Distance: ~35 miles, ~2.5 - 3.75h.
Climb: 740 feet, Cat 5.
Difficulty: Moderate but can feel long if there’s a head breeze coming back to base camp.
Designed for those who successfully completed the Dam Loop last year. This ride has a little bit of everything to keep the ride interesting. Expect long flat sections where you can put the hammer down to short but steep hills that string the pace line out all surrounded by a nearly pristine prairie panorama that rivals the best South Dakota has to offer.
Route: This medium distance ride follows the same route as the long ride except it turns around at Chantier Creek Store and rolls back to the Oahe Downstream Group Lodge. One rated climb, a 0.6 miler averaging 2.1% wakes you up at about 2 miles. After crossing the dam and taking a right expect two short steep hills (5-6% and 8-10%), though unrated, no doubt you’ll give them your own rating by the time you crest the second one. Pace yourself and enjoy the ride; it doesn’t get any better than this.
After refueling and dehydrating at the turnaround rest stop roll back toward the dam continuing on 1806 past the dam face turn, stopping at the stop sign and continuing down a short but very steep hill. Take a right at the bottom of the hill and head toward the Oahe Group Lodge, take a left at the fee station road, then the first right, grind up the last little rise and park your bike at the Group Lodge where a picnic lunch courtesy of Fisher Rounds Insurance awaits.
Hazards: Cross traffic at intersection does not stop. 5 mph turn at the bottom of Gut Check, some parallel furrows in the seam sealer, low volume traffic, rattlesnakes.
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