It’s been a minute since I entered a race solo — and what better way to ease back in than by riding 50 miles for my first gravel bike race in 40-degree weather?

To scratch the competitive itch, I signed up for the 50ish-mile course at the 2025 Texas Chainring Massacre near Gainesville, Texas. It was my first-ever gravel bike race and, let’s be honest, my first-ever bike race. Mass start running events? Done those. Races with wheels and gears? New territory.

It ended up being a fun, slightly humbling ride — with just enough pain to remind me that racing is still, somehow, enjoyable.

The Good

First off, props to the organizers. Chill vibes, smooth check-in, and zero chaos — exactly what I hoped for in a gravel event. I hung toward the back for the neutral start, partly to see how things would shake out, partly to keep expectations low.

The course was solid. Around 95% gravel, rolling hills, low traffic, and no stoplight-induced rage. As someone used to riding in the Dallas ‘burbs, it was a treat.

Temperature check: It was 40°F with a solid wind at the start, but surprisingly manageable. Heavy wool socks, tights, and a neck gaiter did their job. I didn’t freeze, and that alone felt like a win. Cold weather doesn’t always mean a suffer-fest.

I also hit my goal finish time and earned that post-race soreness in full. The pacing was… questionable (more on that in a minute), but the finish felt earned.

Let’s start with pacing. While I smartly hung in the back for the start, I was too aggressive with my pace in the early miles. It was like I forgot that I was riding 50 miles, not 15. I yo-yoed between groups, burned matches I didn’t have, and ended up stranded in no man’s land

The too-quick early pacing left me paying the price when we hit the halfway point and turned south into a headwind. I tried latching onto a few groups but had nothing left. So I bonked. Hard.

Which brings me to nutrition. I packed enough Uncrustables to fuel a school field trip, but failed at the most basic thing: eating before the race like it was actually a race. Three hours before the start, I had a regular breakfast — fine for a 10k, a disaster for a 3.5-hour ride. I ran out of gas before I hit mile 30.

The water stop around mile 37 saved me. I inhaled snacks, downed some electrolytes, and took a moment to reassess all my life decisions. Miraculously, I bounced back. The course turned west, the headwind finally backed off, and I finished feeling borderline okay. Credit goes to electrolytes and spite.

final thoughts

The Texas Chainring Massacre was a solid first foray into gravel racing. Sure, I made rookie mistakes — went out too hard, under-fueled, overestimated my endurance — but now I know better. Mostly.

Would I do it again? 100%. With better pacing, smarter fueling, and maybe slightly fewer Uncrustables. Maybe.