Old Man Winter Rally 2024. It may be a hard thing to believe, given how challenging the conditions actually were, but I actually expected it to be worse. As more and more wet, heavy snow fell on Saturday, I went from thinking cyclocross tires would be the right choice to thinking mountain bike tires were a reasonable option. I compromised and went with 45mm Maxxis Ramblers trying to split the difference between my optimism and pessimism.

But the roads were mostly snow free. I am kicking myself for not purchasing tires specifically for wet/muddy conditions. Would have been a faster choice overall. Oh well.

I think the two words that best describe the race was cold and blinding. We left Lyons in the sun but almost immediately the sun went away and a freezing cold fog descended. I dressed for conditions 20F warmer and was chilled during the neutral. And then we hit the gravel with the pace car still in front of us and my entire face was immediately sprayed with mud. My sunglasses got covered and I was peeking through little mudless gaps.

I lost the lead group by the second paved section. Got caught beyond a couple riders, could not find a way through, burned through matches trying to catch up, and then decided to settle down as surely I would catch people through consistent, safe racing rather than crashing by being reckless.

This is not the hardest race I have ever done, but it is probably the race where I thought about quitting the most. Descending in snow, ice, and mud while virtually blind. Freezing, muddy water spraying my entire body and causing my legs to go numb. Mud being sprayed into my mouth, water bottles virtually undrinkable. And then the normal pains and challenges of hard racing.

That being said, I wish I could try again. I’d wear warmer clothes, I’d use the right tires, I’d use a backpack instead of bottles, I’d have brought a second pair of glasses, and I’d have not made a tactical error that caused me to drop a wheel on the way back to Lyons that probably cost me 5 places.

Please enjoy the photos thanks to @ripanddrift and @tina_explores. The video is me on the podium thanks to Team François winning the Team Relay.