Review Date
June 20, 2010

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: redneck biker ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I've finished the ride for the last 3 years. (07,08,09) The course is a challenging course for most of us non racers. The heat being the worst. Then the wind followed by the hills and distance. I had good experiences the first 2 years but last year was a different story. It started before the ride when I found out for 50 bucks, I wouldn't get a meal. They didn't buy any extra meal tickets from the local reseurant, besides those who preregestered. Then at the end of the ride I didn't know that the 80 bucks I paid to get a jersey would simply dissapear. That's right. Still haven't got my jersey from 2009, (its now June 2010). The group that puts the ride on won't respond what so ever. Been trying for months to contact them.
Price continues to go up for this ride as the services go down. I don't recomend this ride unless you've got lot's of money to waste.
redneck biker

Review Date
July 30, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Wakarusageorge ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This was my first ride, so this may be most useful to others like me who wondered: what would a ride like this be like? I had a blast and hope to be there next year. The 2008 ride was 83 miles of mostly hardpack gravel, starting in Madison, Kansas, and going north as far as 130 Road just west of the Emporia airport, then back south, and then west of I-35, back east across I-35, and then up into some of the highest and most scenic spots at the top of the Flint Hills. There were substantial uphill sections, some into a stiff south wind. The ground was occasionally loamy. Cows and cow pies were part of the scenery. The last started as mostly rolling hills, then turned into a a white knuckle-descent. One short killer hill right after the last SAG stop tested resolve. The last section covered mountain bike conditions, partly over roads closed to cars and trucks. The organizers provided ample food and water and friendly service at the four stops. A fair number of cyclo-cross riders seemed to have no difficulty, though I suspect they had some difficult with the very rocky sections on the closed section.

Review Date
December 27, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: mtbjosh ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I read about this a few years ago and after lots of searching finally tracked it down earlier this year. The website has changed from the past. Checkout the new one at http://flinthillsdeathride.com.

This is a fantastic ride and I flew in from Phoenix just to ride a piece of good ol Kansas. Good times and much harder than one would think for a gravel road ride in the rolling flint hills. This years race had rain early followed by hot hot hot heat afterwards which made for a torturous ride from start to finish. I'd highly recommend it though!

Here is a youtube video I put together from this years race.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gpiDxLl8lEA

Cheers,

Josh
orthojosh@gmail.com

Review Date
February 6, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: CapAmerica67 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This ride is definitely an accomplishment to remember in your life if you're willing to take the challenge. It will change you mentally and mature you psychologically - if you finish. Last year was first year and only 80 riders rode due to heavy rains and flooding. Only 78 finished, 2 quit, 41 did a shortened route while 37 did the full 80+ miles (inlcuding me). Definitely worth the trip. A quality, memorable ride.

Recommended Route:
Follow map given at start of ride. Plenty of riders to ride with for encouragement to 'suck it up and deal with it'!

Review Date
August 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: jbembe ,  Cross Country Rider , from DALLAS, TX

Summary:
Spectacularly Butt-Whippin' Ride Everyone Must Try to Complete. I have done this every year and this is the 5th year in a row I'm going to try and complete it. I simply love the brutal punishment from trying to finish this ride. Better than the hotter than hell, and happens August 31rst. Road posers can do the hotternhell, I'll take a few extra hours and drive up to Kansas for the DEATH ride. Simply fantastic, check out their website @ http://www.deathride.org/

Recommended Route:
Follow Map given to you at ride start