Nathan's story: Co2uT

BaseCamp athlete Nathan Trachta shared his experience at the 2025 Co2uT event in Colorado.

Okay, a little long, forgive me. For those who might know me from Zwift races, I do Team Time Trials for the Herd, usually the Herd of Roadrunners, or as we call ourselves, the Gnomerunners, but that’s another story.

Gravel events is something I enjoy, it’s challenging in so many ways. Last year my furthest was 53 miles and after doing Basecamp and signing up with Lorri I decided to do 75 miles for CO2UT (okay, I signed up for the 75 miler before I signed up with Lorri Lee Lown).

Anyway, after doing a couple of trips overseas for work in February and April I was a little worried I’d be behind the power curve for training again. That’s for Lorri to help me fix.

Okay… race day came and I’m as ready as I’m going to be. A little nervous but it’s the distance that has me thinking. Bruce Beyerly and I’d met up and had a beer and talked about things (both are greater. Colorado Springs. There’s a coffee ride coming since our entire Springs area group isn’t here).

We met up in the morning and chatted as everyone formed up in the pen and before you knew it we were off. The first 5 miles or so were a neutral start as we rode north toward the Bookcliffs. Everything was nice and cool with a steady climb.

We’d been on rode and dirt with a mix and two climbs were burned down pretty rapidly as we neared the first aide station. Since I had food and still three bottles with water and electrolytes or fuel I rode on and hit the real dirt.

Here things opened up with undulations. We passed cows and cow pies while the road here is anywhere from solid pack, almost road to areas of sand. There some ruts as we wind thru to the next part of asphalt and the climb to the next said station.

While I’m feeling good two bottles are down so a quick stop to fill water bottles and do the other things and off again and my legs complain till I have shake them out on another climb (before aid station 3 we’d done 6 of 7 climbs).

Now this section is solid "gravel." There’s a climb here that a little wicked but workable. Everything was mixed here. Some sand but not to bad. There’s gravel, rock, and patches of solid hard pack that’s about like road. The bad thing is the climb here because you feel it. To overcome the climb I’m picking when to get out of the saddle push it because the climbs here are long and slow and while the computer says 3 or 4% on each climb, each climb is several kms long and has 7%+ in there somewhere.

Last aid station and about 30 or 35 miles left. Grab more water with fuel and the off again. Ugh, I remember this section from last year. Another false flat that leads to a real climb that’s about 5km long and I don’t remember how many meters but all I know is I kept seeing 7% or more in spots. Okay. Push thru and after that there’s undulating and before you know it downhills.

I’m getting passed some but I know they’re either 100 or 125 milers. What I’m doing is setting the rider ahead of me as the target to pass. Don’t know if they’re 75 or 50 milers but know that I’m using them to motivate me to keep going and to catch them. Before you know it (though I feel it) I have less than 20km to go and I’ve completed a Metric Century in one event!

The kilometers are burning down and I’m feeling it but pushing about as hard as I can. I catch another rider and see I’m almost done. As round a corner I see the finish line and get out of the saddle and sprint for the little bit I have left. Ugh!!! Lay on the ground in the shade and eventually get a burger, chips, and beer.

Like to thank the staff and support peeps for CO2UT. A really good event! Because of how well they run the event I came back for more.