No Foot Down?! Riding the Steepest Gravel!
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- Blackfork Gravel Grinder is always a fun, beautiful but super tough day on the bicycles. This year it was 58 miles with 5800 feet of elevation on the steep, loose gravel roads in Mohican, near Loudonville, OH. This is some real deal gravel riding and it brought out 850 riders - some trying to win money, others trying to survive. I rode my Gunnar RockTour Adventure as I am more comfortable having the wider tires and bike position with it than I am with the slight speed advantage I may gain on the flats and rollers with my drop bar Raleigh Tamland 2.
Thanks to everyone that said "hi" or shouted some encouragement!
#gravelrace #gravelride
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Tim says "Just be nice to people." Makes sense to me.
I have the idea that your steel Gunnar will still be somebody's daily bike when those carbon fiber bikes have long been sent to the landfill.
Thanks for the video.
Where I live there is NO elevation, LOL. If we come upon a ramp to a pedestrian overpass, it feels like a mountain! (Sarasota FL area). I only biked 15 miles today, it was 90° & the sun was warm. I always use my friendly Grandma voice (I'm 68) when i say "on your left" and today two people actually said "thanks for the heads up." Hey, I enjoy your videos! I ride a Cannondale Treadwell. Its SO fun!
Awesome!
Cheers!
Totally agree. People need to be more self-aware in races, on paths, and on roads. Whether you are walking or riding, common courtesy helps keep everyone safe.
I think your comments on cycling etiquette are spot on. On another note I am surprised your bike got a lot of “looks”. Unless, of course, they were jealous. Cheers!
Thanks!
Lot of carbon and drops at this event. So many people have been conditioned to think the industry standard will make them fast - not used to being passed by a dude on flat pedals. 😀
Communication is the key and if there's an obstacle that's just part of the challenge. Great riding 💪
As someone who has been riding for years . I’m just now starting to get into group riding. Very educational for me .
That is what I like to hear - there is some nuance that is worth learning and it benefits everyone. Just communicating is the main thing - no one will ever be annoyed by being alerted to what you or others are doing.
Cheers!
Keep preaching. My little group is very vocal (car up/back, on your left etc). So important to communicate and also not be a pain in someone’s ass.
Same. And that is how I learned it.
What a rad event! I had so much fun and didn't even ride. It's always a good time to be around like minded people and enjoy the community. Also, I loved your rig! Very noticeable out on the course. Looks like a ton of fun to ride. I'll be signing up for next year. Great video!
Heck yeah! It was a great weekend! I hope they can continue to grow the first night. It would be awesome with some good food options and even if your brewery charged for beers that night.
The course is brutal but beautiful.
Glad we got to chat!
Hey Tim, another great video. I would have done Blackfork, but it fell on my son's wedding day. Glad to see you spreading the wisdom on etiquette. It's important to share. It's not just common sense, it needs to be taught. I'm sure I could improve mine at times. So, thanks for the reminders.
Thanks!
Yeah - its not like I hoped on a bike and knew any of this either - I learned by watching or being told.
Dang! 5800 Feet of climbing?!? That's a doozy! Good stuff.
Yeah! It’s a tough one!
In southwest Michigan, we got hills. No way around it. You show a lot of concern for the fellow rider and it shows. I wouldn’t mind riding with you someday; you’ve really inspired a guy.
Cycling is such a solo sport we all forget etiquette to keep each other safe when riding in groups. It's easy to become complacent and forget other humans exist riding at different different skills and speeds. Lovely ride in the country, glad you all seemed to enjoy it!
To answer, I absolutely need a countdown on KMs and elevation left mostly just to gauge how much I have left in the tank on a bigger ride.
Great video. This was my first year doing BFGG but I watched your video from last year as preparation. I walked two hills in the beginning and made sure to be out of the way.
Bummer about the comments you received. The big thing I like about gravel is you can take it as seriously as you want. I like that different people on different bikes can come together to complete the same task.
This was great, Tim, and thanks for your etiquette advocacy for all, especially for those who take it all a little too seriously and I say that as one who likes the extremes of casual and intense and there is a time for both, just not at the expense of communal fun and safety and enjoyment. As far as tips for you, maybe next time ride head down, stare at your watts, ignore the scenery, win that trophy. 😀
Ha!
