First Gravel Win of the Season! Race Tactics and Power Analysis

Race analysis from the Greenwood Gravel Grinder race. I talk tactics, power data, and gravel bike set up.
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[@DrewDillmanChannel]

Thanks for the shoutout in the video man! If I had waited 5 more seconds on that attack I might have had you! It was close, that's for sure! Can't wait for the next one.

[@mickfaragher7897]

Or get some cool aero bars🤔 🤣🤣🤣

[@ZebulonRamsbotham]

This must be what west coasters feel like when they see themselves in a NorCal Cycling video. I'll be signing autographs at the next SEG event. Also if you want to see what it was like to recover from that single track pinch, I made a video about it. It was rough.

[@barneystinson3600]

Dude, I just started following you on Strava. You are a fricken monster my friend.

[@matthewkutilek3632]

Amazing how far gravel tire technology has come in such a short amount of time. This race had 5+ types of unique gravel some of it very chunky and sharp. I was with a large group of 15-20 and nobody flatted. I couldnt believe it. Even with people bombing the downhills and having no regard for line choice. Eight years ago everyone would have flatted or shred a tire at least once. I respect that you’re not restricted to a particular tire manufacturer in the name of sponsor loyalty. I’ve had great success with several WTB tread patterns with the new SG2 puncture protection. Conditions dependent (if dry and hot) I would personally go with their Venture with SG2 protection in 40. It’s an incredibly fast and grippy tire.

[@Nobleazure]

I told a friend to watch for big wins from you this season, you didn't disappoint! Thanks for making me look smart.

[@ridenfish39]

Backwards hat Dylan cracks me up

[@scottswygert7165]

Congrats on the Win! I would like to hear about your hydration and nutrition in the next one.

[@SoutheastGravel]

Nice job as always Dylan! Thanks for coming out and we will see you at Falling Creek Pinnacle Punisher on May 8th!

[@Vam1500]

You and Drew look like road pros riding in Europe. Guy #3 on the podium looks like he is in a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.

[@DeanJohnson67]

lol

[@RGCastro7]

Congratulations on an awesome performance and well-deserved win, Dylan.

[@kevinderung8524]

Nice Job DJ

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Great result Dylan!!! Way to dwindle everyone down and then close that gap to Dillman. You guys are monsters! I am leaning towards wider tires as well. It just makes sense when you are talking chunky gravel.

[@timcoffey1414]

Awesome video Dylan! I’ll be back again for a gravel show down!!

[@andrewmcintyre7044]

Thanks, enjoyed the race breakdown and summary. Keep em coming

[@jjb7599]

Thanks for your nice video Dylan and congratulations for the win!

[@rsrnsrwds]

Congratulations! I'm not a competitive cyclist, but I sure enjoy your super informative videos! Thanks.

[@CreamyBone]

I watch mostly Hambini and Dylan videos 😉👍

[@ΘάνατοςΧορτοφάγος]

This looks almost as much fun as MTB marathons. I hope racing reses soon in 🇳🇱

[@aqssufi9054]

Dylan Johnson congratulations on your win !👍

[@richardvaughn168]

Congratulations on the win - love the commentary.

[@smb06]

21.7 on gravel... Jesus.. That's some speed. Congrats on the finish!

[@mediocrecyclist]

As someone that has spend a lot of time in Kansas, and is in the process of moving there, wider tires are the better. Pick the widest 700c semi-knobby tire your frame can fit, and go one size down. Flats suck and the amount of speed you gain from simply being comfortable over a 200 mile race is worth it. In my opinion... though I do agree with a light set up and aero bars too haha

[@cannondale1950]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to put this together and congrats on the win.

[@chrisholstein7587]

Man I love these re caps!

[@leosorghum6867]

0:50 I was hoping BHD would say nice

[@Aboycostelo]

Thanks Dylan. Interesting data about wide tires. Excellent as always, and congrats!

[@OKwinefreak]

Congratulations on the win. Love your videos

[@mickfaragher7897]

"Aero bars - cool" Cool enough to win!

[@gabeszilagyi254]

Enjoyed the race report!

[@jimmansi1187]

Nice job Dylan, awesome win!

