The DAMn (Day Across Minnesota)

17 replies · 2,671 views

frontrangegravel
453 posts
#1Nov 26, 2016, 10:00 PM
This is the thread to share your info, pictures, questions, and anything else about The DAMn (The Day Across Minnesota).

Date: Saturday, August 5, 2017
Start: Gary, South Dakota
End: Hager City, Wisconsin
The DAMn website: http://the-damn.com/
The DAMn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedayacrossminnesota/

ABOUT:

LOGISTICS
Racers who attempt the 240 mile Day Across Minnesota gravel road bicycle race will start in Gary, South Dakota on Saturday August 5th 2017 as the clock strikes midnight. If they finish, they will finish no more than 24 hours later in Hager City, Wisconsin. This epic point-to-point adventure will require each racer to get themselves to the pre-race check-in on time, get themselves across the state of Minnesota by bicycle, and to get themselves home afterwards. *There are no shuttles and will be no on course support being provided by The DAMn.
The DAMn pre-race check-in will open at 6:00pm on Friday August 4th at the Buffalo Ridge Ballroom in Gary and will end promptly at 11:00pm. There will be a pre-race program from 11:00pm until 11:30pm. Afterwards, racers will gear up and head directly to the starting line. Checking in before 11:00pm and attending the pre-race program are both mandatory, so be there. The neutral roll-out happens promptly at midnight.
There will be 3 course check-points throughout the 240 mile day. Racers must make it to each check-point before the check-point cut-off time which will require racers to average a minimum of 10mph. If at any point throughout the day a racer does not make a check-point cut-off, they will not be given the means necessary to proceed.
These check-points will also contain neutral support zones for support crews if racers choose to bring one. Support can only be taken from crew members in the designated neutral support zones. This restriction will help keep our racers safer by having fewer vehicles on the course. Support can also be taken from fellow racers while on the course and from any establishment that a racer passes while on the course.
We understand and hope that the point-to-point logistics combined with the optional neutral support opportunity may increase the desire to car-pool and share support crews. Have a DAMn car? Need a DAMn crew? Post it here.
2
Bubba
7 posts
#2Nov 29, 2016, 9:24 PM
I am planning on doing this race and live in Austin.....Anyone else in SE MN riding this and want to figure out some ride sharing, car drop off etc?????
0
trippertim
104 posts
#3Nov 30, 2016, 11:58 AM
For someone from a completely different area, can anyone give some info on the terrain / gravel in the area? I'm considering making the trip as a destination race, but know nothing about the area's conditions. I've ridden gravel in the NW, SW and SE, but never plains or upper mid-west. I know the actual route has not been published, so no specifics are available (except maybe the few friends of the race director who apparently did a test ride a few weeks back), but in general are the backroads hilly or relatively flat?, is the gravel fine enough that it could be run on 33's or is it a rougher composition where 40mm+ tires would be beneficial? A quick google maps route start to finish only shows about 1500' of climbing, but I don't have any clue if side roads would be roughly the same, double that, triple that etc.

Either way, good luck to everybody who attempts this!

0
Bubba
7 posts
#4Dec 1, 2016, 5:43 PM
I haven't ridden the western part of the state but as you head east there are sections that do get hilly...usually any time you would hit a river valley. Around Mankato, Faribault/Northfield, Rochester there are some nice climbs (for the Midwest). Pretty sure there is a lot more than 1500' of climbing. a long day around Rochester you can get close to that. The Austin/ Albert Lea area is horribly flat. I don't know the course so it is hard to comment. As far as tires go, in my experience most of the gravel races I have done the road conditions are pretty much hard pack in the tire grooves and loose on the sides. All I use are 28mm T-Serv's. Nice and fast but they are at times a butt clincher if you drift off to the edge.
1
trippertim
104 posts
#5Dec 2, 2016, 7:35 AM
Thanks for the info Bubba. I know without the actual course, we are all just guessing at the actual terrain etc, but this gives me better general info on the area. I spent several summers in northern WI, and MN many years ago and drove lots of dirt roads there, but never in lower 1/3 of the state. The shortest route between the start and end points is ~210 miles according to Google, so that doesn't leave much room for heading south towards Albert Lea. I guess we'll have to wait and see how much pavement and singletrack he throws in.
0
Bubba
7 posts
#6Dec 2, 2016, 12:03 PM
The guy who put up the DAMn site also does Filthy 50. There is minimal pavement, no single track and plenty of hills. I would guess the DAMn would be similar. I am looking forward to this one. Here is the link for the Filthy.

