2019 Rocktown Holiday Gift Guide
It’s the holiday season!! We know finding the right gift for the cyclist(s) in your life can sometimes feel challenging - there’s so much bike stuff out there! So we’ve compiled our 2019 Rocktown Holiday Gift Guide to give you a clear path to becoming the ‘Best Gift Giver EVER!’
We’ve broken the Gift Guide down into our top choices for BIKES, APPAREL & COLD WEATHER GEAR, GPS COMPUTERS/LIGHTS/ACCESSORIES, and STOCKING STUFFERS. Hopefully it provides some helpful information and suggestions for you on your gift giving journey!
Favorite Bikes
Gravel Bike - 2020 Diverge Comp - $3,750
The Diverge Comp is the answer to every gravel rider’s dreams. The Carbon Frame & Fork are RiderFirst Engineered, giving excellent and the same ride quality to every size of this bike. It has up to 42c tire clearance for 700c wheels or 47c tires for 650b wheels; tubeless ready. The Future Shock soaks up bumps, provides an extra smooth ride, and gives the bike predictable and confident handling. A Praxis Zayante crankset with 48/32tooth chainrings provides an efficient gear range for a variety of riding. Top it all off with Shimano Ultegra Hydraulic Brakes, Shifters, Derailleurs, and Cassette, and you have a fully capable gravel rig!
If you would like to read more about the 2020 Diverge Comp, read Kelly’s BIKE OF THE WEEK REVIEW
E-Bike - 2020 Como 4.0 - $3,350
The Como 4.0 flattens hills and makes it feel like your always riding with a tailwind. It’s so much fun! An upright position makes the Como 4.0 super comfortable, and the frame geometry provides controlled and confident handling. The fully-integrated battery and motor mean this bike looks like a bike, not a bike with a motor on it. It’s sleek, and the “E” part of it is stealthy and stylish. The battery is locked into the frame for added security, and can easily be removed if the rider would like to charge it somewhere inside.
The 500Wh battery communicates with a computer display unit and has multiple modes to maximize overall efficiency and range. The display also shows battery charge, time, distance traveled, and trip distance. Riders can really get into personalizing their ride on the Como by downloading the Mission Control App with a smart phone. This App lets you custom-tune nearly every aspect of your ride, monitor power use, control range, perform basic system diagnoses, and record and upload rides.
The Como 4.0 Specialized 1.2 motor is smooth, powerful, and quiet. It assists up to 28mph, and is tuned to make the output the most usable for the environment - the more power you put out, the more power the motor puts out, and this makes accelerations from a standstill both quick and efficient
This bike also comes with hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Deore 10speed drivetrain, front and rear lights, fenders, a bell… the Como 4.0 is the whole package!
Balance Bike - Hotwalk - $175
Balance bikes are an excellent way for children to learn how to ride a bike. If a child has started with a balance bike, odds are when they move to using pedals, the need for training wheels will either not exist or only be necessary for a short amount of time. Balance bikes fast-track the learning-to-ride experience. The Hotwalk is durable, lightweight, has wider tires for increased balance & traction, and has an excellent platform for foot placement.
Mountain Bikes
Full Suspension - 2020 Stumpjumper Comp Carbon - $4,520
This bike is the ultimate trail bike, especially for riding backcountry trails around Harrisonburg. The Stumpjumper's asymmetrical, FACT 11m carbon fiber construction is lightweight, stiff, and ready to take on the trail. It climbs like a mountain goat, and descends like a snow leopard chasing said goat :)
This bike comes in 27.5 or 29 wheel options, has a SRAM NX Eagle 12speed drivetrain, Fox Suspension (150/140 for 29, 150/150 for 27.5), tubeless ready wheels, and a SWAT box in the downtube of the frame. The Stumpjumper is equipped to bring you the best ride experience and put a huge smile on your face. You’ll feel confident and capable hitting the trails on this bike!
