Tushar Crusher - have you done it?

[bcroslin]

A few friends of mine are doing the Tushar Crusher in Utah in July and they've invited me along. Registration opens tonight and apparently sells out quickly. It sounds like fun but the climbing sounds potentially soul crushing for a FL boy. For those of you who have done the race, is it worth the travel time and money? Is the climbing as crazy as I've been told it is?

TIA

[batman1425]

Check out Fatcyclist's blog. He's done it several times and has a lot of good write ups about his experience.

[jmal]

I haven't done it, but the blog write-ups always sound great/painful. I'll be moving west in a little over a year and may give it a go once I'm a little closer. It seems to attract some strong riders from various backgrounds.

[p nut]

So an opportunity to hang and ride with several of your friends out of town in one of the most beautiful places in the US? Hmmmmmm

The race has intrigued me and although I won't be racing this year, I'll be riding the course some time during the summer. Everyone I know who's done it, loved it. Also, this is a good read:

http://grizzlyadam.net/2012/04/2012-crusher-guide.html

[bcroslin]

Originally Posted by p nut

So an opportunity to hang and ride with several of your friends out of town in one of the most beautiful places in the US? Hmmmmmm

The race has intrigued me and although I won't be racing this year, I'll be riding the course some time during the summer. Everyone I know who's done it, loved it. Also, this is a good read:

http://grizzlyadam.net/2012/04/2012-crusher-guide.html

That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to check out Drunk cyclists take on it as well. Looks fun and I think I'm in.

[Wayne77]

I just signed up. uh oh..what I have I done..

I have some friends that do it each year. A guy I race with on the Zanconato road team won his category last year (30-34 men, Derek Edwards). He's a monster. I'm not. I think this race is going to hurt!

200 spots left..filling up quick

[bcroslin]

Originally Posted by Wayne77

I just signed up. uh oh..what I have I done..

I have some friends that do it each year. A guy I race with on the Zanconato road team won his category last year (30-34 men, Derek Edwards). He's a monster. I'm not. I think this race is going to hurt!

200 spots left..filling up quick

I just signed up as well.

So here's the big question: do I ride my CX bike or my MTB? This might be the race that pushes me over the edge on buying a Slate.

[YesNdeed]

Got my reg! I did a 93 mile tarmac, gravel, dirt, snow, ice, mud ride on Sunday with a few good friends here in New Mexico, that did the Crusher last year. They were spellbound, talked me into it, and I couldn't say no. I'll be talking more closely with them in the coming months, but what I know so far, is if not for the dirt, gravel (and possible mud) the reoccuring gradients require gearing not often equipped on road bikes Clearance for 30mm tires minimum is suggested.

[bcroslin]

My plan is to do it on some sort of CX bike but everything I'm reading says to choose your gearing carefully. I guess a medium cage RD with a 12-32 might be in order? Maybe something larger?

[jmal]

Having ridden similar mountainous dirt/gravel roads, I think a cassette with a 32 is wise, in combination with a compact crank of course. Depending on your fitness I suspect this will still be tough on some pitches. Good luck. Sounds like a great ride. I hope to do it in 2017.

[jmal]

Originally Posted by YesNdeed

Got my reg! I did a 93 mile tarmac, gravel, dirt, snow, ice, mud ride on Sunday with a few good friends here in New Mexico, that did the Crusher last year. They were spellbound, talked me into it, and I couldn't say no. I'll be talking more closely with them in the coming months, but what I know so far, is if not for the dirt, gravel (and possible mud) the reoccuring gradients require gearing not often equipped on road bikes Clearance for 30mm tires minimum is suggested.

I read a blog post from a female ABQ rider that mentions riding a good stretch of the race with the Grizzly Adam fellow mentioned above. I don't recall her name, but I had the impression she was a very strong rider. Incidentally, I'm moving to ABQ in 2017. Looking forward to exploring the riding in the area, broth road and mtb.

[YesNdeed]

Originally Posted by jmal

I read a blog post from a female ABQ rider that mentions riding a good stretch of the race with the Grizzly Adam fellow mentioned above. I don't recall her name, but I had the impression she was a very strong rider. Incidentally, I'm moving to ABQ in 2017. Looking forward to exploring the riding in the area, broth road and mtb.

That would be Mindy Caruso, and she was along for the ride Sunday, and chief arm twister in my registration process. We have been teammates in the past. She's tough as nails (4 time National Champ...uh, yea. You could say she's strong), and a good friend. I so much as mention road bikes for this ride (not that I would consider using one), because in a state where dirt roads begin as close as 1 mile from the state rotundo, one can expect an extensive network of State, BLM and Native Country dirt roads that also involve pavement, and we ride them a lot. Shoving the biggest slick tires possible through tight clearances is commonplace, but for this ride, mud clearance and gearing should be important. I'll be using my cross bike, and looking for at least a 29t cassette to throw on there, as I'm not sure if my Red derailleur will reach anything with a higher count. I'll look into that.

Good to know a Paceliner will be joining us out here. PM me when you want to ride!

[eippo1]

Whelp, just convinced a friend in SLC to sign up with me. So it looks like I'll be flying out to do some climbing in July!

[p nut]

For you low-landers, you should train with this breathing apparatus to help cope with riding at altitude:

[Wayne77]

Originally Posted by bcroslin

I just signed up as well.

So here's the big question: do I ride my CX bike or my MTB? This might be the race that pushes me over the edge on buying a Slate.

"Welcome to the Crusher! The only race in the world that let's you choose your weapon with only one guarantee at some point you'll be very, very wrong!"

For me anyway, it'll be a cross bike. I'll probably swap out my 35mm tires for 40mm. It has disc brakes, and for gearing I'm thinking a 34 front ring and at least a 30 rear, maybe even a 32. The aforementioned Derek E mentioned to me last year when he won his category that he had a 36 front/30 rear cog and he still felt he needed another gear.