Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium (Part 2): Friday Time Trial

 Author:  Dwaine Trummert

This is part two and is best after reading "Part 1" of the Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium recap.

Tumalo State Park campground offered a Friday morning that was both clear and cold. I prepared coffee via french press and Adam cooked our race day go-to breakfast of oatmeal.

The first race of the Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium was a simple five mile time trial. The published elevation profile could be summarized as follows: Slight descent into a mile of moderate climbing which transitioned into an even shallower descent that slowly tapered into a nearly flat finish.

We still had two strategy questions looming from the previous day. How much effort to put into the the TT and who would ride in support of whom. These questions stayed on the back burner for a bit longer. While waiting for the sun to warm the air we bumped into fellow coasties Tim and Jen of Olympia who were camping nearby. They had pre-ridden the TT course one day earlier and warned that the road was rocky.

At noon Adam drove us towards the course for a course recon ride. I requested we take the scenic route. Bend is lovely this time of year and there is ample evidence that cycling culture is strong in this area. The parking area was humming with mountain biking activity as we soft pedaled to the TT start area.

Dwaine and his bicycle as we pre rode the TT gravel road. This section is about where we would start later in the day.

The recon was eye opening. The first descent was bumpy and rocky. Line selection to miss the biggest holes and rocks was critical. The road surface was most technical during the climb which fortunately was taken at a lower speed. When the climbing ended the road surface became smoother but now included a number of dust pits where the soft silty soil kept hidden the embedded rocks. The final two miles was the least technical with just a few sections of washboard to be avoided.

Adam and his bicycle during the TT gravel road recon. It was a casual ride. Later in the day it was anything but casual.

As we backtracked towards the truck we inspected a couple of the most technical sections and made mental notes on where the most treacherous rock outcroppings were planted. Once at the truck we finalized important details for the remainder of the day. Race tire pressures were jotted down. It was agreed that burritos would be purchased for lunch. We had collected enough information to firm up our TT strategy.

By the time we reached the campground the TT strategy was solidified. We would race. Hard. We agreed we didn't drive to Bend for a three day event to just 'participate' in the TT. We also agreed this TT course was right in our wheelhouse. It is likely other riders could pedal harder than either of us. But that power is useless if the racer cannot navigate the terrain at speed. The technicality of the first descent required the cyclocross skills we both possessed.

While we prepared for the evening time trial the final strategy question continued to loom. Who would ride for whom? Again, we chose to defer for just a few more hours. The results of the TT would speak to us before the evening ended.

Adam drew a start time of 5:33:00 p.m. Dwaine was up at 6:48:00. While Dwaine was fretting and pacing and calming his pre race jitters Adam was on the course crushing it.

Adam sprinted out of the gate hard. The pre race recon was effective as he flew down the descent never touching his brakes. Once over the wooden bridge he started his climbing effort. Half way up that climb the brutal reality hit hard. The thinner air at Bend's elevation was a greater handicap than predicted. He dialed his effort back momentarily, collected himself, and then resumed the work to finish the climb strong.

As Adam crested the climb he could barely see the impending convergence. Dust filled the air. A slow moving motor vehicle would be caught as they both passed through a narrow dust pit. Just one race pace solution presented itself. Adam charged past the dust stirring monster using the only line available. The right side cushion.

Readers might ask about this 'cushion'. Dwaine chose this label based on 'the cushion' at a dirt track and it meant the very edge of the road. Earlier in the day Adam and Dwaine prerode the course. The soil in and around Bend was unlike what we were used to. Our goal was to learn to see or predict the fast lines. Or at least avoid the bad lines. We learned early to avoid the cushion.

Adam lost time processing the choice forced by the dust pit convergence. Adam pushed his front wheel in the soft silt. Adam felt his bike get slideways. But Adam is a cyclocross racer. He collected it, kept the rubber side down, and got back into the pedals to regain the speed lost in the pit.

Fortunately the remainder of Adam's TT was uneventful and he crossed the line in 14:35.2 seconds for an average of 20.5 mph. He then soft pedaled back to the parking lot where I was still fretting.

Adam shared the information I needed to deliver my best TT time. Adam told me he held nothing back. Adam told me at speed he floated over the majority of the rough. And Adam warned me that he could not hold his six minute climbing pace due to the thin air.

Armed with Adams experience I lined up with confidence. I had practiced a few cyclocross starts and launched without wheelspin when I was given the 'go'. I charged into the descent and was able to float the rough and carry speed down to the bridge. My climbing pace was tempered based on Adam's advice. Two thirds into the climb my respiration rate was at maximum but I was holding my wattage. The dust pits were taken without incident. By the time I reached the second descent, I realized my vision had narrowed and lengthened. I saw nothing save a four inch wide path forward that snaked the road from side to side missing the rocks and taking me on the smoothest gravel.

I crossed the line crossed eyed and knew my effort was solid. Strava data later verified just how solid. Adam is a stronger climber but my pacing was more perfect due to his advice. My climb time was three seconds quicker. Strava data also showed that Adam nullified that gain by descending two seconds faster down the second descent. Only heaven knows who might have come out ahead without the dust pit convergence.

My TT clock was stopped at 14:03.6 seconds for an average of 21.3 mph. I coasted to the end of the road but did not soft pedal back to the parking lot. Adam was waiting in the truck. Before I had my bike loaded Adam looked up the results. I was 9th of 44 in the Masters Men class which earned two omnium points. Adam's time was 28th of 43 in Open Men. The TT had spoken. I was honored that Adam would work for me for the remainder of the weekend.

And work we did.

Click on the following link to proceed to Part 3 of the Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium:

Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium (Part 3):  Saturday - 'Bust Your Butte'