BikeOhio1000

The Funk Bottoms Gravel race is the preeminent gravel bike race in Ohio. I have never competed in it, but I have it on my radar for next year. I had the time, and the weather was decent so I thought I would go for a recon ride. Didn’t do much research for prep. Decent weather meant 55 rain and windy as I left Cleveland at 5:45 AM for my 100 plus mile trek to the Holmes/Wayne county line and Big Prairie, Ohio which is the start point for the race (which took place in June).  Big Prairie is a slice of mid-Ohio apple pie, rolling hills, farm land and county/township gravel roads galore.

My first challenge actually started before the ride, just getting to Big Prairie, as several roads we blocked by high water adding an extra 1/2 hour to my travel time. It also raised my anxiety level a bit as I was concerned I would run into the same when I was out of the road. Along with that, I am riding solo, 100 miles from home in some pretty remote country, fingers crossed.

 

 

I parked at “Lake Park” in Big Prairie, loaded up and headed out. It only took about 200 yards before the first hill on Twp 508; here we go. As my pictures demonstrate, the surfaces change often from gravel/old chip and seal, to hard-packed stone/dirt. There is the occasional asphalt road, most with lots of patch work.

 

I have no suspension system on my Fuji Jari so there were several rough section. I’m running 35’s. You are always only focusing on the next 100 feet and not much relaxing going on. When out in the open, the wind was hollowing at times. Some of the smaller rollers you can sling-shot from one to the next, but there were easily a dozen climbs where I had to roll thru the entire cassette.

As you head south from Big Prairie the route takes you to Holmes 280. When heading out you go left, so the ride is in a 50 mile clockwise circle (kind of LOL).

I didn’t do a lot of planning but was confident there we are least a few towns on or near the route where I could stop to re-fuel/hydrate. The town of Killbuck is about 21 miles out on the route. I grab a drink at the Marathon station next to the river, which was swollen and looked to be only 3-4′ below the bridge.

Killbuck

Just before the crossroad called Tiverton Center, my rear tire went down. Quick change and back on the road.  Started to fall back into a rhythm as I rolled towards the town of Glenmont near the 53 mile marker on the route. Also note that just after my flat, I miss a turn and rode about 2 miles before discover my error. Minimal cell service AND there are about 70 road changes on the route. Another thing, there were no signs of the remnant red and green starboard/port turn markers still in site from the race in June.  No worries.

 

I was able to top off my water bottles at the school/polling location, then quickly headed out. Just out of Glenmont off Holmes 52 is Knox Twp 222. At the fork as you go to the right is the steepest/longest climb of the ride, quite the b _ ll buster.

 

Up & down like a gavel roller coaster. 🙂

It was a challenging day in the saddle. Can’t say I every got comfortable and the ride requires a lot of concentration. Going solo in isolated areas always keeps me on edge as well. I hope to find a few riding partners and return in June for the race.

When I back out my wrong turn extra miles and time, It was a little more than 5 1/2 hours. My phone lost signal several times but it had me at a little over 6,000 feet of climbing. I usually don’t track that much, but now I have a good barometer of what that means.  As Forest Gump once said, “I’m tired now, I think I’ll go home.”

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