Pony Xpress Gravel 160 (PX160) - Trinidad, CO - May 18th 2019

I registered for this - my first gravel race and first bike race ever. Anyone else doing it? I've been reading as much as I can regarding tips, tricks, training, etc. Any suggestions would be welcome. I'll be riding a Cannondale Topstone. I'm not looking to win anything, just looking to gain some experience. Perhaps I'll go for the full 160k next year.

I am doing the 160 and it's so hard to get information that 2 days prior I'm not even sure it's happening. It's not a tight ship. Listed emails to Phil and Saddles at Koobi bounce back to me. I called and left a voicemail earlier today, but if I die out there I may never be found.

Hahaha. It's kinda odd, isn't it? It's still going on. I'd sent an email to Phil recently about the 85k route map, and he responded with a detailed response (plus a pic of the map). But he did miss a question I asked about GPS (oh well, not a big deal).

I figured if it doesn't happen, I'll do the ride anyway, haha.

See ya there!

Edit: Here's the email from Phil:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Phil <phil_koobisaddles@msn.com>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2019 at 11:42 AM
Subject: RE: PX160 85K GPX File or Map Route?
To: <redacted>

Greetings From Pony Xpress Gravel 160 .

 85K Navigation question .

  There are several options available to navigate 85 K course .

 1^st option. We will have paper maps available at the start .

2^nd option.  The course is marked with paper arrows stapled to fence posts , utility poles , etc. . If you ride with your head up you will see these .160 K course is black arrows . 85 k course is red arrows . Arrows are only when the course turns.

 3^rd option. The 85 k course is on the 160 K course till about the 37 mile point . At about the 37 mile point  both courses have completed a loop . At this point the 85K course turns back towards the start . This is returning on to the same road you were riding on . The 85 k course is a Lolli pop shape . So at this 37 mile point , the 85 k returns back onto the road you were traveling earlier . The 160K breaks away ,while the 85 k returns to start . Again think Lolli pop layout . At this intersection / as all intersections where the course turns/ there are arrows .

If you down load the 160K map to a GPS . You can follow it till about the 37 mile mark and then when you see the red arrows turning left and black arrow straight . You turn left back on to the road you travel earlier .

Attached is scanned copy of  85 K map that we will be handing out  . The actual map is in color & easier to read then this scanned copy .

 Phil

Thanks, encouraging!