The First Big Rocket Ride.

Okay, yes that name may be funny sounding but it's based on my last name, Large, and Rob's nickname from his riding days, Rob The Rocket.

When we ride together its a Big Rocket Ride lol. Anyway now for Rob's piece.

Happy Thursday Rollers,

Given this was a holiday week please forgive our late missive to your inboxes. Believe it or not. We got to ride. Specifically, I rode with Samson.

I have not gotten an actual chance to ride with Samson before. Despite the three years he's been with this band of misfits and the countless travel miles all over the country. Monday was the first time we got to do a proper bicycle ride together. Let alone a 30-mile gravel ride. It's what inspired my writing today. Because the text exchange to get him to ride is something I have experienced a hundred times before.

This is the Gate where we met along the canals.

“It was 3 miles to get here from my house.”— Samson

(BTW, he is riding the bike it took us over a year to part together. Better late than never I guess).

Me: Hey, you want to ride on Monday 20-ish(30-ish) miles?

Samson: Sure. You got a route.

Me: I'd have to build it, it's all in my head.

Samson: .....

Me: I'm not gonna leave you for dead. I'll ride next to you the whole time - I PROMISE!

And I did.

“See?! I told you I wouldn’t leave him in the dust!”

Rob Evans, 2026

Well, 99% of the time. The one big climb of the day Samson decided to sprint at the bottom. Watch our video for the result...

It's not completely unwarranted. I've earned that reputation. I tend to pick challenging courses, and I can get impatient sitting around for too long. People have seen it — or heard about it (anyone remember the Epic Gaps Exploratory Committee in the early 2010's?)— and some even traumatised (sorry all of you Valley of the Giants first year crash test dummies).

The thing is, riding is both an emotional and social outlet for me. When I was on the pointy end, training was solo. There was no way I could hit the training goals of the day when riding with someone. I had to hit the target. It was selfish and focused. 

That got the emotions out, leaving it out there on the road. But after the training, I would make plans to meet up with people and do another couple of hours riding with them. The big goal of the day was done, this was just bonus time. 

So when I offered to ride with people, I really meant it. I really meant it to Samson too, even told him before he had to ask. 

I had a great day, but I won't speak for Samson. (Samson here, I had a fantastic day!)

I got to ride with someone I work with on a daily basis, outside the glow of our screens and our completely scientific wild ass guesses on how to run an event business. I'm sure Samson's ears only bled a little while I talked about pacing, and technique and bike positioning on that steep gravel climb... and other obstacles of the day. On the other hand, he made me stop to watch a big ol' snake slither across the road….

And even asked where "that road went" and "can we take it?" towards the end of our ride. He told me he was only a little* sore today (Tuesday as I write this). 

We talk a lot about why I started the Gravel Roll, and this is yet another reason. I wanted to ride with my friends who didn't think they could ride with me. The irony that putting on events also prevents me from riding with y'all is not lost on me, but that's a post for another day.