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6th annual Tour de Loco

July 10, 2010

Benefiting American Legion Baseball & Mount Vernon City Park

The Start:  Thanks to the City of Mt. Vernon for the use of their facilities.  Parking, bathrooms and a cookout after the ride make a great place for the Tour de Loco.  Upon completion of the ride our cooks will treat you burgers, dogs, homemade cookies and watermelon.

 Start to Rest Stop 1:  The ride begins with a spin out of Spirit of 76 Park and around the Mt. Vernon square.  A couple of miles later we cross under I-44 into the country.  The next 7 miles are flat to gentle slopes.  The Scary Fast descent before "Smiley Face Hill" has been rerouted by the county.   It now goes straight over the hill instead of winding around the hill.  The only thing still scary is the unpaved road.  (If not paved before the 2009 Tour de Loco we have an alternate route across Honey Creek)  You will get a lung check going up three short climbs beginning with "Smiley Face Hill".  The 2009 edition did bypass "Smiley Face Hill".  It is mostly flat and fast to Aurora.  There's a tricky crossing on Highway 39 heading into Rest Stop 1.  

Rest Stop 1 to Rest Stop 2:  A series of rollers starts the next session.  After about 4 miles there is a quick downhill that's ruined with a stop sign.  Next is what most riders consider the prettiest part of the ride - "The Valley".  You will follow a river and farm lands for about another 4 miles.  After ascending a long grade out of The Valley the ride enters the Amish country.  Watch out for horse and buggies.  After crossing the railroad there is a fast downhill with a quick turn on "Freddie corner".  Climb back up to Rest Stop 2, the busiest and most well stocked of the ride.  Stop in for watermelon and homemade cookies.

Rest Stop 2 to Rest Stop 3:  Shortly after Rest Stop 2 are sod farms in the Spring River Valley.  The ride takes a newly paved road on "The Other Side of the Valley".  This side is more rolling with miles of farmland.  The ride turns out of the other side of the Valley with a challenging climb up the "Col de Loco" to "3 Fox Road".  Next is the prairie around Friestatt.  There are several miles of rolling slopes on narrow roads.

Rest Stop 3 to Rest Stop 4:  Continuing west on the narrow country roads until the ride turns north at "Dry Valley".  After trekking for about 3 miles you will drop down to a low water bridge that is usually dry.  The 2007 Tour de Loco Sag staff hauled riders and bikes thru the water.  The short ascent after the low water bridge is "The Wall".  Due to high water and washed out roads the 2008 Tour de Loco had to bypass the low water bridge and "The Wall".  The 2009 route returned to "The Wall".  The route crosses over I-44 to Rest Stop 4.

Rest Stop 4 to Rest Stop 5:  The ride turns east toward Mt. Vernon.  There are several long, gentle slopes heading to "Top of the World".  Going down "Top of the World" hill you can see for miles.  Enjoy the mile long rolling rest stop.  The next 2 miles follows another valley on rare Loco asphalt roads. The ride winds on a narrow road before turning back east to Rest Stop 5.

Rest Stop 5 to Finish:  Back down into the Spring River Valley brings more sod farms and a ride along the river.  Don't get too comfortable as "Baptist Hill" is the next challenge.  The 2009 ride had a rest stop at Baptist Hill with a near off road adventure behind the hill to the springs.  Next comes 3 Tier hill before turning back toward Mt. Vernon.  Next is a long downhill view of the downtown square and you've completed the best ride in southwest Missouri.

The 2009 Tour de Loco had a 33 mile century loop that went back to the Mt. Vernon Square and headed south toward the Interstate before dropping into the Spring River Valley.  Six miles into the century loop is biggest challenge on the loop, a climb up the other side of "Baptist Hill".  The route headed north to the town of Miller.  The route back to the finish followed part of the Locozoomos "Sunday Loop" before finishing back at Spirit of 76 Park.