BikeOhio1000

It is finally here, the BRX; been on the calendar for a long time. Definitely has created a focus for me with training and diet. I have dropped 25 pound of holiday and winter fat. Gone keto-esk (low Carb) and no alcohol for 2 1/2 months.  My reward is this 62 mile gravel challenge. Bring it on!

My wife, Staci and I, head up to Hastings, Michigan on Friday the 12th. Heavy rain for nearly half the drive. Not too excited about the idea of riding all day in the rain so hoping the weather improves. By the time we arrive, the skies are clear and dry. Yeah.

Hastings is a charming town, the county seat of Barry Co.  Nice downtown area with shops and eateries, along with some cool sculptures and art work on display.

 

 

 

Grabbed a bite to eat and then killed some time by doing a little course recon.

Course was marked very well, as this was a minor anxiety piece. Who wants to make a wrong turn and burn time and energy? All good!

 

 

 

After recon, I return to town and head to checking in.  Very well organized and everyone was damn friendly. Nice job! Got my number and basically know where I am going. Only one thing left, let’s light this candle, right?

The 100-miler goes off at 7AM. 1st wave of the 62 at 10AM. I’m in the 2nd wave at 10:02.

A mass of cycling humanity. LOL. Over 800 riders in the 62 miler.  39 degrees and blustery winds at the start. Hoping I have all the right gear. My mantra of the day is “stay aero and keep pressure on the pedals.”

 

Off we go. First mile or two is always crazy with so many people so close, and always a few knuckleheads who feel the need to sprint and weave their way thru a mass a cyclist in the 1st 30 seconds to get to the front. Fortunately, no major issues rolling out. Soon we all find ourselves 2-3 wide and the asphalt falls away to the gravel that will be with us most of the day. The surface is generally is good shape, dry and relatively firm. The earlier rains help keep the dust to a minimum.

Marshals and signs at every turn, very well organized!

The course is filled with roller after roller. Nearly 4,000 ft of climbing on this ride. Very few flat sections, and when they do come, it seems that is when I am most exposed to the 15+mph winds. I was able to hook up with a few small groups, but they fell apart quickly. Couldn’t find anyone really interested in working together, pretty much, everyone for themselves most of the day. 

 

 

The hills keep coming. The infamous Sager Road section – probably only a mile or so but it is mostly uphill, and is comprised of heavy, wet, deep sand.  Add nearly a 1000 bikes and imagine the ruts and conditions.  Lots of minor spills here. I, like many, found carrying my bike up the last 70-80 yards more efficient than trying to pedal. This was the only time I came off my bike all day.

Fun little memories: The Scottish Pipe and Drum band playing at an intersection around the 30 mile marker, that was nice. A random, solo person that had his drum kit set up along a pretty deserted area, jamming away-definitely helped pick up the pace. Thank you. Lots of cow bells too.

 

 

Near-miss: When climbing so many hills, you do want to maximize the descent. There was a section, near the 50 mile marker, where at the bottom of the hill, there was a lake on both the left and right side of the road and a large “puddle” over most of the road, leaving 1 1/2 to 2 feet of mud and sand between the puddle and lakes on the left and right. I choose the right side and hit it with some speed. Very sandy and wet. The ruts are forcing me towards the lake. “I’m going into the lake!” My right pedal is actually over the lake. I make the recovery, save it and pop back to dry road as I exit. “Close call.”

Just about then, 3 riders roll up. One asks me “How’s your day going (with a smile).”  I said, “thought I was going into the lake.” He said, “we thought so too, that’s why we used the left side.”  All good, ended well.  Close call. Would have been negative fun to ride the last 10 miles soaking wet when it was well below 50 degrees.

I blew thru both aide stations. I did run out of fluids with a little less than an hour left in my ride. Could have used some water but, oh well. Kind of hit the wall with about 5 miles to go. Maybe because of poor hydration choice or just because of the limited outdoor miles I had been able to put in leading up to ride. But just then, I get a mental boost when a marshal shouts out “3 miles to the finish” just as I pop back onto asphalt. Finish strong. Pretty happy with my time of 4 1/2 hours. Going in, was hoping for anything better than 5 hours.

 

 

 

Post ride, feeling good. Had my celebratory beer. Packed up and headed for Ohio.

Thanks again for checking into BikeOhio1000.  Funk Bottoms Gravel in June.

Photo credits to Staci Music, BRX webpage, BRX FB and Instagram.