Whether you’re a fan or not of the stuff that forms the gravel seas that surround us here, there’s no denying that last weekend saw the biggest concentration of gravel enthusiasts around. Riders from all 50 states, with the possible exception of Wyoming and I believe 21 foreign countries dropped in on Lincoln for a weekend of fun and grit. All together with the runners and triathletes I think we were looking at 2000 participants. It certainly has changed since the early days, but that’s the way things evolve. From the free event with registration consisting of a post card and one distance of 150 miles, (my first GW) to the current 170 dollars with much of that going to charitable donations, and various distances and forms, the event has morphed. If a lower key event is more to your liking, there are still plenty of smaller events, some of them free and still accepting a post card for registration. Most are somewhere in the middle.
Putting on an event does require a huge amount of logistics. There are courses to reconnoiter, possible hazards to scope out, water and aid stations to supply and staff. Then there are the local residents, who may or may not welcome cyclists on “their” roads. I was glad to see the route this year reaching east, where the Mopac gap has been so fraught with drama and intrigue this past year. Also to the west near Branched Oak Lake for the triathlon, where the perennial comment by local residents asking why cyclists “don’t just stay on the trail made for them” arose again. Why not ask why motorists don’t just stay on that (one) road made for them? Cyclists also do need to recognize that four abreast on a hill isn’t a good idea. It’s dangerous, it scares motorists and gives us a bad name.
Unless you’re a pro athlete racing for prize money, racers ride for the experience. There are few places where pros and amateurs do rub shoulders, but that’s gravel racing. And what an experience! The rain Friday evening meant that some of the mmrs started out muddy. Those racers that didn’t immediately head for the grass at the side soon found themselves in a sticky situation. The gravel wasn’t dusty though, so that was a plus, as were the lower temperatures. Every year epic adventures are had and lessons learned. I’m happier being a participant than a spectator but recent circumstances have put me in the spectator’s role and I found the live feed fun to follow, as was dropping in at the finish line to watch finishers come in.
