From Road to Gravel: My First Barry-Roubaix Experience

Introduction: A Racing Veteran’s New Adventure

At 64, I've come full circle—though whether that's progress or just stubbornness remains to be seen. My competitive cycling began at 16, reaching Category 2 and specializing in criteriums. Those early years delivered solid results: winning the Maumee Valley Wheelmen's time trial championship at 17, and earning an invitation to the 1980 Olympic trials. But cycling careers rarely follow straight lines. A 1981 car accident unraveled my racing ambitions, and by 1983, I'd stepped away entirely.

After brief returns to mountain biking and track racing, by 1995, racing had become just stories that got better with each retelling.

Fast forward to 2023. After nearly three decades away, that old competitive itch returned. Whatever the catalyst, I found myself pinning on numbers again with a goal: the 2025 Men's Senior Games National Championships in Des Moines. But first, I needed motivation through another Michigan winter.

That's where Barry-Roubaix entered the equation. Scheduled for April 12, 2025, this legendary gravel race would serve as both carrot and stick: a challenging early-season target to keep winter training honest, and my first-ever gravel race after decades of thinking I understood cycling.

Standing at the start line in Hastings, Michigan, with 40mm gravel tires instead of familiar narrow road rubber, I was about to discover whether it's never too late to try something completely new.

Barry-Roubaix: The Challenge

Barry-Roubaix earned its reputation as the "World's Largest Gravel Road Race" through relentless growth and unwavering quality. From humble beginnings in 2009 with 274 riders, this Michigan institution has grown into a 5,000+ participant juggernaut that kicks off gravel season with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the ego.

What makes Barry-Roubaix compelling—and beautifully diabolical—is its timing and unpredictable conditions. Held annually on the third Saturday in April, it throws everything from snow and ice to mud, dust, and unseasonably warm temperatures at participants. This variability creates what I optimistically refer to as "the perfect training opportunity."

The Global Cycling Network's recognition as a Top Five Gravel Event reflects genuine excellence. With over $40,000 in awards spread across four distances—18, 36, 62, and 100 miles—Barry-Roubaix attracts serious talent while maintaining grassroots appeal.

For my purposes, the timing was perfect. An April race date meant maintaining structured training through the dark Michigan winter months. Barry-Roubaix demanded respect, and respect required preparation—the kind of accountability that transforms basement trainer sessions from torture into purposeful suffering.

Why Gravel for a Road Racing Goal

Choosing gravel as preparation for road racing made perfect sense once I gave it some thought. Gravel racing delivers sustained power demands, bike handling challenges, and mental toughness requirements that translate beautifully to any cycling discipline. Beyond physiological benefits, it provided a low-pressure environment to test race fitness without the intimidation of competing against current talent.

Most critically, gravel racing would rebuild skills that had grown soft during my hiatus while being slightly more forgiving to aging joints and wounded pride.

The 36-Mile “Thriller” Course

The 36-mile distance represents Barry-Roubaix's sweet spot—long enough to expose fitness gaps, technical enough to humble overconfident returning racers, but accessible enough to attract the largest field. The "Thriller" climbs approximately 2,200 feet over 36 miles across Barry County's relentlessly rolling terrain.

The surface tells the story of gravel racing: 84.7% gravel and dirt roads, 15% pavement, and one mile of seasonal two-track. The gravel itself is distinctly Michigan—sandy consistency mixed with small rocks that can be tacky and grippy in ideal conditions, or loose and treacherous when conditions conspire against you. These constantly changing conditions demand attention and adaptation.

Beginning and ending in downtown Hastings, the course explores the surrounding countryside before returning to the heart of this small Michigan community, fostering a festival atmosphere that extends well beyond the finish line.

Signature Moments

Every great race course has moments that live in riders' memories. Barry-Roubaix delivers these in abundance.

The Three Sisters announce themselves after just 1.5 miles of pavement warm-up, immediately separating the field. These three consecutive climbs aren't particularly long or steep. Still, their placement creates immediate tactical dilemmas while the sandy, loose surface adds complexity—traction becomes precious. Wheel spin costs both momentum and dignity.

Sager Road represents the most technical demands of gravel racing condensed into one infamous section. This seasonal two-track stretch varies from hard-packed dirt to deep sand pits within single pedal strokes. Line choice becomes critical—follow the wrong wheel and you might dismount to walk through sand. At the same time, faster riders stream past, looking annoyingly competent.

Cemetery Hill arrives at mile 26.7, strategically positioned when glycogen stores deplete and mental fatigue sets in. The name seemed ominous during the course study, and its timing proved memorable—it's where races are won and lost.

Green Street delivers the race's cruelest joke as a false flat, appearing manageable until you're grinding through it. This final pavement mile should favor road racing backgrounds, but 35 miles and 2,000+ feet of climbing level the playing field.

Equipment and Preparation

The Otso Waheela C was an easy choice—several seasons had proven its capabilities and built confidence through accumulated miles. Built as a "gravel road race bike," it delivers road bike efficiency with the capability of gravel riding.

Hutchinson Caracal 40mm tires balanced rolling resistance versus grip perfectly. On race day, they delivered predictably across varying surfaces, from hard-packed sections to loose sandy stretches.

Rene Herse TPU inner tubes offer lower rolling resistance and improved puncture resistance, providing peace of mind—especially when considering that tubeless repairs can be challenging under race conditions.

