75th Ave NW

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75th Ave NW is divided in two two sections of which I have deemed one South and the other North with the dividing line being 75th St NW or Olmsted Co Rd 14.  The South section is slightly downhill most of the way and can be a fast escape to gravel from Valleyhigh Dr.  The gravel runs about 1.7 miles and takes you to the intersection of 65th St NW and 80th Ave NW.  From there you can easily get back to Rochester and the Douglas Trail via 65th St NW or descend further down gravel to Genoa via 80th Ave NW.  This section is very exposed to the wind, which can make for a fast grind with a tailwind, just take caution on the 90 degree bend a half mile down the road.  In order to ride 75th Ave NW in its entirety, you must ride on Olmsted Co Rd 14 for about 0.7 mi.

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The North section starts out with a nice little climb from the tarmac and leads you to a SE Minnesota favorite of Northwoods Orchard.  Unfortunately, they were closed on the day I rode, so I wasn't able to snap a picture of their sign.  Northwoods has a great pumpkin patch in the fall, with a corn maze, hay rides, animals to pet and, of course, hot apple cider and homemade doughnuts.  You can also pick your own apples or purchase bags of apple grown and fresh picked from their orchard.  Their orchard back right up to the Douglas Trail and could serve as a meeting place for those less adventurous.

Just past Northwoods Orchard the climb pops to almost 10% and then you have a nice downhill ride to the intersection of 90th St NW and the Douglas Trail.  Taking the trail north from here is great to stay away from vehicle traffic and to access more miles of gravel to grind.

Filthy 50 2013

Unfortunately, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I was unable to partake in the official "Filthy 50" race in its inaugural year but, I did get out and ride the course last Saturday morning.  We had some incredible weather and which led to spectacular gravel grinding this past weekend.

The course begins just north of the town of Stewartville, MN on 20th St NE.  We were able to park in the Fareway Foods parking lot.  Be sure to stock up here on "fuel" for the ride as there aren't really any options to refuel on the course.  Head east on 20th St NE and in less than a mile you will hit the gravel which is where the cue sheets begin.

The first 20 miles, or so, are wide open and tour around fields of corn and soybean farms.  The road is never flat, however, there are rolling hills abound which all add up to about 3200 feet of climbing for the entire course.  The middle section of the course begins with a mad descent into the valley of the Middle Branch of the Root River.  You will travel upstream and gently uphill for the next 10 miles to the town of Fillmore.  Enjoy this section, the road here is quiet and sheltered, winding its way through one of the most beautiful river valleys you will ever see.  In Fillmore, we were able to refill our bottles from a spigot outside the Fillmore Free Methodist Church.  If you are fortunate, as we were, Pastor Mike will notice you taking the church's water and offer to let you use the church's facilities as well.

Past Fillmore, you will ride along the river for just a few more miles and then abruptly climb out of the valley back to the wide open spaces of southern Minnesota farmland.  This the home stretch and you begin to see Stewartville miles before the finish.  Hopefully you are more fortunate than we were, and have the wind at you back at this point.  We pushed though a 20 mph head wind for the last 10 miles or so which made me wish that I had brought more food to fuel the finish.

This is a spectacular 50 mile route on gravel.  Congratulations to the organizers of The Filthy 50 for linking together this course and congratulations to the finishers of the first ever Filthy 50.  I will look forward to next year.

80th Ave NW from Genoa

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80th Ave NW rises up from the small village of Genoa from Olmsted Co 14 (75th St NW).  This road serves as a gravel connector from 65th St NW to the great climb out of Genoa on 85th St NW or the north section of 75th Ave NW. 

 As you can see from the STRAVA segment below this is a well traveled section of gravel.  It is a nice little 150ft climb in 1.3 miles with the steepest gradiant around 8%.  My numbers are a bit different than STRAVA because there is a slight descent in the middle which STRAVA doesn't take into account.  

The Filthy 50

A family event has come up and I won't be able to ride in "The Filthy 50" this Sunday.  So, instead of Sunday, a small group of riders are planning to ride the course Saturday morning.  Anyone interested is welcome to join us.  We will meet at the Fareway Foods off Hwy 63 in Stewartville and shoot to have wheels down by 8am.  I will have the cue sheets but feel free to download your own by following he link below.

