Pushing Past My Limits at the MoCo Epic 2024

[@DanterA30]

Great seeing you out there. I can’t believe we made it. Thanks for taking a photo with my son.

[@splooshmtb]

@DanterA30 likewise dude! Good meeting you both out there!

[@ezekielcarsella]

I never knew Maryland was this gorgeous wowow!

[@splooshmtb]

@@ezekielcarsella this barely scratches the surface! Maryland has so much in the outdoorsy department!

[@mitchfrank48]

I did the 30 mile, solo as well. Terrific trails and a great event. 3rd year doing it. MORE does a great job.

[@splooshmtb]

@mitchfrank48 heck yeah love to hear it, glad you had a blast!

[@calebporter17]

You should make more longer videos and show more of the riding even though it might not be the most interesting to show more of the story of the ride not just fast passed clips. Loved this video.

[@splooshmtb]

@calebporter17 thanks dude, I'd definitely like to do that more! Unfortunately, the KZbin analytics tells me that after the 7 minute mark only 18% of the audience is still watching so it's always a tough call to make it longer. Big adventures like this I'm def gonna keep them longer!

[@majalyafernando8581]

This video brought back memories of the pain I felt on the last 3 miles of the MoCo Epic 70 from two years ago! It also gave me huge ride FOMO for this year. Thanks for putting that fun video together! Loved seeing your interactions with other riders. I remember riding solo and getting through it with encouragement from strangers.

[@splooshmtb]

@majalyafernando8581 oh man Jali I don't know if I could ever do the 70 so that's wild as it is! Haha I'm glad you could feel the energy, even as it faded away, that's exactly what I was going for. Encouraging strangers was a good way for me to get a boost of energy too 😂

[@TrailSage]

Awesome job Zane!!! Great job covering the event and more importantly for digging deep and finishing the 40 miles. Loved hearing the encouragement to yourself and to the other riders throughout. Let's do this together on the tandem next year ;)

[@splooshmtb]

@@TrailSage 😂 I'm on board for that Sage, you out front, me in the back snacking the whole time😂

[@TrailSage]

@@splooshmtb lol!!! Do they make tandem e-bikes?

[@BlissfullyFun]

Was good riding with you for the short segment before the aid station off the C&O, and leaving the aid station - see ya when I see ya! Thanks for posting this!

[@splooshmtb]

@BlissfullyFun heck yeah dude! Great riding with you and thanks for watching!

[@mtbaddict878]

Good job! Way to hang in there.

[@splooshmtb]

@mtbaddict878 thanks! Had to lock in for sure.

[@TheRideAbides]

Really impressive xc ride!! You're unlimited! Also very cool that your bike can do park one day and massive xc the next!

[@splooshmtb]

@TheRideAbides haha literally big park day 2 days prior to this😂 it may not do one thing perfectly but it does everything fairly well. Thanks Dan!

[@JimLodico]

Great job! Those last few miles are always tough. During Covid I did the MORE virtual Epic. I did a couple 30+ milers and a 50 mile ride. I just remember legs cramping in ways I didn’t know possible. I’ve been meaning to do this event for a while now and keep missing it. Need to set my goals for next year and make sure I’m in shape for it by then.

[@splooshmtb]

@@JimLodico thanks Jim, definitely come out next year for the 15 year anniversary, it's gonna be huge!

[@andrew_gardner]

This same weekend I rode the unPAved gravel event in Lewisburg, PA, and similar to you I went out solo and just did the thing. It's all about making new friends, sharing the stoke and just having fun. Next year I will be doing MoCo Epic, turns out a pretty large crew of my local riders were up there and did the 40 also, one even did the 70!

[@splooshmtb]

@andrew_gardner dude, big props the riders going above 40. I think 55 is in store for me next year but phew I'm gonna be hurtin. Hopefully I'll have a shorter travel bike by then😅

[@andrew_gardner]

@@splooshmtb I have to say that as a MTBr that has been enjoying gravel and a few gravel events, getting a trainer to do some training rides really does help. I use Garmin watch and Edge and if you put in the event in the Connect calendar Gramin does a good job of suggesting workouts to get you prepared. After 50miles and 3,600ft of climbing the PA gravel, my legs were fine two days later. I will say, 25 miles is still my longest MTB ride though, Good work out there!

[@splooshmtb]

@andrew_gardner thanks dude definitely good insights, but I refuse to pedal indoors😂. The day after I was back to 100% and back in the gym but the evening after the ride I was dead😭.

[@andrew_gardner]

@@splooshmtb put the trainer on the porch/deck 🤣

[@splooshmtb]

@@andrew_gardner haha big brain move right there😂 I'll be doing a lot of long gravel rides this offseason to help for sure!

