I completed the 13th annual Melting Mann this past Saturday, my first gravel race of the year. It was a sunny but cold day, with temps in the low 30s. Heading into the event, I worried about the weather, if I'd packed the right gear, and the difficulty of the hills.
This past Saturday, I raced in the Harvest 50 gravel event in Zionsville, Indiana. Riders could choose between a 25-mile or 50-mile course, and I opted for the 25—a mix of 40% paved and 60% unpaved roads. Though I’d ridden the route twice before, I still felt nervous. Familiarity helped, but there's a different vibe to racing.