Ep. 27: She Entered a Cyclocross Race on 50mm Tires… Then Took On Chequamegon
Hosts Laura, Holly, and Maggie reintroduce themselves as the Average Age Groupers and catch up on Maggie’s two recent bike races. Maggie describes trying a Tuesday-night Minneapolis cyclocross race after winning a free entry, riding her gravel bike with 50mm tires on a grassy, switchback-heavy course, finishing mid-pack, and noting the high-intensity effort, timing chips, and playful “hand ups.” She then recaps the point-to-point Chequamegon mountain bike race weekend in Hayward, including logistics, a hummingbird in a bike shop, a neutral rollout, constant short climbs, and how a poorly fitting saddle caused significant pain and affected performance. Maggie highlights key course features like the Fire Tower climb, a man revving a chainsaw, the “Seven Sisters” hills, and a fast, more technical final section, praising the race’s marking, volunteers, aid stations, and finish-line food compared to Unbound. Laura shares she signed up for the Madison Half Marathon, Holly mentions recovery and returning to swimming, and Maggie discusses upcoming Moab pacing and off-season plans.
00:00 Riffing and Introductions
01:09 Voices Versus Faces
02:21 Maggie Tries Cyclocross
04:32 Cyclocross Course and Chaos
08:13 Cyclocross Vibes and Snacks
08:46 Fat Bike Race Shenanigans
15:32 Chequamegon Grand Prix Setup
18:44 Race Weekend and Logistics
23:08 Start Line and Early Miles
26:24 Relentless Climbs and Saddle Pain
32:28 Gravel vs MTB Debate
33:24 Ideal Bike Setup
34:45 Fire Tower Climb Chaos
37:38 Seven Sisters Sendfest
39:12 Final Miles Favorite
40:26 Bike Buying Banter
42:13 Race Organization Praise
44:10 Lifetime Series Talk
46:45 SoCal Hurricane Surf
47:42 Half Marathon Plans
50:06 Moab Pacing Nerves
53:58 Offseason and Yoga
56:42 Wrap Up and Plugs
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https://www.pandora.com/podcast/average-age-groupers/PC:1001121141
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