I’ve been toying with the idea of riding the Truckee Dirt Fondo, but I’m hesitating because I don’t want to ride in something and be out of place. Thinking about doing the medium route (58 miles, 4,117’) on my gravel bike (Lynskey GR300).
I’ve ridden casually for many years, but started training with TR maybe about 1.5 years ago. Been doing the mid volume Gran Fondo plan most of that time I believe. Going off the FTP and w/KG charts Nate posted here a while back I am very average. 36 year old male, FTP ~250, w/KG of about 3.2. I’m not particularly interested in racing/competing. I like to ride hard with my riding buddies but not necessarily compete. Definitely not interested in the “argy bargy” nature of crit racing as I’ve heard Jon say on the podcast. I guess I’m mainly interested in measuring myself against myself (PRs on routes, PRs for power, etc). Just trying to show where my competitive mindset (or lack thereof) is.
I’m primarily interested in riding the Truckee Dirt Fondo to get out riding in a scenic new area I’ve never ridden before and to not have to worry about running out of food/water because of the event aid stations. Also safety in numbers vs. cars. Basically I would treat this like the fondo (metric century) I did last year. Ride decently hard, but not completely burying myself trying to set a fast time. Wouldn’t mind working into a pace line if I can find a group riding about where I want to. Maybe .75 - .80 IF?
If I were to enter this event and ride as described, would I be out of place? Is everyone out there going to be dropping wattage bazookas and I’d be quickly dropped? I am under no illusion that I will be anywhere close the front, but are there going to be others out there riding as I’ve described? I just don’t want to enter something too spicy and be the last person out on course dragging ass into the finish line as things are packing up.
I’m not familiar with this particular event but everything you described sounds like you’d be a perfect fit for it. Some will certainly race a fondo but they’ll be out of sight soon enough and, based on your self-reported w/kg, sounds like you’d comfortably fit in the middle of the pack and have plenty of people to ride with. Go enjoy it!
Just wanted to confirm what @rkoswald and @User_One said…there’s always a group up front who want to race, but most folks go to these events to have fun, a great ride, and meet like minded cyclists.
Sounds like it would be a great event for you. Typically those events have some racers up front and the rest of the folks are just out enjoying the day, gaining some fitness on a marked and catered ride If you have any questions about your equipment (esp tire size and gearing), my suggestion is to message the race organizer ahead of time to make sure you have an appropriate set up, IMO those the things that can make you have a bad time.
Let us know if you do it and how it went!
That is every fondo as the cat 1s form at the front and do 250+ watts at tempo while you are sucking wind at threshold trying to hold their wheels.
But you’ll quickly be in the company of people around your ability as you all get dropped together.
Really, don’t worry about it. Go have fun. There will be lots of people to fit in with. These events are about testing yourself and having a good time.
Depending on where you are coming from. Truckee is at roughly 6000ft in elevation and you can gain elevation quickly. So if you are coming up from lower elevation take that into consideration when setting a pacing strategy. sign up have fun
I generally agree with the posts above. I’m signed up (since fall of 2019 ) and have ridden the area several times. It won’t be an easy ride with the terrain and altitude, but there will be a group of very fast folks out there who want to hammer, and even more who just want to enjoy the ride. I’d imagine with that w/kg and decent prep for the distance, you would be right along with a lot of participants. The main thing to decide will be how long do you want to try to stay with the fast group vs. finding a more comfortable group to ride with.
Since COVID has been going on, we have done I think 3 or 4 DIY Truckee Dirt Fondo’s, and they have all been lots of fun.
I’ve done the race before and will be doing the medium route as well this year. There will be a large mix of folks out there for sure so I don’t think you will be out of place at all.
It is a pretty hard ride, lot’s of climbing and a couple very steep ones in particular. My FTP & w/kg the first time I did it were pretty close to yours and the medium route took me 4:30ish at an IF of .73. I was in a pace line early on, but once the climbs started things split up very quickly. I was around others for most of the 1st half of the race, but was solo quite a bit the 2nd half. I did not do the best job with nutrition that day so I was suffering pretty good the last 1/4 of my day. That said there were still plenty of people still rolling in after I finished.
Plus it seemed like the majority of folks did the longer route and the routes merge on the back half of the course so you’ll be mixed in with all of them.
It’s an awesome ride and a beautiful area. I’m excited to give it a go again this summer.
I’m just below average on the famous bell curve (around 2.7) and been thinking about signing up for a local “race” but just for a nice ride with like-minded folks (and support). They have a “fun” ride that’s part of it as well but it’s only 20 miles where as the race is a 50 and would clearly be more of a challenge. I had the fear of coming in an hour later than everyone else and them pointing and laughing as I roll in half dead…sounds like there are a lot others with my similar reason for riding it. Signing up now!*
*well after I let this sit for a bit to make sure people don’t tell me my 2.7 is pathetically slow and my fears will be realized.
It is a pretty hard ride, lot’s of climbing and a couple very steep ones in particular. My FTP & w/kg the first time I did it were pretty close to yours and the medium route took me 4:30ish at an IF of .73. I was in a pace line early on, but once the climbs started things split up very quickly. I was around others for most of the 1st half of the race, but was solo quite a bit the 2nd half. I did not do the best job with nutrition that day so I was suffering pretty good the last 1/4 of my day. That said there were still plenty of people still rolling in after I finished.
Thanks, super helpful. One thing that kind of spooked me was the Strava link for the medium route said something like riding time of 7.5 hours. That… would be brutal. 4.5 is MUCH more doable.
Awesome. Honestly you’ll love the event. I’ll be staying near Northstar that weekend. Makes for an EZ ride to the race start at the airport that morning.
I’d like to challenge the mindset. I haven’t been to Truckee, but in general gravel events will embrace you. Many even have a DFL award, as they respect the person with the grit to suffer the longest. Mid-South had pros hanging out to cheer for the last rider a few weeks ago.
Speaking from experience: I was DFL @ Kanza a few years back, rolling in with seconds left while they were breaking down the finish. It’s one of my best cycling memories.
I’ve done some races by this promoter (Bike Monkey) and they’re always fun. The crowd is a diverse mix of hammers and the rest of us. Like any longer race/ride, packs will form and split and form again. At your W/kg, you’ll have a ton of fun.
As an aside, this was originally the Sagan Dirt Fondo and can attract some bigger names. Peter Stetina, Levi Leipheimer, Jeff Kabush, Katarina Nash, the TR crew and many more all have connections to Truckee or nearby so who knows who may show up.
Don’t let those people dissuade you though as Truckee is a great place to hang out and ride. I suggest you spend a few days extra and explore Tahoe too. There’s more gravel riding, good road riding and excellent mountain biking nearby.
Since it is 6000 feet, drink way more water than normal and be prepared for any weather. It might be 90 degrees or could be 35 degrees and snowing.
If you have any questions about your equipment (esp tire size and gearing), my suggestion is to message the race organizer ahead of time to make sure you have an appropriate set up, IMO those the things that can make you have a bad time.
) and have ridden the area several times. It won’t be an easy ride with the terrain and altitude, but there will be a group of very fast folks out there who want to hammer, and even more who just want to enjoy the ride. I’d imagine with that w/kg and decent prep for the distance, you would be right along with a lot of participants. The main thing to decide will be how long do you want to try to stay with the fast group vs. finding a more comfortable group to ride with.