Hardtail - 2020 Fuse Expert 29 - $2,150
The Fuse makes riding hardtails fun again! Rowdy by design, the Fuse Expert 29 is equipped with a M4 Aluminum Frame, 29” wheels with BIG tire clearance, 130mm RockShox 35 Gold Suspension Fork, TranzX Dropper Seatpost, and a SRAM NX Eagle 12speed drivetrain! One of the most awesome features of this bike is that it is SINGLESPEED CAPABLE! Sliding dropouts are built into this frame, answering so many people’s wishes for a rowdy and modern singlespeed. 2.6” tires come with the 29” wheels on this bike, but the Fuse Expert can also have 27.5” wheels installed with 2.8” tires.
Road Bike - 2020 Roubaix Pro eTap AXS - $7,000
The redesign of the Roubaix has made it more aero than the Tarmac, and as smooth as the Diverge Gravel Bike. The Roubaix Pro really brings together the lines “Aero is Everything” and “Smoother is Faster”. Equipped with the Future shock 2.0, SRAM Force eTap AXS brakes & drivetrain, up to 33c tire clearance, Carbon ROVAL tubeless ready wheels, a S-WORKS carbon hover bar, and a S-WORKS Pave’ seatpost with up to 20mm of compliance, we aren’t exaggerating when we say this Roubaix is the ultimate road bike. Responsive, smooth, fast… Who doesn’t want that?
Kelly rode our Roubaix Pro demo bike for a bit and then raced it at the unPAved gravel race in October. Read her Ride Review to get all the details on this bike!
APPAREL & COLD WEATHER GEAR
Reflect/Deflect H2O Jacket - $250
Be seen, safe, and dry! This jacket has amazingly reflective detailing on the front and back, micro-dots on the inner layer of fabric prevent moisture build up (zero clammy rainjacket feeling), 1 large rear zippered pocket, and fully taped seems to prevent water intrusion at the stitches and seems.
Element tights (no chamois) - $150
Specialized designed these tights with their Element Soft Shell Fabric - an extremely wind and water resistant material that is also very efficient at wicking away moisture. The tights have a nice amount of stretch, and are extra versatile with no chamois built into them - use them for all sorts of cold weather recreation!
Element Jacket - $150
A very versatile jacket - made from a three layered softshell material that is extremely water and wind resistant, but still very efficient at wicking moister away from the skin. Wear it with just a jersey under it for the warmer winter days, or add layers for those extra cold days. The fabric of the Element Jacket also has a nice amount of stretch, so it moves with you and doesn’t cause rubbing or chafing. Three external storage pockets are on the back, as well as a zippered security pocket to hold all your snacks/electronics/tools.
Element 1.0 gloves - $60
These gloves keep your hands warm and protected from the Winter weather without being bulky or restricting movement. Gore® WINDSTOPPER®, 100g Primaloft®, and Ax Suede palm material all come together to make a glove that is warm, insulating, and keeps you feeling confident with your handling on those colder ride days. The new rib-knit cuff is accommodating to all styles of jackets, and fits well under most sleeve cuffs.
SWAT Jacket - $125
This pick comes directly from Kelly - she loves this jacket! Warm, breathable, rolls up into a pouch that fits perfectly in a jersey pocket (or the SWAT Door of the carbon Stumpjumpers), dries quickly even when rolled up, and when you wear it you have a nice little chest zipper pocket for small items. Oh, and the hood - it fits under a helmet! So some extra warmth if you find yourself wishing you had packed that hat, and no awkward craning head movements to see around a turn that you might have from an oversized hood.
SL Jersey - $75
This is a really nice jersey at a great price! The VapoRize knit fabrics provide great moisture management, feel soft on the skin, and are durable enough for long days in the saddle. Three standard pockets provide ample space to securely house all of your ride essentials and electronics. The SL Jersey also has a UPF 30+ rating, helping to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Rocktown Kit $60 - $200
Rep your local bike shop and Harrisonburg, VA with our custom cycling kit! We have a range of jerseys (RBX Sport, SL Expert, and SL Pro) and SL Expert Bibs. The jerseys are constructed to fit and move well, and the bibs have a super comfortable and supportive chamois.