Redshift ShockStop PRO Suspension Stem was added specifically for Barry-Roubaix. The 20mm of vertical compliance filtered high-frequency vibrations while providing additional control in navigating loose sections. Whether it made me faster is debatable, but it made the experience more comfortable.

Race Day Reality

Race morning in Hastings delivers controlled chaos, a hallmark of successful large-scale events. Church and Center Streets transform from quiet crossroads into a bustling epicenter of nervous energy. After decades away from this atmosphere, the sensory overload felt both foreign and deeply familiar.

The wave start format allows self-selection during registration. I selected Wave 2 based on a realistic fitness assessment—fast enough to avoid navigating through slower riders, yet conservative enough to avoid early-race revelations in front of several thousand witnesses.

Barry-Roubaix's permanent course marking system eliminates navigation anxiety, providing clear guidance through color-coded arrows that allow for a focus on performance rather than route-finding.

The Racing Reality

The opening miles delivered immediate education in gravel racing's unique demands. While I'd anticipated differences, experiencing them firsthand revealed subtleties no preparation could convey. Most surprising was how quickly Barry-Roubaix transitioned from pack racing to individual time trial efforts as the field fractured within the first hour.

This demanded entirely different energy management—rather than surges and recoveries characterizing pack racing, gravel rewarded steady-state power output. Barry County's variable surface conditions created strategic complexity, as traction varied not only between sections but also within individual turns and climbs.

The most valuable discovery was recognizing how gravel skills translate to overall cycling improvement. Bike handling demands of varied surfaces create adaptability, enhancing confidence in any situation. More importantly, gravel's sustained power demands provide training stimulus that's difficult to replicate through traditional methods.

Age Group Competition and Personal Victory

The men's 64-69 age group features serious competitors who've maintained impressive fitness levels. Don't let age fool you—there's always someone in better shape, especially at events attracting national-level talent.

Setting a top-20 goal provided specific motivation, although the math was unforgiving, given the training ride comparisons to historical results. These weren't weekend warriors seeking participation medals, but dedicated riders who'd maintained or returned to competitive fitness.

When I crossed the finish line, having crushed my personal record, satisfaction was immediate. Although I missed my top-20 goal by 24th place, the performance validation still felt significant. The sustained power output required translated well to broader racing preparation, establishing a performance baseline for future goals.

The Gravel Racing Community

The atmosphere differed markedly from typical road racing events, trending toward friendlier and more relaxed interactions despite the competitive intensity. Post-race, Hastings transformed into an impressive celebration showcasing gravel racing's community spirit. Beer tents, food trucks, and sponsor exhibits created a festival atmosphere that extended far beyond the competitive achievements.

This cultural difference enhanced the overall experience, making it feel accessible and welcoming while maintaining serious competitive standards. Every rider I encountered maintained a friendly and supportive attitude that made for a thoroughly positive experience.

Lessons and Looking Forward

Barry-Roubaix delivered on its promise as winter training motivation, providing the accountability necessary for maintaining consistency through challenging months. The race's demanding nature justified indoor training efforts, which yielded fitness gains and established a solid foundation for achieving future goals.

The course's climbing and rolling terrain addressed weaknesses needing attention while building mental toughness that translates to any competitive challenge. Most importantly, the experience demonstrated that being decades away from racing hadn't eliminated either the capability for meaningful competition or the satisfaction of challenging personal limits.

For Other Masters Cyclists

Fellow riders considering new challenges should prioritize base training and developing their bike handling skills. Both can be addressed simultaneously through consistent riding across varied terrain. Age remains relative when preparation is thorough and realistic about current capabilities.

The key is to train consistently while keeping experiences enjoyable, rather than allowing competition to become a stressful obligation. Focus on both strengths and weaknesses while acknowledging that consistency matters more than perfection.

Conclusion: Never Too Late

Gravel racing's value extends beyond fitness development to include handling improvement, building mental toughness, and enhancing threshold power. The varied demands create adaptations that benefit any cycling discipline, while providing training stimuli that are difficult to replicate.

Barry County's gravel roads proved to be a practical pathway for delivering fitness, confidence, and mental toughness. The experience validated preparation methods while highlighting areas for continued improvement. Most importantly, it proved that it's never too late to try something new, push boundaries, or pursue goals that once seemed impossible.

What began as winter training motivation evolved into comprehensive preparation addressing every aspect of competitive cycling. Barry-Roubaix proved itself a valuable partner for serious goals, regardless of the surface beneath the wheels.

The lesson extends beyond cycling; sometimes, the most significant challenges prompt you to step outside your comfort zone and discover abilities you never knew you had. The window for meaningful competition—and personal growth—remains wide open for those willing to step through it.

At 64, standing at that start line with 40mm gravel tires was both intimidating and exhilarating. Crossing the finish line 2+ hours later, I was reminded that our capacity for growth, challenge, and achievement doesn't diminish with age—it just requires the courage to try something new. Whether you're 34, 54, or 74, there's always another start line waiting, another challenge to embrace, another opportunity to discover what you're truly capable of achieving.

The best time to try something new isn't when you're young and fearless—it's right now, whatever your age, whatever your circumstances. Barry-Roubaix taught me that the most rewarding adventures often begin when we're brave enough to admit we don't know everything, humble enough to start over, and curious enough to see what happens next.