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Club
Country Cycle
[email protected] 2043320121
Cycling events nearby
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Distance: 45.5 km from WinklerSat, Aug 15, 2026 at 10:00 AMSee full details
Event Organizers:
Derek Eidse and Olli Hyytiainen
Derek @ 204-797-1096
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Check-in: 8:45 - 9:45 AM Start Time - 10:00 AM
Costs: Adults - $40 if you have an MCA General or Race License
U18 - $30 if you have an MCA General or Race License,
- $35 MCA Adult Day Permit if you don’t have an MCA license- see www.mbcycling.ca
or $10 Youth Day Permit if you don’t have an MCA license
** Note: Only MCA members have Sport Accident Insurance coverage
Registration: https://www.bikereg.com/76792
Registration closes at 11:59 PM, Thursday, August 13th on BikeReg. No Walk-Ups
Ages: Solo:18+
100 km:16+ only
*Ages 10-18 must have a guardian, parent, or coach riding in the event.
** please consider 60km distance if you’ve never cycled 100km on hilly gravel roads.
Distances: Approximately 60 km and 100 km
Location: The event will start and finish at Birch Ski Area on Rd 32N.
Directions - Drive approximately 27km west of Carman, MB. From the corner of PR240 & PR245
continue 1 mile west along PR245 and turn left (southbound) onto Road 40W. Then continue straight for
another 2 miles until you come to an intersection that has a white shed and turn right (westbound) onto
Road 32N. Continue straight up the two hills, and after curving to the left, you’ll arrive at Birch Ski Area.
Accommodations:
Camping Options on Site @ Ski Birch - RV Spots with Electrical, Tenting spots
- Contact Keith Family via email: [email protected]
RV & Tent Camping at Stephenfield Provincial Park
Hotels in Carman (20 minutes from Ski Birch)
Blue Crescent Hotel - https://www.bluecrescent.ca/carman-mb
Oxbow Inn - https://www.oxbowinn.ca/
Other information:
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A bathroom is available at the start/finish - in the Ski Birch Chalet.
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Post-Event Festivities at the Start/Finish will include Burgers (Meat & Veg), Coleslaw, Watermelon
and Roll Kuchen for all participants.
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Bringing a lawn-chair would be a good idea.
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If you are bringing non-riding family along, bring some extra burgers (refrigeration and BBQ space
will be available).
- On the topic of family - Stephenfield Provincial Park has a beach and playground and would make a
good hang out spot for family during the ride.
Course Information:
- The course follows gravel roads, quad track, old rail beds, the Great Trail, and dirt roads. The course
will be marked with arrows, and a .GPX file will be available on the Dark Red Racing FB Page at least
one week prior to the event. A small paper map will also be available on the FB Page (to print at home),
as well as at registration. The full 100km route will have seven to ten K/Qom Segments. Approximate
start and finish points will be signed for these as well.
Each rider will be responsible for their navigation. There will be no Course Marshals.
There will be an alternate route prepped, in case of heavy rain. Check the Facebook Page for details
and updates.
This is not a race. The overall elapsed time is not recorded or used to produce results. The main goal
is to explore the wonderful roads and paths that run up and down what used to be the western shore of
a major glacial lake in an active way that we all enjoy. All riders must follow the rules of the road as
described in the Highway Traffic Act.
VERY IMPORTANT! Every participant must SIGN IN and SIGN OUT of the ride at the start/finish
area. This is to make sure all riders have returned from the ride.
Equipment:
- Most of the course is gravel roads, so tires at least 33mm wide are recommended (gravel, cyclocross,
or mountain bike tires are ideal). Anything narrower will be miserable.
- All riders must wear certified helmets at all times during the event - including warm up and cool down.
How to Ride the Glacial Grind
- Go Hard From the Gun - not your best option - you’re going to be tired for the climbs, which are really
the only parts that count. Think of it as an interval workout, with short, hard efforts, and long recovery.
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Ride with your team or your friends - probably your best bet - (Be Social - Hammer - Regroup) x 7
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If you’ve come on your own - latch on to the group that looks to match your riding level.
Support: There will be TWO opportunity to refill water bottles - at approximately 33km and 60km
(looping back through Ski Birch).
In the gravel grinder spirit, you are responsible for you. With the exception of the support stations
mentioned above, you are expected to have what you need to deal with any issues (mechanical, mental,
physical, other) that may arise on the road. There will be a follow vehicle(s) that will drive the course to
make sure nobody is left out there. The race director will also be roaming. Carrying extra water, tubes,
chain tool, cell phone, etc. is recommended, as is riding with a friend(s) that won’t leave you in a bind.
There will also be medics at the Start/Finish, who will be available to come out on course if needed.
In case of emergency, call 911. Depending on where you are on the course, the nearest hospital is
either Carman or Boundary Trails (between Morden & Winkler).
Prizing: The QOM and KOM winners will receive championship belts that they can keep for the year.
These will be determined by cumulative time for the K/Qom segments (so it will only be chosen from
participants completing the full 100km route). Strava will be used to calculate these results, so if
this competitive challenge appeals to you, you will need to sign up for The Glacial Grind Strava