I give the Dust Bowl the nod as it is long but not overly so at 100 miles and the climbing is minimal at around 3400ft. Also, the gravel is about just right and maybe it can change but not much I would suspect and it is fast - well seemed so to me. I give it the nod over the ARC as its type of course and and the amount of elevation is more up my alley as the ARC has some really steep climbs on gravel and some correspondingly steep descents, including a more technical one in a more off road section, that I just do not push all that hard to avoid crashing. The Dust Bowl has a couple fast descents that did have crashes this year but they are not close to what we get out my way. All this to say it is a great race and about perfect for me that I will be doing again - along with the ARC as it is a good prep event for the Dust Bowl.
So what about this years race? As I had not ridden outside much this year due to life and up until the ARC race a couple weeks ago (7/13/24) had not been on my gravel bike since last years The Rad ride in Trinidad Colorado - another good ride- this was looking to be interesting. Also, to get ready for these longer rides I usually do quite a few long rides, centuries, on Zwift and outside but not so this year as 2 of the Centuries I planned to ride to get ready for this I had to miss. I think in checking I have ridden outside this year about 340miles out of about 4525 before the ARC race. Thankful to have done the ARC race to at least get some feel for the gravel before I did the Dust Bowl 100. So while I was in good shape I was not quite in shape for a fast 100 let alone one on gravel but game to give it a try.
The start was pretty chill as was a neutral start but I was a ways back. As usual the chute for the start filled early but I was able to get to the 18-20 mph area so not bad but still a ways back. I was where I needed to be be projected time wise but wanted to be a little further forward so as being able to draft on a fast start. That said in waiting around for the start my GPS started but the route was not on so had to set it when the race started and with my eyesight that was not easy. Thus I lost more places getting it set but got it done in the first bit. The road was packed so was not able to move up before the first gravel section when the neutral roll out was done. As I figured things when out fast and saw the pack ahead string out but could not move up yet as first stretch of gravel was chunky and hardish to find the best line so just stayed where I needed to be knowing things would string out.
After the first stretch of gravel (3miles of it) starting at mile 2.8 things began to stretch out but still 2 or 3 across in places. Once we hit the road at mile 6 I started the work of moving up. Initially it was just about slowly moving up but then when hit the front of a group had to push to bridge to the next group. Thankfully had another guy that was doing the same so we pulled in 2-3 groups over the next miles. I did not really look back but think as we pushed past groups we picked up some more people as soon saw a pretty big group behind us. Not really sure of the milage in this as just kept trying to move quickly and catch groups.
Our group moved up but was a little stretched and I tried to stay at the front so as not to have to jump splits which happens as people hit their limits. Thankful I was at the front since at about 32.7 miles came to some train tracks and as we got there the lights started and I got across before the barriers came down and pretty sure some went around but not everyone got across and they had to wait. Again, another reason to stay near the front even if there is a better draft farther back. We were now down to a group that stayed together for quite a while.
At mile 49 we started one of the steeper downhills with this one on gravel. Was good to see while we went quick we took it safe as at the bottom of the hill the road bends left and is a little off camber and then you go into a covered bridge. While we did not have any accidents did see a video of one of the lead groups that had a few guys go down. After you got through the bridge you then have a climb and gearing I had was fine but the issue I have is I have to keep it going and many have much smaller gears so often they slow down and if I slow I will lose grip and have to stop - but thankfully got a round a few so did not have to stop. At mile 53.8 had another steep descent, this one on some roughish road and also into a bridge with a climb on the other side and it went well. The group lost a few on the way but at the mile 62 aid station had some stop.
The next fun section was on the Vandalia Trail from mile 67.2 to mile 70.3. This was not technical at all as basically a walking trail but was rolly in places and the group stayed together. Once left the trail had some more road to ride for about 4 miles. We did not really push this section which I may have liked to but probably good as saved some energy.
The group I was in then went on together and I decided to make sure I had enough waster so stopped at the aid station at 77.6 miles and a few went on. In hindsight I did not need to stop but better safe than sorry as it was getting warm and I was feeling the miles. I was also able to get a nice cold Coke Mini and that gave a short term energy boost. My friend Brad Wunderlich had stopped at the same aid station and we rode together from there and picked up other riders as we went on. Was good to have some company as so often in these races near the end you are on your own. Also nice to have someone to share the pulls. We then hit the one section that cut through some private property and was sort of a jeep double track at mile 84 - 85 and while this could have been exciting if really wet with all we ride out in my area this was really tame and the worry I had was not needed. Again, it it rained or had rained a lot it could have been a muddiest and not fun.
