100 Miles of Nowhere + Singletrack High = Viewing Awesomeness
It’s time to start thinking about the Sixth Annual 100 Miles of Nowhere. The race without a place. The event where 500 people participate…all by ourselves.
You’ll pay $95 (which includes domestic shipping this year, so your total cost is actually down from last year) for the privilege of riding your rollers, trainer, or a very small course (like around the block or up and down a hill) for 100 miles.
Then — should you feel so inclined — you’ll send in your story of your 100 miles, and I will post as many as I can. Often, following the 100 Miles of Nowhere, I post stories every couple hours for a few days. It’s a pretty fantastic way for us to share with the world what fools we are.
The profits from your entry go to LiveStrong, which will turn around and give that same amount to Camp Kesem — camps all across the U.S. dedicated to giving kids of parents with cancer a week of carefree fun, at no cost to them. My twins went to the Southern Utah Camp Kesem last year, and it was the highlight of their summer. Check out their report here.
As part of your registration for this event, you’ll be getting a very cool box of swag, not to mention the event t-shirt, which I’m happy to now reveal:
I swear, the Twin Six guys just keep getting more awesome every year. I love this design.
Essentials
Over the next few days (including today), I’ll be describing some of the very cool things you’ll be getting as part of the 100 Miles of Nowhere swag box. Assuming you’re already sold on the idea of doing this ridiculous event, though, here are a couple dates to keep in mind:
- Registration: The registration for this event will open April 17, 9am CT. It usually sells out within a few hours and is strictly limited to 500 people, so you will not want to miss signing up.
- Race day: The “official” race day for the 100 Miles of Nowhere is June 1. Since, however, you’re on your own with this, that date has some flexibility. I, for example, will be in Moab with WBR’s Africa in Moab adventure. So I’ve got to figure out a different day or weekend.
Singletrack High: The Review
The Hammer and I are in a weird stage of life right now. The stage where our kids are growing up. Some are working. One is married and has a kid of his own. One is in college. Two are in elementary school.
And a couple are in high school, which is somehow weirder than all the other things put together. Because high school affects kids in big, permanent ways (click here for a sobering piece on this).
Which is part of why I loved Pedal Born Picture’s Singletrack High, a documentary following the training, racing, and learning of various kids at different schools in the NorCal Cycling League.
Hey, why don’t you check out the preview to this show:
As I watched this film, I found myself saying to myself (over and over and over), “I wish there would have been something like this back at Fruita Monument High School when I was growing up.”
Of course, mountain bikes hadn’t exactly gone mainstream yet. And I was no kind of athlete.
Or at least, I didn’t think I was. I never really tried to find out, since the sports available to me didn’t really appeal. And a big part of the point of this documentary is showing how kids from a lot of different backgrounds are growing and learning and basically being fantastic human beings while riding their bikes.
Most of the documentary is interviews with the kids. There’s Tess, who used to worry about whether people would think biking is cool and whether helmets looked weird, but is now a rising star in her team and wears a Rivendell cycling cap when she’s in her room.
“Prior to this, I think she felt a little isolated at school,” says her stepdad.
Tess says about the team, “I think a good team would see cycling as a family. It brings us all together. We’re different ages and different backgrounds, but we all want to ride and race. Cycling had given me some of my best friends.”
I love hearing that.
There’s Carlos, who rides for the Luther Burbank Bike Team.
Before he joined, he says he thought, “I’m not really used to being in the mountains and I’m not into sports. I’d rather just go to school and then hang out,” and thought of himself as “more of a street person.”
An assistant coach — this team all volunteer-coached by police officers — this team to the Bad News Bears, saying, “We came into the league with broken down bikes and skater helmets. We see kids in other teams riding $6,000 S-Works bikes. We didn’t have, at one point, $6,000 worth of bikes in our whole inventory.”
And then there’s Cody, 15, who’s new to his team and training his first MTB race.
Cody was my personal favorite. I liked his quiet, thoughtful attitude. I liked his goal: to do a little better each race. He wanted to finish a race first, then maybe finish faster than last. But more than anything, he just wanted to push himself.
That’s a well-grounded kid.
There are other kids too — some up-and-comers, some just happy to be out riding. I kind of get the feeling that different people will find themselves identifying with different kids in the show, and rooting for them all.
Racing
The documentary follows the kids through different races, progressing through the season, working toward — and sometimes beyond — their goals. And it’s fun, hearing some of them describing the oddness of a bike race. Carlos laughs, saying it was like seeing a bunch of guys wearing Speedos out in the middle of the desert. Which, really, is pretty much exactly right.
