The Lowell Classic Gravel Road Race on April 6, 2019 was the 4th race of the 2019 Michigan Gravel Race Series, and was to be my sister Lenie’s first gravel race. I’ve raced Lowell seven or eight times, more than any other race, and it remains my favorite. I love everything about this course. The race starts and finishes at Fallasburg Park in Ionia County, Michigan, which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Valparaiso. The park is lovely and encompasses over 180 acres, with rolling hills, views of the Flat River, pretty forests, and an historic covered bridge.
I’ve ridden Lowell in every condition imaginable; in 25 degree temperatures, in non-stop freezing rain, in hurricane wind conditions, under overcast skies, in 60 degree sunny weather, after a rough winter that resulted in dodging thousand of potholes, and on a beautiful, breezy fall day under canopies of orange and golden trees. No matter what the conditions, Lowell is just fun. I love the rolling hills where I can get my speed up to float up to the top of the next hill, the super fast flat sections, and the climbs through lovely forest views, as well as a climb through a vineyard. I also love that it’s a relatively small race where I can always run into another rider that I know. For these reasons and more, Lowell has captured my heart. I couldn’t think of a better race for Lenie’s first gravel race experience.
Lenie arrived at our house in Valparaiso the night of April 5th, as we were to leave for the race the next morning around 4:00 am. Our friend James was going to ride along with us, and we had to pick him up at his house in Michigan City on the way there.
Lenie was a bundle of nerves the night before and the morning of the race. She went through her packed things several times, checking to see that she had gels, hydration mix, gloves, and so forth. She was stressed about forgetting something, about dressing too warm or too cold, or about how much water she should take. I felt bad for her, as I know what it’s like to be a new racer the day before and the day of the race. It’s absolutely a jump off of a pier into unfamiliar waters. I remember before my first race, Iceman, I had nightmares the week before the race. I was a road rider and I had signed up to do a mountain bike race on my Surly Pugsley (which is testament to the fact I had no idea what I was doing! Racing a 35 pound bike!) I had dreams of falling over on the dirt hills, clipped in, while other riders ran over my head. I actually had such trepidation about clipping in that I asked Marc to put flat pedals on my bike the day before the race.
Lenie sincerely wanted someone to ride alongside her for her first race. While I completely understood her feelings, I knew it was best for her to go it alone. She needed the experience of knowing she could dig deep and do things she didn’t know she was capable of doing. Gravel racers have grit and gumption, and she needed to release her inner graver racer! Plus if she had a cramp, needed to walk a hill, or needed to slow down, she could do it without being pressured to stay with someone.
As it was, race day morning went without a hitch. We packed our things and our bikes, and headed to Michigan City to pick up James. I snapped a photo along the way when we stopped for a bathroom break at a rest stop somewhere in Michigan. James was making sure the bikes were secure, and I spotted the moment as I walked out of the bathroom. The sun shining behind his head, full of promise, was an omen to me that Lenie was going to have a fine first race! It’s funny how moments like this are so fleeting and how the capture really doesn’t reflect the actual picture. There was a dumpster in the parking lot, which was blocked by the bikes! Nevertheless, I could see that it was going to be a fine weather day and that Lenie was going to have a fabulous experience for her first race.
When we arrived at the park we unloaded our bikes and rode to the park pavilion to pick up our packets. Lenie was to pick up a long sleeved jersey that Emily Mileski was bringing to her from the Grand Rapids bike shop. As we rode back to the car I recognized Emily and shouted out her name. As luck would have it, the jersey fit Lenie perfectly. She looked like a gravel racer ready to fly!
Soon, it was time to line up to start the race. Lenie was smiling and said she was feeling good. I, on the other hand, was feeling pretty bad. Three weekends of racing in a row, along with being a little dehydrated, had left me feeling very tired and a little nauseous. I was thrilled and excited for Lenie, but I found myself actually wishing I could just go back to the car and take a nap. The competitive spirit in me, however, had me lining up to the left as usual to pass riders so that I could be one of the first riders through the covered bridge. (The start is a neutral start until riders pass through the bridge, then the race is on!)
Even though I wasn’t feeling it, I had a great start. I had no problem passing riders to get to the front of the pack. After we crossed through the bridge, we turned right where we would encounter the first monster hill shortly thereafter. Riders usually leave me in the dust on this hill, but I found myself keeping up with most of them up the hill. I didn’t see any other female fatbikers pass me. Surprisingly, I felt pretty good for the first 10 miles or so of the race. It was at about mile 10 that a slip of a woman on a fat bike passed me. She probably weighed 98 pounds soaking wet, and I knew from other races that she was a force to be reckoned with. I quickly passed her, and we ended up going back and forth for five miles or so before she slipped away. Once she slipped away, my mojo waned. I found myself not having sore legs or cramping, but actually feeling so tired that I just wanted to take a nap on the bike. Whenever that happens, I realize that my heart rate is not wanting to stay elevated for whatever reason, whether just needing rest or being dehydrated. It was from this point on that I decided to simply keep a steady pace. I didn’t see any female fatbikers pass me, and I figured I was securely in 2nd place. I just didn’t have the energy or gumption to try and catch the tiny girl flying in first.
After I crossed the finish line, I took out my phone to look at my “Find Friends” app to see where Lenie was. When I first pulled out the phone it said that Lenie was 15 miles away. I immediately felt worried. Was she going to finish? Was she stopped or in trouble? Just as I thought this the phone updated and said she was 0 to 4 miles away! She was not only going to finish, but she was going to finish well! I decided to stay at the finish line to wait for her so I could snap a picture of her crossing the line.
I was so very proud of Lenie, that she set out for the great unknown and she succeeded in her journey! It is clear that she has both grit and gumption, and that she is an official gravel racer! Lenie wrote about her experience on the Michigan Gravel Race Series Gravel Scholar blog, which can be found at https://www.michigangravelseries.com/blog
As it turned out, Marc finished 2nd place male fatbike in the 50 mile race, James finished 3rd place in his age group and I finished 2nd place female fatbike. The slip of a girl who placed 1st left before the award ceremony, and the girl who placed 3rd told me “you’re fast!” as we stepped onto the podium. I have to admit I didn’t mind that the 1st place winner had stepped out before the awards. I placed 2nd to her 1st overall for our age group last year for the series, and standing next to her tiny frame I look a mile wide! Overall, it was a great day on the bike on sweet gravel roads in Michigan. Some weekend I’d like to take the time to just ride these roads for fun with friends, rather than racing them. When I do, I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures!
