Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob

[EasyRider]

Thanks for the ride report. Any pics? I was thinking of doing the non-competitive event, but never got my act together. Maybe I’ll retrace the route in the fall when it’s cooler.

[Tania]

@EasyRider 162586 wrote:

Maybe I’ll retrace the route in the fall when it’s cooler.

It’s significantly cooler down there as it is – we were in jackets and arm warmers/long sleeves at the start.

[KayakCyndi]

@EasyRider 162586 wrote:

Thanks for the ride report. Any pics? I was thinking of doing the non-competitive event, but never got my act together. Maybe I’ll retrace the route in the fall when it’s cooler.

Also, if you opt to try the route anytime other than right around race time the grassy descent (otherwise know as forest road 916) will likely be blocked off and not mowed. You can avoid it but it wouldn’t be as much fun.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@EasyRider 162586 wrote:

Thanks for the ride report. Any pics?

A few…

[hozn]

That looks fun. I can’t wait to do it (next year!). And by the looks of the leaderboard, looks like the field got serious too. There go hopes of podium, but there’s always just racing to push oneself and have fun.

[Sunyata]

@hozn 162607 wrote:

That looks fun. I can’t wait to do it (next year!). And by the looks of the leaderboard, looks like the field got serious too. There go hopes of podium, but there’s always just racing to push oneself and have fun.

The field DID get serious this year. I was in a completely stacked field (which is a good thing!) and finished 8 out of 11. The epic route is absolutely no joke: 72-ish miles with 8,500-ish feet of elevation. There was ONE flat section. The rest was either up or down (and not really smooth down either). Most of the climbs were relatively steady grades, but they were unrelenting in their length. It was awesome. We should definitely do it again next year.

Also, I literally took ONE picture this year.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]15110[/ATTACH]

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Sunyata 162608 wrote:

The field DID get serious this year. I was in a completely stacked field (which is a good thing!) and finished 8 out of 11.

No kidding…in all the organized rides I’ve done, there are a fair number of men and women stragglers. There were NO women stragglers at this race…I was like 4th to last overall (AFAICT) on the Epic route and the two people that finished a few seconds ahead of me were men, and the three people behind me were men.

[Anonymous]

@TwoWheelsDC 162610 wrote:

No kidding…in all the organized rides I’ve done, there are a fair number of men and women stragglers. There were NO women stragglers at this race…I was like 4th to last overall (AFAICT) on the Epic route and the two people that finished a few seconds ahead of me were men, and the three people behind me were men.

I wasn’t there this year. Last year I performed the role of woman straggler (I was 2nd to last overall). Maybe next year I will again.

[EasyRider]

Great pics. I regret skipping this! I think I’ll try for the non-competitive event next year. I’m sure I could finish the classic course – I do 90+ miles a week, between commuting and weekend rides. But I’ve never raced. I’d probably be in others’ way by going too slow on the grassy decline. That is, if everyone hadn’t already passed me

[Tania]

@EasyRider 162615 wrote:

Great pics. I regret skipping this! I think I’ll try for the non-competitive event next year. I’m sure I could finish the classic course – I do 90+ miles a week, between commuting and weekend rides. But I’ve never raced. I’d probably be in others’ way by going too slow on the grassy decline. That is, if everyone hadn’t already passed me

I do about the same mileage commuting-wise and feel like I’m in pretty decent shape. I didn’t “train” for the classic course but really wished I had. The ~20 miles of non-stop climbing plus the evil pitch at the summit (and the evil, EVIL last 2 miles to the finish) are no joke. I cracked at the summit and went from second to fourth in my field. I almost couldn’t walk when I got off my bike and that was the most pain I’ve ever been in post-ride. I don’t remember last year being so hard! But I think last year I’d gone in with a “just finish” attitude and this year I wanted to put out a little effort plus I’d been leap frogging with the woman who eventually took second.

[Sunyata]

So… If I recall correctly, Judd and Birru owe me a gravel race this year… I have already talked Reji into doing it (as long as she is free that weekend) with me. I hear Josh is doing it as well.

Come to WV and race (or even just ride) with me! I promise you it will be fun!

[josh]

@Sunyata 179087 wrote:

So… If I recall correctly, Judd and Birru owe me a gravel race this year… I have already talked Reji into doing it (as long as she is free that weekend) with me. I hear Josh is doing it as well.

Come to WV and race (or even just ride) with me! I promise you it will be fun!

I’m excited! Going to be busy this weekend, but I’m going to try to get in a long gravel ride somewhere out in Loudoun with a fair amount of climbing on July 1st. Anyone, let me know if you’re interested in joining.

[Subby]

I’m in and doing single speed. Don’t let me be the only idiot.

[musclys]

@Subby 179092 wrote:

I’m in and doing single speed. Don’t let me be the only idiot.

In — and arguably an idiot — but you’re on your own in single speed.

[reji]

@Sunyata 179087 wrote:

I have already talked Reji into doing it (as long as she is free that weekend) with me.

Schedule is free so I’m in! And now I can use some advice. I’d like some more granny gears and that involves more than installing a different cassette on my Renegade. I have 50/34 and 11-32 and my RD is currently maxed at 37 teeth. Since I need a new RD and cassette, I’m looking for suggestions on what gearing to target for GRUSK and future gravelly adventures.

[Author]

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