EPISODE 108 - The Future of Gravel w/ Former World Tour rider Chad Haga

What up party people. Just a quick intro here because I only have 2min before I have to log into an 8hr design review summit sooo here it goes. We’ve got former World Tour rider, Chad Haga, on the show this week to talk about his experience transitioning into the pro gravel scene this season, including his 2nd place finish at Unbound after spending all day in the breakaway with Lachlan Morton. Tune in to hear some of his thoughts on the US vs International gravel scene, what he predicts gravel will look like in the future, and even his thoughts on tires.

Speaking of tires, while we don’t have a tire sponsor for the show we do have some great partners that are tire adjacent such as Silca and their Ultimate Tubeless Sealant (code bonkbrosbikewash for 15% off), Dynamic Cyclist which will help you stay nimble and sharp on the bike so you can keep it rubber side down (code BONKBROS for 10% off their fitness plans), and Bolt Skin and Shave to help you remove not only those unnecessary leg hairs but also those pesky hairs from your Cont Race Kings (code BONKBROS15 for 15% off).

If you have any questions or feedback for the show you can drop us a note at bonkbrospodcast@gmail.com or slide your way into those Bonk Bros instagram DMs (@bonkbros @dylanjawnson @adamsaban6 @tylerclouti @raddaddizzle @scottmcgilljr). Alright let’s get this episode started.

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Silca (15% discount code: bonkbrosbikewash): https://silca.cc/?utm_source=Bonk+Bros&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=stripchip&utm_id=Bonk+Bros+Podcast

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BOLT (15% discount code: BONKBROS15): BOLT Skin + Shaveboltshave.com

For more Dylan Johnson content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIf1xvRN8pzyd_VfLgj_dow

Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl on Pixabay.com: https://pixabay.com/music/id-111445/ 

Listener Question Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1T37wGRLk6iYTCF6X_DQ9yfcaYtfAQceKpBJYR5W7DVA/edit?ts=642eb6d6

Summary

Chad Haga discusses his transition from road racing to gravel racing and his experience at the Unbound Gravel race. He talks about the differences between European and American gravel racing, including team tactics and the importance of positioning. Chad also shares his thoughts on using aerobars in gravel racing and the challenges of racing as a team in a solo-focused sport. The conversation includes some lighthearted banter about bike brands and equipment choices. Chad discusses his experience racing the Rift and his tire choice for the race. He also talks about his setup for the Migration gravel race and the challenges of racing on rough terrain. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of professional cycling, with younger riders entering the gravel scene and the transition from road racing to gravel. Chad expresses his satisfaction with racing gravel and the freedom it offers. The discussion touches on recovery between races and the demands of the gravel season. The conversation concludes with a lighthearted discussion about VO2 max and the perception of age in professional cycling. The conversation in this segment starts with a discussion about VO2 max tests and the results that Chad and Drew received. They joke about their VO2 max scores and how they compare to each other. The conversation then transitions to a discussion about the future of gravel racing in the US, including the potential for teams to become more involved. They also talk about the UCI's involvement in gravel racing and the popularity of longer events. The conversation concludes with listener questions about tire width preferences and how long the Bonk Bros could hold Tadej Pogacar's wheel up a climb. In this final part of the conversation, the hosts discuss crank arm length and its impact on performance and comfort. Dylan shares that he switched to 165mm cranks on all his bikes to reduce knee pain and improve his range of motion. Chad mentions that he is considering switching to 170mm cranks on his road and gravel bikes for fit reasons. They also touch on the topic of shorter cranks benefiting time trialists by allowing them to maintain a more aero position. The hosts conclude the conversation by discussing upcoming races and plans.