I can tell that was a lot of fun and the rain and mud makes it even better. I stayed at that castle a few years back with my wife. Very interesting place, there's a really old and weird graveyard on the property. Go for it when you can and stay strong.
I enjoyed the video and commentary. Enjoy the ride and help everyone enjoy their ride.
Absolutely breathtaking! I'm beat.
I have a similar approach to organized races - I'm giving a good effort for me but I'm not "racing". I totally agree with your observations and critiques on the etiquette front. In a positive sense, it shows the diversity that such an event can have in bringing together different people at different skill levels with various goals. Along with that, you get some jockeying and a bit of friction in terms of attitude and awareness at those pinch points. IME, it usually is a nothingburger but there have been times I've had to tell some MAMIL to chill.
Yeah - I bring up these issues to hopefully be educational- but all in all it was rad.
Nice Ohio farms. Mohigan (spelling), always had fun in the area.
I missed this one again - had hoped to try it this year. I refuse to revive FB account, so I miss these types of updates, often. I actually was in the area a week prior and wore myself out on the full MTB trail at Mohican - so I was with you in spirit :) I would certainly be one of those riders trying to survive. Great video, and agree wholeheartedly on being respectful and aware. Sharing etiquette is always welcomed and encouraged!
We've wanted to do those trails both years but it has rained the sunday both times.
Another entertaining adventure - thanks for sharing!!!
bikes, beer, girls.....nice program !
1. This ride should be named NastyFork. 2. I use my computer more for heart rate and pace than overall mileage. 3. Agree on etiquette and I was definitely being vocal to help out riders while I walked up many hills. 4. Glad it’s over avg HR of 161 and burned 5300 cals. Glad to have gotten to ride with you for bits here and there!
It is such a brutal ride! We have been talking about going back on a non-race day and taking our time to enjoy how pretty it is. Would be awesome on a cool Fall day.
I definitely appreciated that we got to ride together - such a nice boost when out there.
Great points. If more of the competition racers actually commuted too then more would be familiar with the common etiquette
Beautiful place.
All good info,straight up!! Looks like a fun day,great video Tim!!👍💯
Thanks!
I was within eyesight of you for much of the 2nd half of the ride. White mtb with a navy kit and white helmet. I was tired enough that I walked a lot of the climbs by then, And remember thinking how tough you were for standing and grinding up the hills. Great ride!
Nice!
I do have this mental thing that I keep telling myself it will take longer and be even harder to walk it - and that somehow keeps me going(albeit at a fairly easy pace). No idea how I did this ride the first time on a road groupset!
Dangerous I have bad luck not for me I guess but I love watching Thanks Tim
Love your videos! Greetings from the people at Ragbrai!
i was a noob , like we all where , Manners is just common place to few , i learned from just things i did not like , so i just in turn called out im passing , and stopping, but stupid is as it dose
💯
I just did a 3000 rider event this weekend and there was a striking mix of super-speed-focused riders and beginners doing their fist 100km ride. Some gravel and muddy farm road sections but mostly road. It was awkward at times, I spotted a large group on the side of the road discussing if they were on the right route, I shouted out that we were on the right route as I was passing (I had my Wahoo on) but they then took my communication as a reason to push out directly in front of me whilst I was at about 10mph. A quick swerve and they did shout out sorry. I did not mind because I could see they were not experienced but its still a challenge.
Many people did not shout to say they were passing and those were either beginners or the very speed focused people. Interesting to think about the evolution of a rider, you start as a beginner and not really knowing what to communicate, then mature into someone that is very good at sharing where you are with a quick shout, then when you get into that upper echelon of fast cyclists you become a selfish monster!
But seriously my Randonnee ride on the island of "The Isle of Wight" off the South Coast UK was really mixed and had very slow and very fast riders which is certainly a recipe for accidents. A charity heart-disease fund raiser I ride every year from London to the South Coast in Brighton is full of very risky moments because its another one with fast and slow charity riders. The mix does create accidents and frustration where the fast riders shout "On your right" but they often do this with an impatient aggressive "get out of my way" tone to the shout which is frustrating again because its not a race and despite the communication it does create friction. I have seen many accidents on this ride over the year with face planting, big pile-ups at stop lights and the worst one was a rag-doll incident with a MTB rider getting thrown high free from his bike into a fence at about 30mph down a 20% gradient road. The fact all the roads are closed makes people get a bit too excited.