GPS COMPUTERS/LIGHTS/ACCESSORIES
Wahoo Elemnt BOLT & ROAM - $249 - $379
“Simple to set up, simple to navigate, simple to connect.”
Both of these Wahoo GPS cycling computers are very user friendly. Connect directly to any Wahoo GPS device via the Elemnt Companion App on your phone. Access/download bike routes, customize page settings, schedule updates, track performance, and more!
Wahoo’s mobile connectivity means no more dealing with a desktop interface for GPS updates or downloading files/routes. The ROAM and BOLT have the ability to instantly upload rides to multiple training platforms, such as Strava or Ride with GPS.
The ROAM is equipped with GPS Mapping, a Large 2.7” Color Display with Gorilla Glass Screen, 17+ hour battery life, ambient light sensor, “Back on Track” rerouting, free global maps, large tactile buttons, 2 sides of LED Quicklook Indicators, turn-by-turn navigation, live tracking, retrace your route, route to start, and more!
The BOLT comes with GPS Mapping, a 2.2” Display, 15 hours of battery life, workout data, aerodynamic engineering, no-glare screen, LED Quicklook Indicators, tactile buttons, live tracking, text/email/phone alerts, and more!
Garmin Varia Taillight - $199.99
The Varia is a taillight (headlight model available too) that will relay to a bicycle computer when a vehicle is approaching from behind the rider, as well as show about where the vehicle is in relation to the rider on the computer screen. The Varia is compatible with both Wahoo and Garmin GPS computers. Chris really enjoys having this light on his rides - you can read about his experience with using the Varia Taillight HERE.
FLY6 Taillight - $199.99
A bright taillight with a wide-angle camera; the camera runs on a 6 hour loop; Cyclists have an extra layer of security while out on rides.
CAT 5 Gear Cyclist Travel Case - $75
Never forget your helmet, shoes, or ride necessities again! keep your ride apparel and accessories organized and ready with this handy travel case
Purist Rocktown Bottle - $6.99-$7.99
The Specialized Purist coating prevents flavors from staying in the bottle and making your water/drink taste funny. No need to scrub or put in the dishwasher, just use hot soapy water and rinse!
WAHOO KICKR Smart Trainer - $1200 (Not pictured)
This trainer is one of the best smart trainers out there! Virtually silent, extremely accurate power and data measurement, easy setup, and excellent ride feel all come together to create a positive trainer ride experience. The KICKR is WAHOO’s direct drive model. It has +/-2% power accuracy and can resist up to 2000 watts. It ships with a cadence sensor and an 11 speed cassette. Connect the KICKR via Bluetooth to your GPS devices, training/ride apps like Zwift or Trainer Road, and your indoor training rides are about to become a lot fun!
FEEDBACK SPORTS Omnium Overdrive Portable Bike Trainer - $429.95
Especially great to make training easier when traveling, the Omnium Overdrive Bike Trainer is easy to set up, the fork mount design is adaptable to a variety of axles, and hides away perfectly in a carry-on size travel bag. The precision rollers and internal resistance design keeps the trainer quiet while in use, great for not disturbing others (think early AM sessions, hotel room training, or having to turn the volume up real high on the TV) :)
FEEDBACK Sports RIDE PREP Bicycle Tool Kit - $98
High quality bike specific tools in a compact lightweight case, the RIDE PREP kit is a great starter for a mechanic’s tool set.
STOCKING STUFFERS
RocknRoll Gold Chain Lube - $7.99
The days of a gunked up chain are gone! RocknRoll Gold Chain Lube cleans and lubricates your bike chain, and keeps your drivetrain running smoothly.
Tire levers/patch kit - $2 - $5
Can never have too many of these! The PEDRO’S tire levers come in a set of 2 and a super durable. The Park Tool Vulcanizing patch kit is always handy for flat repairs.
Hex Wrench Set - $24.99
A full hex wrench set makes working on bikes a lot easier. This set comes with pretty much every size of hex wrench a cyclist would need to work on a bike.
