Dirty Hector is 40 miles of rolling to hilly gravel through the Finger Lakes, with about 3,500 feet of climbing packed into that distance. Rain is possible, so expect the roads to change underfoot.
This is an eight-week plan for riders working with four to six hours a week against that much climbing in a short distance. Most of the training goes toward repeated hill efforts and steady riding on gravel, because the hours are limited and the climbing density is what this course asks of your legs.
40 MI · 3,500 FT CLIMBING · ROLLING TO HILLY GRAVEL ROADS THROUGH FINGER LAKES WINE COUNTRY · 8 WEEKS · 4–6 HR/WK · TIME-CRUNCHED
WHAT'S INSIDE
- Structured workouts on your calendar, with real power and heart-rate graphs
- Strength work built in, with video walkthroughs
- Weekly notes from me, plus the Gravel Grit mental program
- A testing week, so the plan runs on your real numbers
- The full Dirty Hector - New York State Championship guide — terrain, gearing, fueling
Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party