The Cottonwood 200 is a three-day bicycle tour on paved roads through the Flint Hills of northeast Kansas. The ride covers 200 miles (75 miles day one; 50 miles day two; 75 miles day three) over the Memorial Day Weekend. It is a loop tour that starts and ends at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
The route covers some of the best cycling terrain in the state, using some of the same paths used by Native Americans, settlers, and cattle drives. The route will cross through lands that are the historic home of the Kaw (or Kansa) Indians, after whom the state of Kansas is named. Parts of the route follow the original Santa Fe Trail, used by settlers in their journey to the American southwest. The route follows paved secondary roads, and includes SAG (rest) stops with bountiful food and water approximately every 10-15 miles. The route has been planned to allow you to take food and water breaks at various towns as well as at the SAG stops.
This is a tour of the Flint Hills of Kansas, so the terrain is a combination of flats and hills. While there are no mountains in Kansas, the Flint Hills surprise some riders with their size - most of the grades are gradual, but some are over a mile in length. Adding to the challenge is the Kansas wind, which on any particular day could be a headwind or a tailwind, and could average over 30 mph. It is impossible to say what the wind will be like, but it is a good bet that on at least one day, the riders will face a headwind and on at least one day they will have a refreshing tailwind.
The Cottonwood 200 is hosted by the Kaw Valley Bicycle Club.
Web Site: cottonwood200.org
Location: Topeka, KS
Event Info:
| Date | Ride |
|---|---|
| 05-26-2012 | Cottonwood 200 - A 200-mile, three-day bicycle tour through the Flint Hills of northeast Kansas, covering some of the best cycling terrain in the state, and using some of the same paths used by Native Americans, settlers, and cattle drives. |
