Great news for Brown County today as it was announced that there is going to a great addition to the Brown County Trail System.  The parks are continually looking for ways to increase revenue for the parks to keep them in the black. 
 
It was announced today that the Hoosiers Nest Cabin, in partnership with several local breweries,  is going be converted into a craft beer pub.  Plans are still in the works, but a trailside pub should be a gold mine of revenue for BCSP.
 
Concessions likely have to be made to other user groups, who are demanding that Bud Light be available as well, but overall reception has been great.
 
 

So, who is going to win this year? None of the favorites have signed up yet that I can see. Don Galligher is the king until someone dethrones him.  I am not sure who he is racing with this year, maybe Mike Hemelgarn, as a guess?  The Polish Powerhouses (that should be their team name) of Tomas Golasz and Pawel Rutklowski have the horsepower to win it.  Possibly Matt Battin and Jake Virostko of the Bicycle Station?
Is this the year that a roadie can win it? Who are the fast roadie teams?
In the Co-ed Division, the only team that I can see knocking off  the Bond/Renschler team are the Blumericks as I watched them come around me at the end of the Gravel Grovel and finish strong.
The 10 day forcast looks frigid, so will it be frozen on race day?  I know that will make some of the trail options fast for a good mountain biker. Is it an advantage or disadvantage?
I had this as a response to Tania's thread, but decided it was hijacking it, so created my own thread.

I am looking forward to race conditions that look like high 30s/low 40s, raining and windy. A nice test of mental toughness.  We have group of 7 of us heading up Thursday Night. I am getting to start in Wave 2 this year, so I should have a fairly clean course.

Does anyone have an Iceman entry available?  I have a friend looking for one.

I just got my Rumblefish back from the Bicycle Station. I tend to pay attention to my race bike (Superfly 100) and just ride and abuse my Rumblefish.  I just had the fork rebuilt, headset repacked, new chain, brake pads, rear wheel trued, new rear shock bushings. 
If you have ridden the heck out of your bike all spring and summer, you may want to freshen it up at bit.  I didnt realize how bad it was riding until I got it back. Night and Day.

Who do you think will win the Death March this year?  Here are my top 4 predictions:
Galligher/Rutkowski- to be the champ, you have to beat the champ.
Battin/Slowinski- There are no faster mountain bikers entered
Hemelgarn/Tomasz-Hemelgarn took 3rd last year and Tomasz is an aerobic freak. I saw Mike about everytime I rode out there.
Proctor/Weaver-Best team most people probably do not know about-They have put in a ton of scouting miles and can aerobically destroy me.
Who am I overlooking? Who are the ringer teams from out of the area?

Matt Battin is leading the first trail work day at Columbus Youth Camp on Sunday 12/2 from 10-12ish. The address is 12454 West Youth Camp Road  Columbus, IN 47201.
 
This should be a great new trail as Columbus Youth Camp has some hilly terrain very similiar to BCSP and Ganw Bone Camp.  It is located 3-4 miles west of Columbus.  In talking to Matt, it can support about a 8-10 mile trail system. It will incorporating some existing trail that is already in place along with new, so there is a head start in getting it going.
 
This has been planned for a while and now is ready to move some dirt.  Come on out if you can.

It should be a fun time.  No solo 24 for me this year as I am part of a 4 man team.  I may actually get to enjoy some of the comraderie and festivities, instead of just riding by in a zombie-like state.