Specialized Burra Burra Top Tube Bag - $50
This bag is awesome! Secure attachments for zero movement while riding, outside security pocket, smaller mesh sidewall pocket inside, and lots of room in the main compartment for snacks and goodies! The main zipper is so easy to use and access while riding, and the bag itself is waterproof and super durable! Great for all sorts of adventures, you won’t be disappointed having this bag along on your rides.
SWAT Cage w/tool - $50
Available in a side-loading Z-cage or Rib Cage version, with mountain or road specific SWAT multi-tools. Super handy because you’ll always have a multi-tool on hand! SWAT stands for Storage, Water, Air, Tool; it’s a line designed by Specialized to integrate the absolute necessities for your rides with your bike or apparel. The SWAT multi-tools come in a MTB or Road version, so you’ll always have the tools you need for any type of bike.
Soft Air Reflective Tall Sock - $30
Who doesn’t love a new pair of socks. Give the cyclist in your life a pair of socks that can help keep them safe! These socks have HYPERVIZ 24 hour visibility details, are comfy, lightweight, and supportive.
EMT 12 TOOL - $32
Super handy multi tool that fits well in saddle bags or jerseys. Tools include 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm Hex Wrenches, Phillips and Flat Blade Screw Drivers, T25 star wrench, a Chain Breaker, and a Spoke Wrench.
Grips & Bar Tape $11 - $50
Always a fun way to add color and personalize a bike!
As always, everyone here at Rocktown is ready and excited to help you should you have any questions about gifts for cyclists. Feel free to stop by the shop or give us a call. Happy Holidays!
The 2020 eTap Roubaix & unPAved PA
This bike is so much fun!
The newly re-designed Specialized Roubaix came out this year, and everyone at the shop was very excited by this bike. With larger tire clearance, a more aero frame, and more progressive Future Shock, it nailed all of the specs we had been wishing for on the previous version.
Riding here in Harrisonburg is huge, and gravel is a normal part of our riding, and I love it. However, it’s not always the best feeling if you’re riding a super stiff bike with small tires and no way to easily add comfort to your ride. It’s not that you can’t ride gravel on whatever bike you want (like my Tarmac), it’s that there’s a certain amount of fatigue that builds up if the bike wasn’t made for what you’re doing with it. That fatigue even happens with paved roads - chip seal, water damage, just not a great road surface… The hand jostling, body constantly bracing, slowing down because things just don’t feel great anymore, it gets old and it can sometimes take the joy out of a ride.
BUT now there are more capable road and gravel specific bikes, the 2020 Roubaix being one of them, and IT IS AWESOME!
I came to riding our demo 2020 Roubaix Pro eTap by way of cyclocross. I know that doesn’t make sense because the Roubaix is not a CX bike, but my Crux is, and it went through the transformation of gravel racing rig to ‘cross racing rig in September, and I didn’t want to change it back. There are possibly a few CX races I’d like to do in Dec. and I had only one gravel race left for the season. So I asked if I could ride our Roubaix and then race it at the unPAved Pennsylvania gravel event. It all worked out and now here I am, about to tell you about how much I enjoyed this bicycle.
The frame - the Roubaix went through a similar transformation to both the Tarmac and the Venge with frame tube shapes that are more aero, stiff in places that make sense for performance, and compliant/allowing for compliance in the places that will make riding more comfortable. And according to Specialized, It’s now lighter than Venge and more aero than the Tarmac. The frame also now easily clears a 33c tire, perfect for around here because our favorite all around tire for combined pavement and gravel riding is a tubeless ready 32c.
The Future Shock - all 2020 models of the Roubaix went to a different and/or new future shock. The base model Roubaix up through the Roubaix Comp now comes with the same Future Shock as the Diverge - a progressive spring setup to appropriately damp everything from small bumps to big hits. From the Expert Roubaix up to the S-works, these bikes have the Future Shock 2.0. Hydraulically damped internals control rebound, giving the bike an extra-extra smooth feel, and a knob that sits like a stem cap allows for locking out the shock if you feel so inclined.
