You only get to experience riding a new road once.
Somehow I’ve never been to Yosemite, I’ve never ridden Tioga Pass Road, and I have a tendency to say no to Kathryn’s last minute good ideas. Once a year right before the park service opens the road for the season, Tioga Pass Road is closed to all traffic except bikes. Here’s the catch though, they only post the opening notice about 24hrs in advance which makes it a last minute longish trip up to the Sierra to make it happen.
I’m not racing Unbound this year so 117 miles and 11.5k of climbing was a bit of a departure from the BC Bike Race training program, but completely worth it on all accounts. Here are a bunch of pictures that look far less impressive than the spectacular views that they actually are.
Thanks @tidwell35 for dragging my ass out the door for an unforgettable day on the bike. Same plan next year.
#tiogapassroad #yosemite
Sea Otter seems to have gone well, so I figured I’d treat myself to one last moto for the season before things get really busy on the bike front.
On Saturday I jumped into the 55th Annual Virginia City Grand Prix. The race starts on the historic downtown drag before ripping off onto the trails. More than 400 racers line up in rows of ten, setting off in 15-second intervals to start the day. The race took me a pinch over four hours and covered about 92 miles, which was good enough for 10th in the 30+ Amateur class. There’s nothing quite like being absolutely locked in and laser-focused in the rocky, dusty high desert. 🤘
#virginiacitygrandprix #ktm350
Solid day out at Fuego XL—a cheesy name for a great XC race. Pulled a fourth on the day, which I’m definitely pleased with! Chased my way back into contention after getting smoked on the first climb, caught the lead, fought off some cramps, ran down a broken soul or two on the second lap, and called it a day.
It’s been a really solid start to the year. I’ve been focusing on less overall training volume and more focused intensity, which seems to be working well. Next up: BC Bike Race!👌😍
📸 @brettrothmeyer
#seaotterclassic #fuegoxl #santacruzbicycles
Lotta smiles—and a sketchy moment or two—back on the XC rig down at Laguna Seca. No gravel for me this year at Sea Otter; I’m all in for XC on Saturday.
Despite my recent moto posts and the disbanding of the htSQD, I’m still racing full-time this season—but with a bit more flexibility to walk the walk and put my effort into some different events.
See everyone down there. 👋🤝
📸 @brettrothmeyer
#savetheflatbars #fuegoxl #seaotterclassic #lagunaseca
Quality back to back weekends of racing in the late March sun. Happy to finally snag a 🥇in a Hare Scramble today!
Sea Otter up next and maybe no more moto for a little…maybe.
Nice way to open the season at Cat’s Hill in Los Gatos this past Saturday! Not gonna lie, it’s been a minute since I’ve had the rush of winning a decent size crit. There’s really nothing quite like it.
Also whatever it’s worth…you can still win bike races without wearing a ridiculous amount of “aero” gear.
📸 @gbeliera
#ncnca #catshill #girocycling #garmincycling #silcavelo
We sent 1500+ stickers and 200 shirts out into the world and used the money to put on a little underground short track race. It seemed like people would might dig these bottles so we did that too. Four dollars from each sale goes to benefit the Jr and U23 racers at @lostandfoundbikeride this June.
Link in bio - welcome to the club. 🤝
📸 @hankweaves
Welcome to the Anti Gravel Gravel Club, a non-exclusive club of cyclists who miss the good ole days of gravel... Back before aero socks, carbs per hour and social media bike checks dominated our social feeds. A club for those who yearn for the once thriving alternative cycling disciplines of yesteryear.
In partnership with @mctubbbin , this limited edition bottle features his Anti Gravel Gravel Club print. Even better? $4 from every sale goes directly toward race entries for U23 and Junior riders at @lostandfoundbikeride , lowering barriers and helping the next generation line up and take their shot. Purchase yours online now, while supplies last.
🎥: @hankweaves
Year 2 for @mctubbbin ! Not only is he racing all types of bikes this year, he’s helping shape the future of gravel and supporting the next generation of riders. Stay tuned for some fun things we have in store this season.
Pics from last weekend’s doubleheader! Ninety miles on the pedals Saturday, followed by about 40 miles with a throttle on Sunday.
Kicked off the weekend with a P7 at the @grasshopperadventureseries . Pretty meh result for my season-opener race, but not the worst. Shoutout to everyone who helps put this series on—NorCal is lucky to have it!
Enjoyed the bike race after-party, then drove my tired legs over to the race track for a snooze in the truck and another early morning.
Half of Sunday’s race was on a motocross track, which had me a bit out of my element. I’ve never really ridden a track—or the big doubles it includes—so it took me a few laps to figure it out before rolling in P4.
Another solid weekend in Northern California. 🙌
📸 - 🚲 @tinyblackbox // 🏍️ @forthright_media
Second hare scramble, second place. It’s been incredibly fun being brand new to something again and seeing huge improvements out on the course. There’s nothing quite like racing—twisting the throttle hard out of every corner and really feeling the bike and suspension do exactly what they were built for!
I’m completely hooked, but also very excited to get back to some pedal bike racing here in just under two weeks!
#harescramble #d36 #oldmillharescramble #roccoracing
