What will the weather be like?
In May, the average low temperature is 55 and the average high is 77. Overall, great biking weather! However, May is a month of change, and the actual temperatures could be hot or quite cool. It is always best to be prepared for cool weather and RAIN. We often get rain sometime during the weekend. Luckily, the rain usually comes in the evening, when everyone is done cycling.
The Cottonwood 200 sags (rest stops) will have enough food (sandwiches, cookies, fruit, etc.) that some riders do not feel the need to buy lunch. However, plan to buy the following: Saturday lunch (restaurants at Eskridge or Alta Vista); Saturday dinner (plenty of restaurants in Council Grove); Sunday lunch (in Cottonwood Falls); Monday breakfast (in Council Grove); Monday lunch (in Burlingame or Auburn).
Yes, non-riders are welcome, and you can buy extra meal tickets for Sunday breakfast and dinner. If they will volunteer to staff at least one Sag stop, volunteers can eat for FREE.
Council Grove has a population of 2,300, and boasts both a Duckwall’s and a Dollar General store. You can usually find a pillow, soap, toothbrush or whatever you need to make your stay comfortable. We plan to have a bicycle mechanic available and basic supplies (tubes, tires, cables, etc.) but it is HIGHLY recommended that you have your bike “tuned up” before the ride to avoid problems. Also, carry a spare tube (or two) and a mini-pump on your frame.
A question often asked, and hard to answer. It is through the Flint Hills, so do not expect long, flat stretches. You can expect to see rolling hills of green, with some gradual, long uphills and long downhills. Generally, the roads are in good to excellent condition, with nice, smooth pavement. The “X” factor is the wind. It could be in your face or give you a nice push. It could be calm or blustery. So, what does that mean? You need to train in order to enjoy this ride. Ride as much as possible, and as many days as possible. If you can ride fifty miles, and still feel like riding a little more when you stop, you can do the Cottonwood. Even better is to ride fifty miles on a Saturday, then go out and ride twenty or forty more on a Sunday. Do not worry about “speed” – this is not a race. Worry about time and miles on the bike. We hope to have an elevation map on the site this year. |
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