[@karengood9540]

Hey we've met at the shed! I'm in the video because I was helping parking. I'm also a course marker and work closely with the lead of that team so I'm curious where you got lost and where we could do better in marking. This year I marked mostly in Schaefer and I swept and demarked the trails. I was so happy to see your lovely video and support of these trail systems

[@splooshmtb]

@karengood9540 hi Karen! Thanks for helping with the event. I can honestly say the getting lost part was on me, as I saw the correct direction I realized how silly my mistake was😂 leaving the Weird Al aid station i went left and back tracked instead of looking straight at the arrows😅

[@karengood9540]

Great video❤️. More miles, more smiles

[@TheStylesp]

Good stuff man. Pretty cool seeing all of the tree’s we sawed up the weekend before on video 😂 we did 38 miles the weekend before with saws, you got the 50 next year!

[@splooshmtb]

@TheStylesp holy crap that's wild dude! Okay 55 next year let's gooo. And thank you for taking care of the course!

[@davidbeugelmans9653]

Great video!

[@splooshmtb]

@@davidbeugelmans9653 thank you!

[@DMVMTB]

Tree hugger coming through 😂😂

[@splooshmtb]

@DMVMTB LOL bro that tree came outta nowhere 😂

[@paul734]

Good job man. Wish I would've known about it.

[@splooshmtb]

@paul734 thanks dude, happens every year! Come through next year for the 15th anniversary!

[@R_kharman]

Stumbled upon your video. I'm always looking for new trails to try out. Saw you rode the Epic, which I had to skip this weekend. Great content! Keep it up 💪 Just gained a subscriber!

[@splooshmtb]

Thanks so much man! Come out next year!

[@EastCoastMtb_Luke]

Awesome video! That’s mad impressive. I bet you slept well that night lol.

[@splooshmtb]

@EastCoastMtb_Luke i crashed on the couch when i got home😂 best sleep ever. Thanks Luke!

[@kramonut]

Congrats man! The Moco Epic is on my list of potential events for '25 (depending on the date)...it might coincide with my 25 year anniversary 😬🤣). Anyway, accomplishing a huge ride you're not sure you can handle does wonders for mental toughness! I did the Maryland Gran Fondo (100mi, 10k elevation) last month & ended up riding solo. I had the same goal of just not walking, lol! But was happy I accomplished that. At a certain point it just becomes a mental battle (that's if you can keep cramps under control & have enough chamois butt'r 😅).

[@splooshmtb]

@kramonut dude 100mi and 10k ft, that's nuts! I'm putting your anniversary on hold, next year you gotta be one of the few to do the 100 miler! Totally agree, no better feeling.

[@maxsteinbeezly7904]

Dang man! We paced ourself, by choice and circumstance (mechanicals 😢) Great route tho! Great for the legs and soul!

[@splooshmtb]

@maxsteinbeezly7904 oh no, hope that sorted out okay! Couldn't agree more, so good for the soul.

[@SegsySantaMTB]

My first time riding this event this year! I did the 20 mile but am aiming for the 30 mile next year.

[@splooshmtb]

@@SegsySantaMTB heck yeah dude go for it!

[@GD-cc4su]

Dude - why no Chamois Buttr??? it's life changing

[@splooshmtb]

@GD-cc4su LOL I've never used it but yeah the undercarriage was sore after this one😂

[@liquidSpin]

I've always wanted to do the MoCo epic. Keep missing it. I used to live in Northern VA and would hit Sheaffer farms area all the time. Now I'm in Fredericksburg VA :I Hopefully I can do this next year

[@splooshmtb]

@@liquidSpin next year will be the biggest one yet, definitely recommend!

[@liquidSpin]

@@splooshmtb Just need to register and make my way up there now that i'm about 2 hours away. I miss all the trails there from Potapsco, Fountainhead, Lake FFX etc Now I only have like 2 local trail systems where I'm at :(

[@splooshmtb]

@liquidSpin oof sorry to hear bud, Maryland really is blessed with the amount of trail we have!

[@indirection2]

I would've gone with you. Maybe next time. :)

[@splooshmtb]

@@indirection2 55 miles next year, get ready for the pain cave😭

[@nobodycaresMTB]

Nice video - wonder if we crossed paths. We did the 40 also, but bailed at mile 28 due to a broken frame.

[@splooshmtb]

@nobodycaresMTB holy crap I just saw that on your video! That's wild but glad no one got hurt! Thanks for watching dude.

[@nobodycaresMTB]

@@splooshmtb Yeah it makes for an interesting story at least! Thanks for watching mine too. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime!

[@splooshmtb]

@@nobodycaresMTB definitely give me a shout if you see me out!

[@selisuu]

so when are we getting tandem bikes and doing this together? 😆

[@splooshmtb]

@selisuu someone make this our wedding gift please😂

[@alexthemoonsloth]

40 mile ride?!? Id be dead 💀Somebody bring me an electric bike at that point

[@splooshmtb]

@alexthemoonsloth LOL I was dead but it was worth it.