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Showing Up, Weather Be Damned – by John Ingham – Images by Jenny Stukel
Weather extremes are posing challenges for racers and sometimes for race organizers. No-shows can put races in the red when financing depends on donations and raffle tickets, and races can turn into epic struggles for riders who do show up.
Adversity is not necessarily a good reason for withdrawing, however. Gravel riding never was about comfort, and there is something to be said for struggle, including epic struggle. Moreover, there are strategies for staying strong and safe in rough weather.
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At their heart, gravel riding and racing are all about struggle with adversity, which is surely why they are so rewarding and satisfying, odd though that may seem to the average couch potato. Sarah Cooper wrote this after failing to finish Trans Iowa despite a noble effort:
But then Luke asked if I was sending in a post card again, and I said yes. My coach likes to remind me periodically that a life not lived is no way to live, and too much living is no way to die. I’m a 45-Year- old amateur athlete. This is my life, I’m driven to live it, and sometimes I ride the line. People always ask me why. I don’t know why. Why are some people so tame, content to get through their workday and have a drink and watch TV, have a socially acceptable number of children, ride the bike trail always, and take their vacations relaxing on a beach? Why?
Rather than withdrawing on bad weather days, it might be better to ratchet up one’s courage and give it a try. Okay you may say, but how do we do that? Part of an answer may lie in how we view adversity. Tommy Caldwell is one of the best rock climbers in the world, an authentic badass. Sitting out a blizzard high on the sheer face of El Capitan in Yosemite while working on the unbelievably difficult free ascent of the Dawn Wall, he remarked, “I don’t know why I love this shit so much, but I do” (or something to that effect). From the time he was a little boy, Tommy’s dad taught him to regard adversity as opportunity for adventure. See “Tommy Caldwell, The Push: A Climber’s Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits” (Viking, 2017). Tommy’s dad was on to something. Whether we think negatively or positively about stressful situations influences whether they are bad or good for us. It also determines how well we perform (NYTs).
Throughout the 2017 WDB I made a conscious effort to enjoy the day. That helped me keep going, but by itself it would not have been enough to get me through the race. Other things also helped, not the least of which was the company of other riders.
Heat Management and Camaraderie. I started hydrating for the Westside Dirty Benjamin the day before and drank over 30 ounces of water a couple of hours before the race. During the race, I drank more than 200 ounces of water. Most of my water contained added electrolytes, but not a lot of salt. I drank when thirsty but I did not force the water. Too much water and salt can be as harmful as too little (Hammer Nutrition).
Before the race I filled my Camelbak with ice. For the first couple of hours I drank from water bottles while the ice cooled my backside. Other riders helped with hydration. Approaching Henderson, Derek and Luke had us pilfering water from a backyard hose (dousing myself with the cold water was like having a re-start button). While riding with another group through Belle Plaine, Mike shared his Gator Aid with me and Lynn spotted a park where we were able to fill water bottles and I was able to douse my head and arms for a second time. Down the road, Mike, Lynn, Chris, and I took a break from the relentless afternoon sun in the redemptive shade of a little church in the middle of nowhere, a relic of a more pastoral and communal time in American life. Just being with those guys strengthened my courage and resolve.
Leg Power. I have been doing intervals and weighted squats, dead lifts, and walking lunges using DeVore and Wallack’s overload program, which I am sure is why my legs stayed as strong as they did during the race. See Jacques DeVore and Roy M. Wallack, “Maximum Overload for Cyclists: A Radical Strength-Based Program for Improved Speed and Endurance in Half the Time” (Rodale, 2017). Overload training could be a game changer for many gravel riders.
Colonics. A good dump can do wonders for one’s sense of strength and lightness. RX: A tab or two of Dulcolax@ the day before. Enough said.
Nutrition. I have already touted the virtues of low carb/high fat dieting on this blog (See “Going the Distance”). I am not ketogenic but I am fat adapted. Consequently, I need less sugar/carbohydrate or food of any kind on long rides. I got through the 80 miles with just three hits of Hammer Gel and a third of a Hammer Bar. I suspect anything more substantial would have risked stomach cramping.
I drank several ounces of beet juice before the race. It’s packed with nitrates, which convert to nitric oxide in the body, with cardiovascular benefits. One study found that drinking beet juice increased endurance in cyclists by 16 percent (Cycling Weekly).
Hyperthermic Conditioning. Before the WDB I acclimated with rides on hot days. In addition to promoting acclimation, research shows that regular heat stress—as in saunas—promotes endurance, muscle growth, and improved neurological function as well as cardiovascular health. See Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s videos on hyperthermic conditioning and saunas on her blog site, FoundMyFitness.Com.
Discuss and share your questions or thoughts about gravel bikes, gear, events and anything else on the Riding Gravel Forum
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