Looks super fun . Of course Ohio would screw up a gravel race.
Official Rules:
ANY outside assistance besides what is publicly available via businesses along the way is prohibited and will result in disqualification from the official results.
Participants must carry their own supplies. Refilling water from streams along the way is not recommended. The route will pass through towns and it is advised that supplies are purchased along the way from these locations. THERE ARE NO AID STATIONS OR CUT-OFF TIMES. Riders must navigate through and complete the entire route.
Drafting. Participants may ride together side-by-side. (i.e. self supported means no drafting either…)
A bike race without drafting is just a triathlon missing two legs of the event. Or a gravel TT. Either way, not sure what problem they are trying to solve with those rules.
They’re mimicking the ultra-endurance/bikepacking rules like other events in the same style:
AGAIN, the update for 2023’s Race: WE NOW ARE OFFERING THIS RACE AS A FREE BIKEPACKING RACE. In the theme of great events such as the Tour Divide, Arkansas High Country, Trans Iowa (RIP) and Crush the Commonwealth…
Makes sense, some of those events allow drafting, some don’t.
Any reports from Core4? I was in town dropping off my daughter for her freshman year and barely saw any sign of the race. There was one car in our hotel garage that had bikes on a rack in the back (bold move leaving them there overnight), but that was about it.
Saw Dillman beat Chase Wark, which is pretty impressive, IMO. Would have loved to do the race, but I have been sidelined for a week with a kidney stone (2 trips to the ER last weekend) and plus my focus was on my daughter this weekend. Hoping to maybe do it next year.
Anyone else signed up for Gray Duck Grit in MN this weekend? I’m doing the 69-mile race again. If the “Who’s registered” section on BikeReg is correct, 4 of the top 5 from last year are returning, including @wik04.
Last year’s winner soloed away at the start and won by 30 minutes, so the strongest rider by a significant margin, more than 12% my elapsed time from last year. He’s signed up again and since I doubt I’m 12% faster than last year, I’m wondering how to approach a race when there are known large discrepancies in fitness (assuming he shows up). Last year, he had aerobars and attacked after the neutral start. There was a brief attempt to follow, but then everyone (myself included) figured “if he can stay away now, he deserves to win” and the already-disorganized chase gave up. I guess the first thing to try would be make more of an attempt to stick on his wheel initially, knowing his strength. It’s a 3-4 hour race, though, so wheel-sucking for that entire time doesn’t seem feasible. Mark his attacks (if possible) and then contribute minimally in any breaks? Try to organize more of a concerted chase with others? Obviously, it’s impossible to say how the race will play out, but it’ll be interesting going in knowing how last year went.
This year will be a little different because not only is last year’s winner coming, but lots of other fast guys will be there. I have four friends doing it this year that are all fast and there is another guy that could probably solo away from the solo winner last year. So it will be interesting.
I’m glad to hear there should be some more parity! Looking forward to trying to hang on. Know anything about this year’s course? The map and profile make it look like fewer turns and more hills.
I haven’t really compared it to last year, but garmin is showing six climbs, none of which are very long and maybe one that has any steepness? So I’m not sure how decisive any of the climbs will be. We do descend Shady Lane again, which is pretty sketchy and could be more so with a larger group. But that’s only a half mile of a 69 mile course so if a group breaks up there, the following section is road to come back together. I’m def not planning on being on the podium or anything, but it will be a more fun and faster race this time.
Wow, quite the series of events leading up to the race. Congrats on the podium! If I don’t get sleep, I turn into a lethargic monster. There’s no way I’m riding my bike on that little sleep. Good on ya!
Great Plains Gravel Cup. Let’s not argue about geography. New points series for 2025 of some great existing events. Six races, x4 Kansas, x1 in Missouri and Nebraska. Link attached.
I take that back. The route on garmin connect website is showing 6 climbs. But once on my garmin, it is now showing 12, 4 of which are average 5-6% so those will be hard. The others are 3%ers so not too bad in a pack.
Compare the watts, not the time. The % is going to be smaller or non-existent. Yes, it’s asymmetric warfare with aerobars. Clearly a marked rider and treat him as such. The aero wattage reduction is obviously huge. He will likely attack from the back on a downhill or perhaps a flat section early on. As long as you (all) are marking him and verbally communicating with each other you should be able to hold his wheel when he puts out his initial attack.
If you are in a break with him, you should not be pulling. Or pull at your own peril when you get popped from exhaustion since you never get any recovery. You will be doing AT LEAST as much power as him just holding his wheel on the flats. You can pull a bit on uphills where aerobars don’t matter and he’s gotta carry the extra weight up. He will eventually attack you going over the top of a hill hoping to get enough speed difference such that you can’t attach to his wheel. In an aerobars position he can sustain a faster MPH than you and it’s game over for you trying to catch in your curly bars.
There is usually a bit of gravel beef said prior to set you up for his imminent attack as he conveniently stages himself somewhere behind you perhaps with a 20 foot sprinters gap. Now I don’t know this person, but I’ve been in breaks with aerobar-equipped riders and it’s not a death knell, but you can’t pretend you are ‘equals’ and ignore any commentary around equal participation. Think equity.
He’s going to have more than you to lose by the break getting swallowed up. He also can only do so many of high output sneak attacks. Maybe he wins the sprint anyways, maybe he reads this as decides to not bother and leave the tri-bars at home
I’m confused. Are you referring to a race where aero bars aren’t allowed and someone is using them? Also, have you ever used them?
I often use aero bars on my gravel bike, and they help a lot but not even remotely close to drafting in a group. I did an 82 mile partial group ride a couple months ago on my gravel bike. When I was with a group (not on aero bars when drafting obviously) I was easily riding 22-24 mph over 5 mile segments. When I was riding solo for about 1/3 the ride, I was using about the same power (measured) to maintain around 19 mph on the aero bars.
I’m surprised more gravel riders don’t use them, on races where they’re allowed. Your post talks about them like they’re cheating or something - hopefully you were referring to a race where they aren’t permitted.
Anyone going to Chequamegon this weekend? I’ll be there on a bright green Blur with 2.4" MaxxSpeed Aspens. Conditions look very nice, a dry course but slightly humid and 70s. A bit warm and humid for my tastes but it’ll make watching the pro finish very comfortable.
How’d Chequamegon go for you? I ended up going 2:46, which I was pleasantly surprised with. The whole day was a battle though, I felt terrible from the first climb, but just kept on pushing through. I was 7 minutes off my best, but admittedly I’m 15lbs heavier than I want to be and didn’t do nearly the VO2 max I should have been doing leading into the race. Also, somehow I’m always surprised by how damn hilly it is.
. Of course Ohio would screw up a gravel race.
