Recap: Baitin' the Shark Gravel Race - Saint Louisville, OH

New race put on by Headwind Cycling p/b Elevator Brewing. Approximately 126 racers were escorted out for a mass start, 50 milers and 30 milers alike with a small firework send off. The first gravel hills were still ice and snow covered, but as the day warmed up there was more mud and slop contend with. The hills ranged in being short and punchy, longer and steep, and (my favorite) long and gradual. What comes up must come down, and some of the descents encountered were smooth and swift, yet others were loose with large gravel or slightly muddy swamps (should have brought a fender).  

The sun eventually came out and, the longer the race went on, plenty more stops were made for nutrition and photos. A few small crashes and SAG rides, but no one to our knowledge badly hurt. Along the route there was 1 water/whiskey stop, 1 shark rock photo op and lots of suffering fun.  Pizza and beer awaited racers at the finish, as well as a stuffed shark for the winner AND last place finisher.