The Barry Roubaix gravel road course and I have never had a great relationship. I am not a good climber and this route is all up and down for 36 miles. To put it nicely, I do not enjoy riding this route even on the nicest of days...
So why did I go to MI to race it??? I haven't been to MI in 6 months. I was excited to see my friends and family and thought this would be a great way to see a bunch of people all at one event. Plus, I'm in way better shape than I have ever been. I figured I could hammer this thing out in 2 hours and possibly win some money to help cover the cost of my plane ticket (top 10 overall women had nice payouts). Also, even though I don't like the course, the event is so awesome and well run. The streets of downtown Hastings are shut down. There is a huge fenced area with fire pits, a Founders beer truck, and thousands of cyclists! So fun! The race caps out at 3500 racers and it's known as "the worlds largest gravel road race". There are three distances to choose from 22 miles, 36 miles, and 62 miles. I am in shape for the 62 and I considered it. I chickened out signing up for it knowing the weather in MI could range from snowing to 70 degrees, but most likely, cold! Turns out I made a good choice. I signed up for the 36.
Watching the forecast I started mentally prepping for a nasty day on the bike. Forecast showed high of 48 and 100% chance of rain with 15-18 mph winds. The morning of, I headed to Hastings with a pretty good attitude. Temps were in the 30's with a "real feel" of 23. I had tons of warm clothes and my Bar Mitts to keep my hands dry. We lined up and I headed for the front of the pack. The race was going off in waves of 100 people or so. We took off and I was feeling fine. We had a small group of fast girls and my plan was to stay with them. Well, that didn't happen. Even though I'm a better climber than I used to be, I was still DYING on the climbs. They pulled away and I'd reel them back in on the flats and down hills but ultimately they just out climbed me. I was still quite a ways ahead of the rest of my wave. I must've been about 5th overall women. I settled in and just focused on catching one rider after another trying to hold my 5th ish place. I probably passed 300-400 guys that had started in waves ahead of me.
So why did I go to MI to race it??? I haven't been to MI in 6 months. I was excited to see my friends and family and thought this would be a great way to see a bunch of people all at one event. Plus, I'm in way better shape than I have ever been. I figured I could hammer this thing out in 2 hours and possibly win some money to help cover the cost of my plane ticket (top 10 overall women had nice payouts). Also, even though I don't like the course, the event is so awesome and well run. The streets of downtown Hastings are shut down. There is a huge fenced area with fire pits, a Founders beer truck, and thousands of cyclists! So fun! The race caps out at 3500 racers and it's known as "the worlds largest gravel road race". There are three distances to choose from 22 miles, 36 miles, and 62 miles. I am in shape for the 62 and I considered it. I chickened out signing up for it knowing the weather in MI could range from snowing to 70 degrees, but most likely, cold! Turns out I made a good choice. I signed up for the 36.
Watching the forecast I started mentally prepping for a nasty day on the bike. Forecast showed high of 48 and 100% chance of rain with 15-18 mph winds. The morning of, I headed to Hastings with a pretty good attitude. Temps were in the 30's with a "real feel" of 23. I had tons of warm clothes and my Bar Mitts to keep my hands dry. We lined up and I headed for the front of the pack. The race was going off in waves of 100 people or so. We took off and I was feeling fine. We had a small group of fast girls and my plan was to stay with them. Well, that didn't happen. Even though I'm a better climber than I used to be, I was still DYING on the climbs. They pulled away and I'd reel them back in on the flats and down hills but ultimately they just out climbed me. I was still quite a ways ahead of the rest of my wave. I must've been about 5th overall women. I settled in and just focused on catching one rider after another trying to hold my 5th ish place. I probably passed 300-400 guys that had started in waves ahead of me.
These pictures give you a good feel for course conditions....
About half way through the race I was already bummed that I lost the lead group and then it started pouring. I hate to admit it but I mentally broke. My usual "fire" was no where to be found. My shoes filled with icy water, my gloves and bar mitts filled with icy water, and every layer of clothes was soaked through. The winds picked up and it was like being trapped in my worst nightmare. I hate being cold. I was trying to not panic (holy crap I'm going to freeze to death) and I contemplated quitting. I think the only reason I didn't quit was, if I stopped riding to wait for a pick up, I would have been even colder. I had a lot of pep talks to myself in my head. But nothing could get me back in race mode.
Conversations with myself:
E, there's a chick passing you right now. You're not even going to be top 10...COME ON-You're not even trying. Drop the hammer, do your thing, chase her. You've got this!!!
Nothing happened. I don't know how else to explain it.
E, drink some water. Just reach down and grab the bottle, you need water.
Nothing (never touched my water)
E, eat your Gu blocks
Nada
E, get on that guys wheel as he's going by
Nope
I barely remember the last hour of the race. I just wanted to get to my car. That's all that mattered to me. My legs were numb. My fingers were numb too. I could not feel the shifters or the brakes. I just about wiped out on a downhill with a turn at the bottom. I hit the brakes but nothing happened. I think it was because I couldn't tell what my fingers were doing. Although, I heard a bunch of racers lost their brake pads in all the mud. We finally got to the pavement in downtown Hastings and again tried to talk myself into riding hard. I just couldn't. I was frozen, literally and figuratively, I guess.
I finished. Some of my friends had been standing around in the rain to wait for me to finish. I did not see them. I was too focused on getting to my car. I rode through the finish and headed straight for my car.
I just about burst in to tears when I couldn't get the key out of my pocket and into the lock. My hands were shaking so violently I couldn't get the car open.
I managed to get in and get the heat going. It was quite the task getting changed. I had so many layers on, and there was so much dirt, and my hands were numb and shaking. I had brought hot water to drink and poured some in my bottle. Instead of going to the beer area and getting food at one of the stands I went to a restaurant. My friend Kim helped get us to some seats (I could barely speak) and I ordered a hot chocolate, soup, and pasta. I had my full ski outfit on. Snow pants and all. By the time we got done eating I was functioning again and the shaking had stopped. I headed for the beer and fire pits. I was feeling better and had an awesome time catching up with everyone and sipping on a Founders Dirty Bastard.
I managed to get in and get the heat going. It was quite the task getting changed. I had so many layers on, and there was so much dirt, and my hands were numb and shaking. I had brought hot water to drink and poured some in my bottle. Instead of going to the beer area and getting food at one of the stands I went to a restaurant. My friend Kim helped get us to some seats (I could barely speak) and I ordered a hot chocolate, soup, and pasta. I had my full ski outfit on. Snow pants and all. By the time we got done eating I was functioning again and the shaking had stopped. I headed for the beer and fire pits. I was feeling better and had an awesome time catching up with everyone and sipping on a Founders Dirty Bastard.
I missed seeing a lot of friends because most of them stayed home when they saw the weather. I'm really glad I toughed this out and finished, though I'm bummed I couldn't seem to pull it together after the rains hit. I really don't have a good explanation for what happened and why I couldn't pull it together. I think the weather just broke me! Major Kudos to all who raced. I ended up 13 out of 106 (Overall Women 36 mile). Missing my top ten by 2 minutes. Ugh.
Before Saturday there were only two bike rides I had absolutely zero fun riding. I now have 3. Two out of the three are on the Barry Roubaix course....hmmmm?!? :-) (The other was Iceman '15. I know my MI friends all remember that one!)
I was super happy to have my Stradalli, Honey Bee, in town with me. Although, I'm not sure Honey Bee is happy to be in Michigan!
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