How I Almost Finished Top 10 at Mid South Gravel 2024

[@whatsnextgarage]

I raced for 15yrs, not at your level, I rode cat3, there was always that guy that would start chattering about pulling, helping or just getting in your head so you are not riding your race. Like you, I learned to just ignore them and make my own decisions on how my race outcome was going to be. Well done on the race and video! have a great rest of your weekend!

[@robertm1552]

Perfect Segway on not to watch this. Thanks

[@whatsnextgarage]

@@robertm1552 🤣🥳💪

[@ryanhuffman5544]

I think everyone has raced against 'that guy' lol. Luckily it's usually only one.

[@whatsnextgarage]

@@ryanhuffman5544 💪👍

[@davisboos6621]

This is a step above your other commentaries, man - looking forward to following your season

[@PatrickLino]

Hey Dizzle! - I started incorporating "durability training" into my workouts, by waiting to do my HIIT sessions after I have 90 minutes to two hours of Z2/Z3 in the legs. I've seen faster progress using this method than simply doing HIIT with completely fresh legs. Even if I don't exactly hit the target numbers due to a bit of leg fatigue. Game changer. Thanks Drew!

[@disloyalyou5455]

You can do 2 sets 1 early in ur training to go “fatigued” in ur z2 for 2 hours and do another one at the and

[@christophepage4090]

Aw🎉some recap Drew thank you for sharing

[@MichaelSchoenly]

@@disloyalyou5455 This is not how Inigo San Milan recommends doing it, he says do your intervals after you have done all your Z2 work,that is if you want to combine workouts.

[@kroman4]

Great video, thanks for taking us into the race! I watched Payson’s video prior to this, and I didn’t get the sense that he was being disrespectful of your tactics- which you seem to admit involved not pulling a to- just highlighting different tactics of the group members. Anyways, hopefully there’s not too much resentment between you two

[@TalleyrandsPuppet]

Every road race has that guy trying to get others to do more work. It’s just race tactics, so ride your ride 100%. Nice video and cool to see you and Dylan share footage.

[@jnstroik]

0.80 for 4+ hours is good. 0.88 is insane. Very nice fitness! You've really improved your production quality

[@bjnesbitt2011]

Was my first midsouth and I am so happy I took the chance and rode the 58 miler. Was best experience with all the happenings before during and after the event. This one is now on my list to do every year. Great job on the video, well put together, very informative.

[@jas_n]

Calling it like it is - dig it, thanks for adding to the scene

[@TylerTafelsky]

Hell of a great race man! It's awesome to see you contending against pros who do this full-time with big sponsor support.

[@joelarmstrong6127]

Enjoyable to watch on the trainer with your music and good flow. Awesome passes going off the main track. I didn't understand why you showed down for so long before you take a pee, much more time lost than just putting over and getting it done quickly. Can't wait for this year.

[@tccycling]

Massive effort. Can't imagine how hard that was. Awesome.

[@craigburleigh5160]

Thanks Drew!! Absolutely loved your content!! It brings an amazing sense of perspective from us who will never seen this kind of racing! Happens when one is old and fat!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@peterbmora]

Great recap and it was great that you managed to throw a few tips in.

[@dt5337]

Great vid and analysis and impressive result especially since you’ve alluded to not doing the crazy hours training regime (on Bonk Bros). Bad luck about the wrong turn but maybe the parts of the course you did pre-ride benefitted you more. No crashes nor punctures suggests the “keep a gap” tactic worked and you had the fitness to do the extra work this may have cost you and still be in the mix until near the end. And you’re right, it’s all your choice about when and how much you work regardless of what other pack members want. Again well done, great result.

[@duncan1724]

your vidoes are actually really good!

