The Grind. My Year in Gravel

Written by Tyler Howell

Gravel. The corner of cycling where riding one hundred plus miles is the trend. The distances are not exactly enjoyable and lack a certain fun factor. The surfaces certainly suck and change from road to road. At my level of “racing” (a debatable term) it often means riding alone for hours at a time with cattle and farm dogs as spectators. It is a grind.

This year would be my fourth year of “gravel.” What started as a series of cardio sessions to supplement my weightlifting quickly turned into a hobby. Now it is an obsession. Listening to weekly podcasts on my commute, consuming YouTube content while on the trainer, registration watching, and Strava stalking. 2025 was going to be different. The inaugural year of the Great Plains Gravel Cup. A six-race gravel series across Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Much like the Lifetime Grand Prix. Points are awarded to the top forty finishers in each race, your best five of results get scored toward your season point total. In previous years I ran only single speed at events, usually finishing mid-pack. I put a cassette on my Chumba Terlingua and was going to see how I stacked up with the fast guys chasing points in the series. This is a recap of my season.

March 

Rattlesnake Gravel – Sweetwater, TX

Every year my friend and I take his camper and hit an out of state event. We were looking for some warmer weather and decided on Texas. The main event is one hundred miles; we opted for the 70-mile option. I cannot say enough good things about this event. We arrived Thursday morning at the campground and set up for the weekend. All events start out of the campground. We participated in all the shake-out rides and activities, a first for me. It was a grassroots type of event, but some “gravel pros” were in attendance with the likes of Joe Laverick, Justin Mcquerry, Lauren Stephens, and Hayden Christian. Tyler Pearce (The Vegan Cyclist”) led the shake out rides and was not what I was expecting, extremely nice guy and very honest about “being in it for the clicks.” Post race, I turn around and Chris Tolley just starts talking to me. He is EXACTLY how you would imagine. Starting Thursday evening, all meals were free of charge/donation with race registration. Rattlesnakes. I did not see any, except after the race where you could hold one for a photo opportunity. I did not. Race day was hot; the temperature got into the low nineties and very windy. The course was a mixture of private ranch roads, x4-5 climbs up tall mesas, and smooth gravel. Being my first race of the year and having rode outside a total of five times for the year, I played it conservatively at the beginning. The front pack was long gone very quickly; I settled in and slowly picked riders off throughout the day. Having done the shake out rides was key. The final 8-10 miles was all rough private ranch road and was able to pass a handful of riders in this section alone. I was surprised with my result. 8th/87 OA.

Mine Creek Gravel Battle – Mound City, KS

A small 100km event in its second year. I see this one growing being so early in the season and proximity to Kansas City. I used this event for pacing and testing out the engine A rolling course with smooth gravel, with a very steep climb at mile three to break everything up. The fast guys flew up the climb, and I was quickly dropped and solo for the remainder of the day. I stuck with the plan, holding steady power while trying not to surge. It was my best paced race of the year. After the initial climb, no one caught me for the remainder of the day. I pedaled away and picked off 10-15 people throughout the day. Post race was beer and pizza, the real champion. 9th/51 OA

April

Flint Hills Gravel Ride – Americus, KS

This is a BIG event in Kansas and the first race of the GPGC. This was an “A” race for me. Having recently joined the Move Up Club it was my first time meeting many of you. I am not exactly a super social creature and was quickly welcomed. Thank You. This was my fourth year doing the 85-mile course and the nerves are always the highest at this race. I do not remember much of this race other than really trying not to burn matches early on. Every year the pasture burning and smoke is present. This year was horrible. You could feel the heat of the smoke in your throat and eyes irritated. The final 3-4 miles of the race is on flat, straight, beautiful pavement. This is my favorite section of any course. That pavement is so welcoming. The “spirit of gravel” has not found me yet, probably because I wish gravel events were held on pavement. I was surprised with my result. I had finished ahead of people that I was not expecting at all. 30th/201 OA.

