Wyo131 is an annual gravel race in Lander, WY, a town of about 7500 people at the foot of the Wind River Range. It’s named either for the distance of the full ride, 131 miles, or for the number of the highway that leads out of town and into the mountains. We had been in Colorado the week before and decided to stick around for a road trip in the region. So we happened to be in the area, and I took the opportunity to sign up. The full course had close to 10,000 feet of climbing and was at high altitude up in the mountains. I’ve done that distance before, and I’ve done that climbing before, but I’ve not done it on gravel roads and I’ve not done it at altitude. I also haven’t done it with a wife waiting impatiently at the finish. Instead I opted for the 75 mile ride which was an out and back course into the desert.
The morning of the race the hotel restaurant didn’t open until 7 AM, which was the start time, so I had to ride over to McDonald’s to grab an Egg McMuffin to get some calories. The lady at the counter wished me good luck on my ride as she handed over the order. Small town.
About 50 of us started the 75 mile ride, and I was dropped almost immediately on the neutral rollout out of town. I guess some people are serious about this. After a brief interlude on the highway we turned left onto Lyons Canyon Road which runs along the Popo Agie River. I like saying Popo Agie. It’s a funny name. Where does it come from? Is it slang for the Texas A&M campus cops? Is this the place where a one-eyed French whore named Agathe made skin flicks with beaver trappers prior to the Louisiana Purchase? While pondering this mystery I missed my turn. Luckily my bike computer started beeping, snapping me out of my deep thoughts before I went too far astray geographically and mentally.
Coal Mine Road marked the start of the gravel roads. Though it was gravel, it was in better condition than a lot of the paved roads here in California. A series of short, not so steep pitches brought us to the top of the ridge, where someone was storing a bunch of lifeboats from the USNS Mercy. What a strange place for them to be, up on a hill in the sagebrush desert in the middle of the country. I can only assume the owner’s name was Noah and he was planning to rescue the local fauna like cows, pronghorn sheep, and jackalope in the event of a biblical flood.
A fast descent brought us back onto pavement as we rolled through the town of Hudson, the far side of which was the first aid station. After grabbing a bit of food and taking a leak, I started on the biggest climb of the day. The start of the climb had loose gravel and was pretty washboarded. I started to worry that the next 40 miles were going to be rough, but the conditions got better as we climbed higher. Again the climb was really a series of short pitches that weren’t very steep, so not a big deal.
About halfway up I came across a hat in the middle of the road. Given the way The Hat has been anthropomorphised on this site, I kind of felt bad for it and thought maybe I should rescue it. However, it didn’t speak to me as I went by, so I left it where it was. Hair was nowhere to be seen. It certainly isn’t on my head.
Close to the top of the climb I started seeing the race leaders who had already hit the turnaround point and were heading for home. They were seriously ripping. Over the top at about 6000 feet of elevation we were onto an awesome descent. The grades were not steep and the turns were not sharp so I didn’t need to touch the brakes at all and still was able to keep a good speed.
The turnaround point and second aid station were at The Hoodoos. A couple of stoneage Romeos were blaring some heavy metal from their speakers, but the Hoodoo Gurus would have been more appropriate. The riders on the 131 mile ride had continued straight, and those of us on the 75 mile route turned around. It was a little bittersweet as it looked like there was better scenery ahead, but no point in blowing my cool. I was halfway done and heading for home.
On the climb out of the Hoodoos I encountered several riders still on the outbound leg, so I knew I wasn’t DFL. There were a few patches of thick gravel where I got sideways on some off camber sections, but generally the leg back to Hudson was uneventful. The hat was still silently stranded as I passed by.
There was one last “big” climb out of Hudson. It was close to midday so the sun was getting pretty intense at this altitude. I was thankful I wasn’t crossing this on foot in a wagon train. Cows started moving out into the road, but I just yelled at them little doggies to git along and they moved aside. Along the side of the road on the descent on Coal Mine Road people were setting up to shoot at the far hillside. I didn’t check the regulations beforehand, so I had to hope that it wasn’t cyclist season. Best to keep riding.
Before long I was onto the pavement and catching some of the stragglers from the 40 mile course and even a handful who were doing the 75 mile course. Turning onto the highway I pulled up behind a comely young lady, who said, “Are you drafting me?”
“Why yes I am. The highway doesn’t seem like a good place to pass. I’m also checking out your ass.” OK, maybe I didn’t say the last bit out loud. I think. Nevertheless, suitably shamed I pulled around to let her draft off of me and to check out my ass. Fair is fair.
