Bighorn Gravel - My Epic Debacle on Colorado Gravel

My first visit to Gypsum, Colorado for Bighorn Gravel 2023 certainly left a mark. I was on my solo gravel bike for this event, and it’s been a bit since I’ve gotten it this wrong on a gravel adventure. Hope you enjoyed the suffering, and if you are thinking of riding Bighorn in the future, I might suggest a mountain bike, or at least something with a dropper post! Thanks for watching, please help us out and hit the subscribe button while you’re here and be sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with where we are headed next!
Music in this episode includes:
Lars Eriksson - (Stay) True
Balcony - Velvet Moon
New Dawn is Rising - Stonekeepers
Baptized and Buried - Will Harrison
#gravel #t1nvan #sprintervan #vanlife

[@milkman2591]

Are you on Strava?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Only when i have to be!

[@candystink]

I could sense that heat. You’re lucky to have gotten out of there. Thanks for posting despite not finishing. Good information here

[@backofthegravelpack]

You bet, thanks for watching!

[@smgramlick]

Thanks for posting this. I’ve not been a competitor, however I routinely ride 50-100 mile back to back travel days. On those long trips, I’ll be in my head circling the drain. Other times it’s all joy and great weather. This accurately describes some of those days that the moons didn’t align, and the day is a constant struggle. Thanks for keeping it real.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate you saying that, and will continue to do our best to show the good and the bad!

[@frankwinters3732]

Not your best....the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...That was the UGLY. A little hard to watch, but the part about riding farther to DNF than to just finish is classic. Hang in there, I'm sure you'll bounce back strong.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Ugly indeed!

[@karlr6810]

Hey Rich - sorry to hear this event went sideways for you however, I think you made the right decision to pull off the course if you were concerned about going further in the back country while in a bad mental and physical place. First part of the route looked okay with the shade. The back side - full exposed to the Colorado sun, which can tear the hide off a person.
Kudos for entering and giving it your best effort to finish. DNF isn't ever a good feeling - been there once back in 2015 and still bothers me to this day.
Thanks for sharing, sir! 🍻

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks Karl, much appreciated! The sun for sure took its toll on me that day. Live to ride another day I guess.

[@jamesgem1809]

Looks like a beautiful route!!

[@backofthegravelpack]

It was indeed!

[@johngriffith4330]

I love these videos. As a bigger (and older) guy myself, I struggle in the heat and climbing and often find I defeat myself mentally before my body is actually ready to give up the ghost. If I can muddle through for a while, I cañ often get back on track. With your double whammy of heat and fuel, pretty sure I would be dead in the water. Great story, warts and all. As a fellow back of packers, they resonate.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks John, appreciate that, and I agree, it can hard to know how much is too much. The remote nature of this course for sure came into play. I think I could have kept pushing in a safer location where the consequences of things going really wrong weren't so significant.

[@g2rockets]

What a tough ride! Could you and Cassie do a video, listing your top 10 snacks that you eat while riding? My wife enjoys the snack from the back portion. Thanks for another great video.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Nice. I like it! I'll see what we can do.

[@MP-th4nx]

Great honesty and courage for getting yourself to the end. I live in Australia and understand how the heat can affect the body. Don't be too tough on yourself. Just don't forget the energy/nutrition next time 😁.. Well done mate.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Appreciate that, I have a feeling our heat is nothing compared to what you face in Australia though haha!

[@recreationventuring]

When you push your limits sometimes you find it. The heat and not having your normal nutrition set you up for a tough day. No shame in a dnf.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Yea, def found it on that day!

[@chasingbirds3073]

DNF's happen to the best of us. Live to ride another day.

[@backofthegravelpack]

indeed, thanks for watching!

[@eugeneral]

No shot of the bike you’re riding?

[@backofthegravelpack]

Riding a Surly Midnight Special in this video, full build video is available here: th-cam.com/video/iwM1ra9wzXg/w-d-xo.html

[@richardvaughn168]

That was a tough adventure, glad you made it back alive. I've had a couple like that! Enjoyed your musical choices on this video.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks Richard, appreciate that. It's always a challenge to pick music, so I'm glad to hear someone enjoyed it!

[@jerryrobran2392]

Great video lol keep up the good work

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@chadkelly1920]

Great video as always.

[@backofthegravelpack]

Thanks Chad, glad you enjoyed it!

[@MichiganMountainBiker]

Snacks from the back are why I'm here! Love the struggle.. good job surviving

[@backofthegravelpack]

Had to survive to enjoy the snacks another day!

[@ehard9529]

Thanks for sharing your ride. Always keeping it real. Much respect!!

[@backofthegravelpack]

I appreciate that!