Photos: The Almanzo 100 Gravel Road Race

"Oh, it'd be better if the wind weren't blowing," says Nate Eide, of Two Harbors, of riding conditions. Standing by while their dad tended to his bike in Preston are Iver Eide, left, and Levi Eide.

"The roads are great. There's a few sections with a lot of pea gravel on it, but mostly there's a good line and it's hard packed," said Darian Nagle-Gamm, of Iowa City, left, at the almost 40-mile checkpoint in Preston. "Yep, the roads are in good shape." Amaris Hanson, of Iowa City, is also pictured.

"I think this is the coldest it's ever been," says Almanzo 100 founder Chris Skogen, right, who watches riders in Spring Valley. Spring Valley Tourism Director Kathy Simpson is also pictured.

Riders line up Saturday morning for the start of the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which began and ended in Spring Valley. About 1,000 riders -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- participated.

The Spring Valley VFW Color Guard presents the colors for the national anthem at the beginning of the Almanzo 100 Saturday morning in downtown Spring Valley.

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About 1,000 riders -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- participate Saturday in the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which began and ended in Spring Valley.

About 1,000 bikers -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- rolled out for the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which was held Sat., May 14 and began in Spring Valley. Approximately half of those riders completed the race.

About 1,000 bikers -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- rolled out for the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which was held Sat., May 14 and began in Spring Valley. Approximately half of those riders completed the race.

About 1,000 bikers -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- rolled out for the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which was held Sat., May 14 and began in Spring Valley. Approximately half of those riders completed the race.

Riders traverse the terrain just west of Fountain. Nicknamed the "granddaddy of gravel road races," the Almanzo 100 began in 2007 in Rochester and has since exploded and moved to Spring Valley. Included in the route were the towns of Preston, Forestville, Cherry Grove and Wykoff.

Cue sheets for the route of the ride are a necessity for bikers.

"Pocket sandwiches. That's what we call them," says Jeremy Staff, of Nodine, between bites that included peanut butter and bananas while catching a short break in Preston. "So good. Some real sustenance."

About 1,000 riders swarmed Main Street in Spring Valley for the start of the Almanzo 100 May 14.

About 1,000 riders -- some from as far away as France, Guatemala and Manitoba -- participate Saturday in the Almanzo 100 gravel road race, which began and ended in Spring Valley. Greg Alexander, of Woodbury, is pictured.

"My husband is an avid cyclist. He biked these roads the day of our wedding and actually got lost," says Julie Pettes, who is originally from Spring Valley and now lives in Savage. "That's what I do," she said of watching for him and cheering him on.

"Mixed drinks are the best," says rider Andy Tetmeyer, center, of St. Paul, who indulged in a small Whiskey Coke made available at the station in Preston. Ben Cunningham, of St. Paul, left, and Dan Gaz, of Rochester, are also pictured.

"I try to find a good race," said a smiling Thyb Le Guen, of France, who noted they don't have gravel road races in his country. "And now I'm here. We'll see what happens during this long day."