Open Range Gravel – Pratt, KS

The second race of the GPGC. My fourth year doing this 200km event. I need one more to get the coveted belt buckle for completing five in a row. This race is a special one for me. Four years ago, it was my very first century ride. My mother grew up in Medicine Lodge (aid station). My father, on a farm just a few miles off the route and still has lots family in the area. My parents will be laid to rest in a cemetery that is on the actual route. I have great childhood memories of my time in the Gypsum Hills. They are beautiful. It was unfortunate this year mother nature decided to pour rain and the race was re-routed into a road race which skipped the scenic areas. It rained all day and was cold. I was shaking un-controllably during the national anthem. The first 30 minutes were full gas through wet, thick, sand. Then we popped onto pavement for the duration of the race. I was with 4-5 riders; up the road was a group of 8-10 riders. To bridge or stay in. It was going to hurt and burn some matches, it was doable. I decided not to bridge. I think about this decision more than any other I have ever made on a bike and often. I clearly remember why I decided to stay in. I have 110ish miles to go, I do not want to blow up, other riders will blow up, and I have people to work with. The group I am in eventually dissolves; everyone is gassed out by the time we go through the Sun City aid station the second time. I am guessing this is around mile 35-50ish. I get into my cheater bars and settle in. You read that right, have you done this race in the wind before?? Exactly. I do not see a single soul the rest of the day other than two riders stopped at the final aid station. I do not understand. My power is wild, my legs feel great, I was hammering. I later discovered the group I chose not to bridge up to stayed together for the entire race and finished 12 minutes ahead. It will not leave my mind. 20th/74 OA.

May

Muleskinner – Lonejack, MO

The Move Up race, third of the GPGC. Sixty-eight miles. My second time here. By far the best post ride vibe I have experienced. This is not me trying to inflate Jason and Kent’s ego. It just is. I love this course, but I hate it as a rider. Up and down, never flat or straight. This one brings out some hitters from the KC area. Roadies on gravel. I figured this would be my drop race as I would not get into the top forty to gain any points in the series. This race is a blur in my memory. I went hard, still my second highest power for 90 minutes. Did not walk any of the nasty climbs in the second half of the race. Awesome volunteers. Pizza and beer for the win. I was mildly disappointed in the result but not the effort. 48th/105 OA

Unbound – Emporia, KS

People love it or hate it. I float back and forth. This is the Super Bowl of gravel and right in our backyard. I encourage everyone to at least visit the expo on Thursday or Friday. The buzz and the atmosphere are intoxicating. You cannot avoid it. The three previous years I had done the one hundred miler in the single speed division. This year I put my name into the lottery for the fifty mile and was selected. I was focused solely on the GPGC series, and this was to be a full gas, red line till I blow up, then have fun event. Amateur pro tip for Unbound. If you are serious about “racing” this race. Get lined up in the chutes 45-60 minutes prior to the start of your race. Sorry about your precious warm up. In 2024, it took me almost 3 minutes from the start of the race to cross the actual starting line. It potentially cost me a spot on the podium. I arrived 45min early in the chutes because I am smart and plop myself in the second row. This was the most fun I had on a bike. Because I was racing. In so many events, I am not strong enough to hang with the top dawgs, get dropped, end up alone and solo for long periods of time. With Unbound, people are everywhere to work with. And we are off; it is full gas for the first 10-15min or so out of town. I am VERY close to getting spit out. I am at the very back of a group of twenty-five or so. A very noticeable pregnant Isabel King is right in front of me in her famous orange kit. Things settle down, a few attacks go, they always get reeled back in. I am still stealing every watt and doing zero work at the very, very, back. No shame here. We get into some hills and things break up a bit. A group goes off the front, and some riders fall off. I am somewhere in the middle and find an excellent group of three other riders. We are trading pulls and flying together for the final twenty miles running people down like they stole our lunch money. We get to the famous final climb going into Emporia, I cannot remember the name of it. I call it hot dog hill because they hand out hot dogs at the top. I am second up the hill (no hot dog) of our group and hold on through the finish line. The 50mile is the fourth tier of racing at Unbound. I understand that. I ended up in first place in my age group (40-49yo) after the real winner got bumped up on the overall podium. Like I said, this was not the BIG race by any means. But damn does it feel good to climb onto a podium. 12th/752