So I totally agree with you on the need to be polite and communicate. I would say also communicate with a friendly tone if possible, rather than being impatient but that might be a lot to ask in the heat of the moment if folks are aiming for a best time in a race.
I uploaded my weekend event on the channel :)
I'd guess the only thing I disagree on is the "heat of the moment" race people. I find(as you kind of said in your other comment) that the racers know they need to communicate. and as you saw in the stream - Ames won the gravel race series - she is racing seriously and her and the other leaders are trying to beat each other - they still shout out obstacles and try to be safe when possible.
Cheers!
@@TimFitzwater You are right when you are at a certain level there is no excuse for not shouting out. However, I have been very tired and missed out a warning from just being a zombie late ride and that's bad.
Continuing the topic, whilst I was on holiday in Japan 10 years ago, I found that Tokyo had a strange calm sensation about it. Contrary to the common theme of Tokyo being a frantic metropolis, instead I found bikes weaving between pedestrians on crossings, pavements etc. Cyclists were at one with pedestrians with no friction and an acceptance that everyone would give way to each other for shared use. That sort of polite acceptance of different road users just would not work in the UK, perhaps not in the USA either. I am sure they extend that considerate nature to cycling events to but would like to try one over there to see. I wonder what the fundamental entitled mentality is that makes us act as separate tribes that fight for our own road space? :(
Also WOW - as a photographer, the bikes left around locked up were so beautiful in Tokyo, every street I was stopping my family to photo another cool alt-bike left leaning. You could make 1 day of a visit just about bike photography!
...yep, in large groups there's always somebody who makes fun stuff less fun😆
Great job love following your journey...
Absolutely, positively true! Great video on how to ride 🤙
Cheers! Thanks!
I"m in nova scotia Canada . There is no Gravel races where I live bike shop does not get it sad. That race looks like fun love your bike and I'm going to try flat pedals . Fun first
Yep I thought I was close to finish at 51 miles and pushed hard, my heart dropped at 56 seeing the “2 more miles” sign. My strava says 6400 feet of climbing.
Yeah - happened to a lot of us. Strava sometimes needs to be corrected if the ride wasn’t recorded on a device with an altimeter. It will sometimes think you are going into valleys that bridges cross. I talked to a few of people across devices with the 5800 range so I’m pretty confident in that number.
Hi Tim, I got to say again that I really like the format of your video's. The narrative over the image is great ! You seem to give the information that's important, plus, the quirky opinions. I have a 315km race starting at midnight on Friday, (Vattenrunden). I'd changed my mind about doing it, probably because I'm a pussy 😂, but after watching your race video I'm going to give it a try... So thanks for motivation....I think.
Heck yeah! Love to hear it!
Good luck!!
Great Vid, and good tips! THX!
I did the 23mile ride, yo-yo`ed Erin a few times and then she went up and over one of the climbs that I was struggling even to walk, that was last I seen of her. It was my first gravel ride, next year I will sign up for the 30 mile race. I was not familiar with the course so I was always looking at my wahoo, just where the climbs were so I knew when to try and recover a little.
It is tough to ride in this part of the state at any distance!
Great Video. I have Done the Mohican 100 endurance run. Cool area. Interesting how bike events differ from trail running. I have done a ton endurance running events and can't think of a single time someone was being a Jerk. I am guessing the variation on people skills (uphill and downhill) on bikes that cause a lot of the problems. You would like to think the mid-pack people would be a little more self aware.
I used to run a lot too and never had any issues - but definitely think the speed is a big diff in that.
It is interesting because it is the mid-pack people that are the worst!
Everything you said regarding etiquette seems like it should be common sense. It amazes me how many folks get butt hurt about the simple call outs and line etiquette.
