Semi-Useful Resources for Rasputitsa 2023
It seems somewhat a TBD tradition to drive 6 hours north for unpredictable weather, grassroots race organization, and a whole lotta off-road. As relatively new teammates, Ben and I feel obligated to carry on the Rasputitsia torch this weekend. There are many tales to tell across almost every TBD teammate… here are a few of my favorite stories, legendary photos, and tips on how to set the best (or worst) vibes in Burke, VT.
Last year I participated in Rasputitsa and it was my first large gravel race. The stoke was high, the scenery was beautiful and the weather was immaculate. It has come to my attention that this scenario is not always the case in northern Vermont. I’ve officially concluded that each year is wildly different and banking on my 2022 experience is not a plan. I have polled teammates, searched the internet and scoured bike shops attempting to get a plan together for the best race possible. I am left even more confused than when I started, but here is the information I have collected. Please draw your own conclusions, don’t check the forecast, and prepare for the uniqueness that is Rasputitsia 2023.
“Giving advice for Rasputitsa seems like a fool’s errand. It’s a race that defies definition and every year the conditions are completely different. Last year we had fast roads and clear skies, this weekend could be a slopfest in a blizzard. I suppose in that sense the best advice I could give is simply to embrace the vibe. Rasputitsa is going to be a blast whatever comes your way. Mud, snow, a cookie, a shot of Fireball, just open your heart and embrace it.”
“In 2018, there was a thin layer of snow & slush covering the ground. It turned out to not be as slick as we anticipated, so we could ride more or less at a normal pace, and the warming temps along with melting snow made the day feel like spring skiing but on bikes! The last downhill was actually on a ski slope where the snow was still fairly deep, and I had the most fun in my life slipping and sliding - thankfully not tumbling - down to cheers at the finish.”
“My Craputitsa: 2017 was my first Raputitsa. My lead up wasn’t ideal. I’m not a fast starter and compounding matters, I had gotten the mother of all stomach viruses the day we left for Burke, Vt. Anything I consumed would exit my body in liquid form a few minutes later. A few of us TBD’rs were motivated and looking for a result while the others really weren’t bothered (like me). After a short neutral start, the climbs started in earnest. The first climb was Siberia. It was covered with snow except for an occasional strip of mud. If someone slowed or put a foot down, it would all come to a standstill. At the top of Siberia we were rewarded with maple syrup shots to help with a furious descent where my Garmin clocked me at 47! mph. At that point I had lost all my teammates and I spent the rest of the race just holding on. I was completely dehydrated and consequently cramped a few miles from the finish. While in limp home mode, I ran into a friend who I hadn’t seen in at least 15 years. We shared a pit space together when we road raced motorcycles. He moved up to Providence from Brooklyn and like me, went green and swapped motor bikes to pedal bikes. He and I rode together until we got to the 2 foot deep mud bog that introduced the “surprise” CX course finish. Not an ideal finale. I was just glad to have finished without having to pull over to the side of the course for an extended “natural” break- though as soon as I finished, I headed straight for the toilets. Although it was a great experience, I had much more fun riding with a healthy stomach the next day on some dirt roads next to the Ct River in Brattleboro. The weather Gods shined upon us and finally, my stomach was feeling more relaxed. .”
“Rasputista 2017 was a foggy, chilly, wet load of mess and fun. Highlights were the hike-a-bike in the ice and snow up Cyberia and the rest stop with the ice cups of maple syrup. Oh, and the full cyclocross course at the very end!! I was certainly cranky and tired by that time, but it was definitely Type 2 fun and something I’ll never forget.”
“Pack everything, warmth over content ”
“Rasputitsa is full of surprises and always entertaining. The best part is the maple syrup shot at the top of Siberia, so don’t miss it. Also, don’t get discouraged if you get dropped there, because there are plenty more hills to make it to the group in the front.”
“Do course recon in advance, even if just via Instagram. There have been such a vast array of conditions at Rasputitsa that it’s hard to know what to expect. There have been beautiful years where the winner was on 25mm tires and there have been slogfests full of snow and mud.”
“Run less tread than you think. All the talk and the attention is on the relatively few and relatively sort sections that have bad road surfaces… everything else drains well (I think).”
“Rasputitsa is ultimately a bike event, but the things I will remember most are everything outside of the bike racing. The post race beers, climbing abandoned bridges on our recovery ride, staying at a hotel that was completely overrun by youth sports teams, coasting on the highway to avoid running out of gas before the next exit.”
I’m not sure I found this exercise productive, but I certainly found it entertaining! I can’t wait for the race recap coming out of this weekend and the memories that will be created at this funky event. Enjoy the podcasts and articles below as you make your way north and say hey to the dudes in maroon along the course 👋.
Published on The Radivist / Photo by Matt Kiedaisch