June

Solstice Gravel Grinder – Beatrice, NE

The fourth race of the GPGC. Not going to lie. I am confident and a little cocky. After looking at my cool block of wood trophy that Lifetime gave me and my sweet Move Up jersey finally arrived in the snail mail. I was ready. I had done the shorter version of this race two years prior. The main event is one hundred miles, due to extreme heat and wind in the forecast, the 100-mile race was shortened to seventy miles the day before the race. I was bummed. I wanted a long hot day, with fast people blowing up, and me gaining points in the standings. I was wrong in my forecast; the weather was not. I am guessing 25mph sustained winds out of the south for the entire day. It was brutal. The wind was at our back for the first 25ish miles, we turned east, then south into the wind. I was in a good spot, with a good group. Ready to work together till we turned west into the cross wind. I began to struggle holding wheels and got dropped. Alone in the wind, in the god awful, deep, pea sized gravel that acts as sand. I hated Nebraska. I was in a bad place. People start catching me and I cannot hold anyone’s wheel. I microwaved myself. I also mentally quit. It still pisses me off. I slow rolled it in knowing we would be racing at Rock Ridge it just a week. 57th/94 OA.

Rock Ridge Gravel – Alma, KS

Race number five the GPGC. Seventy miles of rough northern flint hills gravel. I am nervous. I have scored zero points in two of the series races, which means I need a good place here and in the final race to hopefully crack the top twenty of the standings. This is the course that gives me the most concern for flats. Things start out amazing. I am feeling great with solid group of twenty or so riders. It slowly breaks down, and only five of us are left going into the aid station at mile fifty, right before the famous Little Egypt road. I had come prepared, the frozen hydro pack was a great idea, I was on top of my nutrition, no flats. I was sitting in the top twenty with twenty miles to go. I just needed to hang on. The previous week, I microwaved myself slowly. Today was worse. No warning light or siren. The power cord had been pulled. I tried, but I just kept getting passed and there was nothing left and nothing I could do about it. I have learned I need to take extra caution and really pull back when going hard in the heat. 34th/100 OA. 

July

Touch Both Lines Gravel Grinder – Osceola, MO

Have you ever driven to Branson, Springfield, or Joplin and seen the 213 billboards of that mouse advertising the cheese? This race takes place in that town. I was shocked when I drove by the cheese place, and it was not the size of a Wal-Mart. Disappointed and did not stop. This was a filler race to hopefully build some confidence and get back on track. Small race. The course is remarkably like Muleskinner. Up down and all around. Nothing straight or flat. Lots of descents into curves. More loose and chunkier. Fifty miles is the main event. Things start chill. Make lead group of 10-12. I do not recognize any of the other riders. Lots of matching kits. Some halfhearted attacks from individuals with teammates in the group, and the other kits would always pull them back in. I was verbally dressed down for not taking pulls by a fellow bike rider. My feelings were not injured because this man was correct. I was working very hard to be lazy and informed him that I was going to continue to do so. I did end up beating him. We hit some hills and things break up, four riders go up the road, and I am left with two other riders. They both got a gap on a hill, and it stayed that way to the finish. 7th/35 OA

September

Pony Express Gravel Dash – Marysville, KS

The final race of the GPGC. I am sitting just outside the top twenty in the overall standings. I have stalked the registration start list. Of those signed up,18 riders I have not beaten all year, 5 riders are signed up that I have beaten and lost to during the year, and I am assuming 5 riders will show up that I have no idea of that will beat me. 120 miles and it is all on the table. Sidenote I won a nice Kuat hitch bike rack Friday evening in a drawing. Thanks Jason and April for hauling it over to my car. The race starts and I am being extra cautious to not burn matches and have a meltdown. It is foggy in the morning, my glasses are fogging up, twisty turning descent. A crash happens in front of me. I am carrying too much speed; I ride into the ditch to avoid the pile up. Up and over the handlebars I go into a bean field. I pick up my yard sale and get going again. I am a little rattled. I settle in and tried not to panic, and the 15-20 positions lost. I keep the throttle limited and steady. Find myself in a solid group ten riders from mile 40-60. I know I need to beat everyone in this group and catch more. I decide to pick up the pace on my next pull and see if anyone comes with. Only one rider does. We work well together and pull away and stay away. We catch the GPGC overall woman champion around mile eighty-five. She is a beast. We can see a single rider in the far distance but do not ever gain on him. We ride alone for sixty miles to the finish. He beats me in a sprint. I tried to drop him in the final three miles; he was the stronger rider. 20th/70 OA.

