Originally Posted by
Ttoc6
Fasted all day today (2PM yesterday until about 5PM today) to hopefully stave off some of the weight gain over the trip. A race in 12 days and I gained 6lbs over the work trip. Today was just an easy hour on the gravel bike before breaking my fast. Still managed some PR's on segments I ride a lot. Maybe the gravel is just running fast or something, but I wasn't pushing hard and it was hella hot.
The gravel here the last two days has been slow, due to dry/dusty conditions.
They have a machine in the park they use after huge storms to level/fix the washout parts of the gravel roads. After they use them, it takes a good gentle rain and a dry day to get fast again.
When it's super dry right after they do the roads, it's lots of loose gravel and sandy/dusty stuff that really bogs you down.
Last night I did another 30mi of MUP/gravel after the lunch workout. Just easy/tempo.
Lots of little mini slides and lots of "pling" as you kick up the loose stones. I'm a weenie, so a slide to me constitutes going 10 to 12 mph around a tight corner and maybe sliding 3 to 6 inches sideways. Like, nothing.