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. 

2017 Funk Bottoms Gravel 100K

 

 

This was the 7th year for the Funk Bottoms Gravel a race that I helped start back in 2011. As in the past years I spend the fall winter scouting out the route.  Each year when setting up the route I try and make it easy for the racers to be self supported.  The route changes a little bit each year, and at 68.6 miles this was the longest. 



 

This years course was 68 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing and still wasn't the most climbing per mile.  The course made up for the lack of climbing compared to past years by being the most technical. The "easy" section of the course was from Danville to Greer which had several small rollers but you paid for it once you hit Beam Road.

 

My goal for the race was to have 100 people sign up this year. When online registration ended on Thursday we had 99 pre-registered.  Figuring a few people would drop out plus the few who show up on race day we had our goal of 100 racers.  We tell the racers they have to be self supported and the course is not marked. Once again my sponsor Hammer Nutrition provided HEED, Endurolytes, and Hammer Gel for all the racers. We had water and HEED at the start, the secret checkpoint and the hidden oasis. Friday my father-in-law, Potenza and myself drove the course and marked all the turns.  While we marked the course Friday morning and into the afternoon there was heavy rain.  I started getting text messages and emails from racers questioning the course.  Many were concerned about the hike a bike section. The rains stopped late Friday afternoon and the forecast for Saturday was sunny and a high of 80. Once the sun came out Saturday morning the roads dried quickly and the moisture from the rain kept the dust to a minimum.

 

The race starts out with a neutral rollout for the first mile, once we get to the first hill it time to start racing.

Photo: Potenza

 

Hammering out in the morning sun. Photo: Dan Nolan

 

 

The first few miles are relatively easy with a few short steep climbs and mostly rollers.  I took the opportunity to talk with several riders as we did the easy first few miles.

Alex and Zach Valigosky racing single speed.

 

Around mile 10 just past the common core corner there was a fellow rider with a flat.  I gave him my pump and took a few minutes drink some of my favorite mixture of Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem and Lemon-Lime HEED.  Alex and Zach rode past and I knew I would catch up with them on the climb out of Glenmont. 

 

 

 

 

This year parts of the course were done in different order.  Glenmont was early in the race around mile 13.  Instead of coming down Twp Rd 29 we had the fun of climbing up.

 



Twp 29

 

Just as we started the 2 mile grind to the top I saw the flying Valigosky brothers walking their single speeds up the hill.  I couldn't help but tell them they are "Almost to the top" That was the last I saw of them for the rest of the day.  Once we got to the top of the Twp 29 climb we went down Twp 34 which was just graded the week before when we scouted the route.  It was soft from the rain the day before and had fresh gravel down.

 

 

Up next was the Twp 28 followed by the hike a bike section. Yes it was muddy and I had to walk part of it, but it was only a mile of the 68 mile race.  The course continued with its fast descents and long steep climbs for the next few miles.  There were some amazing views along the way.

 

 

Photo: Adam McNiel

 

 

 

 

During my scouting of the course I found a park that was not on any maps.  With a few emails to the Tiverton Twp officials I had the place for the secret checkpoint.  The checkpoint was manned by members of the PCL-Ohio chapter and stocked with plenty of Hammer Nutrition HEED and Hammer Gels.

 

 

It wouldn't be the Funk if there wasn't a down tree across the road.

 

 

Around mile 40 when we rode through Danville we jumped on the Mohican Valley Trail between dodging buggies and road apples I had time to take a selfie.

 

 

 



 

 

 

I finished 26th  with a time of 5:37.

 



2017 Black Fork Gravel Grind: Just not my day

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing went as you had hoped?  Well for me that was this years Black Fork Gravel Grind. Last year the race was 30 miles and I finished second overall.  This year they added a 23 and 48 mile route, naturally I was planning on doing the 48.  Since I was very familiar with the roads and had done some training over the winter on them while scouting out the Funk Bottoms Gravel course which this year travels on a few of the same roads.

My mileage and training have been low this year compared to Mr. BigRing normal standards, but somehow I had managed to get my mileage goal for the month of April. Along with a few runs I felt like my fitness was coming along slowly for the spring but still headed in the right direction. I did one last quick spin on some of the course on Friday, the roads were in great shape and I even set a Strava KOM.

The weather forecast for race day did not look good with heavy thunderstorms starting Friday and continuing through Saturday night. Friday night there was heavy rain but it had stopped and it seemed like we should be able to start dry but get into some rain later. I did my usual race day routine of getting my bottles ready with bottle of my favorite mixture of Hammer Nutrition Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem and Lemon-Lime HEED . Since the race starts 5 miles from the cabin I figured that would make a great warm and easy spin in the morning.  I got dressed and finished my bottle of Fully Charged grabbed my bike and head down the stairs  to the race.

