The 2024 season marked the start of a brand new chapter for me. It was a season the place I stepped away from the consolation of a crew and embraced independence.
Till this 12 months, I at all times had a crew mechanic, a logistics coordinator, and different help crew. Now, I put on all these hats and extra: a ‘professional’ mechanic, journey guru, social media strategist, and, in fact, the hearth extinguisher for the surprising challenges of operating a solo operation.
There have been each literal and figurative bumps all season – from early-season races at The Mid South and The Growler to Unbound Gravel 200 and SBT GRVL on the peak of the gravel season after which the wind-down at Chequamegon MTB Competition and Huge Sugar Gravel. I’ve realized invaluable classes about myself, my bike, and the resilience wanted to thrive as a ‘privateer’. Navigating these challenges has made me extra adaptable and proven me how self-reliance will be each empowering and humbling.
As gravel continues to evolve, corporations like The Feed and Issue Bikes acknowledge the worth in supporting North American off-road athletes. It’s the way forward for the game, at the least right here. I feel mass-participation occasions are the way forward for bike racing in North America, as they have fun that sense of group and maintain the gravel spirit alive.
I feel I’d go hungry if not for my Feed stipend. Mia Howle with The Feed has handed me numerous feeds at race help stations. Walter Tate from Issue has stood in quite a few resort parking tons adjusting my shifting and torque specs. Whereas every race is finally a solo pursuit, I’ve key companions shut by who assist make the races really feel extra like a crew effort.
“We consider athletes like Lauren have the ability to encourage their communities and push the boundaries of what is potential. Our mission is to gas their journey by giving them the proper vitamin and instruments to thrive—whether or not they’re on the racecourse, in coaching, or dealing with on a regular basis challenges,” Howle mentioned.
Right here’s what ‘life as a privateer’ throughout the gravel, mountain bike, and street racing circuits taught me over the 2024 season, beginning with the season opener.
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By no means e book the most affordable motel
Racing as a privateer means discovering methods to chop prices, however at The Mid South in Stillwater, Oklahoma, I realized shortly that saving cash on lodging is just not the best way to do it. I initially booked the most affordable motel I might discover, however after only one evening, I made a decision to maneuver to the 3-star resort close to the beginning line.
It was value sacrificing a number of further {dollars} for my sanity and sleep.
Regardless of the chaotic leadup, I used to be in a position to refocus and recompose myself. This expertise served as a reminder that the street to success isn’t at all times clean, however with the proper mindset, issues can at all times be rotated.
Carry a flooring pump
One of many extra amusing classes got here at Levi’s Gran Fondo for The Growler, a brand new Classics-style street race. I assumed any person would have a flooring pump, however when it got here time to inflate my 32mm Maxxis Excessive Roads, I used to be caught utilizing my mini-hand pump. Touring by air from Colorado to northern California for the occasion, I lowered the air stress in my tires.
It took lots of of tiny pumps in my little resort room, with ‘The Workplace’ enjoying within the background for good measure, till I lastly reached 75 psi within the entrance and 80 within the rear. Lesson realized: by no means assume, at all times over-prepare.
You may’t flip all the pieces right into a gravel race
Levi’s Gran Fondo felt like a gravel race on pavement, between the epic climbs and bumpy asphalt – pure energy to win the 130-mile inaugural professional girls’s race. After I lined up for the US Professional Street Nationwide Championships a month later, I used to be reminded shortly that success in street racing requires extra finesse.
It’s simple to get caught up within the adrenaline and need to make each second difficult. I used to be reminded of the ability of drafting and conserving vitality when within the last transfer with Kristen Faulkner and Ruth Edwards, I might really feel my legs screaming in protest, asking, “Why have been you on the entrance a lot?”.
The cramping hit arduous earlier than the ultimate lap. I used to be solely 49 seconds out of the lead, however I could not observe them for the final 13 miles of the 79-mile race. Faulkner went on to win, whereas I crossed the road in downtown Charleston, West Virginia in fifth place.
Test your valve core for dried sealant
At Unbound Gravel in Emporia, Kansas, I executed my signature solo transfer round mile 80 of the 205-mile race, making a five-minute hole from the chasing peloton. I used to be flying, till I heard the hiss of air escaping from my tire.
I hit it with CO2, however the valve core was clogged with dried sealant. After a number of failed makes an attempt, I pushed on, understanding my crew was ready on the subsequent help station.
I managed to textual content them the phrase “REAR.” I’m unsure they knew what I meant.
After dropping invaluable time, I used to be caught by the lowered area earlier than the ultimate checkpoint at Council Grove with 54 miles to go. Though my crew helped with an electrical pump, the valve was clogged and wouldn’t take air. As a substitute of ready for my crew to resolve the difficulty, I noticed my rivals whizzing by and couldn’t resist chasing.
