How to be Almost Last Place…and Be Perfectly OK With It
Event: Parker
Dam Gravel Grinder
What:
Gravel bike race; 75 mile event (other distances available)
Organizer:
Trans-Sylvania Productions
Where:
S.B. Elliot State Park, Penfield, PA
When: May 11, 2024
Just one week after the 12 hour mountain bike race 12 Hours of Port Jervis my legs were still heavy, my body achy, and my mind a little tired…the perfect combination to decide to go and do a 75 mile gravel race in the mountainous regions of North-Central Pennsylvania. Silly right? But why the heck not give it a go.
Joël and I have briefly visited Elk and Centre County and have always wanted to go back to camp and ride there. So low and behold a race in the area. Even better, a race put on by Ryan Fulton of Trans-sylvania Productions, which means guaranteed to be a good event and we could be fairly certain many friends would be there so good socializing time. And even more better, both Joël and I need to do one final test run with all our gear and equipment for our upcoming UNBOUND XL event and no better way to fine tune things then to race. So in review, what a way to see the area, experience the riding, practice our ultra-endurance set-ups, visit with friends, and have an excuse to camp for the weekend than to do a race. Never mind the fact my legs still felt like lead weights, any ride is a great ride when in a beautiful place with fun people was the thought I was going with.
Joël, Clifford (our dog), and I headed out Friday evening after work for a night of state forest camping close to the race site. Race morning was the usual registration, talk with friends, and catch-up with fellow riders. With the exception of ultra-endurance gravel events, the gravel grinder scene is not really the Nankmans thing, so our morning was super casual and we spent more time goofing off, hanging out with Clifford, and chit-chatting than race prepping. Both Joël and I were super excited to see our favorite volunteers- John and Becky would be aid station and Matt as EMT- were there for the day. Once again, more concern for talking with friends than racing. But before we knew it time to line up and ride bikes. All courses started together (short at 23 miles, half at 49 miles, and full at 72 miles) which for those racing I could imagine would make racing tough because you don’t know who you are really competing against and not. But for Joël and I it was a causal start just spent conversing with fellow riders, chatting with friends also out on course, and looking around to enjoy the scenery.
I’m not going
to bore you with mile by mile details. The course was primarily gravel and dirt
roads. The scenery was beautiful;
verdant forests, marshy ponds, babbling brooks, historic structures. Climbing legs were needed; long course advertised
as 72.2 miles with 5740 feet of elevation gain (but due to a road closure both
distance and elevation ended up being a little more). It was just one of those
days and one of those courses where I spent the entire time looking around and
thinking, and even saying out loud to Joël, “check out that beautiful pond…wow,
what an amazing view…did you see those pretty flowers?” every minute of the
ride. We took time to stop at the aid
station and visit with the volunteers and friends who mentioned they could tell
the Nankmans were taking our time due to the fact we were so far behind most
others. Yup, the sweep motorbike
photographer confirmed just one other rider behind us. Some rain for the last hour or so put a bit
of a damper on things; decreasing the enjoyment a bit but even with the rain the
ride was wonderful. Just before crossing
the line we were serenaded via bullhorn with cheers and music from race medic
volunteer and friend. What service!
Parker Dam Gravel Grinder- a recommended event. And a first for the Nankmans- being pretty much last place and not caring- doing a race just to be out there and enjoying the day and not really racing. I have to say, it made me a little uneasy knowing how slow we were going compared to others but it also was a gratifying and empowering moment. Both Joël and I have put in our time; we have raced hard for years and years giving it our all to get that top podium spot. We have nothing to prove anymore. Now it’s time to take it down a few notches, enjoy the ride, and do all this together. So from now on when you see a Nankman at the start line one will never know; are they really racing or are they just out for a relaxing ride? You will just have to wait to find out.
And FYI- we camped for the remainder of the weekend in the Quehanna Wild Area. The area has great distilleries, hiking, creepy old jet engine testing bunker, good hiking, decent mountain biking, and spectacular primitive state forest camping. However, no elk were seen the entire weekend
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Words by Jess
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Input by Joël
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Photos by the Nankmans and Trans-sylvania
Productions photographer