Leah DK’s Gravel Journey - Part 1
I love being on the bike for hours. I love being outside all day with nothing to do except pedal and eat!. I started as a mountain biker and 5 years later I started gravel riding, and I liked it! I was a mountain biker, could I really enjoy this type of “boring” biking with no tech or rocks and just pedaling for hours, Absolutely! And, as a mountain biker racer I, of course, had to sign up for gravel races. So here I am signed up for my 5th gravel race, the 50 miler Gravel Fondo with Moab Bike Fest!
I started gravel biking so that I could ride dirt roads and bike paths in the winter to train for mountain biking. I didn’t have a gravel bike so I put gravel tires on my hardtail each winter. It was a brilliant set up and much cheaper than buying a whole new bike. But after a couple of years, I just had to get a gravel bike, they’re all so pretty. So I bought a Salsa Journeyer, and I love her!
The great thing about gravel biking is you really can do it on any type of bike. I love my gravel bike but you can ride whatever bike you have and have fun with it.
In 2023, I did my first gravel race at Grassroots Gravel in Pueblo, CO. This race is a fantastic community event that welcomes all abilities and bikes. I loved it, loved the course (38 miles), the vibes, everything! I also experienced my first in-race mechanical. I was about 2 miles from the finish, going very slow uphill and my back tire exploded off of my rim. It made a terrifying bang that scared me and the poor rider behind me. Luckily, I was able to put the tire back on the rim, without taking the wheel off (I know, look at me go!). I used my Co2 to fill it up and it held until the last aid station where I was able to get some more air into the tire and finish the race. I had so much riding my first gravel race and found that I’m pretty good at endurance riding!
I am so excited to ride in Moab with Transrockies again! I’ve done Moab Rocks three times but this year I wanted to try a new challenge, 50 miles, in one day, on Moab Terrain! I already know it’s going to be challenging, but it’s so worth it when you’re in Moab riding bikes with other people who have committed to riding hard! And I know there will be wonderful volunteers at the stocked aid stations ready to help keep me fueled with pickles and oreos!
There’s only a few weeks left to train. One of my goals this season is to embrace climbing. I’ve never been a fast climber and at times I’ve felt that I struggle at the back of the group, or I’m too slow, too weak, too overweight, or just not enough. The negative thoughts can become overpowering. What I have learned in the last 10 years of biking is that the climbing does get better, whether you get used to it, or you get a little faster and a little stronger it gets better and can even become fun. With every hill I climb and practicing positive self talk I quiet that negative voice. I remind myself, If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. When I’m out riding and I start up a hill (and there’s always one more hill) I’ll tell myself “I got this” and “I’m strong” and “breathe and pedal”. Climbing has become something that I don’t hate any more and I embrace that it’ll be a challenge and that I will get stronger with every hill I conquer.
For the next 6 weeks, I’ll be riding hills, doing intervals, putting in long miles on the weekends, strength training, and with some yoga sprinkled in. Being a back of the pack, weekender racer takes a lot of time and effort. If I put in the work, I know I’ll enjoy the fun suffering that I crave.
I’m not sure why I love gravel biking, other than the obvious of being on my bike outside all day. Sometimes, you don’t need a why, you just need to do it. To do this, all you need is to want it, even if it’s a small piece of you, even if you’re scared, if there’s any part of you that is curious, sign up and do it! I’ve never regretted any race that I started. You’ll be outside on your bike for hours, in Moab! What a perfect way to spend a day!