From there to the finish there were a few climbs but nothing too terrible. Brad and I worked together till we hit the last 2 miles and I wanted to push it in and Brad was not feeling great. The last 2.5 miles covers the way we started except for the last half mile. The race finished by riding in the back way about a half mile to where we started and is on a ribboned off grass section. When done I was a mess dust wise and almost fell as my left cleat I think was so dry it did nto want to release but avoided the embarrassment of a fall.
In conclusion it was a great race and while I would have liked to podium, missed by about 13 minutes for first and 11 minutes for third, I can say averaging about 18.1mph for the course with how my training went was a win. I ended up 121st OA out of 376 riders and was 6th in the 60+ AG. I was pleased to see 47 60+ riders registered and 37 showed up the day of the race. That is a good turn out for our age group and great to see.
So what about this years race? As I had not ridden outside much this year due to life and up until the ARC race a couple weeks ago (7/13/24) had not been on my gravel bike since last years The Rad ride in Trinidad Colorado - another good ride- this was looking to be interesting. Also, to get ready for these longer rides I usually do quite a few long rides, centuries, on Zwift and outside but not so this year as 2 of the Centuries I planned to ride to get ready for this I had to miss. I think in checking I have ridden outside this year about 340miles out of about 4525 before the ARC race. Thankful to have done the ARC race to at least get some feel for the gravel before I did the Dust Bowl 100. So while I was in good shape I was not quite in shape for a fast 100 let alone one on gravel but game to give it a try.
The start was pretty chill as was a neutral start but I was a ways back. As usual the chute for the start filled early but I was able to get to the 18-20 mph area so not bad but still a ways back. I was where I needed to be be projected time wise but wanted to be a little further forward so as being able to draft on a fast start. That said in waiting around for the start my GPS started but the route was not on so had to set it when the race started and with my eyesight that was not easy. Thus I lost more places getting it set but got it done in the first bit. The road was packed so was not able to move up before the first gravel section when the neutral roll out was done. As I figured things when out fast and saw the pack ahead string out but could not move up yet as first stretch of gravel was chunky and hardish to find the best line so just stayed where I needed to be knowing things would string out.
After the first stretch of gravel (3miles of it) starting at mile 2.8 things began to stretch out but still 2 or 3 across in places. Once we hit the road at mile 6 I started the work of moving up. Initially it was just about slowly moving up but then when hit the front of a group had to push to bridge to the next group. Thankfully had another guy that was doing the same so we pulled in 2-3 groups over the next miles. I did not really look back but think as we pushed past groups we picked up some more people as soon saw a pretty big group behind us. Not really sure of the milage in this as just kept trying to move quickly and catch groups.
Our group moved up but was a little stretched and I tried to stay at the front so as not to have to jump splits which happens as people hit their limits. Thankful I was at the front since at about 32.7 miles came to some train tracks and as we got there the lights started and I got across before the barriers came down and pretty sure some went around but not everyone got across and they had to wait. Again, another reason to stay near the front even if there is a better draft farther back. We were now down to a group that stayed together for quite a while.
At mile 49 we started one of the steeper downhills with this one on gravel. Was good to see while we went quick we took it safe as at the bottom of the hill the road bends left and is a little off camber and then you go into a covered bridge. While we did not have any accidents did see a video of one of the lead groups that had a few guys go down. After you got through the bridge you then have a climb and gearing I had was fine but the issue I have is I have to keep it going and many have much smaller gears so often they slow down and if I slow I will lose grip and have to stop - but thankfully got a round a few so did not have to stop. At mile 53.8 had another steep descent, this one on some roughish road and also into a bridge with a climb on the other side and it went well. The group lost a few on the way but at the mile 62 aid station had some stop.
The next fun section was on the Vandalia Trail from mile 67.2 to mile 70.3. This was not technical at all as basically a walking trail but was rolly in places and the group stayed together. Once left the trail had some more road to ride for about 4 miles. We did not really push this section which I may have liked to but probably good as saved some energy.
The group I was in then went on together and I decided to make sure I had enough waster so stopped at the aid station at 77.6 miles and a few went on. In hindsight I did not need to stop but better safe than sorry as it was getting warm and I was feeling the miles. I was also able to get a nice cold Coke Mini and that gave a short term energy boost. My friend Brad Wunderlich had stopped at the same aid station and we rode together from there and picked up other riders as we went on. Was good to have some company as so often in these races near the end you are on your own. Also nice to have someone to share the pulls. We then hit the one section that cut through some private property and was sort of a jeep double track at mile 84 - 85 and while this could have been exciting if really wet with all we ride out in my area this was really tame and the worry I had was not needed. Again, it it rained or had rained a lot it could have been a muddiest and not fun.
