Training Tips and More at the Gravel Worlds Camp

Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

Natalie Becker was looking for a new type of adventure. The German “digital nomad” gave up her home in Germany over a year ago and has been travelling around the world ever since. She continues to work for an online marketing company as she goes, living from a backpack and a carry-on suitcase. She works remotely, hardly missing a beat during trips to Thailand, China, Turkey, Greece, Brazil and now to the United States over the last 12 months. She wanted to learn how to ride a bike and, when she searched online for a place to go to learn just that, the Gravel Worlds Camp came up. Which is how she ended up on a borrowed gravel bike in Lincoln, Nebraska at last weekend’s Gravel Worlds Camp, learning a variety of biking skills and training methods.

There are lots of cycling camps across the United States, including many focussed on gravel riding. Earlier this month riders travelled to Emporia, Kansas to take in the Life Time Unbound Gravel Training Camp, and lots of athletes will make trips to Steamboat for camps leading up to the SBT gravel race there. Slowtwitch was invited to cover the Gravel Worlds Camp, which is how we met Becker and the rest of the athletes taking part in the camp.

The diverse group of a few dozen campers included triathletes from Texas and Colorado, a roadie from New York, along with gravel enthusiasts from closer to home looking to get some insights before they raced here in Lincoln in August.

Natalie Becker on the bike. Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

Becker’s internet search landed her at an unexpected training gem. The three-day training weekend, which is billed as an “affordable gravel camp designed for beginner and intermediate riders to take their mental knowledge and physical skills to the next level,” is organized by Jason Strohbehn, the race director of the Lauf Gravel Worlds event. Frank Pike from Beyond Category Coaching provides much of the technical coaching at the camp, while athletes also get to ride and learn from pro riders Hannah Shell and Jake Magee.

The camp takes advantage of the hundreds of miles of gravel roads around Lincoln. Photos: Kevin Mackinnon

Athletes have chance to develop their cycling skills and glean valuable training tips from the coaches, while also getting to spend some time on the same roads many will be racing on when they return in August for the Gravel Worlds bike or triathlon race.

Hannah Shell (right) has fun out on one of the rides. Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

Sessions in the “classroom” include: basic and advanced training, nutrition, how to deal with basic mechanical problems (including fixing a flat), “making it home (when things don’t go to plan on race day or while training), and preparing for race day.

Coach Frank Pike offers some training insights. Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

There’s also an excellent session on bike handling skills – above you can see Magee showing off his cornering skills. (A video would have shown that back wheel skidding around.)

Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

In addition to the time spent on the bike and at the various information sessions, athletes can also sign up for a bike fit to help ensure they’ll get the most out of their training and racing. For many, though, the most valuable part of the camp was the opportunity to spend time with the coaches and elite athletes over lunch and dinner, which provides lots of opportunity to ask questions and gain insights on how the best of the best train and race.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to get a bike fit. Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

On top of the valuable education component, there was some decent training added to the mix, too. The camp venue is just minutes from hundreds of miles of gravel roads. Friday’s ride options included 20- and 30-mile loops, while Saturday’s rides were either 30- or 45-miles long. All the rides took place through the rolling Nebraska terrain that makes the Gravel Worlds race here in August so tough.

Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

The camp offers a chance to check out the Gravel Worlds course, to improve your riding skills and to learn more about training and racing. There’s lots of firepower on hand to help beginner and intermediate riders take their riding to the next level – exactly what you’ll want if you’re looking to take on a new challenge. Just ask Natalie Becker, who flew back to Germany on the Monday after the camp, tired, but very happy.

Photo: Kevin Mackinnon

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