2019 Funk Bottoms Gravel 100K

June 15th was the 9th edition of the Funk Bottoms Gravel 100K\200K. This year the race has once again changed its starting location to Glenmont, OH.  The Funk Bottoms Gravel race has been steadily growing over the years and parking and other logistics of the race are always a problem.  The race has gone through Glenmont on several years, so moving the start location made perfect sense. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition, Yuengling, Kenda Tire, Velocity, and DeFeet for supporting the race.



Last year I rode on single speed and that was going to be my plan again this year.  Trying to avoid mechanical gremlins that have haunted me in the past.   I decided to do some work on my single speed two days before I was going to leave for this year's race.  Last year I rode a 42x20 and knowing this years course was going to have more climbing I decided to change to a 40x20.  One of my bolts holing the chainring on decides to get stripped in the removal and then one of the cantilever brake springs breaks.  Change of plans and I was back to racing on stinky pink.

 

 

Pre-race instructions and course notes to the racers.

 

 

 

 



 This years course had a short neutral roll-out on the road for about a half mile, uphill of course, before the first gravel road and then it was Funk Time! 

 

Starting in Glenmont this year allow the course to be right in the heart of endless miles of hilly gravel roads.

 

 

The first gravel road Twp 29 was a 2 mile climb with a half mile section of 15%.

 

The popular, depending on who you  ask, Hike-a-Bike section made a return this year.  Five miles in there is a road the county gave up maintenance on several years ago.  A few riders complained about it, but since its only a 3/4 miles section in a 66 mile race its not that big.

 

 

My fueling strategy was to use what works extremely will for me.  I had 2 bottles of my favorite mixture of Hammer Nutrition Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem mixed with a half scoop of Lemon-Lime HEED. I also carried several Hammer Gels and planned on taking one every 90 minutes. This year the "secrect" checkpoint was at mile 21.  That along with a natural spring around mile 34 and the Buckeye Deli in Nashville having enough water without carrying 3 bottles was one less thing to worry about.

 

Going on to the Holmes County Trail

 

This years course had a little bit of everything closed roads, ghost towns, Bigfoot,  abandoned railroads, rock quarries, covered bridges.  And if that was not enough there was a stream crossing at the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 



My next big event will be riding in Velosano to raise money for cancer research.  Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for the support you give me.  I am proud to be a Hammer sponsored athlete. 

2018 Year in Review

 

I would like to thank Hammer Nutrition for sponsoring me in in 2018 and all the help and support the have given me over the year.  I am very proud that on again for 2018 I will be representing Hammer Nutrition.

 

 

January 122 Miles

 

 

February 84 Miles

 

 

 

March 222 Miles

 

 

April 380 Miles

 

 

 

May 506 Miles

 

 

June 432 Miles

 

 

July 313 Miles

 

 

Lake Tahoe

 

August 285 Miles

 

 

September 293 Miles

 

 

 

October 267 Miles

 

 

Florida Running

 

November 169 Miles

 

 

December 195 Miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring ride near Columbus

 

 

Still snowing in April :(

 

 

 

Working on riding every street in Cleveland

 

 

Up at 4:00 am for commute to work.

 

Despite the crazy early 4:00 am commute I rode to work 32 days

 

 

The Black Fork Gravel Grind in May

 

 

Funk Bottoms Gravel final instructions to the racers.

 

Funk Bottoms Gravel on Single Speed around mile 10

 

 

Still going strong around mile 20

 

The Single Speed Walk of Shame at Funk Bottoms

 

 

Funk Bottoms finish in style

 

 

Rented a Mountain Bike while on my Honeymoon in Lake Tahoe.

 

Brooklyn Cross Cat 4/5 on Single Speed

 

Brooklyn Cross Single Speed.

 

 

When Single Speed become no speed.

 

 

Scouting out next years Funk Bottoms Gravel route on a beautiful day in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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.