Crusher 2015 Post-Race Report

 

When I first started hearing about the Crusher a few years ago, I thought: Seventy miles on gravel with some climbing, how hard can that be? I believed that the Crusher was over-hyped and the difficulty exaggerated. Then we went and rode it. Several of us took bikes that were significantly over-geared and we were all underprepared psychologically. Afterwards, we had nightmares about the Col d’ Crush. I posted a photo a few days ago that does a decent job of capturing the scale of the Col d’ Crush, but the only way to really appreciate its size is to experience it first-hand.

I added some extra pictures to this post. They include Jeff at the finish and Tate and Weston at the start since they were not there when we took the big group photo which Jeff posted last night. (That photo is L to R: Joe, Shae, Dan, Kellen, Ryan, Jeff, me, Zac, Tim). Thanks to everyone who trained so hard together and supported each other so well.  In addition we were fortunate to have help at the race with logistics and transportation from Dawn, Stephanie, Tammie, and Judy Meikle (who along with Burdette is the most devoted supporter of cycling events that I have ever known).

Conditions yesterday were outstanding. The roads were fairly smooth by Crusher standards and temperatures were cool, particularly at the higher elevations such as the finish. A couple of people commented to me that this is the first time at the Crusher when they wished it could actually have been warmer. For the most part, we all had a pretty good day. Several of the Upper Valley guys rode sub-six hour times with Kellen coming in as the first of our local finishers with an eye-popping time of 5:34. 

Sadly, it almost goes without saying that with a group this big, a few things are not going to turn out that great. There are too many variables in any bicycle race, especially one as long and wild as the Crusher, to have any hope of controlling them all. Dan destroyed a tire. Tate got blindsided by an out-of-control rider and crashed out. Rather than going for medical attention, he remained at the DNA Corner (about two thirds of the way up the Col) and gave us all a push on our way back up.