[@86309]

You are 100% correct in the work discussion, anyone who spent anytime seriously road racing gets it. But the pressure he is trying to apply to you happens all the time as well, it's part of his tactics to make you work. It's the shame factor. Great job ignoring it and riding your tactics for your race. I pull when its in my race interest to. Otherwise take a pull but get out and back as quick as you can. It's funny how you guys are "road tactics but not". If you guys would work together and rotate quicker take the pulls , but keep the rotation faster you would as a group be quicker. But alas ...Gravel isn't Road....yet.

[@paulthomas3381]

This was nice to watch. Music very soothing.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

Great video on how to approach muddy crossing, jumping off the bike often just causes chaos and often better just shift way down and power thru it.

[@4sharegreg4]

This has so much good info and strategy!! Kudos man and appreciate the knowledge

[@lance3591]

I totally agree with you about taking pulls in a race. During a race I was in some dude rolls up next to me and tells me I need to go front and start pulling. I looked over at him and said no. Than he said something that can’t I remember but it really pissed me off. I said you 1st, you get up there start pulling and I’ll go pull for with you. Of course he didn’t so the whole race I road next him yelling at him to go pull and I’ll go with.

[@riderrunco]

Great edit

[@chrisbaum998]

Love your in race footage and play by play Drew!!

[@TallGuyTrails]

Great video! Fun to see what life is like at the front. Enjoy the candor about tactics.

[@johnwpotter]

Well done! Thanks for the commentary.

[@BLachance75]

Very nice ride

[@breaklessbeauty679]

Yeahhh dude that State bike can haul!

[@ryanhuffman5544]

Nice ride! Noticed in the end you beat him by two spots. I can't imagine putting our that much power for a race that long!

[@blakedawson2832]

It’s awesome how easily you can pick out your kit

[@holdsteadfast]

Unfortunately it’s easy cause it’s the ugliest one… I love Dizzle but not the treads

[@staypufft80]

@@holdsteadfast yeah the old roadhouse stuff looked way better.

[@GerardEncabo]

A really impressive effort, Drew. And a nice recap as well; improving your editing and storytelling skills. May I ask you what's your race body weight?

[@BlueCollarDiz]

Very nice video! I thoroughly enjoyed it. 😊

[@crazypaulinquebec]

MTB shoes my dude!! Go for it!!

[@h20s8804]

This is a pretty epic result for a guy with only a 69 V02 max. LOL. This is a great video man. Being in the race like this is awesome. Well put together. So what's your deal with Payson? He thought you were being smart and crafty at the back when you were actually blown. He gave you some complements I thought.

[@fetawrap1044]

Is Payson the new Stetina of Gravel? #GravelBeef?

[@matthall901]

Best race video report that I’ve seen

[@MardenBandeira]

Great video.

[@jd0johnson]

Nice ride Drew.

[@DanielJimenez-qq8hb]

Great video!

[@peters1992]

Do you, ride your ride. Those other riders barking out instructions to others are just trying to get into everyone else’s heads. Drew was ahead of you releasing his race review. That guy 😂

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

Dylan was running big lightweight MTB tires, which have less rolling resistance….probably accounted to his faster times… I’ve gone from 35c to 38c, to 42, and now running 44,45, and 55c tires regularly and found more grip, more comfort, and no real change in watts but feel quicker on rough stuff.

[@tonykonvalin9959]

Was in an early season road race back in the 80's and was in a break with some 7=Eleven guys and other good riders and would not pull because I was barely holding on. I did not disrupt the pace as either left a gap for the guys to pull in or just pulled over when at the front. They started telling me to pull or get off but I just stayed there so they started leaving no room but for me to go into the dirt or kept dropping back and making me sprint on. Did not take long before I just let them go as it was not fun and was killing me. Bummer as was not hurting the pace and they had to know I was not going to factor in. Was fun initially till it was not:)

[@ethankemp4910]

Great vid

[@ET-Rex]

Course cutting should be for safety only. If you gain an advantage you need to go back where you were. That’s the right thing to do.

