Southern Cross 50 mile gravel road bike race 2021
This past Saturday, March 6–2021, I competed for the fifth time in the Southern Cross Gravel Road race. The event is billed as a 50-mile race with over 5000 feet of climbing. It certainly is a tough event. At one point, for a short distance, hitting 13.7% gradient. The first time I did the race in 2017, I had to walk this section. As soon as I got back to Michigan I changed my gearing to put a wider range on the rear cassette and I haven’t walked it since, though my pedal speed is at about 2mph LOL.
My previous results are as follows:
2017 Finish time 5:02, 48th of 66 racers 50–59. 243rd of 321 racers that finished.
2018 Finish time 4:18, 45th of 62 in 50–59 age group
2019 Finish time 4:52, 12th of 14 in 60+ age group
2020 Finish time 4:56, 18th of 23 in 60+ age group
2021 Finish time 4:25 16th of 26 in age group 60+, 265th of 323 overall
Note: 2017, the race still included an approximate five mile segment of MOUNTAIN BIKE trail! It was removed in 2018 due to excessive rain and the race promoter, responsibly, didn’t want to damage the single track. But is has not yet been re-included even as of 2021.
My finish time in2018 was very satisfactory at 4:18. But the fitness and preparation apparently dropped off the next two years. An early March event really tells you what you’ve done in November-December-January-February!
And to that end, I have been Zwifting like crazy this past year 2020. Between pandemic distancing from my usual ride-mates to riding just because weather was bad, I’ve done hard all-out sprint races and rides with LOTS of climbing on the Zwift program. This was especially facilitated by purchasing a smart trainer in January 2020. More on this at a previous blog post here.
In any event I felt strong this year and was looking forward to the race. Normally it is a pack start with 400-ish riders. But Covid changed to wave starts every few minutes which meant my ‘vintage’ over 60years old class started 10:26am. I actually liked the wave start. It spread the riders out more quickly resulting in less congestion in technical sections.
As usual I zoomed along on flats and downhills and basically did a grind up the long climbs. There is ONE aid station on the course which serves for approximately 12 miles in and then also 32 miles. If your view the image below, you can see TWO long climbs — one in the first half and another in the second half. The black mark at the top of each is the aid station. The red box is another story- downhill treacherous!
So I grinded my way up the top and bombed down the descent. By 25 miles in my computer said 2:15 and told me I was on track for a possible sub-4–1/2 hour finish which was my goal. Second goal was to beat my 4:18 time from 2018.
I had two bottles of Heed which I determined to finish one each 25 miles. It was cool rather than hot and when temperatures are thus you all know you need to MAKE yourself hydrate or be caught dehydrated and cramping. I never cramped. I took Hammer Endurolytes regularly and took on the Heed even if I didn’t feel thirsty.
Climbed to the aid station mile 32. Last year I was pretty miserable at this point and willing to drop out and get a ride back to the start though I did push on and got a second wind you can see my time wasn’t very good. This year I felt fine and rode right past the aid station and onward. I had a Hammer Gel in my kit and decided to stop around mile 40 and eat the Gel for a boost.
Looking at the graphic you can see a downhill after the first climb and downhills after the second but let me assure you, they are in NO way comparable! Yes, these forest roads have washouts and erosion in general, but the section bracketed in red? Another beast entirely! Granite sticking up from the road, steeper gradients, faster speeds with cool air making your eyes water.
Mile 37–1/2: red dot on the graphic, minor disaster struck. Screaming downhill faster than 20mph wiht eyes watering and the bike bouncing and braking trying to control, and JUST on my peripheral vision a rider THIS CLOSE, …. CLIPPED my handlebar and BAM! Sliding on gravel, left elbow rashed, left hip bleeding and jersey destroyed with a six inch hole shredded from the fabric. Minutes lost as a couple riders do stop and help me up and get my bike out of the roadway from other riders. I have to adjust my hoods which are bent in and impacting braking and shifting. Back on the bike and despite the bleeding hip I feel pretty good and motor on hitting 25mph on some flat sections.
Last hundred yards coming in to the finish, my wife is off to the left at the car with easy view of the end and I see her face say “WHAT? “ and I shout “tell you in a minute” as I grind uphill to the finish line.
I have to say that in five years of the event I do not recall ANYONE shouting out a pass (i.e.”on your left”) etc especially on the tricky descents. Yes, ideally riders hold a line and it shouldn’t be necessary but that segment I pointed out is an entirely different beast. If you can’t pass with several feet between you and another rider perhaps brake a bit and wait for a better opportunity? The terrain there is NOT conducive to an ideal “hold your line” approach and there is too much going on to be glancing over one’s shoulder. The ride coming up from behind had bigger responsibilities IMO.
My Garmin had me at 4:23 but the race chip time had me at 4:25. Either way it was under 4:30 and I will take it given the circumstances.
Ultimately it was a slide-out on gravel rather than a hard stop crash so no big damage and I live to race another event! But Southern Cross is a superb well run event with a professional promoter who knows what she is doing. Highly recommend for gravel enthusiasts.
Originally published at http://dennisbmurphy.blogspot.com.
