Candisc

[kjay]

Has anyone ever heard of or ridden CANDISC (Cycling Around North Dakota in Sakakawea Country)? My 45th high school reunion takes place in August, and I'd love to tack on a bike tour. Only thing is I can't find any place to rent a road bike in that entire state. I have a hybrid (not good for long tours). Maybe it's not all bad, as there are probably better places to ride in the hot month of August.

http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/recreation...es/candisc.htm

[r900]

Hi, I have cycled candisc quite a few times. I haven't been on many other group rides in other states so I have nothing to compare it to. It can get hot, 100f, and it can be nasty cold if you get caught in a thunderstorm. The last few years there have been about 4-500 riders.It has 2 luggage trucks, port-a-john trailer, a four stall shower trailer ( privacy, clean and hot water) sag wagon, traveling mechanic, and rangers on the route checking on the riders. We usually stay at the school grounds of the towns we ride to. The towns will serve breakfast and supper at the school. Daily mileage is usually 60-70 miles but this year there will be a couple of days that will be about 40 miles. The route will be light to moderate rolling hills. Vehicle traffic will be light until we get close to Bismarck. Rest stops are usually placed about every 20 miles but take that with a grain of salt. Bike rental could be a problem. I would try Val's Cyclery in Minot, ND or Dakota Cyclery in Bismarck and Medora, ND. Dakota Cyclery runs a mountain bike outfitter store in Medora but recently closed their store in Bismarck. There is another bike store in Bismarck but I haven't been there. And there is the Scheel's store in Bismarck but I do not know if they rent. This ride is out in the wide open prairie, no forrests, lots of blue sky. My group of irregulars(pals from canada and bismarck)like to leave early in the day just in case the wind comes up.

[kjay]

Am I ever happy to hear from you, r900! I was beginning to think I'd never hear from anyone about Candisc. I have talked with the mechanic at Val's Cyclery, and he was very helpful, plus I've also called the other shops you mentioned, but no rentals. I am now leaning toward buying a road bike, and might as well if I plan to go on longer rides. Having grown up in No Dak, you'd think I'd remember that it can get hot/cold quickly, but it was so long ago that I have forgotten. I would plan to stay in motels, as I've never camped in my life, nor have I biked over 40 miles in one day. LOL I like to keep pushing myself, though. I've read that this is one of the best supported bike events in the U.S., so I was a bit surprised at your comment, "Rest stops are usually placed about every 20 miles but take that with a grain of salt." But you should know, as you've ridden this several times. I imagine it's safe for a gal to ride alone because of all the support along the way? Thank you so much for responding to my posting. I really appreciate it.

[r900]

Hey, NoDak,welcome aboard! I think you'll have a good time rolling through the state.You'll do fine once you get some mileage under your belt.If you can build your mileage up to 60-70 miles in a day, the week of touring will be fun.There are riders of all ages and abilities so I doubt that you will riding solo.This could be a good year to do a century ride if you have never done one before. This is a well supported ride but some of us like to break camp kinda early just to see the sun rise so sometimes the reststops aren't set up yet. I carry 2 larger water bottles and a camelback so I can go about 60-70 miles without stopping so reststops aren't a big deal for me. You'll miss out on some cameriderie by not camping with the rest of us.You better check for motel rooms soon. The cyclists will double or tripple the population for the day in some of the towns.It is a good time being a tourist!Make sure your bike clothing and gear is broken in and good fitting i.e. shoes,socks, shorts, jerseys , helmet,gloves, bike saddle,pedals,ect.If you're comfortable on your bike,then there is no bad day on a bike.Don't let me forget, there is a traveling masseuse that sets up every day.Crickett is tops for sports therapy. Get a registration form and talk to **** Messerly for any extra info. I can't remember if I ride to eat or if I eat to ride !

[kjay]

r900, you have been sooooo helpful and I can't thank you enough. This means a lot to talk with someone who has actually ridden this ride. I better get my new bike soon so that I can break it in. I find myself really wanting to ride this tour and will call Messerly (actually, I'm not sure he's even there anymore because I keep getting another name on the message recorder) to find out if I can possibly ride the SAG if I absolutely need to. Again, thank you a bunch!

[Kathi]

We're planning on signing up for Candisc, however. we're waiting to make sure I'm back on the bike by then. I'm recovering from ACL surgery.

I agree, camping is more fun, you get to know the group better. One year I did TRIRI by myself and had no problems.

I sort of panicked when I saw the topo map until I realized that there wasn't much difference in elevation.

I'm orginally from Cincinnati and have toured in the east and midwest so this will be my first tour west of Wisconsin.

[kjay]

Great to hear from you regarding Candisc, Kathi. I imagine camping would be fun, but by myself I'm not so sure. I can't imagine having to go outdoors to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I imagine all sorts of things, like forgetting where to go, forgetting where my tent is located on return from the bathroom, stumbling into someone else's tent, etc. I've browsed a number of sites looking for tents and sleeping bags, but to pay all that for a one-time camping outing doesn't sound like the right thing to do for me. But it sure does sound like fun and would definitely be an adventure for me. Good luck with the healing from your surgery. Thankfully, August is a ways away.