From there to the finish there were a few climbs but nothing too terrible. Brad and I worked together till we hit the last 2 miles and I wanted to push it in and Brad was not feeling great. The last 2.5 miles covers the way we started except for the last half mile. The race finished by riding in the back way about a half mile to where we started and is on a ribboned off grass section. When done I was a mess dust wise and almost fell as my left cleat I think was so dry it did nto want to release but avoided the embarrassment of a fall.
In conclusion it was a great race and while I would have liked to podium, missed by about 13 minutes for first and 11 minutes for third, I can say averaging about 18.1mph for the course with how my training went was a win. I ended up 121st OA out of 376 riders and was 6th in the 60+ AG. I was pleased to see 47 60+ riders registered and 37 showed up the day of the race. That is a good turn out for our age group and great to see.
One thing I have seen others share, and is true, this course has a lot of turns. These, when using care in the gravel, make it harder to keep a steady pace so as have to work out of all the corners and in gravel that can be fun. The weather while hot at the end was cooler than expected for about the first half so nothing to complain about. The race organizers did a good job of marshaling the race as while most corners and road crossing we were on our won at more major roads there were Sheriffs there to stop traffic and it was much appreciated. I think we only had one road we had to stop at as like many of these races the local traffic was very light. One thing I do think needs to be done - even though I had no issue since my GPS worked great - is to have a sign about the turn coming maybe 200m before turn as with so many people hard to see the sign at the turn and with gravel you want to set up for the turn. All this said I had no issues as I knew the turns were coming, so just a thought.
Will add some more pictures as they come out.
Here is a video I found that was done by a rider who did the course in 5:09 and shows the entire route
Fueling went well, tried using some Ketones (KetoneAid Ke1 - The new one is Ketone Shot ) and upped my carbs a little but still very low. Not sure on the Ketones if they did anything but they did not hurt and it is known you have fine tune the protocol. The thing with Ketones it seems is often it is what you do not notice is what is key. Probably did not get enough water but only drank to thirst so that was not bad and did work to take in more electrolytes. As usual a main part of my fueling is Vespa to help with fat burning which is also key, via OFM, to how I race endurance races. Did things a little different for the start as could not really warmup as I would like (30-40 minutes slow to get to the switch) due to having to get to the line and not wanting to be right at the back as happened to me at Steamboat. So for the start which would be quick I needed a trickle of carbs to get past the start and used a Ketone Shot (5g ketones) and a Vespa Jr as it has 8 grams of carbs and a Bonk Breaker chew. See below for my fueling, Pre-Ride and Ride below;
Pre-Ride AM (Approx 3 hours before Race)
- Coffee with Ghee, Coconut Oil, Collagen, LMNT, Heavy Cream
- One packet of Oatmeal (Maple and Brown Sugar
- 2 GPLCs
Totals:
Cals - 569
Protein - 23g
Carbs - 34g
Fat - 40g
Ride Fueling - for 5:36 race
- 1 UC Vespa - 30 minutes before start
- 1 Ketone Shot & 1 Vespa Jr & 10 minutes before Start
- 1 Bonkbreaker Chew after start in first few minutes
- 1 Ketone Shot at 1 hr
- 1 SIS Gel at about 1:30 into ride
- 1 UC Vespa at 2 Hours
- 1 Ketone Shot at 3hrs
- 1 SIS Gel at 3:30
- 1 UC Vespa at 4 hours
- 3/4 Small Coke at last rest stop at about 4:11 (77.6 miles) as got refill on water
- 1 SIS Gell at 4:30
- During ride took 5 S!Caps
- Also took an additional 4 Bonk Breaker Gels
- Total water was about 3.0L
- 1 Watermelon LMNT
Total
Cals - 649.5
Protein - 0g
Carbs - 124.5g
Fat - 0g
So what about next year - unless something conflicts this will be tops of my list - with the ARC race - that, if the dates stay around the same time, will be a great race to get ready for the 2025 Dust Bowl 100. I will for sure put more effort into getting in more longer rides and while doing them outside may be best it will just be about getting some longer hard efforts to make the ongoing hard effort at the Dust Bowl feel better. This year I have been running more 5Ks in a series but will do less of them next year and focus on the Dust Bowl and then move back into running. Will work more on my fueling to do a ride this fast as that is still an area I need to work on.
Looking forward to next year already!!!
Really enjoyed reading this Race Report Tony....I find the strategies employed in bicycle racing fascinating precisely because I know so little. Thanks to you and your race reports I am learning a few things and gaining insights. It is interesting the social shift in cycling to gravel. Hopefully it does not get too serious and take the fun out of it. Keep up the great work and showing how you are showing others the way.
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