Before black top threatened to cover the earth, cyclists tested their mettle on low land cobbles or mountain goat tracts.  The racing was hard and any slight change in weather could mean the difference between a grand day out and a trip thru hell.  Rides were measured by how many pork chops were loaded into handlebar bags and there was a great esprit de corps.

Several years ago I started looking back at our cycling roots.  Where was the post-race comradery?  Where were the wildly varied course conditions?  Where was the “working man” racer doing battle, no matter the conditions?  And so the Dirtbag Dash was born.

The Dirtbag Dash is a celebration of our racing roots. Men and women gather to test their legs against the field on hard packed dirt roads sprinkled with punchy climbs and the occasional roaming cow.  Following the bout of shared suffering we break bread and compare tales of battle over malted beverages.

I can see the next rider ahead ……… just a little harder.