Featured Event: Sterile Iowan

Featured Event: Sterile Iowan – by Guitar Ted

There once was an event that started out small, then grew big, and when a certain man tried to enter this, now big deal of a gravel event, he didn’t make it through the lottery process. This motivated this particular man that goes by the name of “Dangerous Dan” to start his own event right in his home state of Iowa . You might say it is the “anti-big gravel event”. In a “thumbing of the nose” toward the event he was rejected by, he named his new event the “Sterile Iowan”, and calls it “The second best event on gravel run on May 30th, 2020“.

Hmm……I wonder which event Dangerous Dan speaks of……..

Anyway, here is an event which has a very grass roots feel and all it takes to get in is for you to send Dan a post card with the required information and then when you come, he asks you to donate $40.00 in the pickle jar which helps support local trails. Otherwise, as Dangerous Dan says, “You do you“.

The Sterile Iowan offers 100, 200, 300, or 400 mile options and two different start times. There also will be a “Taste Of Sterile” 50 mile fun ride for those looking to check out gravel for the first time. The event is run out of the small Iowa village called Alden, which is on the Iowa River, and claims to be “The Best Town By A Dam Site“.

Famous for his “sterile suit” and white board video updates, Dangerous Dan will be your host and invites you to have a great time in Iowa. On the loop course you will have the opportunity to visit the “Love Shack” party bus for refreshments, if you so choose. The 300 and 400 mile riders will have 48 hours to complete the courses and will be encouraged to “bikepack” the route. Dangerous Dan says you’ll be able to camp out at the Alden City Park or at the Love Shack party bus- your choice.

Riders will be able to resupply at various convenience stores along the loop course. The route will not be marked and navigation will be by GPS files which the Sterile Iowan will provide to each rider prior to the event.

The event will occur on May 30th, 2020. The Sterile Iowan registration is open now. Information on this and more about the event, including the highly entertaining Dangerous Dan white board videos, can be seen on the Sterile Iowan Facebook page.

Note: All images for this post were provided by Dave Roll.