When I say head down the stairs I literally meant head down the stairs. Walking across the wet wood deck with my Sidi shoes on I slipped and somehow did something resembling an Irish Jig falling down the stairs before it turned into rolling down the stairs.  In the process I had twisted my left ankle bad and smashed my left shin into the stairs.  I'm not sure which pain was worse my leg which felt like it was broken or my ankle. I walked it off for a few minutes and hopped on my bike for the ride to the start.  Normal riding didn't bother my ankle too bad but putting pressure while climbing increased the pain.

Moments before the big fall.



The Start

 



The Black Fork Gravel Grind starts out at the Mohican Wilderness (same place as Mohican 100 Aid Station 4.5) with an easy 1 mile on a gravel road before the first climb on Valley Stream Rd. its a long step climb with some pitches at 20%. 

Valley Stream

 



This is where my day went from bad to worse. I felt a pop in my seat on the climb and my saddle started to move around and I thought I had broken seat bolt. I made it to the top of the climb and found out my seat rail had broken and popped out of the top.  I smacked it back in place which seemed to work for about a quarter mile.  The heavy rains and lightning which we had hoped would hold off until later had just started.  I stopped again and grabbed my multi-tool and tried to loosen and retighten a few screws on the bottom.  My tool only had a slotted and not Phillip's bit. I tried to pound the seat back in place but it still kept flopping around. A little bit up the road I saw fellow PCL Ohio Chapter member and asked to borrow his Phillip's screwdriver.  That fix lasted about another quarter mile. Bombing down the hills gravel roads at 30+ mph with a saddle that's flopping around is not very fun.

Paul and I road together since miserly loves company. We got to the bottom of Bill Hill Road about 5 miles in and I had debated about dropping out.

Busting out the walk on Bill Hill Rd.

 

 

 



We started riding down Beam in a heavy downpour and neither one of had brakes that seemed to work. Sprained ankle, broken seat, no brakes and we were only 8 miles into a 48 mile race.  We got back to Wally Rd and I decided it would be best to drop out.

 

 

 



 

We road the 2 miles back to the start to let them know we had dropped out.  The good news is were the first of many DNF's for the day.

Paul with a much "earned" beer

 

Not a fun way to ride

 

 

 

 

That night my ankle was swollen and black and blue.  I had done RICE and was off the bike for 3 weeks.  A month after I had hurt my ankle its still slightly swollen and sore. I can at least ride without pain now, although it has a constant dull ache.  Occasionally it does feel like someone is driving a large nail into my ankle.  I would like to thank Hammer Nutrition for supporting me, and Jay and Matt for putting on a great event.

Next race Funk Bottoms Gravel on June 24th.

2016 Funk Bottoms Gravel

 

This was the 6th edition of the Funk Bottoms Gravel race.  Along with PW and Potenza I was one of the founders of FBG in 2011.  What started out as a training ride  for Gravel Worlds has turned into a growing event, with this year having our largest starting field. Starting over the winter I scout out new sections of gravel roads in the area to make the course slightly different each year.

 

2016 Funk Bottoms

 

This years route was the most challenging yet with lots of long gravel climbs and descents.  Due to several factors my riding this year has been way below my standards. With 7,500 feet of climbing I knew it was going to be a long day. This was the first year I did the 100K and not the 200K.  By doing the 100K it was easier for my finish line volunteers to record times and places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-race final instructions Photo: Katie Eno

 

Start of neutral rollout Photo: Katie Eno

 

The race started with a 2 mile neutral rollout until the first hill and then it was game on for everyone. Last year with good fitness I was able to finish second in the 200K, this year was another story.  I had suffered from some heart problems over the winter and have been helping take care of family members with serious health issues. I was more in the taking a scenic ride through rural Ohio than racing mode. The first part of the race to Killbuck was nice and easy rolling along with a few other riders.  When we pulled into Killbuck I suggested the other rides get water since it was hot and a long 33 miles to Glenmont with next water.  I had gone through one bottle of my favorite mixture of Hammer Nutrition Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem and Lemon-Lime HEED 

 

Even though my fitness was lacking knowing the course would be a big help. Hammer Nutrition once again sponsored the race with all riders getting some Hammer Gels and Endurolytes before the race.   Since I designed the course this year I knew on advance where the secret checkpoint would be along the way. The secret checkpoint would be between Killbuck and Glenmont and would have plenty of water and Hammer HEED.

 

Around mile 30 on the TWP 324 climb a fellow racer was walking his bike with a flat.  He had suffered from multiple flats and was out of tubes, so I stopped gave him on my spare tubes and pump.  This gave me a nice 5 minute break before continuing with the second half of the race.  This year the secret checkpoint was around mile 40 staffed from volunteers from the PCL-Ohio Chapter.