Dusty!
The Pave’ Seatpost - the seatpost is more aero with the D-shape, has compliance at the top where the saddle is clamped, and also has compliance through the new drop-clamp design. All of this has been designed to keep harsh feelings from hitting the rider.
“Smoother is Faster” and “Aero is Everything” - both of these mottoes from Specialized have always felt like it was a one or the other type deal. Now that this new Roubaix is out, it feels like they can be said together, and describe this bike perfectly.
All of the re-design in the specs described above have come together to make a bike that feels incredible. If you want to stomp on it or stand up and hit a section of road/gravel as hard as you can, the bike responds immediately. And on top of that instant response is the smoother than ever ride-feel so that not only do you feel like you can go faster, but you feel safer, more planted, and able to react more appropriately to the conditions set before you.
I got to feel all of this while riding the 90mile route of unPAved Pennsylvania. There was smooth rail trail, smooth pavement, less smooth pavement, forest dirt roads, marble size gravel rail trail, chunky and jarring gravel… Quite the variety of road surfaces. There was also a variety of terrain - everything from flat, to long climbs, and steep descents. Most of the climbing and descending was done on gravel surfaces, and the whole day I was so pleased that I was on the Roubaix. I really enjoy going fast on gravel, but don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to get hurt or crash or feel out of control. There were definitely moments that day where those things could have happened, but they didn’t. I could ride as fast as I wanted and never felt out of control. I could feel how the bike was rolling on the roads but never felt like I had to brace my body against potential bumps.
Colors like this all day!
Add onto all of this that this specific bike comes with the new SRAM Force AXS eTap, and you’ve got a setup that feels unstoppable. The gearing is perfect for both climbing and hammering it out. The shifting is very exact, quick, and smooth. These components feel reliable and are incredibly capable in a whole variety of riding conditions. I never had a dropped chain, or weird shift out of this drivetrain the whole day, even when I came out of steep descent and turned right back into a steep climb in quite the wrong gearing for a climb - it handled shifting to that easier gear wonderfully.
I was really happy the whole time at unPAved, and this bike was a part of that.
This was only the second year of unPAved Pennsylvania, so if you haven’t experienced it yet, I highly recommend it. The vibe is very positive, friendly, safe, and happy. Any time an event wants to share a love for riding on unpaved roads, I’m down to join. Everyone that shows up is there for a good time, and that really makes the day a great one. Since it happens in the first half of October, the leaf-peeping is in its prime. You get non-stop gorgeously colored leaves and beautiful vistas as you reach the top of the climbs. The Chaise from Salsa’s #chasethechaise challenge was there, too. I love the ‘Chase the Chaise’. Everyone stops to get a pic snapped. It’s fun, it’s disarming and goofy, and it gets you to stop and enjoy the moment. You’re not there for long (I think I waited a minute?), but it’s enough time to get you to refocus on being present, and as far as I know everyone starts pedaling again with a smile on their face.
#chasethechaise :)
Wahoo Bolt/Roam and Garmin Varia: Together at Last!
I’ve been using a Wahoo Bolt for years now and as I’ve written before, couldn’t be happier with it. I have never once lost a ride, missed an upload, or had any issues of any kind with this thing. It just works. Better and more reliably than my previous Garmin units. The one thing I always wished for though was compatibility with Garmin’s Varia radar device. The Varia is a taillight (headlight model available too) that will relay to the bicycle computer when a vehicle is approaching from behind the rider, as well as show about where the vehicle is in relation to the rider on the computer screen. In the past this was limited to compatibility with only Garmin head units and I was left out from the fun. Well, Wahoo just updated their firmware to be compatible with Varia, so I got one to see how it was!
