Two of the team took a road trip to Emporia, Kansas, to participate in the inaugural La Grind two day stage race. It was hilly, windy, dusty and hot – everything you’d want a gravel event to be!
There’s a lot of empty out there!
The best-stocked hydration stop we’d ever seen – down to someone holding your bike while a second person fills your bottles, and a third person hands you ice cold pickle juice!
The road goes on … forever?
Adding a tube in the middle of nowhere – that flint gravel is sharp.
Another fine gravel grinder put on by the folks at Capital City Racing. Jani and John managed the full 66 miles, while Gary and Tony cut the course to put in 45 miles on this hot day.
475 riders registered for this legendary event, one of the longest-running Central Texas gravel grinders, and also the team’s Fifth birthday. Many bailed after the first loop due to temperatures just above freezing, but a good time was had by (mostly) everyone.
Gravel season is well under way in Central Texas, and a handful of us made an early start to get down to Leesville, Texas. The first 33 mile lap was fun, but it really got hot out there – over 90 F bouncing off the caliche! Jani went on to do the second 33 mile lap, and reported back that it was brutal. John and I met Mike and Deb under the beer tent, and enjoyed a couple of cold ones.
TIPAR racers from Austin and San Angelo joined up for a solid weekend of racing and merry-making. Two podium positions, and congrats to Lucie for taking the #2 spot in the State Champs!
The organizers of the Castell Grind have set up an Individual Time Trial along the sandy Keyserville Rd portion of the Castell Grind 50km and 100km routes. Three of us stopped off on the way to Comfort to give it a shot. Dry conditions, loose sand, and a decent headwind made it challenging but still a lot of fun. As always, the post-ride burgers at the General Store were excellent!
Our San Angelo crew hit up the Fort Davis Cycle Fest this past weekend. On the first day they rode the scenic loop around the Guadalupe Mountain Range, a total of 55 miles. The second day, they rode up Mount Locke to the McDonnell Observatory, 7 miles of climbing with 1.5 miles at 17% grade. Nice work, fellers, and thanks to the support crew!
… but not for Team IPA! It’s furnace time in Central Texas, and the team has been out and about, across the US and beyond.
Hoss and Paulette kicked the summer off with a mighty 6,000 mile round trip to Oregon, joined by Karen when they were up there.
Meanwhile Angela and Amy rode 49 miles from Bentonville to Fayetteville AR on the Razorback Greenway, and then caught a bus back to Bentonville.
STB took off and rode the St. Joseph Gran Gravel 500 in East Texas, finishing in 2 days, 23.5 hours.
Earlier in the summer, The Sheilas had headed for Canada to participate in the year’s Tour Divide, making it well into the US before being forced to retire due to illness. A great experience, nonetheless!
Young Carrie headed for Iowa and rode this year’s Ragbrai!
Here’s a video Ed Rivas posted from Keystone … enduro, brah!
Meanwhile, the San Angelo chapter hopped on their gravel bikes and rode the Cactus & Crude MS150, from Midland to Lamesa to Lubbock.
Molly and Don raced the Telluride 100, and Brian was there to course marshal.
Good times — and it’s only the beginning of August! Stay tuned for pictures from Monarch Crest!
A strong turnout by the Austin and San Angelo chapters of Team IPA Racing for a great weekend of riding, revelry, and range firing at this increasingly popular annual event. Two podium finishes – congrats to Don Smith (competed in both riding and running events) and to Kyle Poole, and also to Marlon Miller for a really strong effort.
