Fall Biking

Back in early summer, I bought a cyclocross/gravel bike.  A new toy/tool for adventure.  I’ve been having a blast getting out on some longer rides, daily bike commuting and shuttling myself between trailheads for point-to-point mountain runs. 

Three recent noteworthy rides include JayP’s gravel pursuit 60mile race, riding the tetonia to ashton rail trail as well as my first century ride, “around the block.”

Although JayP’s 60 and 120mile gravel bike races outside Island Park, ID were on my radar all summer, I didn’t commit to racing until the day before.  With crappy mountain weather in the forecast for the weekend and knowing some friends would be there, I gave in and decided to dabble in a completely new venue of racing. 

Needless to say, I was well out of my comfort zone as racers zoomed past me in the initial rough mile, dodging huge potholes and mudholes as the group of approximately 60 riders in the 60 mile race splintered apart.  As the course changed to better gravel, I started to find a rhythm and slowly start passing some riders.  The first of two climbs of the course was paved and not really knowing the etiquette or proper execution of drafting with other riders, I rode alone, pulling away from the group of 3 that tried to group up behind me.  Not long into the first major descent (now gravel), I suffered a front pinch flat and spent the next 14 minutes changing it.  Miserably slow from a racing perspective I know, but hey, it was my first real time changing a tube (other than practicing in my living room while watching a how-to video the first week I owned my bike). 

A depressingly large number of racers cruised by while I was working but nearly all were nice enough to yell and make sure I had everything I needed.  With a 14 minute stop, the racing aspect of my day was clearly over but I continued on, determined to still enjoy the rest of the ride.  I spent nearly the entire remainder of the race alone, trying to remind myself I was racing and should push hard.  However no-mans land is an easy place to slack off and my pace on the second climb was certainly easier than it could have been.  I made contact with 2 riders in the final couple flat miles and was excited to have a brief battle with one in the rough final mile and out sprint him to the finish. 

double rainbow at the finish

Despite my flat and poor finishing time, it was fun to ride at a hard effort for my first time and get a taste of gravel bike racing.  If I try racing again, I need fatter tires to allow for bombing over rough terrain with seemingly reckless abandon with other/faster riders.  The overall organization and vibe of the event was great and definitely recommended for novice or experienced riders alike. 

Tetonia to Ashton Rail Trail

A week later, I decided to check out the 30mile old railway trail between tetonia and ashton.  With high winds (20-30mph, gusts to 40) in the forecast, I hoped for the best and set out from the house, riding ~10 miles of mostly dirt roads to tetonia to the trailhead.  The ride to ashton went well with mild winds and spectacular fall foliage and 3 large trestle bridges.  

trestle bridge and golden aspens

longest of the three trestle bridges on the right

I refueled at a gas station in ashton before reversing my route home.  The forecasted high winds arrived and made for a slow, oftentimes brutal ride home.  Despite having railings, it was downright scary riding across the trestles given the intense crosswinds threatening to blow me off my bike.   There was also a memorable hill I tried to coast down but given the strong headwind, I found myself having to pedal in order to keep moving.  Downhill.  I spent far too much time cranking in a low gear despite the flat grade just to keep moving forward at a snail’s pace.  I had to stop in groves of trees several times for a break from the wind, but kept on battling and eventually made it home.  Excluding race pace efforts, this was the most spent I have felt in a long time.  Lesson learned on riding 80 miles on a windy day.

this is easily the best time of year to do this ride

Around the Block Century Ride

On the last weekend of nice fall weather, I opted to checked out the area’s single most classic century ride – a paved 110 mile loop from jackson to victor to swan valley to alpine to hoback junction to jackson.  Living in driggs, I naturally chose to start and end my ride in victor, which would mean I would end with the steep ascent of teton pass at ~mile 90.  The weather was perfect, I had just enough layers to stay warm on the fast, windy descents and had a great 7 hour ride.  I carried minimal food and a credit card and stopped at swan valley, alpine, hoback and wilson gas stations for snacks and to refill on water.  The small climb up pine creek pass was a breeze and although it was hard and slow, the big climb up teton pass at the end of the day wasn’t as brutal as I feared.  Although I am in no rush to spend 100 miles on pavement again in the near future, it was rewarding to tick off a worthwhile century ride.