Lost & Found 100 mile gravel race - I won my age group, women’s 50 years (and up)!
This is the longest gravel bike that I’ve ever done! Perfect conditions & feeling in good shape had me upgrade from 60mi to 100mi the night before! I was super efficient at stops and just kept going. I thought I might not make time cutoffs, but wound up winning with the 3 women 50 and over who made the entire 100 miles. Drew from our crew won the entire 35 mile race!!
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-00.jpg)
The EBGB Crew (East Bay Gravel Bikers) for the race, Drew, Trevor, Michael, Jana, Hunter, Tracey. We camped for 2 nights and ate dinner at nearby Frank Lloyd Wright building together.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-01.jpg)
Sunet hitting the peak after dinner.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-02.jpg)
From the campground - Off to the races! For fun we rented a Ford Bronco for the weekend.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-03.jpg)
I'm the only in the squad doing the 100 mile option, so I'm leaving an hour early.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-04.jpg)
Giddy at the start! 😻
Last year, here, was my first bike race ever -- but this year I'm doing the 100 mile monster.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-05.jpg)
Gravel & dirt country roads for days. Elevation (~6000' average) is always a bit challenging for me, and I didn't sleep much the night before. But I got two good nights sleep before that so I'm ready to go get 'em.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-06.jpg)
Farms, barns, and even abandoned buildings watch us cruise by.
OK, I’ve just left the critical rest stop with a time cutoff that was going to be close. I left it 20 minutes before cutoff. I’ve now done the math of the climbs and miles ahead. I should easily make the final rest stop & cutoff – and should finish the entire race. I’m delighted!
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-08.jpg)
An utterly delightful 45 minutes of deep back-road double-lane roads winding up and down through hills & trees.
5th of 6th rest stop. Due to many issues(*), this is the first real food I’ve had all race, 77 miles in. I’ve started to cry and have told multiple volunteers I love them. I do 2-3 shooters of peanut butter pretzels, full coke, pickle, and just-off-the-griddle bacon.
(* Shimano truck got stuck for 1 rest stop. The rest got mostly “looted” by the large number of riders in the 3 different races by time I got there. Very glad I packed a lot of food with me in my pockets).
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-10.jpg)
Final descent back to tarmac -- and then a 9-mile dash back to the finish.
I'll have done 70 of 100 miles on dirt & gravel!
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-11.jpg)
At the finish! Longest off-road bike ride of my life! I'm blown away to find out I finish first in my age group, age 50 and up!
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-12.jpg)
Woohoo! 9-1/2 hours, start to finish - 8-1/2 hours moving. Minimal quick stops at every rest stop esp. for fluids. 4 chain derailments & 1 fast bike mechanic clean & re-lube.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-13.jpg)
OMG! Your girl's on the podium! 🎉 I can't remember ever winning anything! 😻
2nd place rider Carin joins me seconds later from the crowd.
“Ladies & Gentlemen, Your 100 mile ladies 51 to 60 (and older) champion, TRACEY!”
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-14.jpg)
2nd place Carin ran up from the crowd for our podium together!
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-15.jpg)
With the event director getting medal & winner's jersey! ❤️
Our EBGB Drew was the fastest person of the entire 35 mile riders!! 🎉
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-17.jpg)
Jana got 2nd in her age group for the 35 milers! Drew got 1st overall! 🎉
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-20.jpg)
Winner's medal, jersey and very cool coffee mug. Race plate and my typical handlebar rolled & taped "cheat sheet" showing me the climbs and rest stops. (I tend to not ride or race with a computer (!) and just use my watch and rely on race turn signage or following herds ;-)
Heading home – but not before a little drop dead gorgeous dirt road exploring with the topless Brazonco.
![](/post/2023/img/lost-found-race-won-women-s-100-mile-50-years-up-19.jpg)
California Sierras at the peak of record-breaking rains causing superblooms. 🌻
Comments
Nancy & Sonia
tracey
thanks! It was a winning week for the family!
🏅 ⛸️ ❤️