For reference, here is the link to last year’s thread: Mid-Atlantic US Events for 2024
Cycling Virginia continues to be my ‘go to’ site for events in Virginia. Really hoping to do Blue Ridge Extreme Gravel, Storming Thunder Ridge, and maybe even an out and back on Skyline Drive over two days.
Plan to do Tour of Newport News again this year. They dropped the Street Sprints event (too many broken chains, crashes, timing issues) in favor of a points style crit. Could be really cool depending on how they score that race and the omnium. So all together it’s a points crit, TT, crit, circuit race. Really good weekend of racing, difficult 8 corner crit.
I just signed up for Blue Ridge Extreme Gravel (BREG) long route - 56 miles, 5860 feet elevation, 56% unpaved, and two major gravel climbs. The first is 4.7 miles long and gains 1585 feet (average 7.7%), the second is 4.1 miles long and rises 1200 feet (average 6.9%).
I plan to ride on my Seigla with Enve AG25 rims, Schwalbe 2.1” Thunder Burt tires, and 40 / 9-45 gearing. My other wheel option is Hunt 35 Gravel X-Wide with Vittoria 45mm Torreno Dry tires and 40 / 10-44 gearing. I think the Enve setup makes more sense for the slightly easier gearing and tires with more grip for the descents.
Has anyone ridden it before? Anyone else going this year? Any advice would be appreciated!
I thought BREG looked cool and almost signed up, but then realized it’s just a ride and not a race. If it was close to me, I would still do it, but I can’t justify driving 2+ hours to do a ride.
I have not done this ride, but I watched some YouTube videos showing most of the course. The terrain looks pretty tame with lots of smooth gravel and some pavement. I would go with the Torreno Dry from what I saw on the videos. I think the best option (if dry) would be a G-One RS in the back and an R or RX in the front. If it is wet/muddy then maybe the TBs if your clearance is OK.
Has anyone ridden Monster Cross with some notes on what it’s like? I am doing it this weekend.
I’ve done it a couple years in a row. You doing 25 or 50 miler? I think they changed the course a fair bit this year which takes out one of the major creek crossings and the dam hill which is the only really brutal climb on the course.
Most of its double track and nothing crazy technical except for the one hiking trail at the end of lap1. You may want to dismount and walk it unless you have good bike handling skills.
Lot of people at the event so you may want to jockey for position a bit off the “rolling” start.
Edit: Here is a video showing the whole old course. https://youtu.be/RlLPCsx61Hw?si=1jyNKirltq7H4gUN
Awesome, thanks! I will check out the video. I am doing the 50. Yeah, my biggest concern is the number of people and not making it up to a good position before the race hits a squeeze point.
Also looking at the Facebook feed that downhill, creek crossing and dam hill may still be in and not taken out this year. The promoter that puts in these events is known for last minute changes that aren’t always well publicized.
Honestly there is a lot of room to move around on the course. First real selection point is probably a couple miles in on one of the wooden bridges after a downhill. Speed and entry will matter there.
If you are a confident bike handler or mountain biker there is plenty of place to pass on the course. The section that parallels beach road after the park road entrance is probably the first real selection point where line choice matters. On the swift creek side there is another similar section but you are 20 and 40 miles in by the time you hit that.
Try and stay up right vs really jockeying for position. Couple people get seriously hurt every year.