Before long I was sprinting into the finish and getting in line for a brisket sandwich and beer. Soon thereafter the first finishers from the 131 mile course rolled in. Sure they had a one hour head start over me, but still they must have been flying.
This was easily the fastest gravel ride I’ve ever done. Was it because there was not much climbing? Because I could let it rip on the descents? Because of the thinner air at elevation meaning there was less wind resistance? Maybe because it lacked the terror and brutality of other rides I’ve done. Or maybe I was more motivated because I had a bored wife waiting at the finish with cowboys pitching woo. Whatever the reason, I was feeling optimistic that maybe I had made the podium for my age group, especially because there couldn’t have been that many people my age. But it was not even close. I was 90 minutes slower than the third place finisher in my age group and 50 minutes off the wide angle podium. At least I didn’t have to wait around for the trophy presentations. Time to pack up and hit the road back to California.
So would I do this ride again? It was a well run event with lots of friendly people, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to do it again unless I were to do the full 131 mile route. It’s just too far to go from California. This was most likely a one time thing because we happened to be in the area, but if you are nearby, check it out.
Pretty, if desolate, country.
(sits back to eagerly await UCS’ trenchant commentary on the beauty of Wyoming)
Those photos prove me right.
Have you driven trail ridge road through the Rockies?
By Grand Lake? It’s spectacular!
Yeah Estes Park to Grand Lake. I was thinking (before I drove it) how great can driving one road really be? Turns out pretty great.
If you would have kept going it ends at Granby. You can stop and pour one out for Marvin!
Tundra, speaking of Granby, I went over Hwy 40 out of Denver the other day. Holy smokes, what a climb and decent, and coming out in Steamboat was just gorgeous!
Pretty and desolate is my kinda jam.
Yeah, there are parts that are spectacular; you have to know which to choose.
Looks like fun…if I was in my suv.
Pronghorn sheep?! Good write-up and photos. It being central Wyoming, I’m glad you didn’t get swept away by steady 300 mph winds.
Yeah, I was worried about the wind too, especially given that we were at the base of the Wind River Range. Fortunately it was a calm day.
Looks like a nice place for a leisurely cruise on a fat tire mountain bike. Actually, I have always wondered about the rolling resistance and cornering performance of those big fat tires. I have never been on one of those bikes.
Tire choice and tire pressure are big topics in the gravel riding world. The tires I currently run are 42 mm with a smooth center strip and some knobs on the sides. On the road I run at 40 psi and for a ride like this I go about 30 psi, which helps smooth out the bumps and gives a little extra grip. There’s a lot of variables at play like road surface, mud, sand, dust, washboard, twists and turns, sharp rocks, etc. Even for road bike people are moving away from ultra-narrow, 100 psi tires as it turns out lower pressures can be more efficient without the bouncing around you get at higher pressure and there are some aero benefits of slightly wider tires.
I would have done the same thing, so much easier.
To a non-rider, 75 miles sounds quite daunting.
On a serious note, since my ankle isn’t letting me run anymore, maybe cycling is a good option.
swept away by steady 300 mph winds.
That, too.
(sits back to eagerly await UCS’ trenchant commentary on the beauty of Wyoming)
It’s an austere beauty.
Out at 29 Palms with Marines comms guys (field exercise I was observing) and they said if you were blindfolded and landed there, you wouldn’t know that you weren’t in Kandahar.
I’ve been told that by more than a few people who have been in both places…
29 Palms was an improvement over Legeune / Geiger.
The Saudi desert had a different look and feel. The air was not nearly as dry.
Better water than Lejeune, at least.
“It’s a dry heat.”
B P, in the dead thread:
So Walz is running for VP of the United States in order to mind his own damn business.
Yup.
Nobody ever ran for office so he could leave me the fuck alone.
I’m also checking out your ass.
No pics? I am disappoint.
Thanks for the write-up!
Should have crop dusted her as you passed.
Maybe I did.
No, Amazon, if you fuck up something in transit, I don’t want a refund, I want you to ship it again.
To be fair you may have purchased it elsewhere.
My last Amazon purchase. I’m building a new PC with my first water cooler. Ordered an AIO that claimed next day availability. Get a the receipt it says delivery between Monday and Friday this week. I sigh and just accept it as I won’t be able to work on it until the weekend.
Check Amazon on Sunday to see if there was a shipping update. They have the same cooler at the same price with same day evening delivery. I cancel the unshipped unit immediately with no issues and order the thing again. I have it within 5 hours on a Sunday. I don’t get it…
I was expecting delivery today, I got a notice of a refund instead.
