2 versions of nearly the same rides - on stays on all pave - the other mixes in the dirt for a good portion of the 200k.

A small group I ride with are planning (and registered) for the short course on the D2R2. Looking forward to it!

I often ride 100 - 150 km, 80/90% of them on dirt roads, on a MTB with 1.5 slicks and rigid fork.

Some of us who ride in Marin, Ca. regularly do what we call "mixed terrain" rides (http://bike.duque.net/mixed-love-hurts.htm) -- partially on pavement, partially on fire roads/trails in the Marin Headlands and Mt. Tam. All of us who do them ride in local brevets, but there hasn't been enough interest from enough riders to hold an official brevet.

The guy who has created most of the routes we use recently submitted a 200K route to RUSA as a permanent, but it has yet to be approved. We'll be riding it in mid-July on an informal basis. Experiments so far suggest that making the controls in time will be a challenge -- the route has around 12,000 - 14,000 feet of climbing, with most of that off-road.

I do them on a rigid MTB, but others do them on cyclocross and road bikes.

Here's some pics from a recent ride:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2411223170_a7bca21411_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2410395131_230c7efff7_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2410392831_cf6c3c0060_o.jpg

Did an 83 mile ride this Sunday AM, 70% on dirt, 3800 feet of climbing on rural, dirt and gravel roads, grade peaking @ 13%. I rode the IF on 28s, and was joined by an A Homer Hilson on 650b 32s and a classic Raleigh 650b conversion with albatross bars, Nexus 8 and wide tires... (pics are from a scouting ride the week before) Many of these roads are part of a series of RUSA permanents I'm working on. This may get stitched into my 200k - but I was thinking with some editing it would be a wonderful 'populaire' at about 100k. (eliminating some extra riding we did in and out of town and for lunch...)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SEPfxemE1YI/AAAAAAAAEzk/yGgUefpgli0/s800/IMG_4905.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SEPf0umE1ZI/AAAAAAAAEzs/BlucTPFItcQ/s800/IMG_4911.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SEPfuOmE1XI/AAAAAAAAEzc/roZvk-ejkGU/s800/IMG_4903.JPG

I did my longest solo ride ever this weekend- 75 mles on my cross bike with 32c street tires and fenders.
~37 miles out the C&O Canal path (packed dirt/gravel) from DC, ferry to Leesburg, and back in on the W&OD Trail (paved).

In September, there's a 2-day ride down the length of the C&O Canal (185mi) to raise money for Alzheimer's.

I seem to remember there was something called the "FAT TIRE" 200k brevet in North West Florida area(?) that I thought was all dirt or lots of dirt...

Seems like a pretty cool ride: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=418897

I met Dave on a recent trip to Flagstaff and Sedona mountain biking. Really nice guy.

Not a brevet kinda guy but I do have to chime in in favor of "mixed terrain" in general. I once mapped out a route across Oklahoma, NW to SE, almost entirely gravel/dirt roads. On my local routes I always throw a little gravel or singletrack or both in.

And I like to point out to the skinny tire crowd, a gravel road is still a road, and that's a road bike you're on, so let's go.

.

I am doing my permanent on Friday, will post some pics and blog on Saturday. Nice pics from the Flagstaff guy. Takes me back to when I lived there.

Creaky, care to share that route? Curious minds would like to know. PM me if you'd prefer.

Zagnut

In September, a couple of friends and I are going to do the C&O towpath (unsupported) in a day. I've done the towpath a couple of times before on 2 day trips, but always wanted to do the whole thing in a day. This spring, I decided that this was the year. I hope to cover the 189 miles in 14 hours. I use a cross bike with semi-slick 32s. I've made it a mission to try to find dirt roads in the area and try to string as many of them together as possible. I love the dirt roads! Maybe next year I will try the Deerfield Dirt Road Rondonee.

This guy is doing it on a fixed mtb.

http://origin.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_9458980

Well, here is my ride report on the 200k permanent I did Friday.

http://randocommute.blogspot.com/2008/06/out-of-time-hutzpah-and-water.html

There are 3 long distance races in Iowa and Minnesota each spring on gravel courses.

http://transiowa.blogspot.com/ (345 miles this year)

http://www.ragnarok105.blogspot.com/ (105 miles)

http://almanzo100.blogspot.com/ (100 miles)

All 3 are races, but most people are riding just to finish within the time limits. This year all 3 events were free.

