The core4 is an August race where no surface is left untouched - beautiful crushed stone roads (known to most of us as 'gravel'!), grassy farm access lanes, dirty level-B roads, lovely singletrack (and challenging singletrack!), limestone paths and even some much appreciated pavement to give your body a rest! And let's not leave out the cyclocross finish! Starting and finishing at the Wilson's Orchard north of Iowa City, Iowa, core4 enters it's third year, this time with some cash for the fast folks in the challenging Stone Crusher 100-miler. It's reputation as a great event, and maybe the cash purse, brought in a new level of pros: Chase Wark, Inno Zavyalov, Drew Dillman, Gabby Arnold as well as past champions like Nate Kullbom, Vanessa Curtis, Chris Hansen and more! I was there to enjoy a weekend of camping with friends, riding the lovely, yet challenging 60-mile route and talk to some of those trouncing the 100-miler. Thanks to Alex, Nate and the entire core4 crew for inviting me along - the whole experience was top notch - from packet pickup at the beautiful Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City, camping at Wilson's Orchard, the coffee and doughnuts in the morning, a creative, fun and interesting route, well stocked aid stations (which I should have stopped at at least once! #ranoutofwater), plus post-race brews, music, food and fun! I loved it all and will be back. Put it on your schedule for August 16, 2025 - and maybe we'll offer a Bike Talk with Dave discount again! (Listen next Spring and Summer!!). Head on over to www.core4.bike for details!
If in the central Iowa area, join us at our weekly cyclocross practices at Renegade Cross - Tuesday nights at a variety of Des Moines parks. Tune in to BIKEIOWA.com for details and locations. And pin a number on at Capital City Cross in Des Moines on Sept. 21 and 22!
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