Whoo hoo looks like fun
good advice and solid vid like always
I don’t think about elevation. But I do play a game with myself. I mentally track the % of the ride completed. Makes me feel like I am progressing quicker .
I check in on the mileage occasionally but that is it. I do also find in hard rides like this I have to pay more attention to that so I remember to eat at the right times....
i don't look at elevation at all, of course i live in Miami, Florida there isn't any elevation change unless you're riding over a bridge. lol
A flat bar swept bar only ride might be cool.
That climb in the beginning is also on the Mohican 100 MTB race.
Yes. I believe there are three races that use some of these climbs.
Amazing film
Thanks!
What a great video ❤
Thanks!
Try the macadamia nut butter it really stabilizes your sugar. You can get it in little packets
You do you!
😎
Shout out for Woody! He was super helpful when I was gravel shopping this winter/spring 🤘My goal is for Black Fork 2026!
😆 Congrats! You're not wrong about people breaking etiquette in events like this, though it's always going to be the case. Just got to move on and not let it bother you.
It can be very dangerous - thats my issue. The goal is to move on and not crash!
@@TimFitzwater Def agree. Was late to your livestream otherwise I would have commented there since I know you discussed this. Not meant as a criticism, only that I'm resigned to belief that it can't be fixed so I try not to let it bother me.
nice video and first up for 2024 - it was my 2nd BF crashed last year with 10 to go so was happy to finish this year despite missing a turn and doing extra 5 miles - there are more tough climbs in the last 10 than felt fair?! Had no courtesy issues and like you had one short dismount due to slow riders but generally people made way - again I feel like there’s unfinished business for me so I will probably love to hate it one more time next year 😜
Nice! 5 mile detour- dang! That would have killed me. Definitely tough stuff at the end. That climb you can see coming to the left kills me.
I was saying I wouldn’t do it again next year but - I’m probably gonna do it again next year.
This route looks rad and I agree very Higher Ground in Johnstown reminiscent. I've got to make some Ohio friends so I can come over and ride some of these events.
Join us in the discord - we all post about the events we are doing!
discord.gg/tEJahMgu
@@TimFitzwater I'll check it out but I need another social media like I need a whole in the head. Thanks
@where2then it’s just a message board for this channel. Don’t need to download the app and I have the notifications turned off for everyone be by default.
Where do you find local races like these? I’m in the area but I don’t have Facebook so I feel as if I miss all the advertising.
I guess for me its just through my network - everyone I hang out with rides and talks about bikes. Definitely not FB. We do have a discord for the channel and we share the events we are all riding discord.gg/NhgMxBRG
I have never known the elevation or grade while on a ride. My friend’s garmin tells how steep the grade is and i find that fun to know when were in “sit n spin” mode
I love knowing my numbers on casual rides - but not on the tougher serious ones(until after) 🤷🏻♂️
Maybe I missed it, but what’s your gearing? Might sign up for next year but not sure I have enough climbing gears. Thanks!
I have done this on 34x34 - but my Gunnar has something a little easier. It really depends on how you ride though - my gearing may not be relevant to what you need/want. I would check out the profile of the course and compare it to other things you have done on your bike.
The guy that stopped suddenly may have had reason and didn't have time to shout.
Enjoy your videos a lot🙂
He just got scared. How is there not time to shout - it doesn't take any longer than it does to squeeze your brakes?
Thanks! Cheers!
By the way, you've probably mentioned this a million times and maybe even in this vid, but what alt bars are those that you're running on the Gunnar? Going the alt bar route for the first time on a new gravel/touring bike build. They kinda look like the ritchey kyote bars but with much more backsweep.
These are Velo Orange Granola Bars.
@@TimFitzwater Ah, makes sense. I was considering the vo crazy bars. Decided to go with a similar koga denham bars for now.
My experience is the nicer the kit and bike the less etiquette expressed. That’s a broad generalization but I find it mostly holds true.
I do find it but oddly in the middle of the pack the worse it is. People with something to prove I guess. Congrats on the 350th! Ha!
@@TimFitzwater really enjoy your content. Planning on doing some of your Strava routes this summer. Keep up the great work.
