Dirty Kanza goes DKXL Invitation Only

Dirty Kanza Promotions and Salsa Cycles have teamed up to bring a new challenge to the gravel cycling community; DKXL (Dirty Kanza Extra Large)

DKXL is a 350-mile-long gravel cycling adventure through the Flint Hills region of Kansas. DKXL will be held in conjunction with Dirty Kanza weekend, June 1-3, 2018, adding to current DK distance options of 200, 100, 50, and 25 miles.

“DKXL is Dirty Kanza, taken back to the very basics of gravel. It’s the DK that Joel and I first set out to create in 2006. It’s long. It’s hard. It’s Extra-Large. It’s totally rider-self-supported,” says Jim Cummins, Executive Director of Dirty Kanza Promotions.

For 2018, participation in DKXL will be on a “by invitation only” basis. Riders will depart at 4:00 pm on Friday, June 1st, from the heart of DK’s All Things Gravel Expo in downtown Emporia, Kansas. They are expected to complete the 350-mile trek sometime Saturday evening, around the same time DK200 riders are completing their 200-mile challenge. DKXL participants will be totally self-supported during the entire 350-mile challenge, having to rely solely on convenience stores along the route for any resupply. For navigation, riders will rely on GPS route files, along with maps and cue sheets provided by the event promoters.

“We will pilot DKXL in 2018 on a limited basis. Based on what we learn, we’ll then open it up to the entire gravel cycling community in 2019. For this first edition of the DKXL, we hand-selected thirty-four riders who we believe have what it takes to succeed in this challenge. These are seasoned ultra-distance gravel cyclists, many of who are multi-time DK Veterans,” says Cummins. Asked why thirty-four participants, Cummins responded, “That’s the number of riders we had in the inaugural DK200 in 2006. It seemed to us to be the perfect number of riders for the inaugural DKXL.”

“Personal growth and self-challenge are a huge part of what the Salsa brand encourages and promotes. We take those ideas and experiences and then work to make the best machines possible for them,” said Mike Riemer, Salsa Cycles Marketing Manager. He continued, “The DKXL is very exciting to us because it represents a continued progression not just in a gravel event, but in the challenges that riders are looking to take on. I am positive that the Flint Hills of Kansas will dish out another richly rewarding experience.”

For more information, please visit dirtykanza.com

Photo Credit: Neil Shirley, Lyman Agency

Dirty Kanza goes DKXL invitation only