C&O Canal finishing in DC is about 180 miles of dirt/gravel ex-tow path.

train safe-

Lot more than 180 if you count the GAP tral that completes Cumberland to McKeesport. That plugs another 160 or so to the 183 for the C&O

Paul L, other than outfitted tours, I've seen no events on it. Not to say there aren't, but the C&O is National Park Service property, and that may be a factor also.

-Roger

We have lots of dirt roads. Check out this ride. http://flinthillsdeathride.com/

Constantrider: we do not have views like that in Kansas. We do have plenty of wheat, corn, and cows though.

Well, here is my ride report on the 200k permanent I did Friday.

http://randocommute.blogspot.com/2008/06/out-of-time-hutzpah-and-water.html

Read your report...Sounds like a great ride.

Read your report...Sounds like a great ride.

Thanks. I felt more drained after that ride than most 300k's I have done. It was worth it though.

I ride quite a bit on dirt here in N VT - on 28's as I like to keep my fenders on. (I'll also get out for shorter rides on my fixed cross bike with knobby 32's. Descents can be tricky on the 28s - but once I got comfortable with my bike I find the shadow / pothole problem from tree lined routes to be more trouble than the actual road surface... I'm always sketchy as to what can swallow my wheel. Climbing is interesting on the loose stuff - most compacted dirt is fine on 28s and even on my 25s - there is a stretch of road here that tops out at 13-15% and its all dirt. We road it 2 weeks ago and everyone stayed in the saddle till the very top - probably do-able out of the saddle - but we were also at the tail end of a ride. Another local road is 15%, switchbacked, and loose gravel / sand / dirt - I stood up for about .5 seconds, realized it was a bad idea, then dropped as many gears as I could to keep moving forward... :)

I have a few permanents mapped out here in VT - should be able to submit them after some friends and I pre-ride them in late summer. I've been working out 2 versions of nearly the same rides - on stays on all pave - the other mixes in the dirt for a good portion of the 200k.

A small group I ride with are planning (and registered) for the short course on the D2R2. Looking forward to it!

********
I rode the short course in 06 and 07 and am signed up again this year. Yesterday I rode most of the course and have to say it is in really good shape! I am sure you will do well with the 28's or maybe even 25's but the steep gravel down hills might give you some cause to take it slower than if you run 30-35mm cross tires.
You are right about the shadows and pot-holes though! Also there are some big ditches on the sides of some of those rural lanes.

I missed Hawks road last year and went to the bottom of the hill by the country club before climbing back up to get on Hawks road. Finally finished in 5:46 I think. It was a very hot and humid day and am glad I wasn't on the 100+ miler!!!

I should be riding a light blue Cannondale R8OO Sport road (headshok) with straight bars and CX tires...Hope to see you and Good Luck!

Gary

There is a Canada tp Mexico off-road race each year. Get a set of route instructions and you will hve plenty of off road riding. Most of the dirt roads around here are on private land. The old stage route between Hopland and Lake County is a long steady climb of a dirt route open to the public.

********
I rode the short course in 06 and 07 and am signed up again this year. Yesterday I rode most of the course and have to say it is in really good shape! I am sure you will do well with the 28's or maybe even 25's but the steep gravel down hills might give you some cause to take it slower than if you run 30-35mm cross tires.
You are right about the shadows and pot-holes though! Also there are some big ditches on the sides of some of those rural lanes.

I missed Hawks road last year and went to the bottom of the hill by the country club before climbing back up to get on Hawks road. Finally finished in 5:46 I think. It was a very hot and humid day and am glad I wasn't on the 100+ miler!!!

I should be riding a light blue Cannondale R8OO Sport road (headshok) with straight bars and CX tires...Hope to see you and Good Luck!

Gary

sounds great! i did a 300k last weekend... hoping to hit some dirt this weekend for a tune up... and then i'll be watching the weather. i'll probably ride the 32s.

doing the 100k route this year. considered the long version but i might be heading down in the morning and back to BTV in the evening after the ride.

