aug 14 Olathe to Manhatten

[Creekside]

Back roads, mostly gravel. 12:30.

[Savage]

It's Manhattan. I could ride my bike to work Wed in your honor if that would help?

[Creekside]

heck yeah its super nice day out there, of course ride. Leave early, coming in late too.

[ajayhawkfan]

Back roads, mostly gravel. 12:30.

Is that an invitation, a statement, a question, a description?

[Creekside]

Your right, I messed up that post I should have put more thought in to it.

It should have been a plea for another rider. Next time I should post something like "Need someone with a strong back between the hours of 12:30-9pm who has a dual sport". Kan't speel and kan't write nothing nohows.

I wanted to ride gravel from Olathe to Manhattan, mostly for the Flint Hills. I like the looks of those and have commuted to work in Wichita and Manhattan over the years from Lees Summit. Sorry if I am using this as kind of blog but figure there are a lot of big dual sport lurkers or dreamers on here like I was trying, to figure out if I really want a big dual sport here in KC area and why get one unless your going to Africa or Mexico or something way out there. Here is why.

Starting off had trouble with blocked roads and finding any gravel without a dead end in Gardner, so headed further south and got off at the next exit, going just south of 56. About 10(?) miles in saw this...

Having never seen this sign before I was a bit freaked out. I went in there anyways. I think its N100 (or N1?). Up until now the gravel was pretty good, with some areas of new laid stuff that was tough and slow and abit spooky.


Breaking in mud on scorpions sucks. So does stopping, turning around, slowly sliding into the bank, and trying to push the bike out of the mud ditch with cute little Sidi street boots that have less tread than my daughter's slippers. I get out pivoting the bike on the kick stand (yeah stupid, double for 990, make that triple crankcase dumb). I was eying that water crossing tho. I think I saw this somewhere, maybe Letko, in some picture. But I do start thinking these Min Maintenance signs are going to be the ticket to fun. Just need to be more alert. [knobbies and real boots wouldn't hurt either]. But just being away from a desk and into the woods in an hour throwing gravel heading into the unknown. Pure escapism at its finest.

Road N1/N100/N150 west as needed. These gravel roads are fine and scenery is nice if a bit boring after a bit. Going under 59 (Lawrence-Ottawa)on N150 things start to liven up. The roads get a lot easier with less gravel. I find myself going 45 often and bring it down notch. I still turn like a grandma tho.


Once across 75 and 335, below Topeka, things get really good. This is of a lot of two track min maint stuff and is just amazing (for this street rider). This pic doesn't do it justice. There are a lot of rutted roads back in here between Burlingame, Topeka and Eskridge.

Good times ahead!

I can tell now my limit is about 80 miles of gravel. I hit about 100 miles of it and was starting to get lost, panic am I every going to find 4!?!?, 91 gas? It looks like rain. Turn around? Not like me normally I have a rock solid sense of direction and am not easily panicked. Last Saturday I did 80 gravel from Harrisonville to Odessa and I started getting tired at about 80 also and actually wanted a Zumo then, and got out my phone to use as a compass (wuss!).

I zig zagged one intersection west for one north trying to hit Eskridge once past 335. Usually I had no choice as some of the roads went to trail/ tall grass and those clouds were dark. Most intersections back in there have a dominant road [usually in this area I noticed of the 4 at an intersection 2-good, 1-two track, 1-trail]. Had I been more alert - all good roads go to 4 or 99 would have been obvious (like 8 mile should have been blaringly obvious to a blind man). Hit pavement and buzzed up to Alma and got gas and then hit all kinds of state highways coming home. Once I was out on the highways I saw every road I had hit coming out - and laughed about how I was getting a bit nuts in there at the end.


Once I was following a 4x4 that just went axle deep in mud in some hole. Time to turn around for the second time today. I turned around and went down another trail over a creek and was fine. Mud - constant power and lean back. Trial and error by this numb nut.

Overall it was great. The roads are just amazing. Farmers drive down when you stop and chat. (I guess I look like a sheep thief? Actually it was really nice, what ifs come to mind fast when rolling down a trail with stuff hitting your tires hard)

Pavement - ran from Eskridge to Alma to Manhattan and back and then to 56 towards 59/10/435 to home.
Flint hills - Looking back toward Eskridge on 4/99.
No dents or bashes yet. All tools, tubes, air cartridges in the bag.

It won't be my last run out there. Next time I might forgo gravel from Olathe taking 56 to 59 and then gravel. This way I can make it to Skyline and Rockton roads in the Flint Hills before I am exhausted. I really wanted to hit those but was just too done by the time I found 4 (between Topeka and Eskridge). 100 gravel, 160 pavement. 8 hours. Nice half day vac.

[Savage]

Good read. I like your excitement!

[Creekside]

Thanks! Its like a mini world trip out to places. Flint hills is cool.

Alma is nice, have fun out there Saturday, wish I could redo that trip and camp in town there (or somewhere) in my tent but not going to happen.

[ajayhawkfan]

I think you got it. Ride payment to get out of the city and then start picking the roads.