Last weekend was my first time racing a bicycle on an actual racetrack and it sure was a blast! Now I’m wishing Wattfest was a weekly race series.
📸: @sawyerlikesbikes
A couple weekends ago I decided to jump into a @intermountain_cup_official cross-country race. It was my 3rd time mountain biking this year and about 2 years since I last lined up for one of these races. Got 3rd place in my category and had a great time. I was very anxious going into it but now I’m hungry for more! I think I’ll do it again later this month.
Raced the @utahgravelseries Wasatch All-Road Sasquatch this past weekend. 53 miles with 7,280ft of elevation gain. 😮💨 I decided if there was ever a gravel race to ride a mountain bike at, this was it. In 2022, I did it on a gravel bike and swore I’d never do that again. 🤣 I had a blast riding the Epic on one of the most colorful race courses I’ve ever seen. Just look at those Aspens! I knew I wanted to set a hard pace up the first climb because it would be my biggest advantage being on a mountain bike. I was mostly successful but couldn’t hang with the lighter riders. Not easy pushing these 83kg up the Wasatch Wall. I was pretty much solo most of the day but knew roughly how many people were in front of me. Ripped the big descent and emptied the tank on the road back to the finish. I managed to snag 3rd place overall! Maybe I should stick to sub-4 hour races in the future. 🤔
📸: @kris_braun
#wasatchallroad #specializedepic #mtbisthespiritofgravel
Last weekend I headed out to Vernal to race the @utahgravelseries Dirty Dino 🦖. I last did this race in 2023 and had a rough go so I wanted redemption. Since then I’ve put in some serious miles and learned a thing or two about fueling for these big races. Still don’t have it dialed but I’m slowly learning. The course was slightly different than 2 years ago but I managed to shave off 58 minutes from my last go and finished feeling strong! By that math, I should be able to win this thing in a couple years. 😜 Jk, but this is progress I’m stoked on. 🤘
Race by the numbers: 98.3 miles, 9,685ft, 5hr50min. 3 chain drops 😢. Fuel intake: 2,560 calories, 640g carbs, 3,000mg sodium, + a few shots of pickle juice and coke.
📸: @kris_braun
✌️2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣
A year to remember even if it was all a blur. 💨 I set some big cycling goals at the beginning of the year and achieved most of them by the end. However I let a few other important goals slip away. But that’s okay cause tomorrow is the start of a new year. I’m grateful for everyone who played a part on this lap around the sun and for a body that lets me do what I love! Let’s keep it rolling into ‘25. 🤘🍦🍕🚲
#goodbye2024 #newyearseve #cyclist #lifemovesfast #healthiswealth #justhereforicecream
Another top moment of 2024 was cycling the iconic Alpe d’Huez in France. I got to ride up before the women’s TdF finished at the top a few hours later. It is absolutely a Bucketlist ride if you enjoy cycling. It wasn’t the toughest climb I’ve done, but it certainly lived up to the hype. I of course had to give it a good push to see how I compared to my fellow American, Sepp Kuss. Just a few minutes behind. 🤣 Maybe if I had a faster bike I could shave off a minute or ten. 🙄
#yearinreview #alpedhuez #cyclist #roadcycling #bucketlist #goodbye2024
My second year of seeing the Tour de France in person was almost as exciting as the first. Despite the hell of traveling with the bikes, this moment made it all worth it. Load up the backpack with snacks and pedal up the prettiest mountain road I have ever seen with thousands of the best cycling fans. It’s always disgusting to see how fast the pros are. You can’t understand until you compare your times with theirs. The day after the pros raced up to the top of Col du Galibier I got my chance. From Col du Lautaret, I gave it all I had in the legs. Top 1% on Strava (hell yeah) but almost 9 min slower than Pogi. 🤯
I’m hoping I can make it back to Europe in 2025 to see the Tour once again. 😏 Maybe a little credit card tour? Who wants to join?
#summer #tdf2024 #cyclist #france #coldugalibier #dreamride #yearinreview
2024 had its ups and downs, but there were some truly sweet moments in between. I haven’t shared many of them, so before 2025 rolls around, I figured it’s time to catch up and share a few highlights! One of the sweetest was snacking on some cereal while waiting for the pro peloton to arrive on Stage 4 of the TdF. 🇫🇷🚵
#summer #yearinreview #mountains #france #cyclist #tdf2024
Yesterday I finished off my biggest bike racing year ever with a Bucketlist ride. White Rim in a day has been on my radar since I first learned about it like 6 years ago. 100 miles in the remote Canyonlands National Park backcountry. Absolutely beautiful and maybe the hardest ride I’ve done to date. Maybe it’s because of the fatigue of a tiring year, the lack of carb intake early on, or all the extra weight of carrying too much water in the desert. 😅 Either way, I’m happy I got to spend a day in such an epic place. Thanks for getting me through that @adweiland .
I kicked off the racing back in March and pretty much had a big race to prep for every month until now. It’s been a blur, but these are some of the highlights:
- Surviving the dustiest race ever, Big Sugar Gravel
- Snagging that big belt buckle at Leadville
- Riding with friends at my favorite event of the year, the ENVE Grodeo
- Crushing the Flint Hills at Unbound 100
- My first Whiskey 50, will definitely be back
- Dying at Sea Otter Fuego XL but winning the Leadville lottery spot
- Starting the season with a podium spot at the local I-Cup race
I don’t know what my riding goals are for 2025 just yet but I’m excited to make more memories pushing some pedals. Until then, time for some more fun desert rides. I ❤️ Bikes.
Leadville ☑️
105 miles, 12,000 feet of elevation gain, and very little oxygen. I went into this race not knowing how my body would handle the altitude. I quickly learned that it was going to be a tough day riding at 10k+. My goal was to finish in sub 8 hours but it didn’t happen. I finished in 8hr 42min which still earned me the big belt buckle that every Leadville racer chases. I was a bit disappointed after the race because I really thought I put in the work to be faster but my legs just wouldn’t make power. I guess that’s what makes Leadville so challenging and why people keep coming back. At least I can say I beat Lance Armstrong at Leadville. 😂 Also proud of @therealtsang for finishing this brutal race with such little training. I hope I’m still out there doing dumb races when I’m his age. 😜
#leadville100 #mountainbike #mtb #bikerace