[@scottheitmanmarinesurvey3557]

I'm just here for the sound track, however good race thanks

[@loganwiebe1427]

Telling people to pull is basic tactics in itself. 50% of the time it works 😂🤷‍♂️

[@shalaskaja452]

Long time fan of your videos and glad to see your steady improvement off the road and in front of the camera but I’d like it more if you’d focus totally on your race and perspective not point out other peoples flaws or whatever someone said in his video. Your coverage is excellent and makes me really understand the race from your point but those comments just distract from that imo ❤

[@usmcmsgt5487]

I just want to know what the couple's time at the finish line was on the tandem bike.....😅

[@BrightLight105]

11th overall on a State Bicycle? WOW!

[@edgarpereira4865]

Saw you video the first

[@mervdove5901]

Any chance your kit is available for purchase online? Not the one you wore. Well, maybe if it’s discounted.😀

[@jimgoodyear1136]

What's for dinner? #gravelbeef! JK. Great vid and commentary. You won't be considered an underdog for long. I'm pulling for you to beat as many LifeTime Grand Prix competitors as possible.

[@alenm7826]

Dylan with racekings, aero chainring cover, aero disc rotor, hump backpack. Course cutting should be DQ.

[@djsaintb]

@Drew, show us your bike. We'd like it. Your sponsor would like it. :)

[@Zen.416]

Go easy on the guys that get there early… those guys subscribe to the channel too… or at least they did… to each his own buddy it’s America 🇺🇸

[@matstephens4251]

Why don’t you grab a musette in the feed?

[@Slopes_N_Singletrack]

The rider that went wheels up at 12 miles was from Michigan. Connor Kamm or Connor Grant. Can’t keep them straight.

[@specialist211]

What was the logic in stopping at the aid - what did the people who didn't stop do? That 10s seems quite expensive in effort.

[@ronskayakingandfishing414]

Dylan might say.... it's his tires?

[@hereticyogi]

The idea of open roads leading into finishes freaks me out.

[@woldy25]

Isn't telling your competitors to 'pull harder' and getting them to do so a tactic as well? You're all playing the same game Drew.

[@sureshot1109]

Wasn’t Dillon running wider tires? That could be the difference…..

[@jjwa5410]

Drew how do you feel about people "cutting" the course. I saw multiple clips where corners were cut across grass or there was a short-cut in the single track that Finsty took that allowed him to pass into first with ease.

[@jnstroik]

I think course cutting (going inside of a staked corner) would just result in a DQ, right?

[@jjwa5410]

The spirit of gravel causes the course to not be marked/staked@@jnstroik

[@stevevarga8621]

The rule is if it’s not taped off it’s part of the course.

[@leod4315]

Yes we see taped areas of the course so fair game, just like the stream. Good job compiling your source videos.

[@davidmaco1]

Love the fact you let people know your a Christ Follower !! great content

[@johndunbar2393]

I'm not a racer, never raced a race in my life, but I've often wondered about the whole "You need to pull" stuff. You're the only person I've seen say, that you don't have to. It seems a lot of people take not taking turns pulling, personal. I've often heard them say, "You won't make very many friends, if you don't take turns pulling". Seems to me, it would depend on the person's goal. Are they there to compete, or make friends? Must be that "Spirit of Gravel" thing again. Makes me think, that guys like that are trying to force guys to pull, so they wear themselves out.

[@mds1422]

When you are in a group trying to chase or stay out front, and someone isn't doing their turn, I can understand why the others who are working would be upset. Just sitting in, not helping then sprinting past everyone else at the finish would piss me off too. Your buddy Dylan was even signaling for you to pull through. I get it if you physically can't, but when you've recuperated you should do some work.

[@johndunbar2393]

@@mds1422 Who are you talking to?

[@thenoclue90]

It isn’t race brain if you did it last year too 😂

[@santacruzbikevids]

Ride your ride! Hopefully this isn't a start of a GRAVEL BEEF. Smily face!

