03/21 10:30am Gravel Ride from Thompson Speedway

[strat]

This Sunday (03/21) at 10:30am, starting from Thompson Speedway (205 E Thompson Rd, Thompson, CT 06277).

53 mile "Natchaug-ish" route courtesy of Briana:

https://www.strava.com/routes/280762359 ... 1767325995

No Drop ride but good solid pace with some spirited efforts predicted (usual MRC group ride stuff!)...we will regroup as needed. If the group is large enough and there's interest in forming an A & a B group we can certainly do this.

I don't know if there's a store located en-route for a water stop, could someone who knows please post up? If not then we'll need to plan accordingly and carry the dreaded third bottle!

So far the following are interested/committed:

Strat
Briana
Cactus
Antony
Bill
Cratty

Weather should be delightful!

Post up if you wanna join...

[Briana]

Not a lot of options for food and water on the route. there used to be the Coriander Cafe in Eastford at mile 27 but that's now closed permanently. At mile 35 in Woodstock we could find something (maybe Java Jive Cafe)

[strat]

Not a lot of options for food and water on the route. there used to be the Coriander Cafe in Eastford at mile 27 but that's now closed permanently. At mile 35 in Woodstock we could find something (maybe Java Jive Cafe)

Thanks Brian...looks like there's Woodstock Orchards (small market) just off the route too.

Show of hands for Stop Versus No Stop?

Personally I'd vote for a quick water stop but will let the majority rule. Cactus can always carry a gallon jug for us on his top tube

[JeremyC]

In. I don't think a stop is necessary IMO. This is no more than a 4hr ride max

[Briana]

I don't need a stop for a 53 mile ride. I think we'll be under 3-1/2 hours. It's not all gravel. 1st 10 miles are paved. Then a mix after that.

[JeremyC]

Question: we uncovered the real 2021 Nautchaug route. Obviously we don’t want to do the whole thing, but I can shorten it down pretty easily. Should we do that?

[remad]

Interested. I will follow up tomorrow to let you all know.

[strat]

Question: we uncovered the real 2021 Nautchaug route. Obviously we don’t want to do the whole thing, but I can shorten it down pretty easily. Should we do that?

As this is kind of a Nautchaug primer for some it may be of interest. It's all new to me so I'm not fussed. Would it still start at the Speedway?

[bmassey]

In

[JeremyC]

This is a shortened version of the real route. I chopped out the 1st 16 miles which was mostly pavement. The 1st 10 miles are not in the event, its a direct shot from the speedway to intersect the event route where the biggest gravel sector begins. The rest of the route is almost identical. There is a loop starting at mile 39.5 that we could chop if we wanted to reduce this by 6 miles, going from 59 back to 53. I'm ok with either of those, or just do Briana's loop. But this is closer to what the race will be.

Thoughts????

https://www.strava.com/routes/2808340100489488554

[ajpiper]

Interested for sure. I like the idea of mirroring the planned route as much as possible so favor Cratty's route. If we're doing 59 including most of the gravel, wonder if we should just go for the whole thing!?

Also, curious what folks are running for tires. I'm still conflicted trying to choose b/w gravel king SK+ in a 35 mm or their slicks in a 32 mm.

[strat]

Interested for sure. I like the idea of mirroring the planned route as much as possible so favor Cratty's route. If we're doing 59 including most of the gravel, wonder if we should just go for the whole thing!?

Also, curious what folks are running for tires. I'm still conflicted trying to choose b/w gravel king SK+ in a 35 mm or their slicks in a 32 mm.

Hope you can make it AJ!

Not sure where the official start of the race is but I think we should keep the meeting spot the same and cap the ride at 60 miles...some folks had time constraints so I don't want to put them in a pickle!

I'll be running some untested Maxxis Ramblers (40mm)....they came on the bike I just got so I don't have any intel to share! Otherwise I would've probably run my Challenge Chicane 33's.

[strat]

This is a shortened version of the real route. I chopped out the 1st 16 miles which was mostly pavement. The 1st 10 miles are not in the event, its a direct shot from the speedway to intersect the event route where the biggest gravel sector begins. The rest of the route is almost identical. There is a loop starting at mile 39.5 that we could chop if we wanted to reduce this by 6 miles, going from 59 back to 53. I'm ok with either of those, or just do Briana's loop. But this is closer to what the race will be.

Thoughts????

https://www.strava.com/routes/2808340100489488554

Might be good to preview the actual race route...I'm not registered but think several are.

[JeremyC]

@briana Do you have time to do this 59 mile route?

[strat]

Ok, Briana is out tomorrow (see Slack).

Let’s do Cratty’s route.

10:30 start, park at the Speedway.

Confirmed In:

Massey
Cratty
Stratty

Interested and probably in?:

Cactus
Bill
Antony

Maybes:

AJ
Rees

Out:

Briana

Think I got that right?!

[JeremyC]

Except Massey already did it...

[chrismitchell]

I'm in.

Yup, Brian was a day early

[bmassey]

I got the date confused and did it today so I am out. Turned out that it was good doing it today because I am getting dragged into work tomorrow.

[strat]

I'm in.

Yup, Brian was a day early

Wonder if he was scratching his head at the Speedway wondering where the heck we were?!

[BTurner]

I’m in.

[bmassey]

I sure was scratching my head. They were racing there today. That was pretty cool to watch.

[remad]

Out
Time restrictions, not sure if I will be back in time.

[ajpiper]

Out - I was confused about the date lol and did a hundo yesterday. But have fun and see you guys next wknd!