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How long can we keep up with… “Queen of Pain” Rebecca Rusch?

interview with rebecca rusch about gravel bike racing
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This race might have been a bit unfair. Rebecca had just come off a 30+ hour “training race” as she preps for the Iditarod. And she doesn’t race short form. So, my challenge to her was a short gravel race, on trails we’d never ridden, with no real idea of when or where it would finish. Sounds like a good time, no?

But before the race, we went on a three hour practice ride to get used to our new bikes. I was on the Evil Chamois Hagar, and Rebecca was aboard her new Giant Revolt gravel road bike, sporting fresh duds from also-new sponsor Velocio. I grilled her for advice on gravel racing, and she delivered the knowledge. Here’s how it all went down…

Rebecca’s biggest tips for gravel racing:

  • Get your tire pressure right – You want a lot less than on the road, but a little more than mountain bikers use. Experiment to get it right because you need that cushion to take the edge off impacts and provide maximum traction.
  • Draft on the flats, get the hole shot into singletrack – Obviously, this is what won the race for her. Obviously.

how fast is rebecca rusch

Huge thanks to Rebecca Rusch for being a good sport, and to folks at Lyman Agency, Dirty Kanza and SBT GRVL for helping us film our race!

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PNW
PNW
4 years ago

Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t that a Giant Revolt Advanced Pro?

https://www.velonews.com/2020/01/gear/promoter-bike-gallery-rebecca-ruschs-giant-revolt_504069

HotEricHoney
HotEricHoney
4 years ago

Incredible seeing new sponsors step up for Rebecca!

Greg Molnar
Greg Molnar
4 years ago

What trail in Scottsdale?

mudrock
mudrock
4 years ago

These are fun. Rebecca is such a cool person. Tyler, you’ve got something going here.

Matt
Matt
4 years ago

Very cool. Saw her Blood Road movie so had to catch her here too. Very nice job.

More_Shakira_For_Me
More_Shakira_For_Me
4 years ago

Looks like you guys were riding the Pemberton Trail in McDowell Mtn park near Fountain Hills. 🙂

Craigcyclet
4 years ago

Fun to watch y’all tearin’ it up on gravel bikes, aka cycling’s latest ‘creation’ to quench both roadies’ & mountain bikers’ thirst ; however, maybe a little more caution around the equestrians, as there’s been a substantial loss of shared trails that were once but are no longer open to bikes, a sad result of ‘bad blood’ between equestrians and cyclists.

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