Moo …

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… It’s starting to feel pretty autumnal around here. The mornings have been chilly, foggy, and a skosh damp. The afternoons have been warming up. Anyone who rode Bovine 1.0 & 2.0 will remember that the start line has been in the 30s. We’re not there yet, but it’s coming! 

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Last week, Bovine HQ got a surprise visit from a certain “Gravel Ken,” as Vanessa Hauswald calls ‘em, of The Marin Mafia. It gave us an excuse to recon significant portions of the course. 

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Here’s a bit of my intel, based on being a complete mortal of totally average cycling genetics. (In other words, like most riders, I’m totally in the cowbell curve.) 

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• The conditions are pretty great right now. If we get some rain and damp mornings, it’ll make the dirt even better. 
• There were steeper moments I sure wished I had a mullet gearing rather than XPLR. This will be particularly true for the steep sections in the private Santa Rita Ranch that Big & Feisty Bovine riders will be exploring. 
• My current tire set-up is a 42c Specialized Tracer on the front and a Pathfinder Pro on the rear. Worked well on both pavement and dirt. By ride day, I suspect 38c Pathfinders will also be great for most of the course. 

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These are still the most up-to-date versions of the route… We’ll tell ya should we need to make any last-minute changes.  

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The Big Bovine Strava Map

The Feisty Bovine Strava Map

The Happy Bovine Strava Map

The Baby Bovine Strava Map

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Speaking of STRAVA, you in the Bovine Classic Strava Club?

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Want details on the current schedule? Check out Last Week’s Dispatch 

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Segments, Bryoncé? 

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Once more for our friends on edges of The Herd, The Bovine is mostly a mosey-and-hustle event. We keep it pretty chill, except on our timed segments. Podiums are awarded by best cumulative time on the segments. 

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We will have overall W/M/N podiums for each of our courses. The Big Bovine will have age-category podiums. There will also be awards for our paracyclist gravel heroes. And, our absolute last Big Bovine finisher will receive the very coveted annual “Mark Durkin Lanterne Moouge” award. (We can’t help but truly love the rider who so takes our mosey vibe to heart.)

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Drumroll please: here are the segments for each course. 

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Big Bovine (appx mile markers: 23.8 to 29.4, 71.6 to 76.4, 86.3 to 88.5)

Feisty Bovine (appx mile markers: to 12.6 to 17.9, 47.4 to 52.4, 62.1 to 64.5)

Happy Bovine (appx mile markers:  23.8 to to 29.4, 42.6 to 44.8)

Baby Bovine (appx mile markers: to 12.6 to 17.9)

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Here’s the rule: Want your time to be scored in your category?  You must ride the entire route for which you registered. Our podium wranglers will be checking.

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If You’re Riding The Feisty Bovine, Read This.

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You will be riding on the wide shoulder of HWY 46 from mile 31 to mile 33.4. For your safety, DO NOT try to make a left turn onto Old Creek. You need to turn right and roll over the timing mat at this AID STATION.

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To Our Moovelous Partners

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We simply could not make the Bovine happen without the help of these amoozing partners.

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Visit Atascadero, Travel Paso Robles, SRAM, Voler Cycling Apparel, Firestone-Walker, SCCTECH, Sunshine Olive Oil, Linn’s Bakery, Justin Wines, Fierce Hazel, & CAST Management

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That’s it for this week. Just remember that you’re all Kenough. 

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Bryoncé & The Monkeys

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