Introduction: Not Your Average Gravel Race
When I signed up for the SBT Gravel race, I thought I was in for a fun, relatively easy 125.4-mile ride. After all, I had conquered the grueling Unbound 200 just a few months earlier. How hard could this shorter race be? Little did I know that SBT Gravel would push me to my limits and beyond, offering a unique blend of physical challenges, breathtaking scenery, and unexpected controversy.
Oh, and did I mention that I beat Lachlan Morton?
The Unexpected: Course Changes and Local Opposition
As race day approached, I learned that the event had been shortened from its original 150-mile distance. However, this wasn’t due to concerns for rider comfort. Instead, it was a response to growing tension between the race organizers and the local ranching community.
Throughout the course, I couldn’t help but notice 40 to 50 signs protesting the race. The message was clear: many local ranchers wanted the event gone. Issues like litter and the growing size of the race had strained relations with the community. This tension cast a shadow over the event, creating an atmosphere unlike anything I’d experienced in other races.
I do think this is something for other gravel races to consider – do the locals truly like your race? I would strongly recommend lots of outreach before and after the race. Otherwise, this could happen anywhere. While I was riding, I coined a new phrase in my head:
No Racing In My Backyard (NRIMBY)
The Challenge: Wahoolligan Pass and Relentless Elevation
Any hopes of an “easier” race were shattered at mile 23 when we hit Wahoolligan Pass. To compensate for the shortened course, the organizers had added what can only be described as a monstrous climb. For 33 minutes and 31 seconds, I battled against gravity, averaging a mere 7.4 mph. Even the race winner, Keegan Swenson, took over 18 minutes to conquer this beast, managing just 13 mph. I will never, ever forget that climb. My legs were broken by mile 30.
But Wahoo Hooligan was just the beginning. The 125-mile black course boasted a staggering 10,433 feet of elevation gain – the elevation is about the same as the much longer Unbound 200. My Kansas-trained legs were woefully unprepared for the relentless assault of 11 major climbs scattered throughout the race. I joked to my wife after the fact (but I think it was true): I did not fully comprehend that I would be spending a day climbing mountains.
Mental and Physical Hurdles: Channeling my Inner Naruto
Around mile 50, as my muscles began to cramp, I found myself drawing inspiration from an unlikely source. Thinking of my son Stone and his love for anime, I channeled the spirit of Naruto. In a moment of desperation (or perhaps elevation-induced delirium), I imagined controlling my “chakra” (like Naruto) to ease the pain in my left inner thigh. Surprisingly, this mental trick seemed to work, proving that the mind can be a powerful ally in endurance sports.
Dangerous Descents: White-Knuckle Rides and Close Calls
If the climbs were challenging, the descents were downright terrifying. The 5-mile drop from Wahoo Hooligan Pass had me white-knuckling my handlebars, acutely aware that a single mistake could send me off the side of a mountain. The race is mentally exhausting because you can never ease off – even on the descents, you have to be “on” and make sure you don’t tumble off a mountain.
Another particularly treacherous descent stands out in my memory. As I headed down a mountain, I noticed a man crumpled on the ground. I slowed down to check on him. He had hit a rut going about 30 miles per hour and flipped over his bike, landing on his head. I helped him and his bike to the side. I then looked up and saw a woman barrel down on the same spot, hit the exact same rut, and flip over onto the gravel. Ouch.
My goal quickly shifted from racing to simply surviving these harrowing downhill sections without joining the ranks of the fallen.
Preparation Pays Off: Training, Nutrition, and Equipment
Despite the grueling nature of the course, I found myself surprisingly well-prepared in some aspects. The rigorous Z2 and tempo training Kent had me do before and after Unbound proved invaluable. I’m 100% certain I wouldn’t have been able to finish SBT in 2023. However, despite the 11 charted Garmin climbs, I was able to make it through.
I also made a crucial nutritional adjustment from Unbound to SBT that paid dividends. Switching from Infinit + Gu with a bit of food to Flow + SIS + earlier introduction of solid food made a significant difference. This strategy allowed me to continue consuming carbs even in the last 26 miles of SBT. In contrast, during Unbound, my stomach gave out, leaving me able to drink only water for the last 50 miles and finishing on absolute fumes.
Equipment choices also played a key role in my race experience. The switch to 47-inch gravel tires was a game-changer. These wider tires significantly improved my gravel racing experience compared to the 42s I used previously. Additionally, upgrading from a Giant Revolt to a Santa Cruz Stigmata proved to be a worthwhile investment.
However, not everything went smoothly on the equipment front. My back tire kept doing a slow deflate, forcing me to ride about 75 miles at a painfully low 20 psi. This added an extra layer of challenge to an already demanding course.
A Different Breed of Riders
One notable aspect of SBT GRVL Black that sets it apart from other endurance gravel races is the level of preparedness among its participants. Unlike Unbound, where typically only about 60% of riders complete the 200-mile course, SBT Black saw an impressive finish rate. This year, 598 out of 632 riders crossed the finish line, a testament to both the caliber of athletes attracted to this event and the effectiveness of their preparation strategies.
This high completion rate doesn’t mean the course was easy – far from it. Instead, it suggests that riders coming to SBT Black know what they’re in for and train accordingly. The challenging terrain and high altitude demand respect, and it seems most participants give it just that. I finished somewhere around 490 – it blows my mind that there were so many riders that were so much faster than me in those mountains.
Personal Victories and Unexpected Outcomes
In the unpredictable world of endurance racing, sometimes the most unlikely scenarios play out. Case in point: I can now claim to have “beaten” Lachlan Morton, a renowned professional cyclist. Of course, this comes with a significant asterisk – Morton unfortunately fell ill and had to abandon the race. While it’s not a true head-to-head victory, it’s a reminder that in events like these, simply finishing is an achievement, and even the most elite athletes can fall victim to bad luck or unforeseen circumstances.
This unexpected turn of events serves as a humbling reminder of the challenges that all riders face, regardless of their skill level. It underscores the importance of preparation, but also the role that factors beyond our control can play in determining the outcome of a race.
Reflection and Lessons Learned
Looking back on the Steamboat Gravel experience, I’m struck by how unprepared I was for the true nature of this race. Despite being in Colorado, I had somehow convinced myself that the course wouldn’t involve serious mountain climbing and descending. This misconception, born from comparing it to flatter races and hearing about the easier blue course, left me ill-equipped for the challenges I faced.
For anyone considering Steamboat Gravel or similar mountain races, my advice is clear: train in the mountains if you can. The combination of high elevation, steep climbs, and technical descents demands specific preparation that flat-land riding simply can’t provide.
The race also reinforced the importance of proper preparation across all aspects of gravel racing. From physical training and nutrition strategies to equipment choices, every detail can make a significant difference when facing the challenges of a course like Steamboat Gravel. While the right gear and nutrition plan won’t turn a mountain into a molehill, they can certainly make the climb more manageable.
In the end, Steamboat Gravel wasn’t just a race; it was a test of physical endurance, mental resilience, and technical skill. It pushed me to my limits, taught me valuable lessons about preparation and community relations in event organizing, and left me with memories – both thrilling and terrifying – that will last a lifetime. Despite the challenges and controversies, experiences like these remind us why we love gravel racing: the opportunity to push our limits, experience breathtaking landscapes, and overcome obstacles we never thought possible. And sometimes, if luck is on your side, you might just find yourself ahead of a pro or two in the results sheet – even if it comes with a bit of a caveat!
