JOM’s Iron Cross Race XII Report – 2014
About the Race The 12th running of Iron Cross was the 6th race of the American Ultra Cross Series, held in the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania. The 12th and…
Iron Cross 2014 Ride Preview – Lippincote
Iron Cross 2014 is tomorrow, October 5, 2014. I took the opportunity today to pre-ride the Lippincote trail, and Powerlines start loop. The gravel sections of the course look to…
L’Eroica Reconnaisance Report Number 2 – 2014
K-Dogg's Thursday Reconnaissance Ride The event gets tricky early, with a descent on the first gravel section about eight miles from the start in Gaiole... at about 5:30 a.m. Check…
Training for Iron Cross 2014
Training Hard Not really. Rather, I'm on a train, namely the Amtrak Auto Train, short cutting my way to Michaux State Forest, for Iron Cross 2014. If you reside in…
League of American Bicyclists – National Bike Challenge
What is the National Bike Challenge? The National Bike Challenge is an event organized by the League of American Bicyclists. Quote from the Bike Challenge website - "The National Bike…
Pre L’Eroica Reconnoitering 2014
Our roving reporter K-Dogg, has chimed in with his first report from L'Eroica. Click an image to see the full-size version. From K-Dogg: Drove the entire 205 k course. It…
Hawk Racing Bottom Bracket – Long Term Product Review
If you're unfamiliar with Hawk Racing, the company was founded by Sven Folmer, a former professional triathlete about seven years ago (the timeframe may need correction). Hawk Racing is headquartered…
New Site Theme Launched!
What better way to celebrate the end of September 2014, with a new look to GravelCyclist.com! The site still needs some tweaking, but we hope you like the latest change. …
L’Eroica Bound 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014. K-Dogg and Mrs K-Dogg are jetsetting their way to Italy, to contest the legendary race / ride / event, known as L’Eroica. It’s been on K-Dogg’s bucket list for a while.
What is L’Eroica?
From the official website – “L’eroica is a foundation whose purpose is to safeguard the heritage of the white roads of Tuscany. These romantically actual ideals gave rise to the idea of the cycling event born in 1997. At the start, at the time, there were 92 “hunters of feelings and emotions”, but now eroica is an example of environmental sustainability, sustainable lifestyle, of clean cycling which indicates the future by looking to the past: witness the numbers of a success due to the passion of its organizers and creators.”
Pardon the dodgy Italian to English translation. In a nutshell, this is an event and foundation, committed to keeping the white roads in the Tuscany region of Italy, from ever being paved. More of that needs to happen in the USA; don’t pave the dirt, limerock and gravel roads!
L’Eroica is also a ride of epic proportion. There are two long routes (205km or 135km) and two short routes (75km or 38km). The Doggs are doing the full monty 205km route, naturally. When you fly across the pond, you don’t half arse around.
Your Own Personal Time Trial
With “regular” cross, at least in my limited experience (two races), you are absolutely red-lined from the start. Typically my race would begin with royally screwing up clipping into the pedals, causing a blockade to those riders behind me, while the lead racers are already 30 meters up the course. “Hole shotting” aka getting a great start, is a pretty big deal in “regular” cyclocross.
Unlike “regular” cyclocross racing, where competitors hammer themselves around a short course for multiple laps, for an hour at worse, Ultra CX goes beyond that. Ultra CX competitors typically face an open road type course, featuring paved roads, gravel roads, sludge pits and hike-a-bike sections. The shortest race is usually around three and a half hours in length, with some events such as the Dirty Kanza, stretching to over 12 hours for most competitors, with 200 miles of terrain to traverse.
Retro Gravel Grinding & Drop Bars
Whilst browsing through a July 1987 copy of Bicycling Magazine in the reading room, I stumbled across an article about a new bike for the time, the Bridgestone MB-1.
“Fat Tires Meet Drop Bars”
Correct me if I’m wrong, this bicycle appeared before John Tomac was spotted running drop bars during the 1990 NORBA MTB season.
Gumby & Bikes of the Williston Peanut Farms Dirt Road Ride
Last Saturday, JOM and the lads enjoyed a sweet dirt roads ride, south of Williston, Florida around the Peanut Farms area. There were several interesting bikes on the ride, which are featured in the gallery at the bottom of the page.
K-Dogg’s Race Winning Motobecane Ti
The Dogg has been riding and racing this bike for about three years. He only recently made the leap to tubeless tires (tyres), and is currently running the Clement Explorer MSO in 40mm. The Titanium frame is complemented by a modest parts built, with a single Avid BB7 disc brake on the front.
Gumby
Gumby is likely the most important part of K-Dogg’s bike, and is usually found hanging around somewhere. Gumby imparts power, knowledge and wisdom upon K-Dogg, and strikes fear into those who don’t believe. Not a believer? Check the gallery of Pro Cyclists who have bowed down to Gumby!