[@isaacyoung1868]

I run the panaracer gravel Kings.. feel really smooth and confidence boosting

[@hitthetrail817]

I switched from 50c tires to 38c in hopes of being faster....and over a 50 mile gravel race I was 1 mph slower. Seeing Dylan increase size to 45c I’m definitely going back to the bigger tires.

[@deuxroueschamoiscream8626]

Congrats on your victory 😎😎

[@Totalavulsion]

Great video, very honest and insightful 👍

[@spektrumB]

Well done well done for the race. I like this type of videos.

[@paulverweij6348]

seems Im not the only one who did read the test reports about wider tires :) my friends think im mad running 32 instead 25/28 on my road bike bit Im still as fast but have a nice plush ride :)

[@ElonMuckX]

Getting close to 100k!

[@Requiredfields2]

Conrats, Dylan! You da man!!

[@JK-wl5bx]

Well done Dylan 👏💪

[@edgarpereira4865]

Use of aspirine in cycling. I think is a nice subject for future video

[@DMVMTB]

“People love riding with me” 😅

[@m.wunderlich4942]

He's back!!!

[@reloadbaggage]

another great insightful video, and congrats on the win!

[@noahbirdrevolution]

I always check rolling resistance before strapping new rubber on my strava kom machines.

[@rdcanyon]

Serious power numbers

[@FriendsoftheBar]

I've put about 3000kms on a set of Cinturato H 45C on 650bs. Back wheel still has tread. I've had a puncture in both front and rear that required a plug but otherwise trouble free. They're faster than the other tires I had and a bit slippery on the mud and I like them a lot. I like to have some comparisons but I'm a beginner.

[@acanfield87]

Great job and thanks for all the insights!

[@goldenretriever6261]

Lucky to be able to race., so jealous. Lockdown here in Canada. No racing this year.

[@bradmiller5077]

Always love your videos and these race recaps are awesome as well! Hopefully you will visit NW Arkansas for Big Sugar this fall.

[@oldanslo]

Great video. Re: Tire choice. Looking at the BRR chart, the Pirelli tire only has a trivial improvement in RR compared to the Pathfinder Pro, but much worse puncture score. I'm currently running the Michelin PowerGravel in 40mm on HED Emporia rims which split the difference between the two, but now thinking about finding a wider tire for Unbound.

[@PaperthinProtestant]

Good job!

[@justinossa7349]

Great video!

[@porsche45353]

the Pirelli cinturato m is super fast even on tarmac I have them love them

[@compassionsix]

Too bad you came to Kansas and I wasn’t able to meet BHD!

[@seanlynchcycling8044]

Enjoyed the video Dylan thanks. What pressure are you running in your tires & what weight are you?

[@mathewrose2951]

I have a tire question for you. I got my son a disc brake Cannondale Synapse as his first "real" road bike. It comes with 28 mm Vittoria Zaffiros for the road. When we're in the US during the summers, though, there's a lot of nice gravel riding nearby. Looking at the front fork, I think I could get a 34-38mm gravel tire to fit if I just got a set of 650b rims. Thoughts about what you'd get if trying to get him two bikes in one?

[@86309]

Can you tell us what aero bars you have on there please. Thanks , good job on the race.

[@DylanJohnsonCycling]

Enve clip on aero bars.

[@mekore]

my bosss

[@TheMASDrummer]

When are we gonna see you in the pro tour

[@johnpeachell1644]

Hey Dylan, congrats on the race. Can you explain how tire inserts would be useful for Unbound? The main flat issue there is sidewall tears and that is not reduced with tire inserts. Or do you think that using tire inserts and running lower pressures reduces side wall tears? I haven't seen the evidence for this. In fact, typically lower pressure leads to increased flats (eg Moab).

[@nicholasmasciaga4777]

LESSSGOOOOOO

[@bakarenejayto5615]

Hey Dylan! I'm a 17 year old young Cyclist and don't really have a budget for a power meter, I just want to ask on how to train without one? Heart rate? Rpe? Cadence? anything will do. I don't know if I'll overtrain or I won't generate enough training stress to get stronger and adapt. Really like the race analysis and training vids, cheers!

