Continuing my coverage of two local bicycling teams, I covered Real Women Tri & Leadout Racing two weeks ago at Grattan Raceway. Grattan, a multifunctional, multi-motorsport racing complex, is about 30 minutes Northeast of Grand Rapids, MI. Wednesday evenings in the summer are reserved for bicycles. The concept is pretty simple but it’s an intense ride. An ‘A’ group and a ‘B’ group take off a few minutes apart, male and female together, and ride for 20-40 (guesstimate) laps, getting longer as the sun stays taller. I don’t know the exact length of the course – I’ve heard 1.85 miles to 2.2 miles, and a few distances in between. The course takes you through all sorts of elevations – long hills, steep hills, long lengths of smooth flat open road, tough right hand turns and left hand turns. The wind plays a factor, and the race directors don’t tell you which way you’re going for the day until you get there. It’s a pretty sweet venue. Young and old from all walks of life come here to get better, most people are here just to learn a thing or two from each other and get out of the house – but that doesn’t mean the place doesn’t have it’s share of wrecks and dirty riders so you’re always on the look out. This particular night the B’s went 26 laps and I think the A’s went 29. By about the 10th lap both A’s and B’s were broken up to where it was getting tough to tell who was who.
As a spectator you’re fairly limited on what you can watch, but what you do get to see is pretty intense. Two weeks ago the light was fantastic there and it made my job super easy. I thought with another Wednesday ride coming tomorrow, you would appreciate these posted tonight as a precursor.
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Thanks for checking them out. Let me know if you have any questions.
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