7th Annual Dakota Five-0
Sept. 2, 2007
Spearfish, SD

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The Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club hosted the 7th annual Dakota Five-O, Sunday
September 2nd in Spearfish, South Dakota. 271 riders participated in the event
making this the largest cycling event hosted in the Black Hills. 50 miles of tough trails under bluebird skies challenged riders’ endurance, and ridding skills. In the end Spearfish’s Dave Olsen captured the overall men’s fastest time, covering the course in less than 4 hours. Fastest overall woman was Roxanne Abbot (Nebraska) finishing in 4 hours and 54 minutes. Both of these riders missed the men and women’s course records by approximately 1 minute, set by Phil and Nancy Busching years prior.

Smokey Bear started riders again this year in Spearfish Park at 7:30am. The riders were led out of town via ATV and held a fast pace up the gravel climb to Tinton Trail. The first man to the singletrack was Ali Goulet followed by a hungry singlespeeder! The race was on up front. Ali continued to lead the ride almost the entire course until a flat slowed him down around mile 35. It was encouraging to have this alert rider follow the course with no mistakes or wrong turns. Luke Kretchmar tailed in a close second for half the race with many others cranking their turns. Jon Nelson veteran rider had a good race and won the 40 & Over finishing in 3:59:30 for second overall. The women 39& under racers had their work cut out chasing Roxanne Abbot. Jenn Dice from Boulder CO finished second and Amber Schult from Minnesota third. Women’s 40 and Over was won by Beth Gouge from Colorado with a time of 5:55:55 nice time! Second was Liliano Perez and third place went to local veteran Five-0 rider Joey Knutson. These 40 and over classes held many riders that are 50 plus in age. Karen Nehl from Rapid City deserves more than mentioning as she has rode the demanding 50 mile course very well for several of the Five-0’s and looks to be 20 something when she is 50 plus! It must pay to ride! Keep up the good work 50 plus and we will be adding a special class next year for this big number of growing riders…

Some riders were observant enough to find $20 envelopes on the course that could be redeemed for an actual $20 bill. We awarded 5 this year one going to our good friend at Acme Bicycles Tim Rangitsch and another two of the three youngest riders all 13 and from Spearfish. Congrats on being some of the youngest guns to finish the ride to Logan Burke, Micheal Grant, and Jake Wendt. Again it pays to watch the markers and ride the Five-0!

Riders were greeted back in Spearfish Park with catered food, microbrew and music. Many fun prizes were awarded. Best Dressed went to Sean Burns from Minnesota for his Dakota Spirit outfit. He rode in jeans, cowboy boots, leather work gloves, lariat, western dress shirt, and cowboy hat affixed to his helmet! He chose a nice Dakota Five-0 mug courtesy of Funk Pottery. A close second was Zito in pinstriped zoot suit or Cross dressing Hooters ?girl?. The impromptu Spirit of Five-0 award went to a cyclocross rider named Don Haywood, from Colorado. Not only did he ride a skinny tired, dropped bar bike but he is 59 years young! His cycling shorts were well worn and outdated and we love this sort of spirit. How bout you?! Had to be there, hope you can.

A big thanks to Jay “Hollywood, I’m almost Married” Henderson for leading out the kids race and actually keeping the lead! It was a big hit as the kids took it very seriously as they should! We had over 17 kids race under 12 years old. Next year we will improve the course and it will be marked all day for kids and adults to
enjoy.

Over $3000 in Cash, jerseys and custom Five-0 mugs were awarded to top finishers. Other cash awarded was $50 to Kara Miller and Mike Peterson for driving the farthest to ride, from Bellingham, WA. We also took our outstanding volunteers to breakfast and hope to have them and a few more back next year as it continues to grow. Let me know if you or someone is interested.

Everyone got a prize, thanks to our overflowing prize table and sponsors. Most importantly the course was well marked and buffed to pleasure your riding experience.

The Ridge Riders would like to thank all the riders, volunteers and sponsors for making the Five-O such a success. I hope everyone finds time ride their bikes everywhere.

Sincerely,
Perry Jewett



*The Dakota Five-0 is featured on the National Geographic website. Check it out here.


Pedal Power,

Perry Jewett
Ridge Riders of the Black Hills