I scanned the results and the riders that finished just above and below me. It was going to be extremely close if I cracked the top twenty. After driving home that evening and doing some math. I finished 19th overall in the inaugural Great Plains Gravel Cup series. Goal achieved.

The Bad Astra – Ottawa, KS

This was my very first gravel race four years ago. They have an eighty mile and 40-mile option. I was tired of going long. I signed up in the forty mile. This is my type of gravel. Smooth and fast. It was going to be a drag race being such a short distance. Ten of us were left around the halfway point. An attack goes and stays away. I do not have the power to stay on. I am in fifth place. I get pressure on the pedals and keep hammering. I cannot see anyone behind me around mile 35. The hills start. At the bottom of the final hill a rider is stopped with a flat. He does not have any co2. I stop and give him mine and we get rolling. Karma earned. He is very thankful and promises to work together and give me the win. I agree. His tire pressure is dropping and cannot keep up. I roll on. I am content that I am now in fourth with little hope of a podium due to fixing his flat and losing my little helper. I roll in keeping my head on a swivel to make sure no one catches me. One of the riders in front of me went off course and got lost. I backdoored my way onto a podium. 3rd/47 OA.

November

JM Collingwood Barn Rat Filthy 50 – Pretty Prairie, KS 

Last race of the season. Crazy cool venue. A super old huge barn that is now mainly used as a wedding venue. Chili and cinnamon roll post-race meal. Delish. Fifty miles on extremely flat dirt/sand roads. All the race promoters people involved are women, which is unique. This is the third year of the event; I did it the first year and 2024 got rained out. The case is only thirty minutes from my hometown and where my parents live. As is the theme of the year, I hang with the lead group fifteen or so for about twenty minutes and I know these power numbers are not sustainable for myself. I was mentally prepared for an outside shot of making the podium. This and the super sandy conditions had me checked out. The roads were dry dirt, no gravel but the course had 5-6 water/mud crossings each about ten feet long. I opted to walk around all of them. I keep steady tempo pressure on the pedals and picked off a few riders, not looking to fully send it. I catch a friend that came up from Oklahoma for the race with fifteen miles left and we spun for a few miles. Another friend, the eventual single speed champion, caught us, our pace increased as we lead him to the finish line. 12th/63rd.

Closing thoughts

Get a coach. I am very happy with the progress I have made in the last year and half under Coach Kent. If you care about cycling as a sport, put endless hours, family sacrifice, early mornings, and late nights doing this thing. I strongly encourage getting a coach. For me, it takes all the mental thoughts, anxiety of training plans, and second guessing my training out of my hands. Just do the work. The numbers do not lie.

Consistency. No matter what level you are beginning at, consistency pays off. Do the work. Most will not. An hour a day is better than nothing. If you look at my GPGC, my highest finish was 20th place. I finished 19th in the overall standings. I did all the races. I did the work.

Goals. It is important to set goals. Tell someone. Write them down. It will hold you accountable and gives you something to push for. My initial goal was to reach the top twenty-five in the series this year and that quickly changed to top twenty. My goals for next year are to eat clean and lose some extra fluff. Out work my competition. I am not a naturally gifted bike rider. I understand that and being 42 years old does not help. I do not want to lose to someone that just trains me. Finally, race smart in the heat and to be more consistent across the board at events. I am in day three of my off-season, Monday after Turkey Day it will be time to sharpen my knife for next years fun fights. Ride fast, eat trash, and pet all the dogs.