Date: May 18, 2024
 

My first ever gravel ride is in the books! 🚴‍♀️✨ Set three goals:

  1. Cross the finish line – check! YAY!
  2. Stay rubber side down (no spills) – surprisingly nailed it, despite a rocky start (more on that later)
  3. Finish under 4 hours – I missed the mark but close! Looks like I’ll be back next year for redemption for a sub-4 time!
Stats breakdown:
  • 4th (3rd for the medal) out of 16 in my AG (Yep, the third overall finisher was in my group, so I got a podium!)
  • 11th out of 54 women
  • 83rd out of 175 overall

Huge shout out to everyone who shared their wisdom!

Here’s some advice I gathered:

  • First up: Hydration is important! It was a very warm day. Packed what I thought was plenty – a 1-liter bladder and two bottles – but ended up chugging it all, sparing only the second bottle.
  • Second tip: Maintain a steady pace on those gnarly descents. Those first 14 miles were a wild ride on seriously chunky terrain! Grateful for my trusty bike with its sturdy 40 mm tires – they handled those rocks like champs!
  • Next: Drafting is your friend on the paved stretch. Found a random rider to draft off of and cruised through the paved section. Advantage of being small – less wind resistance!
  • And the big lesson: Secure all your gear tightly! Bumpy roads can shake things loose. Lost four gels from my hydration vest on the rough patches, but thankfully had backups stashed away. Quick pit stop at the last aid station for a granola bar boost before tackling that final tough climb to the finish line.

Here’s to the lessons learned and the miles ahead!