I've been gravel racing since 2009. I've lost my appetite for big commercial events because of the ridiculous entry fees and having to plan a year in advance to get lodging, etc. without getting gouged. I'm fortunate to live in North Texas where Spinistry's event director (Kevin Lee) puts on a lot of gravel events year-around for a very reasonable price. Grassroots gravel events are a blast without having to break the bank and follow a bunch rules, age group categories, distance restrictions based on age, etc. I'm 60+ and want to race the longest and hardest route they offer. Good luck to USA Cycling!
Ben, unrelated questions: how does riding bikes of different brands and types affect your performance? Do you see a significant variance in performance and results?
Jumping between different bikes, the biggest thing I notice is variations in fit and feel: stack and reach, handling, comfort, tires, saddle, cockpit, etc. Performance? Nope. I mean, there's no way to quantitatively compare apples to apples within an event. Performance-related variables can be measured, of course, and their effects even modeled out with something like Best Bike Split: weight, c/da, rolling resistance. But the differences in *similar* bikes are pretty small, and the variables in any event are huge. We can see noticeable differences between broadly different things: an aero bike with deep wheels at speed will be faster than a standard bike with shallow wheels, and a crazy light bike will be faster uphill than a super heavy bike. But if you're comparing like to like (aero bikes each with 50mm wheels and the same tires/width/pressure), now you're getting into the realm where the differences are *measurable* in a lab, but probably not *detectable* by regular riders in terms of performance. Feel, perhaps; time gained or c/da reduced, no. So I think that the three main steps for good performance are: -get a bike and gear appropriate for the goal at hand -dial in the fit and feel (position, contact points, tires, tire pressure) -work on the engine! Feeling unsure of yourself or your bike or your tires or your deep wheels can definitely affect you mentally, which will affect your performance. Kinda a rambling answer, sorry!
The Giant Revolt went back (sigh), and I don't have Melee road bike in for test. I did just get test models of the Ridley Kanzo Fast, the Argonaut GR3, and the Riverside something or other. So maybe one of those? Almost certainly 40mm Schwalbe G-One RS tires though.
Forgot to mention national championships for non binary as well. I know the rules just became more discriminatory towards that community. Does not mean you can forget that community to if you are trying to get a race preview out to everyone. Hoping the race organizer wants that too as that is more entry fees coming in to pay the bills. As cost goes, wow about $400 to line up if you do not have a USAC license, which is common in the Gravel/CX parts of cycling when adding entry fee+ license + transaction service fees together. 2x to 4x cost than most gravel events to enter. Then most of gravel is non USAC so what good is the license then year around.
I've been gravel racing since 2009. I've lost my appetite for big commercial events because of the ridiculous entry fees and having to plan a year in advance to get lodging, etc. without getting gouged. I'm fortunate to live in North Texas where Spinistry's event director (Kevin Lee) puts on a lot of gravel events year-around for a very reasonable price. Grassroots gravel events are a blast without having to break the bank and follow a bunch rules, age group categories, distance restrictions based on age, etc. I'm 60+ and want to race the longest and hardest route they offer. Good luck to USA Cycling!
None of that has to do with a national championship. People that do nationals for any sport expect to plan and spend money
I think people that do these Races plan, hope and expect to be sponsored. They plan for the sponsor to pay
Can't wait to see how Gravel Nats unfolds. Great job with the video Ben. I especially enjoyed the music montage at the end. Keep em comin!
Thanks, Hung.
06:02 when gravel spirit hits too hard
😂
I bet he races fixed gear category too.
Really looking forward to this event!!
Let's go!!! Thanks for this Ben!
We need more categories at this championship ie. Tandem, ebike, and fat bike. Embrace the spirit of gravel
AWESOME!!!!!
Damn that's Nebraska!?!? Looks beautiful
Thanks for the information, great to know.
That Mustache!! Wow!!
BIG shoutout to Andrew Kraft! Such a good dude
@@bensachs1855❤❤ my man!
Is the singletrack section the same as RR '22?
Sure is. Albeit a little more firm this time around!
Should be a great course as long as it doesn’t rain, which turns the gravel roads around there into a double peanut butter slushie milkshake
That description you come up with is something you should trademark…
Are there any sandy or soft sections on the 52 mile loop?
Ben, unrelated questions: how does riding bikes of different brands and types affect your performance? Do you see a significant variance in performance and results?
Jumping between different bikes, the biggest thing I notice is variations in fit and feel: stack and reach, handling, comfort, tires, saddle, cockpit, etc. Performance? Nope. I mean, there's no way to quantitatively compare apples to apples within an event. Performance-related variables can be measured, of course, and their effects even modeled out with something like Best Bike Split: weight, c/da, rolling resistance. But the differences in *similar* bikes are pretty small, and the variables in any event are huge.
We can see noticeable differences between broadly different things: an aero bike with deep wheels at speed will be faster than a standard bike with shallow wheels, and a crazy light bike will be faster uphill than a super heavy bike.
But if you're comparing like to like (aero bikes each with 50mm wheels and the same tires/width/pressure), now you're getting into the realm where the differences are *measurable* in a lab, but probably not *detectable* by regular riders in terms of performance. Feel, perhaps; time gained or c/da reduced, no.
So I think that the three main steps for good performance are:
-get a bike and gear appropriate for the goal at hand
-dial in the fit and feel (position, contact points, tires, tire pressure)
-work on the engine!
Feeling unsure of yourself or your bike or your tires or your deep wheels can definitely affect you mentally, which will affect your performance.
Kinda a rambling answer, sorry!
Just looked up the registration prices, for age grouper it's $329. What do you get for that price? That's the most expensive bike race I've ever seen.
36mm IRC Bokens for this course
cool, i am from Pakistan, and have no money can i join race ?
Do make competitors have to have cool facial hair?
No aero bars please!
good beta!
Good vid Ben, BTW, what bike n tires will you be riding? The Giant Revolt or the Envie Mille?
The Giant Revolt went back (sigh), and I don't have Melee road bike in for test. I did just get test models of the Ridley Kanzo Fast, the Argonaut GR3, and the Riverside something or other. So maybe one of those? Almost certainly 40mm Schwalbe G-One RS tires though.
Forgot to mention national championships for non binary as well. I know the rules just became more discriminatory towards that community. Does not mean you can forget that community to if you are trying to get a race preview out to everyone. Hoping the race organizer wants that too as that is more entry fees coming in to pay the bills. As cost goes, wow about $400 to line up if you do not have a USAC license, which is common in the Gravel/CX parts of cycling when adding entry fee+ license + transaction service fees together. 2x to 4x cost than most gravel events to enter. Then most of gravel is non USAC so what good is the license then year around.
Oh, shoot; you are right! National championship non-binary race for the 131mi distance. Also a singlespeed category. Good catch.
I hope Andrew Kraft brings LOTS of sunscreen.
Don’t worry I’ll have some for ya