Overland: Reflections on L&F at Home
Overland: Reflections on L&F at Home
Words: Caitlin Bernstein
Lost & Found is my favorite gravel race, it’s one of the first gravel races I ever did and now I live an hour away, so it feels like my “home race”. 2016 was my first L&F and I was getting back into bike racing, after a long hiatus while ski racing took over my life during high school and college. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into but my friends were doing it and I’m always up for a good adventure, so why not?
I showed up severely undertrained with my cross bike, which was outfitted with 1x Cross gearing and the only set of tires I owned at the time - clincher file treads. The thing I remember most from the actual race was the most painful part. There was the relentless climb from mile 70-80, it was hot, high elevation relentless and I was way under fueled for the effort. Besides the immense suffering, I remember the epic views of the Sierra Buttes and the amazing terrain we’d just covered over the past 7 hours. And yet, the best part was still to come- enjoying food, beers and hanging out at a pristine mountain lake with a bunch of friends. The suffering, the thrilling descents, the scenery, the community- all of these things I loved about my first Lost & Found have drawn me further into this sport and are the reasons I build my lifestyle around it.
I’ve been back to every L&F since then, even in 2018 when I was sidelined from racing while recovering from knee surgery, I still went to hang out with friends after they finished. Each year has had its own challenges and highlights.
Last year, it was my first big gravel race since the knee surgery. I’d made it through about half a Cyclocross season that year, but my fitness and my confidence on the bike still had a long way to go. I’d spent a lot of time riding on the road alone that year and was missing adventure rides and races with friends. Plus, I got to hang with the Easton Overland crew! I went out without many expectations, just wanting to ride hard and appreciate the fact that I was able to race again. I went out a little cautiously, not wanting to blow myself up on the first climb and I felt stronger and stronger throughout the day and was stoked to end up just off the podium in 4th. Mostly, I was happy to be feeling like my old self - finding enjoyment in long hard hours on the bike- feeling strong again.
Throughout the years, I’ve learned a lot about racing gravel. All the little things that can make you a better racer, like nutrition/ hydration, all things equipment, like gear selection and tire tread & pressure. But the effort and the community remain the same. One of the things I love so much about gravel “races” is that they aren’t only for experienced pros. Everyone is out there together, sharing the experience. You might get faster, have a more appropriate tire for the terrain, but you’re still going to push yourself to extremes, push one another to dig deeper and share laughs together over cold beers at the end.
This year, while I’m sad to miss the race, I’ve adapted to the new and different challenges we’re facing and I’m focused on enjoying what I can, rather than dwelling on what I can’t do. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss traveling, racing, my friends and the community- I definitely do! But I’m trying to redirect my focus to areas I can control.
Like many others, I’ve been spending more time in the kitchen. I’ve gotten (deeply) into sourdough and I’m loving it. The other day while prepping my bread dough I made pizza dough, waffles and banana bread with the leftover starter- all at the same time, there was flour everywhere!
I’m enjoying being at home with my dog and my husband- they don’t usually get to travel to races with me! It does feel nice to be grounded and not constantly packing/ unpacking bags. Early wake-ups, slow morning coffee and breakfasts and sunny dog walks have been an awesome way to start the day.
On the bike I’ve been working with my coach to train some weaknesses and use some extra time for adding more volume, core workouts, stretching- there’s never a shortage of things to work on. I ride on the road, gravel and mountain bike, switching up bikes and terrain constantly, to keep it interesting. I love the process of training and appreciate it for what it is, even without an end goal in sight.
In thinking about the eventual return to racing, my mindset has shifted multiple times. At this point, I don’t get my hopes up for anything, only to be disappointed if it’s canceled. But in the back of my mind, I’m ready for whatever is coming. When things open back up, there’s going to be so many races and events happening all at once, it will probably be overwhelming. Navigating the waters of Cyclo-grav-mtb-road season will certainly be a new challenge. I think we’ll all just be excited when we can get together to ride and race in person again. We’ll be relieved when things have calmed down and the threat of the virus, of all the complications and challenges it brings are less threatening. But for now, we’ve all still got our bikes to ride and that has been the best place for me throughout these challenging times.