In hindsight, I ought to have checked the valve core earlier than the race. Extra importantly, I ought to have stayed calm. The 30 further seconds stopped with my crew might’ve solely helped the race final result. With simply 14 psi remaining on the finish, I completed ninth in a nine-women dash.
At all times be able to pivot
After Unbound it was on to Leadville Path 100 MTB in Leadville, Colorado and SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs. I simply did not have it at Leadville, so was trying ahead to SBT GRVL the next week.
I used to be in second place at mile 95 of 124-mile Steamboat Springs race when catastrophe struck. My entrance tire exploded in a rut and I broke my touchdown with my left collarbone. Race over.
I used to be lucky to get surgical procedure the evening of the race, which is why solely two days later I used to be on the coach.
It’s not how I envisioned my leadup to the US Professional Gravel Nationals in solely three weeks, however I knew what was essential to be prepared. I did three-hour rides in Watopia with Zwift on my Wahoo KICKR and added brisk five-mile hikes sporting my sling to get outdoors.
Opposite to my preliminary disbelief, three weeks later I used to be on the beginning line in Gering, Nebraska. The collarbone itself hadn’t fully fused again collectively, however all the pieces was at the least in the proper place thanks to some screws.
Nonetheless unable to hold a hydration pack due to shoulder ache and concern of breaking my collarbone lurking behind my head, I completed second place within the elite girls’s area. The takeaway? You by no means know what life will throw at you. Be able to pivot and settle for the issues you possibly can’t change, like damaged bones.
Take note of the guide – by no means reuse a grasp hyperlink
Resulting in Chequamegon MTB Competition in Cable, Wisconsin, a requirement for Life Time Grand Prix, I meticulously prepped my Issue Lando XC, even giving my chain a contemporary coat of wax. After I reinstalled the chain as I constructed the bike on the Minneapolis airport within the passenger pickup, I reused the identical grasp hyperlink from earlier than.
About 25 miles into the 42-mile race, I used to be within the lead group when my chain snapped. I instantly used my dropper submit to make use of my bike as a “strider” till a fellow rider provided me a spare grasp hyperlink.
I reinstalled the chain pondering I had issues beneath management, however two miles later, the chain snapped once more. I began operating till one other sort stranger provided me his bike from the again of his truck at an unofficial checkpoint.
The bike was too massive with a special groupset, however I wasn’t about to drop out of the race. I managed to cross a number of rivals and snag some Life Time Grand Prix factors after I crossed the road in nineteenth place. I used to be later disqualified for using a spectator’s bike.
I used my telephone to buy 20 new grasp hyperlinks on the best way residence.
One factor at a time
Navigating life’s calls for requires cautious planning and with the ability to deal with one factor at a time. While you map out each element of your day, you discover that even the craziest challenges grow to be manageable. So squeezing in a race after which a marriage in the identical day, separated by greater than 750 journey miles, might have been a bit too difficult.
At Huge Sugar Gravel in northwest Arkansas, I completed a decent fifth-place end and scored sufficient Life Time Grand Prix factors to land within the high 10 total.
What makes it extra spectacular? After a USADA take a look at, podium ceremony, and a bathe in my good friend’s resort room, I made it to the Northwest Arkansas airport for a 5:00 p.m. flight to Denver. My husband picked me up on the opposite with a robe in hand, I modified within the automotive and made it to my youthful brother’s marriage ceremony the evening of the race.
Resilience, Adaptation, and Development
Being a privateer in 2024 has improved my adaptability, resourcefulness, and resilience. Whereas a crew’s absence introduced challenges, it additionally empowered me to take full possession of my racing.
- Chains waxed: 17
- Chains snapped: 1
- Airports: Too many
- Wins: 5
- Podiums: 7
- Miles ridden: Test Strava
- Flyers: UNBOUND, The Rad, Midsouth, The Growler
- Flights: 16 (no Africa journey from unique plan)
- Airports visited: 9
I’ve come to additional recognize the worth of help. Working intently with my sponsors, Issue Bikes, The Feed, Castelli, Maxxis, and PERC Espresso, has proven me the enterprise aspect of motorcycle racing. I’ve realized that we’re all striving for a similar objective. My success is their success.
I’ve realized to ask for assist after I want it, individuals genuinely need to help. Whether or not it’s stopping by the Orange Seal tent for a fast tire examine or just sharing recommendation, the off-road biking group is at all times supportive.
With the teachings realized, I really feel extra able to tackle one other 12 months as a ‘privateer’. Hopefully, many of the errors are out of the best way. Now it’s time for some well-deserved relaxation and a visit to Africa for Crew Amani Girls’s Camp. Extra on that later!