[@comtruise9779]

Great content as always. I have been experimenting with the Gravel H tires myself, and they definitely do feel like they roll a bit faster than the GK SK /w much better puncture and sidewall protection. However, I did have a random washout crash on a fast descent with loose pea gravel over very hard that left me a little rattled on them. If you have time to talk about your setup in a future video, I am curious what your thoughts are on grip / cornering needs for gravel tires with your MTB background.

[@jpbulla]

Do the video about hoy you manage wight training with 20+ hour of training a week... Also if you can do an advice about strength training at home with no heavy weight would be great!!

[@marcdaniels9079]

Sorry to say but you can’t do effective strength training without heavy weight to produce the overload and adaptations in the muscles. Without this you are going to produce a different physiological response and probably better off just riding more...

[@neilstoddart00001]

I ride the Pirelli’s, I find them fast on blacktop & grippy on the rest. Winner winner......

[@againthebegin]

Dylan, I’m not quite getting what the tubolight would do for me. Pinch flats aren’t something Ive had issues with at the pressures I’m running -- 31-33 for Kansas terrain for 43mm Panas last time around, higher some courses...and I feel like if I go lower Im losing out in rolling resistance, especially on hardpack parts. And I’m not seeing running them on a flat for 10 miles or whatever it takes if sidewall is shredded. Seems like you need to go a little deeper on this topic? The advantages would have to be pretty real for me to want to deal with the expense and extra effort. BTW, I’m already running those Pirellis in 45 on same wheels and after being on a month they both measure well over 46mm.

[@GNX157]

Congrats on the win but have to admit would of been nice seeing the other guy win as he was in the coveted Texas Roadhouse Jersey. Why they don’t offer that jersey for sale is beyond me, and you don’t even see one hanging in their restaurants amongst the other sporting memorabilia. (RIP Wayne Kent Taylor, Founder and CEO).

[@hgibbons021]

question about zone 2. How much training benefit would you get doing continuous zone 2 training ie 4 hours all the way. versus breaking it up, ie 1~2 hours for lunch break and then another ~2 or so hours after work

[@0kojack0]

I’d love to know this too. I have friends that run and they often break their ‘long days’ up. 10miles in the morning and 10miles after work...... or, as you say, a long coffee stop mid ride

[@seriousbees]

seems like you have a lower max HR too. seeing people chilling at 180bpm in races makes me feel bad because I'd be dying getting up in that range.. but I guess it doesn't really matter because youre winning

[@doggames10]

This is interesting i am a mountain biker i race bikes and i have tips for you in bike racing idk it depends on the setup if its alot effective or not Drafting(if you want i can explain it to you its kinda comlicated,Body position(weight distribution),how you have your foot on your pedal and tire pressure,race line you might know this stuff but might be usefull for someone reading this.

[@juanitothebandito1]

Congrats on this race win! How much water do you feel necessary for a race of this length?

[@bob50563]

I don't have cycling 'friends' they are all rivals!! No way am I sharing! Like, yeah watch Dylan and go and steal my KOM on my favourite Strava segment! Sorry Dylan..... ;)

[@Bob_Shy_132]

21 mph average is damn good!

[@EasyandLight]

Congrats on the win Dylan! Quick Question: What pressure did you run for the race? I've been geeking out on Gravel tires lately, big fan of the WTB Venture for NH Gravel (But my boss will be so proud to know you love the Pathfinders)!

[@Mike_nym]

Congrats dude! Are you doing wilderness 101 in PA?

[@randybottphotography]

Where did you get the Tubolight inserts?

[@ashleytaylor1118]

What pressure did you run in your tires?

[@noahpeters6266]

Yo, I work in Emporia and run 700c x 47s, Wide tires are great man. You gonna be at the expo?

[@gietube]

Congrats maestro!! How much air pressure did you run?

[@tramsramsey]

Hey Dylan, are you ever planning to do the Lutsen 99er?

[@TheMrbrookster]

Nothing like the "Confident downhill riding" to put a cap on your competitors.

[@jairusmartinez1209]

What are your thoughts on rolling resistance gains with wider tires and the aerodynamic compromise if any? That would be an interesting video!