http://the-filthy-50.com/
1
Rainman
3 posts
#7Dec 3, 2016, 3:13 PM
Bubba wrote:I haven't ridden the western part of the state but as you head east there are sections that do get hilly...usually any time you would hit a river valley. Around Mankato, Faribault/Northfield, Rochester there are some nice climbs (for the Midwest). Pretty sure there is a lot more than 1500' of climbing.

This was going to be my comment as I grew up in SE MN, but haven't spent much time west of Mankato. There has to be substantially more than 1500' of climbing. Many gravel roads have steeper grades than oil roads. It is going to be an asskicker the closer you get to the MN-WI border.

I suspect most of the gravel will be nicely crushed and drained limestone and not rock, class 5, or dirt that is wet and loose.

For those that are riding, do yourself a favor and spend a day or two in the Hiawatha Valley river bluffs once you finish. Red Wing, Frontenac State Park, Lake City, Wabasha, Pepin, etc are all gems. Lake City makes claim to the most beautiful spot on the Mississippi with fanstatic panaramic views, two piers, two large harbors, beaches, river walk.

Rainman
1
lookingforgravel
3 posts
#8Dec 21, 2016, 9:43 PM
Bubba wrote:I haven't ridden the western part of the state but as you head east there are sections that do get hilly...usually any time you would hit a river valley. Around Mankato, Faribault/Northfield, Rochester there are some nice climbs (for the Midwest). Pretty sure there is a lot more than 1500' of climbing. a long day around Rochester you can get close to that. The Austin/ Albert Lea area is horribly flat. I don't know the course so it is hard to comment. As far as tires go, in my experience most of the gravel races I have done the road conditions are pretty much hard pack in the tire grooves and loose on the sides. All I use are 28mm T-Serv's. Nice and fast but they are at times a butt clincher if you drift off to the edge.
0
lookingforgravel
3 posts
#9Dec 21, 2016, 9:45 PM
Plan on an excess of 6000 feet of climbing, most of it in the last 75 miles or so. The hills all start at about the 1/2 way point (Minnesota River Valley). It is a gorgeous area - highly recommend riding gravel through there, even if you choose to not do it in August.
2
Bumbleberger
13 posts
#10Dec 27, 2016, 1:16 PM
trippertim wrote:For someone from a completely different area, can anyone give some info on the terrain / gravel in the area? [...] in general are the backroads hilly or relatively flat?, is the gravel fine enough that it could be run on 33's or is it a rougher composition where 40mm+ tires would be beneficial?

Probably most of the gravel will be small to medium sized, well-packed limestone—but there could easily be dirt or glacial till MMRs thrown in. My plan is to run 36c MSOs, tubeless.

trippertim wrote:A quick google maps route start to finish only shows about 1500' of climbing, but I don't have any clue if side roads would be roughly the same, double that, triple that etc.

Google will show you the paved route, but the gravels would be much different. Considering there's the potential to cross both the west and east forks of the Minnesota, and that Red Wing is on the northern edge of the Driftless Area, I'm planning on 10,000+ feet of climbing (but would be happier with less.)
0
Lbc
33 posts
#11Jan 5, 2017, 4:06 PM
im registered and coming up from clear lake. Id be interested in figuring out logistics with interested parties. this is going to be a great time. If its anything close to the filthy50 be prepared for a well organized event.
0
hipsteronabike
24 posts
#12Feb 6, 2017, 2:02 PM
The entire region likes like a grid pastern of ~40 or 160 acre lots (I suck at sizes but they all look identical), it looks possible to get more than half way across the state on only one gravel road, this could either be a hindrance or make the entire ride drastically easier.
I'm shopping for a new bike and leaning towards something with Thru-Axles and ideally a 48-32/ 12-32 gearing. Next step is to choose frame material since three options I like are available in Carbon or aluminum.
0
Ebgravel
5 posts
#13Feb 15, 2017, 11:06 PM
Is there a wait or transfer list? \n
0
hipsteronabike
24 posts
#14May 1, 2017, 9:47 AM
There will be 3 course check-points throughout the 240 mile day. Racers must make it to each check-point before the check-point cut-off time which will require racers to average a minimum of 10mph. If at any point throughout the day a racer does not make a check-point cut-off, they will not be given the means necessary to proceed.

