I just received my email informing me I am in for the 2025 edition.
Who else is in/out?
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In but that was guaranteed as I deferred my slot last year after having back surgery at the end of March.
I believe this thread belongs here: Gravel Cycling - Slowtwitch Forum
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Curious… did you have to pay the full entry fee again when deferring?
I was shocked to see my personal deferral code didn’t include the entry fee and only guaranteed me a spot when I deferred to the same exact distance.
This is standard with these events that allow deferral.
I did not get into the XL, but my friend did, trying to figure out what to do about it. The available options are so expensive for an unsupported race on public roads. Hoping they open up a wait list like last year . . . by any chance, does anyone here know if the waitlist last year included the XL?
I did not realize that was standard for Lifetime. The other non-Lifetime events I’ve deferred entries in have always carried over the fee.
I’m in for the 100. Just need to find a place to stay.
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Same here, looking for a place to stay.
@ericlambi Let me see what I can find out about the XL and a waitlist.
I’m in for the 50 - deferred from this year and wrist surgery.
Emporia is my hometown and as for lodging, right now everyone is freaking out about getting a place. Hotels (limited number) are taking names for waiting lists since most people book their rooms again for the following year when they are checking out.
The town loves the race and lots of people rent rooms or their entire houses for that weekend. Go to the Emporia Short Term Stay FB page - (1) Emporia Short Stay Options | Facebook
Some people book a hotel now in Topeka or Ottawa (about 50 miles north or east) and then try to find something in town in the spring when people get injured or have other life stuff going on and have to drop out.
The dorm is an option, but it sold out in minutes last year.
I’ve heard good things about Pork Belly Ventures. Also, if camping is your thing - I hear they do a good job at the fairgrounds providing showers, etc.
I keep telling my nephew we need to buy a rental house. Between this race, all of the other races, the university, the disc golf events and the glass blowing events, it would stay booked a lot of the time. I’ll likely be staying at my nephew’s lake house (on the course probably - in the past it’s gone across the dam and up the big hill).
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@ericlambi “We have not determined waitlist status yet.”
In for the 100, for the second time. Will probably camp.
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Steamboat Gravel also does this. They will allow you to defer but you pay the entry fee again
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I saw a lot of people camped at the fairgrounds last year. And it was pretty cool that a food truck (or two) set up out there each day as well.
Last year, I ended up finding a room at the Holiday Inn, in Emporia. Only about a three mile bike ride to the race start. I got lucky though and just happened to be checking one day, many months before the event, and a room was open. I believe rooms came open right before the event as people canceled
I did not have to pay full price. Instead, I paid 50% of the full price because I deferred more than 90 days before the race.
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in for the 50
Thanks for asking
In for the 200. I booked a hotel in Ottawa. Pretty unsure if I can complete, but figured I’d take a swing.
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How is everyone’s training progressing? We are having a great winter for fatbiking, but maybe not the best for getting hours in on the gravel bike!
I did my first bike ride, since late September, yesterday. I’m a fair weather rider because my motivation is fairly low in the winter. I’ve been running a lot so at least I’m maintaining aerobic fitness
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I refuse to do this event. I’m a native Kansan and I was friends with Jim C in the 90s. After the way he was ousted over some BS, it is my tiny and insignificant middle finger to the organizers.
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