Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race

Barry-Roubaix is one of the top 5 bike races in the state of Michigan. This would be my first year going to this huge event. Back in December, when I was starting to plan out my 2014 race season, this race was on my list of races. Some time during January I took this race off my list just because of my large course load and the fact I don't have a cyclocross bike. Some time about early to mid February I started getting cabin fever and I wanted to race. So I facebook messaged a guy I knew has been around this sport for over a decade. I asked Randy Knapp what Barry Roubaix was like and if I would be competitive using my mountain bike. After this conversation I was thinking more and more about this event. It wasn't till about three or four weeks before the event that I decided that I was going to do this race. My training was going OK. Not as good as last year because of my busy course load and involvement in Student Government.

The day of the race I was feeling OK.After driving about 5ish hours to my parents house on Friday night then getting up at 4am the next morning to drive another few hours to the race I was just wanted to get it done. I drank a bottle of Hammer Endurolyte Fizz water on the way down to Hastings. After packet pick up we went to my favorite pre-race restaurant, Big Boy's, for breakfast. My warm-up was a decent one. I put a road wheel on my mountain bike so I could use the trainer. I did a typical 15-20 easy spin. I took some Hammer Endurolyte pills, aspirin and then rode around the start/finish area waiting for my wave to start up. I took a Hammer Gel about 15 minutes before the start. 

As my wave took off I got caught up in the pack and got into panic mode and just burned a lot of my legs right away. I wasn't expecting the amount of climbing that this course had and I just rode a stupid race. My tactics sucked, and I just wasn't mentally in it. The course was fun and very challenging. I came across the finish line in 2:22:19. It was good enough for 36th out of 102 in the male 19-29 group. I'm far from happy about my results. Frankly I'm embarrassed about these results. I have to much support from some amazing people to be putting up results like these. If I had to bring some positive aspects of this event I would have to agree that I am injury free and my average mph pace was right were I was at for Iceman last November. I feel like this course was much more challenging than Iceman's course. Plus it very early in the season. My main focus is on getting qualified for nationals and go from there. I have time to fix my program and rebuild. I just need to get off my fat ass and ride for more than what I do. Riding the trainer suck but if I want to have success in this sport I need to suck it up and ride. 

The event was a great event and I will probably come back next year because it does show riders what their winter training is doing at this point of the season. For me I can now come back and fix what I have problems with. I know I need to get in the hills more, I know I need to ride longer and push the pace more. I know I need to build a lot more strength in my legs and do some more setting up on the bike to make me more efficient. I have some higher hopes for Mud Sweat and Beers in May. 

Photo Credit: Rick Borns

I would like to thank all my sponsors and people who support me

Hammer Nutrition                                                 Buddy Kurjiaka

Crank Brothers                                                     Mom and Dad

Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon                         Abigail Studer (my niece)

Spy Optics                                                           Grandpa Studer

Renthal Cycling                                                     West Michigan Coast Riders

Schwalbe Tires