At worst, they should be asking what I want to do.
I wasn’t DFL
So you’re not from Minnesoda?
You’re sure it wasn’t the spandex and freshly shaved legs?
TW: Bill Kristol, at the Bulwark
Wolf! WOOOOOOLF!
We Americans also want to believe instinctively that evil always defeats itself. But it doesn’t. We want to tell ourselves that it can’t happen here. But it can.
And it’s not just that it can happen here. Trump is now promising us that it will happen here.
Now of course, it needn’t happen here. The presidential race is a toss-up. And I think the Harris campaign understands that it needs to close by more effectively emphasizing what’s at stake.
But the burden can’t all be on the campaign or the candidate. Others could step up.
You’re just not panicking hard enough. Beat the drums. Blow the bugles. Rouse the villagers. Get the torches and pitchforks.
Bill Kristol calling people ‘evil’ is fucking rich.
Hey Bill, I hope you (and whatever horrors you’ve spawned) all get fried in a napalm strike.
I’ll settle for him being crippled (and shut up) by a stroke.
A couple of stoneage Romeos were blaring some heavy metal from their speakers, but the Hoodoo Gurus would have been more appropriate.
Nice. Here’s a really appropriate one.
Damn I love Wyoming. Winters are too tough otherwise I’d be there in a heartbeat. Nice write-up JR! I’m glad you had fun
Looks great! I’d love to get some land out there…gotta get a bit more of a view for perspective though.
Those Mercy lifeboats were probably replaced a few years back with newer models. They look like antiques at this point – but in excellent condition from that distance.
There is a large reservoir/lake south of the Wind River Canyon near Riverton….maybe a few smaller ones in the area too IIRC.
We went rafting down the Wind River Canyon about 15 years ago when we were in Thermopolis for a few days. It was about 100 degrees when I made the reservation for the rafting, and the next day the temperature dropped to about 50. And the water coming out the bottom of that reservoir is really cold. Since then I have no chance of getting the wife and kids to go rafting again.
I have a hard time with any endurance-based activity. I just don’t like it. I tried mountain biking with a hand cycle a few times, about an hour each time, and it was just… too long. I even have a hard time doing more than 20 reps of anything at the gym. My body can handle it but my mind says nope.
Meanwhile, one of my teammates just did the Chicago Marathon in a wheelchair for his second year in a row, and my wife is training for this: https://bataanmarch.com/
I was a distance runner for a long time. Like many things in my life, I look back and wonder what the fuck I was thinking.
wonder what the fuck I was thinking
I’d say rings a bell, but it’s more like a klaxon.
My brother in law used to run ultra-marathons. His knees are shot now, but he got some cool belt buckles.
My brother used to do du-athalons, biking and running*. But I am with you, don’t like it. I ran sprints in HS (when they weren’t yelling at me for smoking) and that is my speed.
*He also used to race Hare and Hounds, so this seems to be in his blood.
I know a couple of people who moved to Lander. They seemed to like it just fine. Being from Livingston, they didn’t think the wind was that bad.
Well, they do have mountains blocking some of it.
We stopped there this year coming back from the Burn, to visit a friend of the wife.
For grins I looked at some property in Wyoming, in an area aptly name Recluse.
Holy cow, that’s desolate.
I would love it. The wife would not tolerate it.
“close to 10,000 feet of climbing”
lol nope nope nope
I can’t even climb the three or four hundred feet that’s in any direction from downtown where I live.
About halfway up I came across a hat in the middle of the road. Given the way The Hat has been anthropomorphised on this site, I kind of felt bad for it and thought maybe I should rescue it. However, it didn’t speak to me as I went by, so I left it where it was. Hair was nowhere to be seen. It certainly isn’t on my head.
🙂
Not a prolific substack, but when he does, he’s very good.
This is certainly an aspect of it, perhaps (likely) the dominant aspect. But there is a certain amount of direction to it as well, at least from the perspective of people seeing a means of using that mass psychosis to their own ends. It is perhaps inevitable that this will happen and it becomes hard to separate the malaise/psychosis from the deliberate, but I think both are there. And the deliberate aspect can be modified/fought by a small number of people, the psychosis/malaise redirected.
Much like Hitler did not single handedly lead the innocent German people astray but rather they engaged in a willing dance together. But a different leader *could* have arisen in the same cultural and social milieu and directed it in a completely different and, perhaps, more benign direction.
I think.
