Gravel Racing
Mud, Miles, and Milestones: Gravel Racing Adventures at Rough Road 100 and Barry Roubaix
Mud, Miles, and Milestones: Gravel Racing Adventures at Rough Road 100 and Barry Roubaix Rough Road 100: A Muddy Adventure in Morris On April 5, I traveled down to Morris, IL, for the Rough Road 100—a flat and increasingly popular gravel race. Over 800 riders braved a chilly morning start in historic Morris, a nice…
Read MoreDirty South Roubaix: First Race of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour—Lessons, Grit, and an Orange Tutu
Dirty South Roubaix: First Race of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour—Lessons, Grit, and an Orange Tutu The first race of the Heart and Gravel Comeback Tour is in the books. I finished the Dirty South Roubaix in Alto Pass, Illinois, a 100km gravel race that happened on March 1. I had no heart issues. …
Read MoreFrom Heart Surgery to Gravel Racing: My Comeback at the Dirty South Roubaix
From Heart Surgery to Gravel Racing: My Comeback at the Dirty South Roubaix Two years ago, I wondered if I’d ever race a bike again. This weekend, I’m back at the starting line for the Dirty South Roubaix in southern Illinois, my first gravel race since heart surgery—and the first of the Heart and Gravel…
Read MoreFrom Heart Scare to Comeback: The Journey Behind the Heart and Gravel Tour
Overcoming Ventricular Tachycardia: My Cycling Comeback and the Heart & Gravel Tour The summer of 2023 started off well for training and racing my bike I was holding my own in the challenging group rides with guys half my age on Saturday mornings. When I started to have some irregular heartbeats, sometimes on rides, I…
Read MoreRiding for Young Hearts: My Gravel Racing Journey to Support Children’s Hospital
Riding for Young Hearts: My Gravel Racing Journey to Support Children’s Hospital On West 3, the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, the glass of every child’s room gets decorated with what they love, motivational sayings, drawings of heart valves, milestone celebrations, and, especially, celebrations of Happy Heart Day, when kids…
Read MoreBase Training for Cyclists, Runners, and Triathletes: How to Build Endurance, Strength, and Recovery for a Successful 2025 Season
Base Training for Cyclists, Runners, and Triathletes: How to Build Endurance, Strength, and Recovery for a Successful 2025 Season As we look toward the 2025 season, it’s time to lay the foundation for your best year yet. This begins with a structured base period, a crucial phase in any endurance athlete’s training plan. Base training…
Read MoreCaffeine Supplementation: Debunking Myths and Uncovering the Truth for Endurance Athletes
Caffeine Supplementation: Debunking Myths and Uncovering the Truth for Endurance Athletes Caffeine is one of the few supplements that work. For most people, caffeine supplementation seems to benefit aerobic endurance the most, which is great for runners, cyclists, and triathletes. For most people, 3 to 6mg per kg of body weight is the dosage recommendation…
Read MoreSeven Mental Training Skills to Help You Through a Long Gravel Racing Event
Seven Mental Training Skills to Help You Through a Long Gravel Racing Event All of us have been there: The moments when we question our life choices that brought us to this really long gravel bike race. Maybe the weather was unusually tough, or there were mechanical issues, we didn’t fuel properly, or maybe the…
Read MoreGravel Race Success As A Cyclist Over 50: A Guide to Training, Nutrition, and Recovery Changes
Gravel Race Success As A Cyclist Over 50: A Guide to Training, Nutrition, and Recovery Changes Cyclists over 50 are putting in some of their best performances at long gravel races. While we may not be able to compete with the 20-year-olds at the pointy end, older men and women can complete and excel at…
Read MoreOptimizing Nutrition and Hydration for Success in Endurance Gravel Racing
Optimizing Nutrition and Hydration for Success in Endurance Gravel Racing If you’re going to do any kind of long gravel race, you need to plan and prepare your hydration and nutrition. Your goal is to maintain energy levels, support muscle function, and prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. You want to finish the race strong and…
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