[@bikenliftdad9983]

Hopefully you can keep any potential beefs out of the mix. Would hate to see other people start throwing shade at you.

[@hbars]

Calling the guy who holds the FKT on the Kokopelli trail and a previous holder of the White Rim Road FKT a 'Non-technical rider' is just plain silly. Pete Stetina may have come up from road cycling, but I wouldn't doubt his technical abilities :)

[@mds1422]

Agreed.

[@Mockle07]

Am I misunderstanding here? You’re saying how annoyed you are at people like Payson calling you out for hanging out at the back and not pulling (which he actually referred to as being smart) tactics… which is exactly what you’re telling us that you ARE doing?! 🤯😂

[@earsen54]

It's fine to not pull. What's not cool though is when someone who doesn't plan to pull allows himself to get to second wheel and then slows down a group that is trying to work together when the lead rider pulls off. Not pulling is one thing - disrupting pace for no reason (having a teammate up the road would be a legitimate reason) is another thing. Nice race! That last second errant turn sucks but at least you know that was an 8th effort.

[@astonrides]

Payson shouting orders is hilarious

[@jamegumm]

RIP Spirit of Gravel

[@granthew71]

Gotta shred when the Spirit says shred.

[@craigg9742]

Come on man, tactics and using your brain isn't the spirit of gravel! lol. Of course, if you're the strongest guy you want to win based on the raw horsepower and don't want people to race smart, conserve energy, and make tactical decisions and actually be competitive with you. How long did it take to recover from 4+hrs at 0.88 IF? Videos like this make me want to get a gravel bike and try racing but maybe not at the front. All y'all be crazy hitting those ruts at warp speed.

[@brickpasta]

Cutting the corners is lack of sportsmanship, it is what it is but I don’t agree with it

[@keith_cottongim]

All these big gravel races they have Number plate. They use timing chips what’s the purpose of a big piece of fiberboard in the front. Seems like roadie numbers on jersey would be better.

[@oldanslo]

How I almost made a snarky comment on a Yo

[@chrishall5626]

Maybe if you peed off the bike you would have gotten that top 10

[@thayerkids]

That was a lame thing for Payson to say.. “if you want to be in the Lifetime..” Might hold more weight if he’d ever finished the series in the top 10.

[@eto2352]

Dude, don't you know you have to pull through harder and listen to what the competition tell you to do? You're not feeling the spirit of gravel.

[@adamclark8105]

not making any friends with this one! keep it up!!! we like to candid talk.

[@1980bundy]

Awsome!! Great vid!! We need details of the bike too!!🔥💪🏽

[@christopherreneau8498]

Payson is such a tool. "You have to be strong to get into the Grand Prix" OR you have to have a podcast and take LifeTime money to become their paid mouthpiece. So glad you beat him to the finish line even with him corner cutting.

[@Under_Foot]

Your voice is so off but great race and video. TY

[@NMgravel]

Not a cut, experience and tactics....

[@adamfeatherstone4045]

Not sure I understand the obsession with normalised power, it’s important to my brother as a time trialist, but for example after the first river crossing you said you had a normalised power for 20 minutes - this is meaningless, normalised power is the power whilst you are peddling so if you peddled are 320watts for 3 seconds and freewheeled for 19 mins 57 seconds your normalised power would be 320 watts, your average power would be much lower (320/1200 or less than 1 watt) , this is why Dylan and you have similar normalised power but different speeds, your normalised power and all other factors could be identical but the time spent pedalling at normalised power is completely different,, this is why your average power is so much lower than your normalised and why you are slower than him), you need to compare both average and normalised power

[@naf2579]

Ugh mass start events.....

[@ShawnMcAfee]

Great recap, you have stepped up the production with this one. Stop steeling our logo! DFW Series Racing established 2013. When you, Dylan and the rest come down for Gravel Locos come hit us up for a weeknight MtB race in DFW.

[@hoosierhotep2665]

Very nice ride

[@jiswanted5576]

very nice ride