Mid South

Hard

Date

2026-03-13

Location

Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

Distance

161 km

Elevation

N/A

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER

ID: MID-SOUTH

GR SCORE

/ 100

TIER 2

~/dossier/mid-south $ cat briefing.md

▌ Red dirt, unpredictable skies, and the best after-party in gravel.

A Bobby Wintle production — equal parts hometown festival, early-season classic, and meteorological roulette. The famous red dirt either dusts you or buries you in clay.

EFFORT47/70

EXPER.54/70

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14 SCORING DIMENSIONS

· Inside the rating

$ ./radar --plot

MID SOUTH

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EFFORT MATRIX

· Physical demands · 7 vectors

$ ./bench --effort

LENGTH07/10

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07/10161 km / 100 mi flagship; gravel + dirt mix

161 km / 100 mi flagship; gravel + dirt mix

CLIMBING06/10

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06/10~1,800 m of constant Oklahoma rollers

~1,800 m of constant Oklahoma rollers

DURABILITY08/10

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08/10Mud years are bike-eaters; even dry years pound the body

Mud years are bike-eaters; even dry years pound the body

TECHNICALITY07/10

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07/10Wet red clay is a ridable hike. Dry, it is fast and rough.

Wet red clay is a ridable hike. Dry, it is fast and rough.

HEAT04/10

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04/10Mid-March: 5-20 °C window, often cool and damp

Mid-March: 5-20 °C window, often cool and damp

WIND07/10

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07/10Open prairie wind shapes group dynamics

Open prairie wind shapes group dynamics

RACE PRESSURE08/10

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08/10Pro field shows up; early-season form check

Pro field shows up; early-season form check

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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

· Race quality · 7 vectors

$ ./bench --experience

ADVENTURE07/10

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07/10Stillwater + the surrounding red dirt is its own world

Stillwater + the surrounding red dirt is its own world

SCENERY06/10

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06/10Rolling Oklahoma — pretty in spring, austere otherwise

Rolling Oklahoma — pretty in spring, austere otherwise

ORGANIZATION09/10

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09/10Bobby Wintle and District Bicycles run a tight, warm event

Bobby Wintle and District Bicycles run a tight, warm event

VALUE08/10

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08/10Reasonable entry, town-wide hospitality

Reasonable entry, town-wide hospitality

COMMUNITY10/10

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10/10Hugs at the finish line are a known feature

Hugs at the finish line are a known feature

ACCESSIBILITY06/10

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06/10Sells out fast but no lottery — first-come

Sells out fast but no lottery — first-come

FIELD DEPTH08/10

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08/10Pros use it as a season opener; deep mid-pack

Pros use it as a season opener; deep mid-pack

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GREEN FLAGS

$ ./pros

[+]The most welcoming finish line in gravel
[+]Multiple distances: 100 / 50 / 25 mile + run
[+]Stillwater pours itself into hosting the event
[+]Reasonable price for a major US race
[+]Music, food trucks, and after-party are part of the deal
[+]A real test of equipment choice (clay vs dust)

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RED FLAGS

$ ./cons

[!]Mud years can destroy bikes mid-race
[!]Sells out within hours of registration opening
[!]No mid-course bailouts in some years
[!]Cold, wet March weather is its own hazard
[!]Limited Stillwater hotel inventory

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RIDER FIT

· Match by archetype

$ match-rider --types

Adventure TouristPRIME · 8/10

Festival vibe rewards riders who care about the experience

Endurance MulePRIME · 8/10

Mud or dust, it is a long, gritty 100

Wind WarriorGOOD · 7/10

Echelons matter on the open prairie

Privateer ProPRIME · 8/10

Early-season visibility for sponsored riders

ClimberOK · 4/10

Rolling but no real climbs to leverage

SpeedsterGOOD · 6/10

Dry years reward fast-rolling setups

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⚡ SIGNATURE CHALLENGE

The clay lottery

Two weeks of dry weather and the Mid South is fast and rowdy. A single overnight rain and it becomes the hardest 100 miles you have ever attempted. You find out which version you got at mile 12.

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TIRE INTEL

· Setup recommendation

$ rubber --recommend

WIDTH

40-45 mm

PRESSURE

26-32 psi

PATTERN

Mid-knob with mud-clearing channels

The red clay is the variable. In dry years a fast-rolling tire wins; in wet years anything without mud clearance turns into an anchor. Most regulars run a slightly knobbier tire than they would for Unbound.

▶ TOP PICKS

1.WTB Resolute[42mm]— Reliable mud clearance, durable casing

2.Maxxis Rambler[45mm]— Versatile mid-knob for the dust-or-mud lottery

3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M[40mm]— Balanced, predictable in mixed conditions

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WEATHER PLAYBOOK

· What the sky throws at you

$ forecast --race

Mid-March Oklahoma: highs 12-20 °C, lows near freezing, wind 25-50 km/h common. Rain in the week before turns the course into clay. Pack waterproof shoes and a wind shell.

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