Keywords

Chad Haga, road racing, gravel racing, Unbound Gravel, European racing, American racing, team tactics, positioning, aerobars, bike brands, equipment choices, gravel racing, tire choice, race setup, professional cycling, younger riders, road racing, gravel season, recovery, VO2 max, VO2 max, tests, results, gravel racing, future, teams, UCI, longer events, tire width, Tadej Pogacar, climb, crank arm length, performance, comfort, knee pain, range of motion, fit, time trialists, races

Takeaways

• Gravel racing in Europe often involves team tactics and cooperation, while American gravel racing is more individual-focused.


• The Unbound Gravel race is known for its deep field and tactical racing.


• Chad Haga prefers not to use aerobars in gravel racing due to the nature of the terrain and the need for control.


• Team dynamics in gravel racing can be challenging, but having a reliable teammate can make a difference.


• Equipment choices, such as bike brands and clothing, can vary between regions and races. Tire choice is crucial for gravel racing, with riders opting for wider and more durable tires to handle rough terrain.


• The gravel racing scene is attracting younger riders who see it as a viable career option, leading to increased competition.


• Chad enjoys the freedom and fun of racing gravel and does not miss road racing.


• Recovery between races is manageable for Chad, with most races being long aerobic efforts.


• VO2 max testing is not always a reliable indicator of performance, and experience and body of work can be more important in evaluating a rider's abilities. VO2 max tests can provide interesting and sometimes surprising results


• Gravel racing in the US is likely to continue growing, with the potential for more team involvement


• The UCI's involvement in gravel racing is limited, and most major gravel races in the US are not sanctioned


• Tire width preferences vary among riders, but wider tires are generally considered faster


• The Bonk Bros speculate on how long they could hold Tadej Pogacar's wheel up a climb Switching to shorter crank arms can help reduce knee pain and improve range of motion.


• Shorter cranks may benefit time trialists by allowing them to maintain a more aero position.


• Crank arm length does not significantly impact power output.


• Chad is considering switching to 170mm cranks on his road and gravel bikes for fit reasons.


• The hosts discuss upcoming races and plans.

Titles

• Tactical Racing at the Unbound Gravel Race


• The Importance of Team Dynamics in Gravel Racing Tire Choice and Racing the Rift


• Transition from Road Racing to Gravel The Future of Gravel Racing in the US


• Surprising VO2 Max Results and Ghosting by Vaughters Upcoming Races and Plans


• Benefits of Shorter Cranks for Time Trialists

Sound Bites

• "It's a bike race, like why should I help you if it doesn't help me?"


• "I was gonna do a three spoke on my gravel bike"


• "There's gonna be a day when I just smoke you"


• "I'm never gonna hear the end of it"


• "What tires are you gonna talk about a mountain bike"


• "I'm gonna be on the 45c Maxxis Revers"


• "Care to guess the VOT max that had me ghosted by Vaughters?"


• "Drew, your VO2 max is eight higher than Chad's and Chad smoked you at unbound. Wasn't even close."


• "I largely see it just continuing the way it's been going as far as the events that are on offer."


• "If I'm training a lot, like probably 30 plus hour weeks, I can get some knee pain. And when you have shorter cranks, you do a little bit smaller range of motion."


• "The research seems to suggest that crank length doesn't impact power output. It doesn't really matter what the length of your crank is."


• "I don't know if there's a need for me to go to 160, but apparently SRAM is going to start doing 160mm cranks."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection with Drew

07:35 The Concept of 'Hire a Promestique'

10:58 Team Tactics at Unbound Gravel Race

15:47 Differences Between European and American Gravel Racing

16:21 Tactical Racing at Unbound Gravel Race

17:37 The Pros and Cons of Using Aerobars in Gravel Racing

18:00 The Importance of Team Dynamics in Gravel Racing

19:19 Variations in Equipment Choices in Gravel Racing

21:59 Introduction and Racing the Rift

22:18 Tire Choice and Mountain Biking

23:06 Setup for the Migration Race

23:53 The Challenges of Gravel Racing

25:40 Tire Choice for Different Races

26:41 Gravel Earth Series and Objectives

27:20 Team Goals and Personal Objectives

28:34 Family Life and Racing

29:15 Age and