Mr Big Ring Rants: 2018

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Brooklyn Cross When Single Speed becomes no speed

The third stop of the NEOCX series was in Brooklyn on September 28th. Since the race was only a quarter mile from my house I decided that I may as well give it a try. I had planned on doing 2 races for the day.

First up was the Cat 4/5 race. I decided to race my single speed in the first race even though I would be at a slight disadvantage to the geared racers. I'm not a fast starting type of rider so I rode around the neighborhood for about 5 miles just to warm up and drink some Hammer Nutrition HEED. The start was not the best, but I was mid pack until about 200 meters in when my chain popped off. My chain had about 4500 miles on it and was very worn.

I put my chain back on and was able to ride about a lap and half before it fell off again. on my 4th lap it came off twice and the second time the chain wrapped up on the rear cog and locked the back wheel up. Now it was hike-a-bike time.

I had to walk 3/4 of the last lap and was passed by several racers. I still managed to finish 23 out of 28.

Luckily I had an hour and a half before the Single Speed race and my house was only a short walk home. I had just got a replacement chain during the week but had not replaced it before the race. I agree that was a big mistake on my part. After a quick change of the chain I was good to go for the next race.

While I was home I topped off my bottle with HEED and grabbed a Hammer Gel to have before the start.

Good news my repair worked and my bike worked fine for the Single Speed Open. Since the race was open I would be racing against Cat1-5 racers I was very pleased to finish 10th.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

2018 Funk Bottoms Gravel, Single Speed this year.

June 16th was the 8th edition of the Funk Bottoms Gravel race. This year my oldest son who just started riding decided to do the race. I thought it was very ambitious of him to try Funk Bottoms as his first race. I was going to let him ride my mountain bike but I didn't get around to getting it fixed in time. Being the nice guy I am, he was given the opportunity to ride stinky pink. That left me with the option of riding my single speed.

Relive '2018 funk bottoms gravel 100K single speed'

The course changes a little bit each year and this year the first 8 and last 8 miles were out and back. The route was 66.7 miles with almost 7,000 feet of climbing. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into riding single speed, since I designed the course. This years route had about 100 yards of flat and short neutral roll out before the climbing fun began.

Funk Bottoms Gravel has grown steadily over the years the race was now starting at the Lake Park in Big Prairie, OH. The 8th edition had the largest starting field yet. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition, Yeungling, Kenda Tire, Velocity, Chamios Butt'r, Pro Gold, DeFeet and the many racers who purchased shirts and made donations the Funk Bottoms is a FREE race.

Photo: Potenza

After I gave the last minute instructions and course notes everyone lined up for the start. As I walked over to get my bike and put on my helmet everyone took off. Nothing like being the last person to roll out of the parking lot. I was in no hurry since I was going to try and ride with my son and help him along. That plan went out the window as soon as we hit he first climb still within view of the starting line. My gear selection for the day was a 42x20, which actually worked out better than I thought. My son and Paul got dropped on the first climb since I could not take it easy, and after all there was the bet of ice cream between us. The first few miles were rolling hills and a large group riding down the road.

Twp 508 at the start. Photo: Potenza

Photo: Potenza

The first climb that was going to be a challenge was just over 5 miles in. We made a right turn on Twp 501 and was faced with a wall. Somehow I managed to make the climb and stay with the group.

Photo: Dan

When we marked the course on Friday the county was out grading some of the roads. When we got on Twp 217 was the first time of many that I was forced to bust out the walk. The climb was short but steep, and very loose from the grading the day before. Later in the day this hill would come back to haunt me. I lost contact with the group I was riding with whilst walking and it seemed I would spend a good part of the day riding alone after that.

Around 11 miles in while on one of the few short flat sections I dropped my chain. A quick adjustment and I was back on my way.

Around mile 18 near Killbuck. Photo: Dan

Rolling into Killbuck at mile 20 I was feeling not bad and happy to have almost a third of the race done. A quick stop in the Marathon gas station to get a liter of water to top off my bottles. 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 4-5 Hammer Gels for the race. Carrying 2 bottles on my bike and one in my jersey worked out well. The forecast called for afternoon thunderstorm's and temperatures in the mid 80's so staying hydrated was going to be a concern. Even though I knew the "secret" checkpoint was 21 miles away I didn't want to be caught without water. The 33 miles from Killbuck to Glenmont were the most scenic and difficult section of the race.

I was able to ride a good amount of the climbs while keeping the walking to a minimum. Riding single speed you have to figure out the energy wasted grinding up a hill at 2 mph versus walking at a slightly slower pace. Around mile 30 there was a racer changing a flat so I let him use my pump and it gave me a few minute break at the top of a hill. By the time the secret checkpoint arrived at mile 41 two of my bottles were empty. A quick refill of the bottles mixed with Perpetuem and I was on my way.

Secret checkpoint Photo: Nate Burkes

After leaving the checkpoint there was about a mile of pavement and easy spinning before a nice long smooth downhill. As the old adage goes "what goes down must come up" is very true at The Funk Bottoms. The nice smooth downhill was followed by a nice long grind and some more walking for short sections.

The long downhill on Twp 136 was very loose with fresh gravel and rutted. The road was fine two weeks prior when a group of us did the full route to verify the cue sheet. All the loose rock made for quite the surprise and it was a high pucker factor. After surviving that section there was another 1.5 mile climb that was mostly rideable before a long easy downhill into Glenmont. It had only been 12 miles since my bottles got filled up and only 16 miles left. I could not pass on tradition of getting the ice cold spring water in Glenmont. I had a Hammer Gel along with a bottle of cold water and was on my way in about a minute.

After leaving Glenmont was the last big climb of the day. Needless to say the walk was busted out for what hopefully would be the last time at the steep part of the climb. Once I got to the top and was riding again I joined 2 other riders and there was a group up the road. Once we caught the other group I could see that 3 of them were on single speeds. Two of the single speed guys were doing the 200K so I did the math's and I figured that I was first or second in the 100K single speed. I normally start out slow and ride the second half faster. The other 100K single speed racer looked like he was tired and I still had a little gas in the tank with less than 10 miles left in the race. I decided to try and push the pace and see how much my legs would hurt. We turned on 217 with the two way traffic of the 200K racers going out for second lap. I was going down the steep loose hill that was the first one I walked earlier in the day and hit a big rock and heard my back tire blow. After coasting to the top of the next hill I changed my flat as quick as I could. Several racers passed me whilst the flat was being changed. With 7 miles left I was hoping that the other single speed racers could be caught but it would a difficult chase. Just my luck with 2 miles left another flat on my back tire, after swapping out tubes again I was on my way. Now I was racing against the rain that was on the way. With less than a mile left it started to drizzle and I could tell a downpour was coming. I was able to finish about 10 seconds before a big downpour.

Photo: Dan

I had been using my dismount skills all day so why pass up another chance to use them. After all cross is coming.

Photo: Dan

I finished 3rd in Single Speed 12 minutes back from first place. Both first and second passed me as I was changing my first flat with 7 miles to go. Like they say in NASCAR "that's racin" My son gave a great effort but only made it 32 miles. I see Honey Hut in my future.

Thanks again to Hammer Nutrition for all the support you give me. I am proud to be a Hammer sponsored athlete.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

2018 Black Fork Gravel Grind

This was the third year for the Black Fork Gravel Jay and Matt do a great job organizing this fast growing event. The first year it was a 30 mile race and last year they expanded to the 30 & 54 mile format.

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!