43 replies to this topic

[johnnymac]

Rode the course today. Have to say it was a lot of fun, and a lot different than your typical St.Louis type of terrain. As Mark stated, be ready for rocks, and some fresh cut trail, but this didn't detract from the fun of the course. Course seemed to flow well, and you could tell that there had been some serious work put into cutting and marking trail. Big thanks to Mark for getting the arrows up and getting the word out so we could pre-ride it. Very cool.

I can't speak for everybody, but I would say that the faster lap times will be around 40-45 mins or so, maybe a touch slower or faster either way.

[mgrumke]

jfp, on 07 June 2012 - 09:16 PM, said:

Mark what are you guessing lap times are going to look like?

John,
Look at last years results and lap times. This year will be nearly the same. Race was in March last year with softer course and same mileage. Lap times will be within a couple of min of last year.
You're times will probably be a course record!

[mgrumke]

johnnymac, on 07 June 2012 - 10:24 PM, said:

Rode the course today. Have to say it was a lot of fun, and a lot different than your typical St.Louis type of terrain. As Mark stated, be ready for rocks, and some fresh cut trail, but this didn't detract from the fun of the course. Course seemed to flow well, and you could tell that there had been some serious work put into cutting and marking trail. Big thanks to Mark for getting the arrows up and getting the word out so we could pre-ride it. Very cool.

I can't speak for everybody, but I would say that the faster lap times will be around 40-45 mins or so, maybe a touch slower or faster either way.

Thanks for the kind words. We.will have the course so much better by race time your lap times should stop a few minutes. Have people burning in the course today and tomorrow on mc and mowing and triming sat and Sun. We really dig this stuff!

[mgrumke]

Finished another day of mowing and trimming. Saw some UFD riders out preriding today. Also had a bit of MC traffic on the trail to blow off the remaining leaves etc...
Course is marked, mile markers up and near race ready. Looks like things are going to remain hard packed and fast. Rain next week would be good.
All rocks and roots appear to be in their regular places and dont look like they are leaving soon. Id suggest running what ever pressure you consider flat resistant.

This is going to be the fastest and best the course has ever been.

[rhadrj]

Still out on family vacation this weekend so will miss Warsaw.  But looking forward to St. Joes.  It is by far my favorite race of the year as it offers everything.  Techical sections, fast sections and good climbs.   And who can forget going through the Drainage Tunnel.

Here is video from a couple years ago for your viewing pleasure
https://vimeo.com/10166659

[jfm]

If you've never done one of Mr. Grumke's races... do it!   If you have done one of Mr. Grumke's races... do it again.  He lays out a super fun course and goes above and beyond to make the whole day a fun time for one and all.  

St. Joe State Park or "Flat River" as many of us know it by has a rich heritage of two wheel racing and riding as does  Mr. Gumke so be it known that all the bases will be covered with this man at the helm.

Edited by jfm, 10 June 2012 - 07:33 AM.

[bulldog]

rhadrj, on 10 June 2012 - 06:58 AM, said:

Still out on family vacation this weekend so will miss Warsaw.  But looking forward to St. Joes.  It is by far my favorite race of the year as it offers everything.  Techical sections, fast sections and good climbs.   And who can forget going through the Drainage Tunnel.

Here is video from a couple years ago for your viewing pleasure
https://vimeo.com/10166659

Thanks for the video Bob. If I can make this great race venue. I plan on bringing my 29r for sure!

[mgrumke]

jfm, on 10 June 2012 - 07:29 AM, said:

If you've never done one of Mr. Grumke's races... do it!   If you have done one of Mr. Grumke's races... do it again.  He lays out a super fun course and goes above and beyond to make the whole day a fun time for one and all.  

St. Joe State Park or "Flat River" as many of us know it by has a rich heritage of two wheel racing and riding as does  Mr. Gumke so be it known that all the bases will be covered with this man at the helm.

Thanks for the vote of confidence JFM. We like doing this race and have fun getting the course in order. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

[bikerdad]

My Dad and I rode at Leadbelt yesterday. The course is in amazing conditon. Mr. Grumke and his crew have done a lot of hard work.  My dad did much better this time keeping up with me until he flatted out at the 6 mile marker. Because i was so far ahead of him, I didn't realize he had a flat. I rode to the truck with our only spare tube and waited for him. Looking foward to the race Sunday. Maddie

[shill]

Does this course have sharp tire piercing rocks like last weekend? Just need to know what tires to run.