There were a couple of things about the race footage that I really liked. First, it looks fantastic. This is a really beautifully-shot film.
Second, I liked the way it doesn’t just follow the race leaders and focus on who’s winning. There are a lot of heroes in this film and not all of them are crossing the finish line first.
Seeing the Film
Should you see this film? Only if you like bikes and seeing normal kids doing great things. So, yeah, you should see the film.
So where can you see it? Well, it’s scheduled to play at a number of places across the country. Click here for the where and when. Or you can host your own screening — click here for details.
Or — and this is the part I’m really excited about — if you register for the 100 Miles of Nowhere, you’ll get a special password and will be able to watch it on Vimeo from the comfort of your own home (perhaps as you ride your trainer for 100 miles?).
Can anyone else in the whole world do that? No, they cannot. But you’ll be able to, which makes you even more special than you thought.
And That’s Not All
I’ll be revealing more cool stuff 100 Miles of Nowhere participants will be receiving as part of their swag box tomorrow. Be sure to check it out.
Comment by Barton | 04.9.2013 | 9:50 am
Hooray! For the first time ever, I won’t be on a plane during the sign up for 100M2N! So maybe I’ll be able to get in on the action (officially). I have the perfect swamp all picked out to ride around(37 times).
What a cool movie, as well. We’ve a mtn bike HS league here in MN. I see the kids out practicing around the different parks (as I stay on the blacktops).
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 04.9.2013 | 9:58 am
Very excited. And all the better to be able to watch that documentary…..
Comment by TK | 04.9.2013 | 10:00 am
I love that the speedometer goes from 0 to PIE. I’ve set my outlook reminder for 4/17 at 8am Mountain and hope to be one of the lucky ones.
Comment by Daniel Weise | 04.9.2013 | 10:23 am
Gotta put reminders everywhere so I can get in this year – tried the last 2 and it was sold out both times when I finally got online to register.
Love the shirt (I hope you are including truly “FAT”Cyclist sizes).
The movie looks awesome as well!
Can’t wait!
Comment by AKChick55 | 04.9.2013 | 10:23 am
YAY!!! I’m so excited!!!
On a sidenote, I tweeted at Fatty that Alaska had a surprise visitor yesterday – LEVI FREAKING LEIPHEIMER!!! And I missed him. Very, very sad. He was picking up a super sweet, super awesomesauce 9Zero7 fat tire bike (I am almost 100% positive he got the top of the line Titanium frame). So I think when you and the Hammer go to Levi’s Gran Fondo, you should challenge him to a race on his fat tire bike. :) They are so much fun. If you have never ridden one, I highly recommend it. They make you smile (and I know bikes make us smile, but a fat tire bike makes you SMILE).
Okay, back to the post. Thank you to Fatty for finding time to write it and finding time to communicate with 100MON sponsors. I don’t think any of us realize just how much work Fatty puts into not only the blog posts but the events he puts on. I wanted to say “Thank you Fatty!” I sometimes forget how busy you are and you still find the time to put on first class events. :)
The film looks really, really good. I’m going to be training for the Tour de Cure ride in June so I’ll probably ride outdoors on a small course near my house. The Tour is the week after 100MON and is also about 40 miles shorter so I think that will be a good training ride. :)
Really excited to support Livestrong and Camp Kesem again. :)
Comment by DavidH, MarinCa | 04.9.2013 | 10:58 am
Thanks Fatty and Twin Six! This is one of the best designs ever. Just sad we have to have a ‘cap’ on 100MoN.
June 1st conflicts with SoNoMas http://www.bikemonkey.net/events/sonomas/ (Yann and Dave, interested in some singletrack suffering?) Mr. Levi holds the resord for this event…you should come out and give him a run, Elden.
As for those HS Kids…they’re the ones that blow past me on the Eldridge Grade (2200ft, 7 mi.)chatting like they were on their way to school. I hate then and are super impressed at the same time.
Like Sasha says, Thank you Elden. I think we all sometimes forget how much work it takes to put all these efforts on, and I for one appreciate what you do to spur us towards a goal.
Comment by Ginger-Schminger | 04.9.2013 | 11:06 am
Can I use the miles that I’ll be putting in at 24 Hours in the Canyon towards my 100 MoN???? Pretty please!