Words: Caitlin Bernstein
Lost & Found is my favorite gravel race, it’s one of the first gravel races I ever did and now I live an hour away, so it feels like my “home race”. 2016 was my first L&F and I was getting back into bike racing, after a long hiatus while ski racing took over my life during high school and college. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into but my friends were doing it and I’m always up for a good adventure, so why not?
I showed up severely undertrained with my cross bike, which was outfitted with 1x Cross gearing and the only set of tires I owned at the time - clincher file treads. The thing I remember most from the actual race was the most painful part. There was the relentless climb from mile 70-80, it was hot, high elevation relentless and I was way under fueled for the effort. Besides the immense suffering, I remember the epic views of the Sierra Buttes and the amazing terrain we’d just covered over the past 7 hours. And yet, the best part was still to come- enjoying food, beers and hanging out at a pristine mountain lake with a bunch of friends. The suffering, the thrilling descents, the scenery, the community- all of these things I loved about my first Lost & Found have drawn me further into this sport and are the reasons I build my lifestyle around it.
I’ve been back to every L&F since then, even in 2018 when I was sidelined from racing while recovering from knee surgery, I still went to hang out with friends after they finished. Each year has had its own challenges and highlights.
Last year, it was my first big gravel race since the knee surgery. I’d made it through about half a Cyclocross season that year, but my fitness and my confidence on the bike still had a long way to go. I’d spent a lot of time riding on the road alone that year and was missing adventure rides and races with friends. Plus, I got to hang with the Easton Overland crew! I went out without many expectations, just wanting to ride hard and appreciate the fact that I was able to race again. I went out a little cautiously, not wanting to blow myself up on the first climb and I felt stronger and stronger throughout the day and was stoked to end up just off the podium in 4th. Mostly, I was happy to be feeling like my old self - finding enjoyment in long hard hours on the bike- feeling strong again.
Throughout the years, I’ve learned a lot about racing gravel. All the little things that can make you a better racer, like nutrition/ hydration, all things equipment, like gear selection and tire tread & pressure. But the effort and the community remain the same. One of the things I love so much about gravel “races” is that they aren’t only for experienced pros. Everyone is out there together, sharing the experience. You might get faster, have a more appropriate tire for the terrain, but you’re still going to push yourself to extremes, push one another to dig deeper and share laughs together over cold beers at the end.
This year, while I’m sad to miss the race, I’ve adapted to the new and different challenges we’re facing and I’m focused on enjoying what I can, rather than dwelling on what I can’t do. That doesn’t mean I don’t miss traveling, racing, my friends and the community- I definitely do! But I’m trying to redirect my focus to areas I can control.
Like many others, I’ve been spending more time in the kitchen. I’ve gotten (deeply) into sourdough and I’m loving it. The other day while prepping my bread dough I made pizza dough, waffles and banana bread with the leftover starter- all at the same time, there was flour everywhere!
I’m enjoying being at home with my dog and my husband- they don’t usually get to travel to races with me! It does feel nice to be grounded and not constantly packing/ unpacking bags. Early wake-ups, slow morning coffee and breakfasts and sunny dog walks have been an awesome way to start the day.
On the bike I’ve been working with my coach to train some weaknesses and use some extra time for adding more volume, core workouts, stretching- there’s never a shortage of things to work on. I ride on the road, gravel and mountain bike, switching up bikes and terrain constantly, to keep it interesting. I love the process of training and appreciate it for what it is, even without an end goal in sight.
In thinking about the eventual return to racing, my mindset has shifted multiple times. At this point, I don’t get my hopes up for anything, only to be disappointed if it’s canceled. But in the back of my mind, I’m ready for whatever is coming. When things open back up, there’s going to be so many races and events happening all at once, it will probably be overwhelming. Navigating the waters of Cyclo-grav-mtb-road season will certainly be a new challenge. I think we’ll all just be excited when we can get together to ride and race in person again. We’ll be relieved when things have calmed down and the threat of the virus, of all the complications and challenges it brings are less threatening. But for now, we’ve all still got our bikes to ride and that has been the best place for me throughout these challenging times.