2018 Gravel Season

The 2018 gravel season is upon us!  Waterloo and Melting Mann are in the books, Lowell this weekend, and the Barry in a couple of more.  MI Coast 2 Coast is just around the corner as well.  What's everyone have planned for this spring... assuming winter eventually dies?

I missed out on Waterloo, just couldn't justify their crazy high week of registration.

Melting Mann was a blast with Mann road being the highlight.  The course was tougher than I expected with a nasty headwind.  I come from a triathlon background and am enjoying learning the tactics of cycling.  For example, at Melting Mann do I really push up a hill and burn a match to try and close the gap to the guys in front of me b/c I know we are about to make a right hand turn into a 20 mph headwind for the next 2-3 miles?

I'm in for the 62 at Barry, the 100 at HellKaat, and then Coast 2 Coast.  I question the intelligence of the Hellkaat 100 less than a week before Coast 2 Coast, but I'm signed up for the long distance gravel series and being intelligent is never a strong point when it comes to my training.  

JMosey wrote:The 2018 gravel season is upon us!  Waterloo and Melting Mann are in the books, Lowell this weekend, and the Barry in a couple of more.  MI Coast 2 Coast is just around the corner as well.  What's everyone have planned for this spring... assuming winter eventually dies?

I missed out on Waterloo, just couldn't justify their crazy high week of registration.

Melting Mann was a blast with Mann road being the highlight.  The course was tougher than I expected with a nasty headwind.  I come from a triathlon background and am enjoying learning the tactics of cycling.  For example, at Melting Mann do I really push up a hill and burn a match to try and close the gap to the guys in front of me b/c I know we are about to make a right hand turn into a 20 mph headwind for the next 2-3 miles?

I'm in for the 62 at Barry, the 100 at HellKaat, and then Coast 2 Coast.  I question the intelligence of the Hellkaat 100 less than a week before Coast 2 Coast, but I'm signed up for the long distance gravel series and being intelligent is never a strong point when it comes to my training.  

At my end I have only committed to 2-3 races right now. The Bootlegger 100 on 4/21 has  me worried as yes winter is still here in Pa. and no training. I will do Funks bottom in Ohio and then thinking about the gravel race up Spruce Knob and not sure what event I want to do in late summer/early or late fall.


Zman

Waterloo was a good day... until  I fell.  Then I got bad cramps on my second lap.  Not good.  I wasn't racing to beat anyone but I had time and speed goals which I both missed badly due to the banged up knee and delays working out the cramps. 

I was signed up to do the 100 mile Lowell yesterday but I was on the bubble with the snow and really cold 20 degree starting temps.  I don't want to fall again on frozen roads and I'm tired of being cold.  I ride to have fun foremost. 

Mom was admitted to hospital (she's 83) with breathing issues so that made the decision easy, so I scratched.  I saw only 8 completed the 100 mile Lowell distance!  Wow. 

I'll now focus on Barry 100 in a two weeks but I might drop to the 64 mile distance as I'm not liking 6800 feet of climbing.  Again, I want to only ride for fun and enjoyment of the gravel roads and not hurt from massive cramps. 

After Barry I have C2C and then three weeks later I have DK 200.  Going to be a good year if I can stay healthy.