As the parent of an athlete, league volunteer, and all-around avid supporter of the NICA league, I encourage all of you who are even remotely interested to take a good, long look at this league. I honestly don’t have one negative thing to say about it. Yes, the kids race, but that’s not the main objective. The kids themselves are the focus and the bikes are the vehicles to a positive environment, if you will. The coaches for our team (I’m in Texas) are enthusiastic, passionate and energetic. They truly have a passion for kids and cycling and it shows in every single thing they do. I could go on and on, but I won’t do that to y’all. Just know that this is a league work supporting. It’s created an amazing extended family within our team and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 04.9.2013 | 12:03 pm
BTW. I seriously hope that USAC and UCI get their acts together so that these kids still have a sport to compete in. Hoping this sanctioned/non-sanctioned thing gets fixed ASAP.
Comment by Tom | 04.9.2013 | 2:56 pm
Arrrghhh Fatty! You couldn’t have waited 1 more day to open registration could you?! Oh well, if it’s sold out when I get paid – on the 18th! – I’ll just do a “unsanctioned by Fatty” version.
Seriously though…thanks for doing this, you’re an inspiration!
Comment by Austin McInerny | 04.9.2013 | 4:06 pm
Thanks Fatty for the great write-up! Will you be at Sea Otter? If so, I want to hand you a NICA jersey. I would send you an XL, but I think you might be a small these days! Let me know what size you need and where to send it if you are not going to be in Monterey
Comment by DavidH, MarinCa | 04.9.2013 | 4:47 pm
@Tom: According to the Fatty League of Awesomeness Bicyclists rule 3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510 58209 74944 59230 78164 06286 20899 86280 34825 34211 70679 any fatty who participates in any unsanctioned event is subject to immediate disciplinary action. To wit: No Pie for You!
Comment by Doug (way upstate NY) | 04.9.2013 | 5:54 pm
Dave, I think a Fatty who participates in an unsanctioned event gets extra pie!
Comment by Chase M. | 04.9.2013 | 6:34 pm
I’m very excited about this! Did my first 100MON (also my first 100mi) last year and really enjoyed it. I may be riding Elephant Rock this year (June 2) so if I do make 100MON happen it’ll be a couple weeks one side or the other.
And the Swag Box is already looking great! Love the idea of that film. Can’t wait to see it.
Comment by Justin L | 04.9.2013 | 7:13 pm
If we don’t get in on the kit, can we at least buy the shirt ts year?
Comment by ClydeinKS | 04.9.2013 | 7:27 pm
yay – loving the announcement (just as any announcement coming from Fatty’s news service)! Did my first last year and looking forward to going nowhere once again. Thank you Fatty for all you do in organizing and selecting the most awesome funding recipient again this year!
Comment by Liz M. | 04.9.2013 | 8:01 pm
I’ve heard a little about this organization and it sounds amazing. Looking forward to seeing the movie one way or another!
Very nice t-shirt this year. I get more questions about my 100MON shirts than any other I wear.
Comment by L'Hippo | 04.9.2013 | 8:51 pm
Best shirt ever!
Comment by John Dunn | 04.9.2013 | 9:27 pm
Thanks for the clip for the movie. Luther Burbank HS is pretty close to my house, I think I might look them up and see if I can help a bit. Didn’t know they had a team and I’m curious who the police officers are that are helping. I agree that we need more opportunities outside of the regular sports/extracurricular normally found on a HS campus. As a former teacher, it does make a difference if kids are connected to something positive. Keep promoting it and thanks!
Comment by DavidH, MarinCa | 04.9.2013 | 10:16 pm
@Doug(way upstate….) I like your thinking. Extra Pie as punishment is so Fatty! Good too!
Comment by JohnBoy | 04.9.2013 | 10:18 pm
I debated last year on whether I should do the 100MON and when I finally made up my mind to do it, it was too late. This year there will be no hesitation. I’ll be on my computer as soon as registration opens, then I will be headed to Moab for some fun in the sun. Perfect timing.
Comment by Jeremy | 04.9.2013 | 10:49 pm
I may try to get a screening of the movie at the school I teach at. I’ve often thought about trying to get a cycling team going, but I have a small obstacle: I race no one but myself, hence why the 100 Miles of Nowhere is one of my signature events of the year.
Comment by Al Pastor | 04.10.2013 | 7:54 am
I’m considering the awesomeness/awfulness of swimming 10k in a 25yd pool for the 100mi of nowhere.
Would that be a fair distance?
Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » The 2013 100 Miles of Nowhere: Let’s Get Practical | 04.15.2013 | 12:23 pm
[...] of Nowhere has some pretty excellent swag: Something awesome from Banjo Brothers. A free, exclusive viewing of Singletrack High. And there will be more. Oh yes [...]