Brett Spencer Takes 4th at the USECF Gravel Grinder National Championship in Lawrence

It has been a sparse race season for the Bulls this year. It could have ended with coverage of some Zwift race by Kallsen but then Jason Phillips snuck a race in just under the wire before the COVID shutdown. “I went from 10 speed to single speed at Mile 37 - it was like biking through peanut butter for 100 miles,” said Phillips after the Land Run 100 in March. Mike Sommers participated in the unofficial inaugural Salty 60 mountain bike race at Swope and BuRP, showing a bunch of cross-fit guys how it is done. Outside of those and some friendly “races” with our friends at BRBC, not much has been happening. Leave it to Brett Spencer to change that and participate in an actual race with a full set of awards. This was a great race and the lone Bull found a top 20 overall finish and 4th in the old man age group 55-59. Strava put Spencer at rolling time of 3:21:19 58.93 miles Avg 17.6 mi/h 213 W. Lead group finish was over 19mph avg. for the 58 mile grinder and over 20mph avg for the 110 mile National title. “It won’t surprise you that I got dropped on the first set of rollers managed to get picked by a strong and steady group that stayed together for the last half of the race,” said Spencer. He was greeted at the finish by the captain of the Raging Bulls Lawrence chapter, Blake Spencer, who was ready with a protein drink and a beer. Brett concluded with “Lawrence locals are proud their gravel and Jayhawks. Pizza and Beer at Johnny’s Tavern post ride with a lone Dead Head.“

ALL MASKED UP AND READY TO ROLL

JUST KEEP TRUCKIN’ ON

JASON PHILLIPS AT THE LAND RUN 100 JUST BEFORE THINGS GOT CRAZY.