The functionality of the Wahoo/Varia combo is great, and almost identical to how they interact with Garmin units. The Wahoo (Bolt in my case) will give a warning beep, flash the heads up display lights red, and show a car, or up to five on the left side of the screen. All of the regular screen metrics are still displayed and the car picture portion is a strip that is probably 1/8th of the screen space. As the car moves next to the rider and then passes, the computer gives a happier beep and the lights flash green. I would say the rider gets the first warning when the car is about 1/8th mile away in good conditions (flat, straight road). In addition to the radar alerting the rider, the light begins to pulse brighter and with increasing frequency as the vehicle approaches, increasing the chance of the driver seeing the rider.
My experience has been great so far. Riding side by side with Kelly, I no longer have to constantly check over my shoulder for approaching cars, and can just get behind her when by Wahoo beeps at me. It’s also really nice to have the confidence that the light is flashing irregularly to gain motorist’s attention. The quality and battery life are also excellent.
On solo rides the unit is nice too. It allows me to ride more in the lane than I might otherwise, which is helpful when the sides of the road have worse pavement or debris. Just having the alert and piece of mind that the light changes its pattern when cars approach is very nice. It’s a very bright light, and on the running mode I use most (day flash) it’s putting out 65 lumens according to Garmin, but compared to the Cygolite 150 and several other lights in the shop it edges them out in my non scientific look-at-them-with-sunglasses testing.
We keep them in stock at the shop and are happy to help set them up if you bring your bike computer!
-Chris
When a car is approaching.
Rocktown Cyclocross 2019
THANK YOU so much to everyone that came out to this year’s Cyclocross Festival! It was a fantastic day and we could not have done it without our friends, family, sponsors, volunteers, and racers!
For the link to the Full Album of race day photos click HERE. Instructions for download: “You’ll get a pop-up message if you try to right-click to download. Instead, use the individual download icon (down arrow icon) on each image. You’ll see it on the bottom right of the image when you simply hover the mouse over any image. Click the icon, and the image should download right away.” Big thanks to CedarMeade Studios for take so many and such awesome pictures!
Sean (our event photographer) was so great at taking so many pictures, we are unable to download ALL of the pictures here. Below we have a highlight photo album. If you are looking for more pictures, click the link to the full album above.
Official USAC Results can be found HERE. If you would like to see the race-day result pages, we have pictures of those below.
- The Rocktown Team
Photo Highlights
GRUSK 2019
Gravel Race Up Spruce Knob, also known as GRUSK, takes place just an hour and a half west of Harrisonburg, in Circleville, WV. The race starts and finishes below the peak of Spruce Knob, the highest knob in West Virginia (4,862’). For 55 miles riders climb, descend, and climb and descend, getting a great tour of the gravel roads, mountain pastures, and beautiful views of the area. After the 2nd aid station by Spruce Knob Lake, it’s just under 10 miles to the summit of Spruce Knob. Mostly gravel, the climb feels like forever - never really quite that steep until the final quarter mile to the top. Gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains reward everyone, and the relief of finishing that climb is amazing! But that’s not the finish line. Nope. A descent down the mountain, and one more climb lay between riders and the finish. I think one of the things that makes this race so satisfying to complete is that you’re not done at the top of Spruce Knob. You have to push yourself a little harder, for a little longer to cross that finish line, and it’s such a grand feeling when you do!
My day started with my favorite way to begin a race day - grabbing a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (and coffee, lots of coffee) from our local bagel shop. Being only 1.5 hours away from the race, I didn’t have a super early wake up call either - another good way to start the day. My drive out to the venue was sunny until I was 20 minutes away, then the rain started, again. All week the area had been by torrential downpours. Flash floods had taken out roads and damaged the small towns that lay along the race route. It was incredible that the main roads were cleared in the time they were, and that the race director of GRUSK was able to do a small reroute to keep the event going.
The rain was on and off for the rest of the morning, and waiting around to start I was nervous about my kit choice - would i get too cold descending, should I stuff a vest or long sleeve in one of my pockets? After talking with my teammate and friend Cynthia, I decided to suck it up, trust the rain wouldn’t last, accept that I would get too hot if I wore or brought extra layers, and wear what I had originally planned - the Jakroo Ultra short sleeve jersey and Solar Pro bib shorts. That decision ended up being a good one, because I did warm up quickly, even in the rain, and the sun did come out 25 miles into the race.
