Headquarters for the Slender Fungus Cycling Association

Headquarters for the Slender Fungus Cycling Association
Brewers of Hardy Rides.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Dirty Kanza 200 2011, Emporia, Kansas, USA

At the finish around 3am with unknown missouri man and Phil Ellsworth


Ari and Mark


My BMC after 215 miles of gravel


Some of the long hills in the Flint Hills area


Lots of double track


Early morning before the Sun went nuts



Nebraska crew. I was to finish with Aaron, third from Left. Thank you Aaron



Mark and Ari at 3rd checkpoint. Awesome Jim crewing


Second checkpoint. Very hot, nasty cramps. Turkey and cheese sandwiches, cokes, Tums, and 5 pickles with pickle juice cured it. I was really motivated to not give up. No matter what.


Ari, Jay and Mark at the start





Jay at checkpoint 2. "you are in a lot of pain"


Ari and Mark checkpoint 1


Checkpoint 2 my legs felt like they had been through a meat grinder


I wanted to put up a post sooner but it just became impossible. After completing the ride and having Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to recover it is just today that I am feeling better. I had a lot of muscle pain, my throat was destroyed, bad sunburn, and a real bad rear end.
Our trip there was fantastic. I had the Wife, my 8 year old girl and the 18 boy as my crew. We also met up with riding buddies Mark and Jay and there crew.
Race meeting was on Friday and the race started on Saturday at 6 a.m. We rode all day in the 100 degree heat. Made the first checkpoint at mile 58 and had already gone through about 180 oz of water. Then made it to the halfway at mile 100. I neglected to drink as much and cramped. Then on to mile 160 and I was feeling really good. That's after going through a storm, complete with lightning, hail, strong winds and no place to hide. Made it to checkpoint 3 around 930 pm and then took off to finish the 200 miles. Rode a strong race, and finished up at 215 am with Aaron from the Nebraska crew. Out of 290 starters only 65 finished. I was in 55th position and in the mens open I finished in 36th place. I have so much more to say about all this put it is just not coming out. Maybe in the future I will be able to put it in words. It was truly amazing and I must say that I slayed a lot of demons and rode as hard as a could. Good organization on our part, bikes were perfect, hydration was awesome. Thanks to my family for dealing with this and to good friends Mark, Jay, Jill and Jim for being so awesome. Dirty Kanza was a great event and I hope to participate again.
best,

Ari

Link to Dirty Kanza photos on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20897064@N02/sets/72157626926001964/
Link

8 comments:

rex said...

Great job Ari!! Truly a remarkable achievement.

Unknown said...

You rock, Ari! Way to go, buddy! So impressive.

Ari said...

Thanks Rex and Jeremy. Rocked out to Techno and fought off evil demons the whole way. I think it's more mental than anything.
ari

Dr. Giggles said...

Outstanding ride, Straight Shot!!!! Demons be gone!!!! Techno get's you where you want to go every time. I couldn't be more proud of you.

Anonymous said...

Ari,

Had a great time with you, Jay, Mark, Alex and the Ladies even though I didn't get to ride my bike much.

Jim Weber

gpickle said...

YES! Great to see you down there Ari, and great to see your name in the results. Big congrats,

Steve

Anonymous said...

Ari...this is fantastic news!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped for you!!! Great great effort...This effort required the heart of a lion. So proud of you. Now you must come North for the Arrowhead...For It is written within DBD scripture.
Bravo Old Man... :)
Best regards,
Charlie

Ari said...

Thanks to all the notes and I hope I can meet up with all you fine people again. Riding gravel is just too much fun!
Ari
Slender Fungus Cycling Association.