The calendar’s flipped to May, spring is unfolding across New England, and your training for this year’s VT Monster Gravel Grinder should be well underway. With about 6-weeks to go before the event, it’s a good time to review your progress and plan for race-day. Read on for some tips to help set you up for a great VT Monster!

On the bike:

Contact points: If you need to replace your shoes, saddle, handlebar or pedals, now’s the time. Your body needs time to adapt to changes in your equipment, and you want to allow enough time to get comfortable in those new shoes or to make tweaks to any new gear.
Wear items: Check your drivetrain and brakes for wear, and make a plan to get your bike looked-over and tuned well in advance of June 15. Give some thought to tires, too - it might be time for some fresh rubber and sealant.
Train your weaknesses: it may seem counterintuitive, but you should seek out opportunities to train your weaknesses on the bike. If you struggle on steep climbs, do some hill repeats on a local road or trail. If you find your neck, shoulders and low-back getting tight and sore on long rides, double-down on mobility and core-focused work and keep a diet of longer rides in your training.

Off the bike:

Make yourself more durable: If you’ve been slacking on your foam-rolling, core or mobility workouts, you’re not alone. BUT, there’s still time to make notable gains in this important area. The more time you spend taking care of your body off-the-bike, the more enjoyable your time on the bike will be!
Fueling and hydrating: By now, you should have a decent variety of sources for calories and hydration needs. If you don’t, make this a priority! You don’t want to be trying out new foods and drink mixes the day of the event, or scrambling to order your favorite supplies last-minute.
Plan ahead for race-day: Spend some time working on a schedule leading up to the VT Monster. Work backwards from your start-time, and be sure to leave time for parking, packet pickup, getting changed, etc. Do what you can now to make your pre-race prep and travel easier when June 15th rolls around.

These details matter, whether you’re a seasoned rider or you’re tackling the VT Monster for the first time. Deliberate and thorough preparation ahead of time will help you fully utilize your hard-earned fitness on race day, and will set you up for a fun and successful adventure on June 15th!

VT Monster 2024: 6 weeks to go!