The KRanza

9th annual KRanza gravel grinder. Course mileage options: 20-mile, 35-mile, 85-mile or 170-mile. Check out our Facebook page for the most detailed and up to date information: https://www.facebook.com/The-KRanza-gravel-adventure-100865698090808 For the 3rd year in a row, we will be starting and ending at Center Lake Bible Camp located at 15204 20 Mile Road, Tustin, Michigan. You can choose to make a weekend out of it by booking their very affordable lodging (motel rooms, cabins, RV hook up, tent sites) which are available Friday and/or Saturday night. To book and pay for your lodging, call Penny at (231) 829-3441. FYI: Penny is retiring in the fall of 2023 and I'm not sure who her replacement will be yet.
The camp offers many free activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, 4-square, volleyball, and gaga ball. 

Additional notes: Alcohol is not allowed at the camp. So unfortunately no beer after the ride unless you want to drive to nearby Tustin for a cold one after your ride. All housing units include a fire pit and picnic table.

Friday evening group ride: Let me know if you plan to attend the 20-mile Friday evening no drop group ride. Riders should meet at the main office building a few minutes before 6:30pm. You will get to see the start and finish (both courses) and TWO seasonal road sections that are also in all courses. 

Packet pickup/timing chips/number plates/paper maps: There are none. Since this isn’t a “race” we don’t have number plates or timing chips. But please check in with me the morning of the race so I know who and how many are on course. You’ll need to download the GPS course file onto your GPS (or cell phone) at home before you come. THE COURSES WILL NOT BE MARKED (other than the last few hundred feet of the finish). There are no cue sheets or paper maps.

Use of Center Lake Bible Camp: If you are not staying at the camp. You can park there for free to do the ride. However, if you plan to use any of the camp’s facilities (bathroom, showers, lake, etc.) there might be a $5 per person charge you can drop off at or before the start of the event. We will have a jar or box to throw your $5 into. Please bring exact change. Bring your own towels for the showers. Bathrooms/showers are to the left as you face the office.

Course conditions: Most of the gravel is hard packed and fast rolling. The pavement is obviously the same. The seasonal road sections are what will keep things spicy. There is a couple of longer seasonal road sections (up to 3 miles) on the 170 course. All other sections are pretty short (1 mile or less I believe). The seasonal road sections might have sand, water covering the road, peanut butter mud, etc. The parts with the most sand are a short section starting at mile 4 and a short section within 2 or so miles of the finish. I had no problem riding it on the fat bike but I’m guessing some will have to walk or run these sections.

Questions? Email (roykranz@gmail.com) or text me 989-274-8625.

Tips: bring white lights for the front in case you are riding after dark, blinking red on back, please run this all day for safety. Carry plenty of water. Be self-sufficient.

Links are current at the time of posting but might be updated prior to the 2023 event:

170 course: I recommend you load both of these files. The first is my actual ride from yesterday, the 2nd is the file I just created on Garmin Connect. Neither has been tested in the real world. If anyone rides next weekend let me know which file you used and whether it worked well.

Option 1: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/159481689

Option 2: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/159551158

85 Course:

I recommend you load both of these files. The first is my actual ride from yesterday, the 2nd is the file I just created on Garmin Connect. Neither has been tested in the real world. If anyone rides next weekend let me know which file you used and whether it worked well.

Option 1: https://www.strava.com/routes/3090337444653343878

Option 2: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/159555618

35 Course: no changes https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/104142168

20 course AND Friday night preview group ride: If you are going to do the Friday ride, email me at roykranz@gmail.com so I know how many to expect. If we get less than 5 that want to do it, it will be on your own.  https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/159557060

COURSE CONDITION and NOTES:

Weather can change everything quickly on the seasonal road section. If dry leading up to the race it will be loose and sandy. If it rains it will be hard(er) packed and possibly muddy. The "Miracle Mile" section before all the climbing at the end had some muddy sections but if you choose your line carefully you can ride it all without fear of adding pounds of mud to your bike. That can change if it rains.

ROAD CLOSED and or DEAD END signs (170 course only): generally speaking, ignore the signs. Bikes can get through in the past.

Questions? Email me at roykranz@gmail.com

Saturday start location AND time: The start is a little ways down 150th Ave, south of 20 Mile Road (also known as W. Marion Rd.) Carefully cross 20 Mile/W. Marion and go left (east). You’ll see 150th Ave pretty quickly. Look for me parked on the side of the road and line up behind (north) of it. Start time is 7 a.m. sharp. Arrive early so you don’t miss it. Pre-ride meeting/last minute instructions will begin at 6:40 am at the starting line.

Finish route: The course finishes at the Center Lake Bible Camp. However, in an effort to keep the cars and the bikes apart, as soon as you turn onto the driveway into the camp, the finishing route almost immediately goes off road. This will be marked with a bright orange sign and orange flags. You will turn right into the Bible Camp road/driveway. The road then turns left, however, the bike course goes slightly right into the grass. Follow the orange flags to the finish line that will be marked by two large black “KRanza” flags. My plan is to mark this up on Friday night so anyone doing the no-drop pre-ride can see and ride it. You can also check it out on Saturday morning before the start. You will be going right past this split as you make your way over to the starting line.

Aid stations: there are none. Exact mileage to possible re-fill and possible bathroom locations along the course can be found below. 

1st place overall in the 170 will also get their name engraved on the gravel trophy and can take that bad boy home for bragging rights for the next year but must return it for next year’s event. Anyone who finishes the 170-mile course, no matter how slow, will get a free finisher patch. 

Resupply Opportunities: mileages for each course (mileage is approximate)

170: Mile 51 gas station right on the course, on left just before a stop sign and right turn

        Mile 70.3 natural spring, right on course, coming out of pipe at about waist level, cold & ready to drink water

        Mile 89.8 gas station on right side, right on the course.

        Mile 153.1 gas station (Village Market) You will be on the paved rail trail and it is shortly after you go through

                   Le Roy. Look for a faint dirt path to the right leaving the paved rail trail. This leads to or close to the                             market which you cansometimes see from the paved trail (depends on the growth of the foliage).

85: Mile 59.5 Ashton General Store, At mile 59.5 turn right (east) off of the course route onto 11 Mile Road. Turn right (south) on the first road you get to which is Reed Road. You will see the store on the right side of the road. Re-trace your turns to get back to the paved rail trail and continue north (right turn) on the paved rail trail to rejoin the route. This stop is more off route then the next option and is only about 6 miles sooner so you mightjust want t wait for the Village Market unless you are desperate. Mile 65.6 gas station (Village Market) this one is within sight of the route but one you could miss if you are not looking for it. Youwill be on the paved rail trail and it is shortly after you go throughLe Roy. Look for a faint dirt path to the right leaving the paved rail trail. This leads to or close to the market which you can sometimes see from the paved trail (depends on the growth of the foliage).

35 course: roughly mile 15.6 gas station (Village Market) this one is within sight of the route but one you could miss if you are not looking for it. You will be on the paved rail trail and it is shortly after you go through Le Roy. Look for a faint dirt path to the right leaving the paved rail trail. This leads to or close to the market which you can sometimes see from the paved trail (depends on the growthof the foliage).

20 course: no re-fill options.