One of the more interesting thesis’ that I have heard about the nature of what is going on boiled down to the fact that the last time the West went through something like this was around 1400AD. But, but 1500AD that had changed, due in no small part to Columbus and the discovery of the New World.
Don’t know how accurate that was, but it certainly is a idea. And, if it holds true, Mars could be the cure.
Team America is 20 years old!
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/team-america-sean-penn-b2627536.html
I’d forgotten it took 9 edits to get rid of the NC-17 rating from the MPAA.
Wow.
*farts dust*
Terrific article!
And the fucking irony of how Hollywood now loves Big Brother and the MIC.
I watched the unrated version with my Radio Team during a drill weekend. Maybe the hardest I’ve ever laughed.
But this is to seriously misread the nature our 21st c. Western malaise; the most salient feature of which is that it has become out of control by anyone. Rather it is a kind of mass psychosis that ensnares everyone – rich and poor (especially the rich if anything), young and old (albeit in varying intensities).
Absolutely. If anything, it’s some species of cultural entropy.
Ah but that does not satisfy those who want a demon to blame.
Yeah, the mass psychosis part has been rolling around in my head for a while.
I both agree that the internet is a big part of the problem, and absolutely disagree that any kind of “turning away from information” as the author seems to be implying is the right idea.
So yeah… I got nuthin’.
For me the big takeaway is don’t go off on a witch hunt, which would be a pretty natural thing for people to do.
21st century western malaise. Cultural entropy. I see.
Khrushchev’s advisors: “Comrade Khrushchev, that project you wanted, it cannot be finished”
Khrushchev: “What? Why not? No one to do it? We have a country of useless drunks! What is wrong with them?!”
Khrushchev’s advisors: “It is the system Comrade. We have crushed all hope for the people. It is only human nature for them to turn to the bottle.”
Khrushchev: “Human nature will not comply with communist ideals? Then we must change human nature. We must create the new Soviet Man.”
Paraphrased, in a nutshell, sounds like a joke but, yeah. That happened. I wonder what is going on here?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo8VYZE8C6U
And that is just a house and local shit. Try starting any business.
Wyoming may be remote, but even they know about Winston’s Mom. They even named the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area after her.
So, only rubber boats?
Poor Winston’s Mom. What did she ever do to deserve this kind of harassment?
Or should it be, “WHO did she do…”?
Speaking of Winston’s Mom, gato knows how to turn a phrase.
In the context of what to expect when you see a Paul Krugman weighing in on an issue: “what follows will be pure bovine excrement if cows ate gas station mexican food and washed it down with mentos and sprite.”
Ah but that does not satisfy those who want a demon to blame.
It’s evil puppetmaster cabals, all the way down.
That Flaming Gorge area is spectacular. One of the few truly beautiful parts of Wyoming.
One of the few truly beautiful parts of Wyoming.
Huh?
Chanelling UCS are we?
US 16 from Tensleep to Buffalo (through the Bighorn Mountains) rivals any national park in the country.
It’s not my fault it’s a barren, depressing state.
So a lot like North Dakota but without all the trees.
US 16 from Tensleep to Buffalo (through the Bighorn Mountains) rivals any national park in the country.
14 west from Ranchester (north of Sheridan) across the northern part is a great trip, too.
I remember this!
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/15/nx-s1-5153909/lufthansa-jewish-discrimination-record-penalty
Off topic – I really did not need to know about this…
https://p7pro.com/
Is that the old HK design or something different?
Apparently this new outfit got ‘hold of the blueprints and engineering drawings for the original Kraut staplegun, and is reproducing them with some modern updates and features – mRDS cuts integral to the slide, aluminum or titanium frames, some geometry changes to the frame and barrel throat to help with feeding and frame overheating, stuff like that.
I don’t know about you, but the idea of a P7M13 with a titanium frame and a Trijicon RMRCC melted into the slide, gives me a gun hipster boner the size of a Thüringer Rostbratwurst…
Nice, if not wildly expensive.
It is quite the development.
I remember seeing a video about this happening.
I don’t need one, but I’m glad someone is doing it if for no other reason than to drive gas-delayed recoil development to the point where I can afford an Alien.
When I was a kid, I wanted one sooooo bad. Now? If I am gonna spend that kind of money, give me a 210.
Sportsball news: Thomas Tuchel named England coach: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cr4x9p221gpo
A wonderful perfectly modern day tempest in a teapot.
“I’m concerned about this idea of disrupting or disturbing bubble tea”, Liu said as a guest on the star show.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wp0175w9xo