Cue Sheets

If you don't know about The Filthy 50 yet please follow the link to the race/ride on the side bar of this blog.  This Sunday will be the inaugural running of the event and I am sure it will be a smashing success and we will have another spectacular gravel grind to add to our calendars for next year.

65th St NW from Rochester

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65th Street NW is a great road to leave Rochester from to enter the realm of gravel grinding northwest of the city.  The road is easily accessed and intersected by the Douglas Trail and features a nice warm-up climb just after you cross the trail intersection.  65th Street NW is also intersected by 60th Ave NW, near the Douglas Trail, which is gravel at this point as well.

The climb just past the trail intersection kicks up to about 7% and rises about a hundred feet.  Midway up the climb you will cross Olmsted County Rd 3, which is frequently traveled, so beware of fast moving vehicles and a blind hill to the south.   

Once you crest the climb you will have an easy descent and arrive at the intersection of 75th Ave NW which, if taken, will lead you to Olmsted Co Rd 4 or Valleyhigh Dr. and the town of Byron.  Just a tick past 75th Ave. NW will be the intersection of 80th Ave NW which will take you into Genoa and more gravel opportunities.

                                   


                                   









The road dead ends close to a mile past this intersection, I have included that on the profile as it offers a couple of nice rollers and is a nicely wooded lane with a panoramic view of fall colors at the top of the last hill.  Enjoy this road and like a mentioned earlier, this is a great starting point for many more miles of gravel northwest of Rochester.

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Olmsted Co Rd 105

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I would file Olmsted County 105 as a "classic" gravel grind.  At just over 7 miles you will not be dissappointed in the scenery and the challenge this road offers.  This end of the road begins just north of Byron, MN at the intersection of County 4 and County 5, both of which are paved and heavily traveled. There are many gravel roads that intersect 105 and therefore sections of this road are often incorporated into longer rides.  This road begins following the South Branch Middle Fork of the Zumbro River and with a gentle rise leads into Oxbow Park.

Oxbow Park is an excellent place to take an extended break or even a place to camp (refer to park website) for those who are bicycle touring.  The park is free and open to the public for daily visits and offers water fountains, restroom facilties, and vending machines.  The Zollman Zoo is also located within the park and houses a variety of native animal species including a variety of raptors, wolves, a black bear, big cats, etc. Entrance to the zoo is also free (donations are accepted) and is worth the stop to see some amazing animals and learn about Minnesota wildlife.

The first gravel road that intersects 105 will be County Rd 103 which has a nice climb out of the river valley and leads back to County Rd 4.  From here, the road remains fairly flat until you reach the next intersection of 110th Ave NW and the start of "The Oxenberg".

"The Oxenberg" is the steepest section of the road and is more of a wall than a climb.  It is short, not even a quarter of a mile but my GPS took a reading of 24% at its steepest.  This section is paved, but not very well kept up, and is seasonal.  You can bypass this climb by taking a left at 110th Ave NW.  110th Ave NW will give you a nice climb out of the valley and will also add on some mileage.

Out of the valley you will be treated to the wide open vistas of Minnesota farmland and then you will come to your first crossing of a paved road at County Rd 14 (75th St NW).

If necessary, this is an easy bailout point down to the towns of Genoa and Douglas.  The former of which is merely a grouping of houses.  Douglas has a bar/restaurant, the Douglas Saloon, and an entrance to the Douglas Trail which connects Rochester and Pine Island.

County Rd 105 continues straight across County Rd 14 with some nice rollers and then you will come to the intersection of 85th St NW.

85th St NW offers a nice gravel descent into Genoa and also heads west to access more miles of gravel.  A little ways further and you will come to a steep descent into the Plum Creek valley.

I measured a maximum descent of -16% which, if your going towards Oxbow Park, creates a nice gravel climb the rivals "The Oxenberg".

Just when you think you've made it to the end of the road there is another small rise out of the Plum Creek Valley.  If you take the time to stop and look back, it is well worth it.  Take in the serenity of this hidden valley as soon you will be on pavement again searching for the next gravel grind.

County Rd 105 ends at County Rd 3 which you can access many more miles of gravel or head back via the Douglas Trail.  For those of you who like a little competition, I have created a segment on STRAVA which encompasses the entire route.  Enjoy, have fun, and be safe.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost

Sigh no more, friends, get back out there and take that other road.  Just make sure you have plenty of water.

- Ian