Does anybody know more information on this? I was hoping to use my GPS for navigation as I am unfortunately terrible with cue cards. I have a wahoo and can technically sync a route to it on the fly if I add the route on ridewithgps and set my phone up as an access point to sync with, but I'd prefer not to.

I also have questions about water, I'd prefer to be able to pick it up more than every 80 miles, that would be quite a lot of water to carry.
0
Lbc
33 posts
#15May 19, 2017, 5:38 AM
we'll get our first set of directions at check in. ea checkpoint if you make it in the allotted time will have your cards to the following checkpoint. There won't be a gpx file available pre race
0
Zurichman
1,526 posts
#16Jun 4, 2017, 7:05 AM
This ride looks like a blast good luck to all that are going to ride it this year.

Zman
0
AndyTetmeyer
8 posts
#17Jul 18, 2017, 11:38 AM
Need ride to the start of DAMN.
Can pay cash american dollars.

andy tetmeyer
hedtech@hedcycling.com
651 528 4021
0
Volsung
878 posts
#18Jan 21, 2018, 8:49 PM
Who's in for 2018?

I got my email but I'm having major knee surgery on Tuesday and am going to wait til my first PT appointment to see what my chances of racing this year are before I drop 95 bucks.
0

Related threads

Gravel MonumentsGravel Racing · 5 replies · Mar 27, 2017
Erie Canal Bike TrailMid Atlantic United States · 40 replies · Jul 5, 2022
Raleigh Roker Shipment questionsBikes · 65 replies · Jan 7, 2018
Texas??Central United States · 9 replies · Apr 19, 2017
2019 Michigan Coast to Coast Registration is OpenMichigan · 5 replies · Sep 1, 2018

LOGISTICS

Racers who attempt the 240 mile Day Across Minnesota gravel road bicycle race will start in Gary, South Dakota on Saturday August 5th 2017 as the clock strikes midnight. If they finish, they will finish no more than 24 hours later in Hager City, Wisconsin. This epic point-to-point adventure will require each racer to get themselves to the pre-race check-in on time, get themselves across the state of Minnesota by bicycle, and to get themselves home afterwards. *There are no shuttles and will be no on course support being provided by The DAMn.

The DAMn pre-race check-in will open at 6:00pm on Friday August 4th at the Buffalo Ridge Ballroom in Gary and will end promptly at 11:00pm. There will be a pre-race program from 11:00pm until 11:30pm. Afterwards, racers will gear up and head directly to the starting line. Checking in before 11:00pm and attending the pre-race program are both mandatory, so be there. The neutral roll-out happens promptly at midnight.

There will be 3 course check-points throughout the 240 mile day. Racers must make it to each check-point before the check-point cut-off time which will require racers to average a minimum of 10mph. If at any point throughout the day a racer does not make a check-point cut-off, they will not be given the means necessary to proceed.

These check-points will also contain neutral support zones for support crews if racers choose to bring one. Support can only be taken from crew members in the designated neutral support zones. This restriction will help keep our racers safer by having fewer vehicles on the course. Support can also be taken from fellow racers while on the course and from any establishment that a racer passes while on the course.

We understand and hope that the point-to-point logistics combined with the optional neutral support opportunity may increase the desire to car-pool and share support crews. Have a DAMn car? Need a DAMn crew? Post it here.

Related threads

Gravel MonumentsGravel Racing · 5 replies · Mar 27, 2017

Erie Canal Bike TrailMid Atlantic United States · 40 replies · Jul 5, 2022

Raleigh Roker Shipment questionsBikes · 65 replies · Jan 7, 2018

Texas??Central United States · 9 replies · Apr 19, 2017

2019 Michigan Coast to Coast Registration is OpenMichigan · 5 replies · Sep 1, 2018