Relive '2018 Black Fork Gravel'
There was a good turn out of 300 cyclist ready to take on the challenging hills and gravel roads of the area. Last year Knox County decided to pave their portion of Wally Rd and there was about 2 miles less gravel this year.
Photo Matt Simpson Newly paved road :(
After the ice box of 2016 and last years monsoon the weather gods finally came through this year. It was 45 in the morning when I did my 5 mile warm up ride from the cabin to the start and a forecast high of 71 and sunny.
The first 10 mile of the course are the toughest it stars out with a big climb up Valley Stream which has sections over 20%, followed by a fast descent then up Bill Hill Road. Big Hill lives up to its name a short half mile climb that averages 15% and is very loose and rutted.
The last tough bit of road was the closed section of Turkey Ridge which is another half mile of almost 20% with rocks and ruts. Races were treated to a nice mile or so downhill before hitting the Mohican Valley Trail. There was an aid station that we would pass up twice at mile 12 and 20. I had a Hammer Gel on the way out knowing I should be able to skip the aid at 20 and be good until the next aid station at mile 36.
Photo Matt Simpson
My fueling strategy was to use what I know works very well. I had made 3 bottles of my favorite Orange-Vanilla Hammer Perpetuem. I had planned to take one Hammer Endorolyte about once and hour and planned on 2-3 Hammer Gels for the race. Carry 2 bottles on my bike and one in my jersey worked out well. The weather was not warm at 70 degrees but it seemed to be the first warm day of the year after the winter that never seemed to end. I made it to the 36 mile aid station with about half a bottle left. I had another Hammer Gel and refilled one bottle with some Perpetuem that I had in a baggie and was on my merry way.
There was a nice fast section on Twp. 212 which for the last few years was part of the last 7 miles of the Funk Bottoms Gravel without paying attention I almost turned right on Twp. 211 to finish the Funk, good thing I watched a few riders turn left. Soon after we turned on 211 there was a 30 miles racer sitting on the side of the road with bad leg cramps. I gave her my capsule of Endurolytes and 2 Gels.
I always seem to start races out very slow, maybe too slow, and keep a steady pace all day. As usual the last 15 miles of the race I was passing people who went out too fast and were now paying the price. There were 2 climbs left that I was worried about late in the race Giffen Road and the back side of Big Hill. Even though my legs were getting a little tired and I was never able to push the pace on a climb all day I had no problem with either of them.
I finished up the last few miles feeling good. Jay and Matt were at the finish line greeting everyone with a cold beer. I figured that I would finish around 4:30-5:00 and was quite surprised to finish in 4:10 which was good enough for 68th place. Up next is the 8th Funk Bottoms Gravel on June 16th.
Thanks again to Hammer Nutrition for the continued support!
