Gravel Bike (Gravel/pavement) 3:05:00 [4] 36.0 mi (11.7 mph)
The weather forecast was accurate: wet and very cool temperatures (30's F/low single digits C).
Never try new gear on race day, but I brought (and successfully wore) my kinda-thick neoprene kayaking gloves. Absolutely brilliant move, if I do say so myself :)
Neoprene shoe covers, thin capris with knee warmers, thin Merino top, soft shell cycling jacket and my new Showers Pass rain jacket (supposed to be their top notch one for waterproof and breathability). Winter cycling cap with brim. New, clear safety glasses. Buff. And embrocation on my thighs and butt. But I am not sure it kicked in?
I did some laps with a few dozen other riders to literally warm up (fortunately the rain paused during the warm up and the line up and the first 5 minutes of my wave's departure. ). The gravel was sucking at our tires enough that people were wondering if they had flat tires. And the grittiness of it made my front brakes noisy all day. And the rear part of my drivetrain was under duress. A good day for a single speed!
I don't know how much abuse a drivetrain can take so I stopped 3 times to rince it off (my watch says I was stopped for a total of a minute doing that). And I felt better for the next 5 minutes until it started grinding again.
I rode up all the hills, even through the gritty gravel kept trying to pull me back down the hill. Nutrition went well as I know the course we'll enough to know when the paved bits and nasty hills are coming, so could time the gels and shot bloks.
Speaking of knowing the course, I "do" the last mile in my head when we do long intervals in spin class. And this year, the finish was different. I haven't mentioned the east wind. It was in my face or trying to blow me sideways more than enough. And then the last 3/4 mile was into the wind and up hill. Gee, thanks.
I doubt any course records were set this year in the wet conditions. I was warm enough with my neoprene and rain wear, as long as I was riding.
I finished with a smile.
Then we figured out that there were a LOT of DNS. I think only the fast or stubborn ones showed up. And I know which category I fall into :)