Race Recap- Iowa Spring Classic in Cumming
- Bree Darr
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Recap from Angela Deeds:
So I did a race on March 22, the Iowa Spring Classic in Cumming, IA. I did the same race last year on my 2 day old Salsa Rangefinder (MTB). Girls, I had never ridden gravel or the bike. And had absolutely no idea what the hell I was doing. I just rode as hard as possible. I finished, didn't crash and was just tickled to death that I had stepped outside my comfort zone and tried something new.
Fast forward to this year with a different bike- Salsa Journeyer (Gravel). I knew the route so I put in the work and did some prep rides. I showed up to the race ready to do what I had practiced. I did not go into it wanting a podium. I just wanted to ride well and not crash. And when they posted the results no kidding I about fell over.
Why am I sharing this with you- we have to step outside our comfort zone to make improvements and learn from them.
Intimidated by gravel rides.....go ride gravel
Intimidated by MTB....go ride single track
Intimidated by Cyclocross....go to the practices
Don't think you're good enough to race.....go race
It's not about what place you finish in. It's about the experience and what you learned from it.
Lee Buell's race recap:
I finished this race! Yes, that is THE accomplishment. An early- season gravel race is always a risk. Weather can range widely and fitness may be suspect. It is hard to ride only the trainer all winter and then get on a bike in real life and race. The weather was perfect: cool and sunny. The vibe was
energized. I raced the B race of the three offered. As is usual for me, everyone took off and rode away while I settled into what is my pace. The best advice that I have for anyone who is wondering if they can do a race, is to just ride at your pace. This course consisted of laps. As folks came past me (lapped me), those that knew me shouted encouragement. The first lap was solid, the second had me wondering if I had bit off too much, the third was hard. It was one of the most difficult things I have done on a bike. I was suffering and all I needed to do was pedal! On a funny note, a friend came around and me and shouted: Pedal, pedal, pedal! IYKYK
When I finished, I was toast! As life has a sense of humor, I then had a 5-mile ride back to the Cumming Tap. The sense of accomplishment was enormous. It had been a few years since I had entered a gravel race. The means that you can do it too!
Yorumlar