I had never been to GRUSK before, but from what friends told me, I wanted to be as close to the front for the start of the race as possible. It starts with a super rough dirt road, then a gravel downhill, a climb, and then this super crazy 2 mile double track grass descent to the next gravel road. Starts at gravel and cross races always have me on edge. The probability of something going amiss is higher with faster mass starts. I knew even with a “neutral” rollout to the first climb, being aggressive and getting positioned well was going to be really important for how the rest of my day went.
All week, leading up to GRUSK, I had been doubtful. I don’t know if it was just the amount of riding I had done the month before, things getting busier at work, or what, but I was kind of a grumpy cat all week - nervous about how my performance would go. At Hilly Billy, two weeks prior, I did well, but was frustrated by my lack of feeling snappy and “on it”. The starts at the last few races had me completely maxing my heart rate out, and still feeling unable to stick with the lead group for a decent amount of time. So after Hilly Billy, the focus was to rest, get a few good rides in, and try to keep my level of overall fatigue down. Chris was super great at helping me out, and having the 4th of July off, two days before GRUSK, was key.
When GRUSK started, I immediately slotted myself in a good spot, stuck on the front, and new I was feeling good as we hit the first climb. My heart rate was high, but not maxed. My legs felt quick and responsive. I even felt like I could recover the tiniest little bit as I pedaled behind a few people, just trying to stay in a good spot so I wouldn’t get stuck behind people on the grassy downhill.
That grassy downhill was crazy. During the racers meeting before the race, the organizer suggested riders stick to the grass instead of the deep ruts made by the forest service trucks, as the possibility of getting stuck and wrecking could be high. I quickly figured out though, that the best place to ride was actually in those tire ruts. The grass was so slick and wet from the rain that it took a lot to stay in control on that part of the road. One guy thought he could make a pass in that sketchy grass, cut a cross me, and then almost took me out in doing so (insert emoji slapping its face here). I then safely passed him just a few minutes later, and never saw him again.
The rest of the race was mostly gravel, with a road section from about the 25 mile point to 42 miles. After the grassy downhill, I found a good group to ride with until we reached the road. That section was so much fun. Super fast rolling gravel roads, with just a slight rain mist - perfect temperatures and “groad” conditions. After we hit the road, and for the rest of the race, it was spotty with catching up to riders (or having riders catch up to me). From the halfway point on, I rode mostly by myself. I skipped the first aid station, holding out for the 2nd aid station after the Dry Run Rd climb and 10 miles to go to the Spruce Knob Summit. Between those 2 aid stations I was maybe regretting just the tiniest bit not stopping at the first aid spot, but I had seen second place just after leaving that aid station and knew I had to keep the hammer down to put distance between myself and her. The rest of the race, my head was filled with Eminem songs (not my first choice, but it’s what popped up and kept repeating), and a mantra of “you want this, go harder, you can’t slow down.”
I really really wanted this win. I gave everything I had to keep pushing through any time I started to feel a little tired. Reaching the top of Spruce, I only got a quick glance around at the views, because I was so worried about second place catching me. Pedaling, and pedaling, and pedaling I worked my way down the mountain, changing my mantra to “don’t flat, go fast but don’t flat.” As the descent got steeper, my speed increased and the playful side of me kept wanting to come out. But I had to keep reeling that back in - way more likely to flat trying to be playful on the gravel; couldn’t have that with just 4 miles to go.
The final climb was the same road that we had come down at the start of the race. Just knowing I was on that road gave me a little extra boost, and seeing the finsih line in the meadow at the top was when I finally knew I was going to win. The whole race I had been pedaling scared - knowing that there were strong women behind me. It’s a funny thing to know you’re in front. You can’t let up, and you can’t have any problems. The nutrition I had at aid station 2 really saved my butt. I stuffed my mouth full of pickles, took some with me (yes, I was eating pickles and trying to pedal as fast as possible up the road, I’m sure it was a funny sight), and one my friends/volunteers at the aid station gave me a bottle full of coke. Sugar and salt made for quite the revival.