Nice. Anyone hold any events such as brevets or permanents on it?

There is the Tour de Canal (http://www.alz.org/nca/in_my_community_10403.asp).

Dirty Kanza
http://www.heartlandrace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=36

L'Eroica - Italy
http://www.eroica.it/

Julian Death March (MTB, but won by Cx biker last two years)
http://www.julianactive.com/Julian7500.htm

Iron Cross - PA
http://www.yellowbreechesracing.org/ironcross/

PEE - Phoenix
http://phxee.blogspot.com/

3 Peaks - UK
http://3pcx.blogspot.com/

Good Life Gravel Adventure
http://piratecyclingleague.blogspot.com/2008/07/date-set-for-good-life-gravel-adventure.html

Kiabab Monstercross
http://kaibabmonstercross.blogspot.com/

San Ysidro Dirty Century
http://nmes.wordpress.com/nmes-bragging-rights/2008-bragging-rights/1-san-ysidro-dirty-century/


SIR has run an off pavement populaire in the past, I think.

Our local folks are always throwing together 40 to 80 mile rides that string as much gravel together as we can find around here. Here is the next one: http://ridelugged.com/2008/08/17/august-scramble-sunday-the-31st/

Sweet thread! I'm in the process of getting my crosscheck setup as a gravel-capable randonneur :thumb:

next weekend. (http://littlecircles.blogspot.com/2008/09/stitching.html) not sure on the distance but i think we are working towards the 90 mile version.

Had a great long(ish) distance dirt/pavement ride yesterday, in the DC area.

From my house in Arlington, rode into Gtown, and then out MacArthur Blvd past Great Falls, to River Road. Took River Road all the way out to White's Ferry. Once you hit a certain spot, west of Great Falls, River Road becomes much more rural, no curbs, etc. There's even a few dirt roads you can swap onto. At White's Ferry, after the slowest cooked grilled cheese sandwich ever, I hopped on the C&O Canal and rode that back to Georgetown and home. The weather was perfect and it was a great 77 mile ride, though if I'd thought ahead about it, I'd have hopped back off the canal and onto the roads at Great Falls, due to the sheer hordes of people out walking.

We did 75~ miles, mostly on quiet dirt roads and country lanes and even a stretch that resembled jeep trail in the woods.

Some highlights:

Nearing a pond, creek, and beaver ponds -
http://lh5.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOkmvVYe-BI/AAAAAAAAGII/mcwzRu7X3H8/s800/IMG_6352.JPG

We saw deer, cows, sheep, rednecks, horses mountains, a pileated woodpecker (cartoon kind!), and amazing fall colors -
http://lh6.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOknKTufbuI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/uzIeFAWxwvw/s800/IMG_6368.JPG

...and punkins...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOknOw1eiSI/AAAAAAAAGKE/IS5USqcNh1k/s800/IMG_6370.JPG

more cows
http://lh5.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOknl5sYcrI/AAAAAAAAGLM/VeBTppEczhY/s800/IMG_6383.JPG


i wasn't feeling so great... was the last of the bunch, all day... and struggled to get in. cold. clammy.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOknw-okKdI/AAAAAAAAGL4/7d-cWuv7Sro/s800/IMG_6388.JPG

mt. mansfield... we climbed about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up the notch on parallel dirt roads, then crossed over to the ridge next door to the underhill side... on a single lane dirt road that went on for ever (and had a brutal 18% wall at the start after a switchback turn!)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOkoZRfHTAI/AAAAAAAAGN8/O0Bl0__L710/s800/IMG_6413.JPG

and then dumped into the valley only to climb halfway to the next ridge and paralleled the mountain...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOkomOdZzaI/AAAAAAAAGOs/q_mJ886zwZE/s800/IMG_6421.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOkosoJ4aNI/AAAAAAAAGPI/LxrWhI7CpYg/s800/IMG_6424.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOkovWdZfoI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/0Pk3thNT4YY/s800/IMG_6425.JPG


thats the adks over there, heading back into town. cold and clammy, with little wind. body is still adjusting to the cooler temps... i was beat.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/mike.beganyi/SOko2lntPWI/AAAAAAAAGPw/kx7mmAJYVJQ/s800/IMG_6430.JPG