Do you think it’s basically impossible now for a rider to win a big gravel race without a crew to hand up nutrition in the feed zones? I’m kind of starting to get that vibe
by Ensorcellede
Do you think it’s basically impossible now for a rider to win a big gravel race without a crew to hand up nutrition in the feed zones? I’m kind of starting to get that vibe
by Ensorcellede
22 Comments
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In the words of Dylan Johnson, the spirit of gravel is now dead and has been dead for a while
the picture used in the post tells you everything you need to know about the state of competitive gravel racing. If you’re just riding events to challenge yourself and do epic shit, the “spirit” remains; however if you’re looking to win/podium these premier events yeah it’s pretty fucking hard to achieve that without the level of support you’re seeing from the top riders.
For what it’s worth the picture is from a mountain bike race… but are crews against the rules? or even the ‘spirit’? Amateurs also have crew at aid stations.
I was on the south east gravel short course at Hot Springs, which allowed me to see Dylan Johnson CRUSH the field on the long course final insane climb.
99.9% of world has absolutely no possibility of keeping up with the Top guys crewed or not
Were you winning races before?
your crew also has to be disgustingly hipster other wise you lose…gross
Unnecessary. An USWE and 2 bottles is good for 5-6hrs and 500-600g of carbs. The pros finish most gravel races that fast. And the performance penalty of starting with 3L isn’t why someone got 4th instead of winning.
For longer races like Unbound, more support is pretty much required. One person driving to 2-3 spots may be enough.
It’s also impossible to win a big gravel race without a $10k bike, sponsorship so you can train 20 hours a week, or Keegan Swenson’s legs
I did a small race a few years ago. Prize was a hat or something small. There were like 50 people in my race and 20 of them were a club organized by a local bike shop.
Fuck were they assholes. Swerving into people, brake checking people, doing anything to help their team pass people. One guy even tried to lead people down wrong turns. He’d make a wrong turn and wave for the people behind him to follow. I know this because when I called him out on it the second try he shrugged and said it was a competition. They were even do this to people in the mid / end of the pack.
People were be in the mid of the pack chatting and enjoying their ride with no interest in competing and these fucks would pop up and swerve in front of them and skid to a stop so their team could pass.
I don’t even think any of them podiumed.
Why do I need gravel races? I don’t. I make my own routes.
Races shouldn’t be competitive!
JFC, no wonder the rest of the cycling community thinks gravel is a total laughing stock.
Either you have no rules, no organisation and no racing or you have a race, with rules and an organising body.
The ‘spirit of gravel’ is pure marketing BS
Every advantage helps. It is absolutely possible to buy a race if you have the fitness. Better nutrition, better training, better equipment and now a better crew.
Racing is racing for the top level riders. Competitive af. Once crews come on board the cheating starts.
It’s not the support crews, it’s your legs.
Who cares?
Meanwhile, I’m slowing down as I pass a church to try and see if they have a water spigot or stopping to filter water out of a creek.
I see a mountain bike
I built my first gravel bike over the winter and did BWR AZ. It was fun. One thing I noticed is that there were a lot of riders who had obviously never ridden a mountain bike on single track. Long slinky traffic jams at any hint of a technical section. I guess I missed out on whatever “the spirit of gravel” is. What in that?
Just did the gravel race at sea otter today and the aid stations were actually doing neutral hand ups for any rider! Was a pretty cool experience
I haven’t done a gravel event in about 3 years. Feeling glad about that decision. Fucking crews?
Why do spectators and camera crew have to wear helmets at this event?
Depends, if they have a 6 w/kg ftp id be willing to bet they wouldn’t need a crew, but I don’t think those people are “new” to racing.