 

Stopping for a few minutes for water at the checkpoint did my legs in.  I started to get dead legs and cramps on the next climb. After slamming a bottle of water and a few endurolytes I felt better. The afternoon heat had kicked in and my day had become a just keep moving slowly and not stop affair.  I ended up finishing in 5:52 about an hour slower  than I would have like but not bad considering my lack of fitness this year.

 

Finished 66.7 miles in 5:52 Photo: Katie Eno

 

 

 

 

2016 Black Fork Gravel Grind

Saturday April 30th was the first year for the Black Fork Gravel Grind a 30 mile "race" in Loudonville, OH. At the start they said it was not a race. When you have 120 cyclist doing a mass start on a challenging course with a 12 pack of Four Stings on the line for the first finisher, it quickly turns into a race. I was originally going to pass on doing the race as I had not been doing much training.  I was suffering from heart arrhythmia and was just cleared by my cardiologist to begin training only two weeks ago.  Fellow 765 Racing team member Paul was unable to race and was able to transfer his entry to me.

Photo: Matt Simpson

Photo: Matt Simpson

 

 

The Black Fork was a short 30 mile race with roads that I was very familiar with.  Since I'm used to doing much longer races than 30 miles I knew there would be a fast pace from the start. Several of the roads have been on previous editions of the Funk Bottoms Gravel race. The first mile everyone stayed together on Wally Rd and when we made a left up the first climb on Valley Steam Rd several rides dropped back and a few took off. The roads continued to be big climb followed by fast descents with only a short break on the flats or asphalt before the climbing continued.

 

 

Photo: Matt Simpson

 

Photo: Matt Simpson

Photo: Katie Eno

Photo: Katie Eno

 

My Fueling plan would be to use Hammer Nutrition products that I use during all of my training and in racing.  I carried my usual mix of Perpetuem and HEED in my bottles. Around the half way point we came to a easy road section and it seemed like a good time to slow down switch out gloves and grab a Hammer Gel.

 

Photo: Katie Eno

 

 







I would end up about 2 minute back from the winner and finished in second place. I was hoping for a top 20 and was very pleased with my finish. Thanks again to Hammer Nutrition for the continued support.

Photo: Matt Simpson

2015 GRAVEL WORLDS

The Pirate Cycling League once again hosted this years Gravel World's the ride started out as The Good Life Gravel Adventure and in 2010 became the Gravel World's.  This was my 6th time doing the race so I at least had some idea of what I was getting myself into. Fellow 765 Racing team member Potenza was making his 5th trip to Gravel World's.  The PCL changes the course a little bit each year by adding a few new roads and keeping some of the crowd pleasing favorites. This year the race started on the North side of Lincoln in the Fallbrook neighborhood outside the Schilling Bridge Microbrewery.

 

The route was a giant counter-clockwise loop of Lincoln.  There was over 11,000 feet of climbing all of which was on never ending rolling hills.

 

Early miles Photo: Sunflower outdoor

 

 

Having finished the race the last 5 years I knew the pacing and nutrition are very important. The course and cue sheets were released on Tuesday before the race.  The first oasis would be 30 miles into the race and the last checkpoint would be 30 miles to the finish.  The weather forecast for the race was temperatures in the 90's with a strong 25-30 mph wind out of the south all day. I was having flashbacks to the 2013 Gravel Worlds and the Nebraska blast furnace of that year. 

 

B road outside of Valparaiso Photo: Lisa Janssen

 

My Fueling plan would be to use Hammer Nutrition products that I use during all of my training and in racing.  I carried my usual mix of Perpetuem and HEED in my bottles and several plastic bags premixed to refill my bottles.  I also carried several flavors of the Hammer Gel and Hammer Bar to have when I stopped at an oasis.

 

The first 30 miles to Valparaiso was overcast and rather uneventful which is a good way to start out a 150 mile race.

Photo: Lisa Janssen

 

 



After we purchased our Power Ball tickets in Malcom it was a grind into the wind for the next 2 1/2 hours.  The Denton wall this year had lots of deep soft gravel near the bottom combined with the headwind I was moving at a blistering 3 mph on the climb.

 

Photo: Lisa Janssen

 

 

The heat and the wind had taken its toll on me by mile 100 in Hickman and my legs were dead.  Luckily we headed north and with the strong tailwind was able to keep moving at decent pace.

 

After eating pickles at the Brown Family farm oasis mile 112. Photo: Sydney Brown

 

Around mile 130 Photo: Lisa Janssen

 

Photo: Lisa Janssen

 

 

I was pleased to have finished the race for the sixth time with my second fastest time of 10:47 which was good enough for 42nd overall and 29th Men's Open.  765 racing had a good showing with Potenza coming in at 10:35 for his forth finish 40th overall and 27th in Men's Open.

 

Potenza!