Which Bike?

There are many steeds you may choose to successfully complete this Raid; your key concern is to make sure you have the appropriate gearing to address the climbs (over 6,000′ for the 100K route). Beyond that, you want to be on a bike that is prepared for both asphalt and packed gravel riding, some tips:

• Road Bike – Maybe. You will want 25mm or wider tires (28′s are best, rough service types – Specialized Armadillos, Continental Gatorbacks, etc. – are not a bad idea).  The route will be significantly gravel. Want a better idea?, read on…….
• Cyclocross OR Gravel-specific Bike– The hot ticket! Out of the crate, just hop on and ride. You may want to opt for “file-tread” tires (Vittorio Cross XN Pros, etc.) as they will roll more smoothly than true ‘cross knobbies. Have you been thinking of buying a ‘cross or gravle bike? Well, here’s your excuse!  got one already? – you’re golden. ‘Nuff said.
• Mountain Bike– NOT the best choice! We love mountain bikes and there are all sorts of things you can do to make them roll better. Better is a relative term though; they’re still inherently slow on the road. If you’re cool with slow (and can meet or exceed our minimum average pace) then I suppose we are too. It’ll be a long day in the saddle and don’t be whining if you miss the Finish party!

 

Pace?  

We may roll off in staggered groups but, inevitably, certain pace groups emerge. We will all get together after the ride.

NOTE: You must have a typical road bike minimum average of 14-16 mph to participate.

 

All in good fun!

We partner with Strava on many of our events and will have some segments out there for you to test yourself, only if you choose to do so!  Strava is a free* application; it allows you to upload your ride information via your iPhone, Android or dedicated GPS device, then provides tools for you to analyze and quantify your performance. Better, Strava makes fitness a social experience, providing motivation and camaraderie even if you’re exercising alone.

*– The Strava free version is cool and fine for the Raid but their Premium version is affordable and includes some nifty features. It’s highly recommended!

Check out Strava today.