Nabeaquam
BoTM Winner
On June 5th there is a gravel grinder race that starts 15 miles from home. The hack bike is all set for this. Any bets on it holding up? I anticipate bike failure. I could also fail as these things are long and taxing. It’s 100% self supported on hardly used bush roads, gravel, two track logging skids with no stores, no cell service and not even any unofficial aid stations. It’s easy to get lost as there is no gps download, just a paper map with distances to each turn. Road signage is non existent so names and numbers on the map aren’t helpful. A lot of the road names on the map are local nicknames anyway. There is usually a few groups of stalled cyclists arguing which way to go. I can usually set them straight, but sometimes they won’t listen. An hour later they pass me, ha. The organizers don’t even start the race, everyone lines up and someone goes and then it’s a race. So, no officials out directing the cyclist at intersections. It’s in the Hiawatha National Forrest (USA) and as such there is one primitive campground we go through and see a handful of seldom used cabins. You won’t see many vehicles, which is nice for safety and for lack of dust if it’s dry. When I have managed to finish the finish line folks have run out of beer and gone home, leaving a poor guy lounging in his truck bed waiting to cross me off the start list. I only do the 53 or 100k because it’s 6 pm if I try the 100 miles. The 100 mile riders are long gone when I finish the 100k. It’s all for fun, no prizes but proceeds fund local mb trails. I once road the 100k on a 1950s Columbia single speed tank bike in this. The tank was there but l race prepped it by removing the fenders and chain guard.