[@peterbell8564]

69, nice!!

[@slurpalurple]

Have you considered running 650b wheels in order to use wider tires in the 47mm-57mm range? Given that you referenced Jan Heine, it’s likely you’ve come across his article addressing the misconception that 650b wheels are slower. The extra weight of the tire would be easily offset by the smaller (read: lighter) wheelset, and may allow you to go for a slicker tread which should further reduce rolling resistance. I’m convinced the difference in aerodynamics is negligible here. The issue with going any bigger with 700c than what you’re currently running is likely going to boil down to handling. I’m currently running 700c wheels with the 48mm Soma Supple Vitesse, and while I love the smooth ride quality, the increased fork trail caused by such a huge wheel diameter on a gravel bike has made the handling sloppy. I’ve scoured the web for 650b 57mm / 2.25” slicks (none seem to exist, aside for the 60mm Schwalbe G-One Speed that has been discontinued), and I cannot find one, but I would immediately switch to a 650b wheelset+tires if one existed.

[@lacuisseqc1655]

What is your thoughts on HIIT crossfit training? I haved replaced 2 my 3 weekly intensity bike training by a 16 minutes hard AF crossfit training. Do you think this training 2 times per week will boost my V02 Max? Is 16 minutes enough for one training? Sick video thanks dude!

[@chrissarkkinen7422]

No, cycling is an endurance sport.

[@lacuisseqc1655]

@@chrissarkkinen7422 but I am training for fixed gear crit, they rarely excede an hour. Also, it is important to build some muscle mass to fight with cagers. Hahaha I’m kidding but for real I like working other things than my legs. And at end these crossfit workouts I hit my max heart rate so I feel like my body will make some good adaptations.

[@graffix11us]

@@lacuisseqc1655 2 of 3 may be too much. Specificity, if your training for bike racing you should be riding your bike more, at least close to race season.

[@couturecycling662]

Hi DJ, I have a 2018 Trek Boone. I got it with the intended purpose of doing some CX races but want to do some longer gravel rides. It has the stock tires on them which are 32's with a lot of bite (typical cx tires). I did a 65 mile gravel ride last year which had a lot of pavement on it as well and it felt very slow on those sections. I would really like something that is great for multi surface riding. I dont plan on doing anything with super technical terrain like dirty kanza. The Boone is sort of limited to 36mm tires. Would you have a good recommendation for me? Most of the gravel tires I am finding dont have options below 40 mm. Thanks

[@nickw6175]

any chance of you explaining your hydration-feeding routine on such a race ?

[@TheJoePavlik]

The pirellis look similar to schwalbe almotion.

[@44routshyface]

I beg you to edit in metric units when talking distance or elevation. The whole world except the US would really appreciate it 🙏

[@timfox4613]

Use your math skills it's kinda simple 1k =.62 miles get over it

[@r.dunlap4139]

Will you be at Blackfork next weekend?

[@Nordviking8]

Dylan, what model of Enve wheel set are u riding

[@lancescarborough1]

Could we get that short list. 🙂

[@eoolsen]

I've used the Cinturato hard gravel for some time, but the small flint rocks we have in Denmark had me flatting three times in one ride. Off they went... Why not go gravelking sk+ in 43mm?

[@neumeisteranimalhospital2627]

Hey, was the Eli in the Yeti hat?

[@nordy643]

What pedals do you race gravel on? (mainly asking MTB style like SPDs or road style like SPD-SL)

[@brantkochsiek1412]

Talking hydration isn’t as sexy as tyres, but your bottle looked decorative up until the end. Peeped other riders running two bottles, and some with a third holstered. What’s your approach for 3-5hr races? Appreciate the videos 👍

[@deheckler]

Dude Seriously Dude!!haha

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

Is that the foam that expands if you get a flat?

[@chr1sj4]

No, it just resists too much compression so you don't get pinch flats when hitting rocks and bumps with low tyre pressure.

[@nathantang9964]

So why don’t they use 32 mm as standard widths for road bikes?

[@kilianbader9786]

Its less aerodynamic, i think its also not uci legal. Feels a little bit less "sharp" too

[@ninamachina5446]

69 miles... Longer and harder... 🤔