Saturday Aug 18th, 2018
Race day expectations of cloud cover, mid 80’s temp and lots of rolling hills for 150 miles were of conversation on the road trip from KC to Lincoln. 3 Feet Cycling came to Lincoln with the 3 horseman of Carl Martinez, Armando Sanchez and Jeff McCool. We had another gravel buddy Vic join us for the road trip to share in all of the fun.
Saturday morning started with breakfast at 4:30am and and seeing many familiar faces from around the country that we have not seen since Dirty Kanza. After breakfast we loaded up and headed to the starting line at SchillingBridge Cork and Tap House. As usual it is a busy time everyone doing last minute adjustments to their bikes and getting prepared for the day ahead on the gravel seas.
The Pirates of the Pirate Cycling League who help out on this event have some fantastic support for some much needed oasis along the route of food and water. We only had 2 mandatory checkpoints for the day to pick up our pipe cleaners as proof of our voyage. Mile 58 was the first and 128 the second. In-between we had the oasis or c-stores to stop at.
Just before 6:00am Corey Godfrey fired up the old truck that was to lead us out onto the gravel. We knew we were ready to roll out as they counted down from 10. It was still dark at the start so we had the pleasure of seeing the sunrise as we rolled down the gravel roads looking over the fog covered fields. I have seen some spectacular pictures that people took of Saturdays sunrise. I myself was too focused on picking my lines thru the freshly laid gravel to grab a snapshot of the sunrise fearing I might be doing so from my backside if I wasn’t skillful enough.
We had some good groups to ride with early in the day. David Romisch from KC was with our group for many miles and I saw him often throughout the day which was refreshing to see a familiar face. Our group stayed about 8-10 guys thru the first checkpoint at mile 58 as we headed back south after gong thru what I believe the locals called the “Alps” and out to the flatlands of just constant rollers West and Northwest of Lincoln.
I left the checkpoint first from the group I was in and tried to catch up to the Tandem of Don Daly and Josh Shrock. (They ended the day as the Gravel Champs) When I did catch up I needed to stop at mile 70 for an oasis to get some pickle juice as I felt some cramps coming on and needed to get some nutrition out of my camelbak. As I left with the group I got a quarter mile down the road and realized I left my camelbak at the oasis and had to turn around to get it. As I headed back I saw Armando Sanchez and Mikalya (another friend from KC) for the last time on the day. Once I got my camelbak and headed out the group I had been with were gone and I was not able to catch up. This mistake cost me people to ride with that I knew would keep me going. These rides are as much mental as physical at times.
At about mile 80 I was having bad hot spots on my feet so I got off and walked a bit and then was able to continue on to Malcom at mile 85. There I stopped at the Malcom General Store for a sports drink, some sugar and to clean my glasses. I hadn’t been able to wear my glasses all day due to the humidity at first and then the multiple layers of dirt that were on them later on.
We continued to head south thru some rollers and I was able to ride with some different guys for a while as we headed into a c-store just off of I-80 and who knows where for the 100 mile stop I had planned. I was 6:30 into the race at this point. I was obviously not the first to arrive as the trash can was over flowing with empty Gatorade and PowerAide bottles. I refilled by camelbak and bottles with plenty of ice, water and nutrition. Drank a V8 style drink and some orange slices for sugar. I didn’t feel great but I needed to move on. I talked to David Romisch again as we both headed out. I was starting to feel rejuvenated and felt like I had some legs back so I picked up my pace. I was able to pass a few people and was riding along when I decided to stand up and pedal……yeah that was not a good idea the quads had other ideas. I friendly rider knew what happened and offered me a salt pill which I gladly took. Just before the Denton Wall hill climb we went under a railroad overpass and on the other side was a fresh pile of gravel waiting for us. Short in length but not depth of gravel.
We then came up to the Denton Wall which was set as the hill climb of the day. I am sure you have already guessed it….we were not battling for the KOM this late in the race. I made the choice to walk the climb and not chance cramping up. As we crested the hill I got back on without issues. On the left had turn there was another oasis to the right but I passed on it and kept riding (we were at about mile 116 and I wanted to keep moving). The wind was no longer a head wind and it was getting hot. My Garmin read 95 degrees. Looking back I should have stopped and cooled off but lessons learned. I pulled over in a little shade to try and cool off before heading on. When I got back on some cramps came on so I really started to soft pedal. We had another hill to go up and so I decided to walk again. This time the quads didn’t like this so much either and both started to twinge and I stoped to rest before walking again and it all repeated. I finally was able to make it to the top of the hill and rest for a moment. Made the call I had been dreading. About this time Vic (who rode up with us from KC) comes by and checks on me. He was still looking good for 116+ miles in.
I soft pedaled into the town of Denton to the C-Store to wait for my ride. Luckily it was a flat couple of miles. I was at mile 120 and just over 8100 feet of climbing. While waiting my buddy Jake called to see how things were going as he had recently finished. I had to ask how hilly the last 30 miles were as I really wanted to finish but knew I couldn’t probably handle another 3000 feet of climbing that I had figured were left. His answer did not give me a warm and fuzzy that it would be easy going the rest of the way in. Carl Martinez arrived with my chariot, we loaded up my bike and wished Vic who was at the c-store best of luck and we would see him at the finish line.
At the finish line I was able to catch up with Joel and Josh who we supported at DK. The stories of their day at the front were in ways similar to many of ours in the mid Pack and back of the pack. It wasn’t an easy day for anyone. I watched riders cross the finish line many who were excited to be done with their adventure and I think all were glad to be done with the “flat” Nebraska landscape that has become known as Gravel Worlds.
My teammate Armando came across the finish line in 10:01 completing his longest ride ever and his second gravel race. He had a great day and I was excited for his finish. Not bad for a roadie who has turned to riding more gravel.
Special shout out to the promoters Corey Godfrey and Craig Schmidt along with all of the
Pirate Cycling League volunteers for putting on such a great event. It is amazing to see so many people come from all over the country to the midwest to ride our roads that we at times take for granted.
If you want adventure, a challenge and a great time you need to put
Gravel Worlds on your race calendar.
Now time to recover and get ready for the next adventure.
Jeff
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