Scott

[mgrumke]

shill, on 12 June 2012 - 10:01 AM, said:

Does this course have sharp tire piercing rocks like last weekend? Just need to know what tires to run.

Scott

I can't speak to last weekends course. I can tell you that certain sections of Sundays course have a lot of rock. One of the nice things about thus course is the changing trail conditions throughout a lap.
See you Sunday.

[Kracko]

mgrumke, on 05 June 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

Kracko, on 05 June 2012 - 02:58 PM, said:

Mark,


I havent raced at St Joe since 1989,  Can you post directions to the trail head and a general guide for the race course?  Thanks

Sure can.

Race signup, start and finish is at The Pim Day Use Area, just inside the park HQ/Entrance. The blue arrows can be seen in the woods at the very end of the upper portion of the parking lot. If you have ridden the Leadbelt before these arrows are in a different location. Literally go straight off the top end of the parking lot and a bit to the left.

Directions from St. Louis, I55 south to Hwy 67 south (exit 174B) to Hwy 32 west; go 2.8 miles to left turn on Pimmville road, Brown DNR park signage. Go 2 miles to park entrance. Parking in gravel lot across the road from signup and start.

Race course is 8 miles in length (give a tenth or two). It is almost all single track through typical missouri hardwoods, creek bottoms and open savanah. One longer climb while approaching mile marker 5. There are of course rocks, roots, dirt, sand, gravel and yes more rocks. The course gets little to no ussage between events so under and over growth is always a job to cut back. We are working hard to do so, this weekend being a major work time for us. We have also incorporated some new routes that will improve the course. Corners will be ribboned and additional course markings such as mile markers will be up on race day.

Flier here, http://www.unitedind...leadbelt-XC.pdf

So the course will run counter clockwise? I assume by verring to the left at the top of the hill that is the course direction, I'll be preriding tomorrow about 11 if anyone wants to meet up....

[mgrumke]

Kracko, on 14 June 2012 - 06:36 AM, said:

mgrumke, on 05 June 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

Kracko, on 05 June 2012 - 02:58 PM, said:

Mark,


I havent raced at St Joe since 1989,  Can you post directions to the trail head and a general guide for the race course?  Thanks

Sure can.

Race signup, start and finish is at The Pim Day Use Area, just inside the park HQ/Entrance. The blue arrows can be seen in the woods at the very end of the upper portion of the parking lot. If you have ridden the Leadbelt before these arrows are in a different location. Literally go straight off the top end of the parking lot and a bit to the left.

Directions from St. Louis, I55 south to Hwy 67 south (exit 174B) to Hwy 32 west; go 2.8 miles to left turn on Pimmville road, Brown DNR park signage. Go 2 miles to park entrance. Parking in gravel lot across the road from signup and start.

Race course is 8 miles in length (give a tenth or two). It is almost all single track through typical missouri hardwoods, creek bottoms and open savanah. One longer climb while approaching mile marker 5. There are of course rocks, roots, dirt, sand, gravel and yes more rocks. The course gets little to no ussage between events so under and over growth is always a job to cut back. We are working hard to do so, this weekend being a major work time for us. We have also incorporated some new routes that will improve the course. Corners will be ribboned and additional course markings such as mile markers will be up on race day.

Flier here, http://www.unitedind...leadbelt-XC.pdf

So the course will run counter clockwise? I assume by verring to the left at the top of the hill that is the course direction, I'll be preriding tomorrow about 11 if anyone wants to meet up....

Course runs clockwise. as long as you are following the blue arrows you are all good. Course starts at the top of the parking lot, straight off the blacktop. You will see a few arrows right there getting you into the woods.

[rhadrj]

Do I get a special headstart if it is my birthday and fathers day?  Well technically speaking my birthday is tomorrow, but i'll take any special treatment I can get.

[Kracko]

Post pre-race recon...This course is a blast, 8 miles of supa fast, fun trails, Mark and crew have really has put alot of time and effort into trail prep, Lets reward him with a great turn out.  Its 66 miles from Kirkwood and right at 1 hour travel time.

See you Sunday,