[r900]

Hi Kathi and Kjay, I think you'll enjoy candisc. The first few days will be light rolling plains. The long day from Strausberg to Bismarck will be a little more agressive since we'll riding the Missouri breaks. It's quite pretty riding into Bismarck from the south, going along the high buttes and coasting into town at a nice 45mph descent. The sag wagon is a winnebago pulling a bike trailer, nobody gets left behind.The days route gets scoured for any biker that needs a lift. The candisc route changes from year to year, and this is a fairly mild route, but don't count out the winds.Enjoy!

[Kathi]

Good news,

My os has ok'd me to start easy riding around the neighborhood, so we're signing up for Candisc this weekend.

Kjay, I did a tour by myself and camped. I had not camped by myself so I imagined all kinds of scary things. Usually the grounds are lite well enough that walking around at night isn't a problem and I was tired enough that I didn't lay awake worrying about the creatures of the night coming out of the woods to get me.

The only drawback to camping is rain. Packing a wet tent is no fun.

On some of the tours I've been on that stay on school grounds the gyms are open for anyone wanting to sleep inside. Not very private but close to the bathrooms.

[kjay]

Hi, Kathi and r900, and anyone else who reads this. . . .

I am so happy to tell you that I've signed up for the Candisc ride and am really looking forward to it. I decided to reserve motel rooms, as I'm somewhat of a wimp. When I was a little girl, I lived in Steele (one of the Candisc stops along the way), and when I called the motel in Steele, I told them who my father was and his name, and almost broke into tears when the gal said to me, "Oh, is this Karen?" It's been about 50 years since I lived there, so I was stunned out of my mind that anyone there would remember me or my family.

Thanks for your messages. It's so great to connect with gals who are participating in or who have participated in Candisc.

[KabyMom]

Hello kjay, r900 and kathi from a native NoDak. (Now live south of the border in SoDak but my heart is still from the north!)

My parents live SW of Minot and I am thinking of doing CANDISC this year. I've always wanted to and now I went and bought the bike so I'm really interested this year! I think it would work out great for me because my three kids could stay with grandpa and grandma for the week and Garrison is only 30 miles away from them so I'd be set.

kjay, I also would be riding alone and not sure about hotel or camping, leaning towards camping....

I think I need someone to talk me into this....
SoDak has the Tour deKota in June that I am also thinking about doing but have to get registered for that by Apr 15.

Tammy

[kjay]

KabyMom, it's great to hear you're consididering CANDISC. You're so close, and the location is so very convenient for you that I don't know how you could go wrong. I talked with the coordinator (at Ft. Stephenson State Park) this morning, and it helped me to get a better handle on things, such as shuttles from the Bismarck airport to Ft. Stephenson, shipping my bike, etc, etc. He gave me a lot of good info about the terrain, winds, SAG, etc. Staying in motels every night runs around $30 to 40, which is quite reasonable, but naturally not as reasonable as camping every night.

I am in the throes of buying a new bike and just got fitted yesterday, so am really looking forward to taking a tour with my very own new bike. I rented a road bike in Hawaii, but it was too small for me and left bruises all over my legs.

Sounds as though you already have camping gear; so being able to drive to the destination, having your parents so close by, etc., should be some very strong motivators.

Hope to hear soon that you plan to participate.

[r900]

Hi all, How goes the knee therapy Kathi? doing well I hope.Kabymom you must be from that Parshall country? That is nice cycling country. I think I've been through four or five times on candisc. Kjay , do you have that bike picked out yet? I found a book of trip sheets from a couple years back. You can have them if you want, just to see what you'll be using this year. The route is all mapped out on www.ndparks.com . There are no rest stops set yet but the daily maps are done nice and they include altitude changes. I think I will sneak away for a ride tomorrow. cycle on!

[Kathi]

R900, the therapy is going well, I'm ahead of schedule, just giving the graft time to heal. I've been doing some riding outdoors, but finding the right platform pedal, shoe combination is a pain (no clipless). I should be back in the clipless by the end of July.

We got our confirmation and I ordered a new bike. My reward for all the pain and suffering I've gone though the last 3 months.

We have a couple from Tenn who are going to join us. Actually, Karen grew up in N. Dakota, that's how we conned her into the ride.

Things are definately looking up!

[kjay]

I'm always so happy when I see continuing messages re CANDISC. Kathi, it's good to hear you're progressing well and quickly. You'll be raring to go in no time at all. r900, I may be getting a Trek Pilot, but the bike shop had to order it, and it's not in yet. I have yet to test ride the bike, but am thinking I'll like it. I love my hybrid because I can go off-road, but it will be great to be able to go faster with a road bike. I'm spinning like crazy so that I'll be ready for August!