August 10, 2007 by Don Vogel
Posted in
Richard Matthews, who's done a great for off-road cycling for almost two decades now, is hosting the 18th(?) annual Mud, Sweat & Gears race this Sunday at Bike Butler.
Butler features a flowing course, w/a couple of short/steep climbs spread out over approx. 4.5 miles.
If you can handle the weather (prediction is in the high 90's) please consider visiting Bike Butler in Carrollton, KY, home to the (by-far) longest running mtb race in the state series.
Be sure to give a special thank you to Richard for sticking with it for so many years.
Note- Butler is a state run facility with excellent camping/lodging and a restaurant on site, along with ample shopping opportunities close by.
Many thanks to Richard and
Many thanks to Richard and all of the trail volunteers who've got Butler in the best shape it's ever been. Some very nice re-routes have been put in place, and there's also been quite a bit of bench cutting to improve some off-camber spots.
The majority of the trail is heavily shaded, so that definitely helped the morning group.
I "raced" (if you can call it that) w/the morning sport group, and tried, without luck, to make it back to Lou., shower and change bikes for the memorial ride over the 2nd street bridge.
Anthony- Freight Train - Slowinski blew by me (ie- lapped me) early on in the race, and actually passed me a second time near the end. (Actually, the entire expert group passed me!) The second time around, another expert came by about one minute behind. Looking forward to seeing the results and lap times posted by the "big-boys."
Once again, the trail system has been greatly improved at Bike Butler over the last year. There's still some short steep climbs, but overall, the trail flows very well. You owe it to yourself to ride Butler.
I have been kicking around
I have been kicking around the idea to race a few times again. I can not think of a place I would rather do that at. I have raced at butler so many times in the past. That was the only place to race when I started. Long before the DINO series.
It is good to see that Richard is still running his races. Not as many a year as the past, but still running races. I guess I am going to have to make it a point to make the next one.
Is the old ski lodge
Is the old ski lodge building still alright looking???? Last time I was there at a race in 2000 it was doing fine then. I like the trails at Butler. A nice mixture of different elements....