Hey man always curious where you see th3se rides advertised or atleast announced in the northeast and never sure when these happen
Instagram
This was my first time at the event. I feel like I did pretty well the first third but it went downhill from there. Maybe I needed more snacks or something. Also was not ready for how steep and crazy a couple climbs were
With all that climbing definitely need to eat more than you normally would on a 58 mile ride.
I wasn't sure what kind of shape I was in so knowing how tough the ending was is also part of the reason I was just spinning up the beginning climbs instead of going real hard.
giving me the ohio bike inspiration
I’m a mileage watcher, but I make a point to not watch the climbing profile towards the end of the ride. I tend to just gear down and keep spinning up the hills.
as a single speeder, i definitely like to know the grade, length./ i only have so many matches!
Makes sense. I did see one single speed at this event. No thanks!
I have always believed in the 10% rule of large group dynamics . The rule being that at least 10% of the people in that group are ass hats so expect the nastiness accordingly.
Raced more then a few gravel events and I was never surprised by those guys in Levi's and T's. They weren't fool'n me .😝
One observation on bad sections of a ride. I think you could see a telling difference in bike handling skills between mtber's and the roadies . I found it a bit fascinating to watch a raodie who blew by me on the tarmac having a crap time navigating a sand ,rock and mud section. I liked to think that they noted their weakness and rectified it with more riding on single track . You know , the blowen out rooty rocky stuff. 😂
For sure. I also think there are so many people who have gotten into "gravel" and just buy all the stuff they think they are supposed to and then have no idea some of it can be gnarly.
You're too nice for racing. Everything you describe is why I wish poker runs were more common, or even replaced most races. They're so much more fun, with the organization of a race, but no reason to ride super fast or be rude to other riders.
That is the thing - I'm nowhere near the super fast people and those people aren't even the ones who are the problem. Its these people in the middle with something to prove. All my racing acquaintances are nice as can be.
But it is why I only do a couple races a year - I have much more fun at social events.
Why don't they start in different groups? Have the faster riders start at the front followed by a 'B' group based on expected completion time. I haven't done this one yet but perhaps some day.
The mass start is kinda the “spirit of gravel” thing. Everyone gets to ride together. This was the biggest year yet so maybe eventually they’ll have to. It won’t change all that much though because it the people in the middle with the bad etiquette. Which is still where I’ll be.
I feel your pain.
Here in the UK we have a huge charity ride called the London to Brighton and unfortunately you see the bizzarest behaviour which examples what you say.
No one is an expert/pro/etc etc but some people do the most strange things that are illogic whether on bike or not.
Why would you suddenly change direction, accelerate, brake or stop without checking/looking first?
Nothing to do with experience more to do with common sense.
100%
I've said this before - there is nothing more dangerous than a charity bike ride!
Prefer to ride as it comes. Not into the climb profile high jacking my computer screen.
Same. I turned off the climbing feature. I do check the mileage here and there but don’t leave it up.
12:23 I def try NOT to look at remaining miles / elevation in any planned ride. I’m just happy to be included in any races I am involved in, so I don’t have an analytic strategy to maximise performance.
However, I can see the value of planning, strategy, and statistics monitoring throughout the race if your goal is to win.
But in my experience, only losers wanna win…. Jk bros
13:04 Ha, vindication of my opinion in less than one minute 😂
Those rude guys sound like roadie culture infiltrated the event...
There are good and bad riders in all riding styles. I think true roadies are more inclined to follow etiquette than others. It’s the wannabes like Tim says, that behave like ass holes . Just like in life you’re going to meet some rude people, I just wish they wouldn’t take up cycling and give us nice people a bad reputation.
Its a weird mix. I do think there are a few fast people that come from that culture and act like that - but a lot of it is dudes in the middle of the pack that think they have something to prove...
I didn’t hear you say anything that shouldn’t be considered common sense. Can’t believe anyone would take issue with you over what you said.
It is weird. I feel like a lot of the people are the same ones who stand on the sidelines of kids sports and yell at 8 year olds.
this isn't revolutionary but Ive decided, how you drive or walk down a sidewalk is indicative of how you will ride... those habits are hard to change
💯
Looks like your handlebar was upside down, not orientated for its rise. Maybe.
It’s not.