GRUSK feels like a local race. Local in that it’s close to my home, and it’s a big honor to win this event. The race director knows what’s up with good roads, and a proper gravel race - some support but not a whole lot, beautiful venue, and challenging and fun to ride terrain. If you haven’t been a part of this event, I highly recommend it. It’s one I definitely want to do again.
I haven’t seen or heard any news of GRUSK 2020, but you can always check on their website HERE.
One more awesome thing to note - my teammate Ellen, won the GRUSK Grande Loco (158 miles, 11,100’ of climbing, self-supported) the day before. She crushed that race through all sorts of weather, and came out on top! So awesome!
You can find a full list of results HERE.
If you have questions about the gravel women’s team I’m on, THE METEOR // INTELLIGENTSIA, you can visit our website, or get in touch with me here at the shop.
Rocktown Women's Cycling Week
Support. Probably one of the most important things for the success of women’s cycling and the success of each and every cyclist (social rider, weekend warrior, commuter, racer, and everything in between).
I wanted women’s cycling week to to bring together women in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area for new experiences, friendships, and to provide a friendly atmosphere to thrive even as we challenged ourselves in a variety of ways on the bike!
Here is what we did during the week, if you weren’t able to join and were wondering:
All week long (May 13-19): Women’s Apparel Discounted 10%
Monday, May 13, 9-11am: Local Coffee Shop Ride - Meet Kelly at Shenandaoh Joe’s at 9am. We’ll have coffee and do a fun social paced ride around town after.
Monday, May 13, 5:30 - 7pm: Women’s Bike Mechanic Clinic
Tuesday, May 14, 9:00 - 10am: Yoga for Cyclists with local instructor and fellow cyclist, Sue George of Shenandoah Yoga
Wednesday, May 15, 5:30-7:30pm: Regularly scheduled Rocktown Women’s Steady Road Ride
Wednesday, May 15, 8 - 10pm: Hangout at ThreeNotch’d Brewing, right around the corner of Rocktown Bicycles. This is just a fun time to hangout off the bike and get to know some awesome women in our community (and enjoy some beer)!
Thursday, May 16, 5:30-7pm: Women’s Bike Fit clinic. This is a great time to learn about bike fit, saddle comfort, and what can be adjusted to have the best experience possible on your bike.
Friday, May 17, 7am-9am: Meet at Court Square for SVBC’s Bike Everywhere Day. We’ll grab some breakfast snacks/coffee and then head out for an easy paced hour ride on some of Kelly’s favorite roads!
Friday, May 17, 5:30-7pm: Meet & Greet with former Professional Mountain Biker Sue Haywood! Sue is an absolutely amazing woman who has accomplished SO MUCH on the mountain bike. Come learn more about her experiences in racing, training, and teaching mountain bike clinics.
Saturday, May 18, 5-7pm: Afternoon MTB ride. Chill mountain bike ride out at Massanutten Western Slope. We can stop and work on stuff, hang out, and have a good ol’ time out in the woods! Meet in the parking lot of the Western Slope.
Sunday, May 19, 9am-3pm: Staunton Coffee Shop Ride! Join Kelly on one of her favorite Sunday rides. Cruise through the Shenandoah Valley down to Staunton for some delicious coffee and pastries, and then head home with some extra caffeinated pep! The pace will be similar to our Women’s Wednesday Ride (14-16mph). The ride will be right around 60 miles. Find the route HERE.
It was a fantastic week this year, and I cannot wait for next year’s event! New ideas are already written down, and another bottle design is already in the works! :)
Feel free to look through the photos and share them with your friends and family!
Rocktown Roller-Rama 2019!
Another great year of the Rolller-Rama! Thank you so much to everyone that came out to participate and cheer! It was a FANTASTIC night!
Feel free to save the photos and share with your friends!
