SWANK 65

[ted]

If anyone has a wild hare, sorry, hair up their butt; do this this weekend.
www.blueridgeadventures.net/3.html
Still some spaces left as of today with Friday being last day to sign up.
Great fun, guaranteed fatigue and injury.

DGADDIS??? A single speed riders challenging nitemare.

[dgaddis1]

Sounds like fun. Can't make it this year though...maybe next year.

And I'm not gonna lie, I'd wuss out and put my rear der. back on.

[TallChris]

I'm registered, along with a buddy of mine from Asheville. It will be my first endurance race... You going, Ted?

[ted]

Yes, we've got 4 guys going up this year. Looks like the weather will be excellent and the trails should be covered with leaves good and thick!!!

[TallChris]

How did you guys do? I met someone named Jimmy from Augusta at aid station 2 before the climb from hell. I managed 5:47, no injuries, I'm pleased for a first attempt. What's next??

[dgaddis1]

TallChris - you doing the Snake Creek Gap TT this winter?? I hear it's brutal. It's *only* 34 miles, but I've heard it described as "the most difficult thing I've done on a bike" by folks who have done several 6 and 12 hour races.

[TallChris]

Never heard of it before now, but I just checked it out online. I'd have to pass. It sounds brutal, plus it's pretty far away from me. 90% singletrack... ouch.

[TallChris]

I did a write-up on my facebook page of the race; thought I'd post it here for anyone curious as to what a first-timer's experience was like. I have the bug for this style of racing now...

Everyone gathered at lower Cove Creek campground in Pisgah, right outside Brevard. It was 34 degrees at starting time. The race announcer stated that the route was shortened this year (no hard feelings with me) to 38 miles. My computer was out of commission, which probably helped because I would have pushed myself too hard looking at the readout.

There was a LeMans styled start, where everyone had to run 1/4 mile to their bike and then start up the Cove Creek trail. Mike H., a friend from Asheville, and I started near the last 2/3 of the pack, knowing that the beginning would be one of the most stressful parts of the race aerobically and that we would pass riders along the way... plus, I haven't run in years.

The first stretch was 8 miles of mostly climbing singletrack with a little room for passing. The terrain was rooty and rocky, with several stream crossings where dismount was necessary. We passed several riders on this section. There was one intersection where a dozen riders bottle-necked (Daniel's Ridge), not knowing which way to go, and the ensuing downhill section was punishing. My bike didn't feel like it had any suspension; my hands and triceps were stressed.

The first aid station was at 9 miles and rather than get passed by everyone we had just dropped, we pedalled on to Gloucester Gap. I got one bite of ClifBar, which is less than what I'd hoped, but it worked out. The next 3-4 miles was climbing gravel fire roads and I recovered a lot on this section and finally fell into a decent rhythm. The next 5 miles were back into singletrack climbing, including a 1/2 mile dirt chute that was too steep to ride all the way up. I dropped Mike at the start of this trail section. There were several miles where I didn't see or hear anyone and I like it that way. One more mile of climbing fire roads to the second aid station at 20 miles. I stopped and had a drink, finished my Clif Bar, and waited about 5 minutes for Mike. The rest did me good, I think. When Mike arrived, we agreed that I would ride on solo, so off I went up Pilot Mountain Road.

The next section was mental. I spent 45 minutes steadily climbing up a steep fire road, mostly in granny gear. I could hear my heart pounding in my head and was maxed out aerobically. After 25 minutes of this, I stopped to put my feet down and collect myself. I was pretty fit mentally, having done all of my training in solitude over several months, so this was no different. As time went on though, I began to feel dismayed when after every turn in the road there was yet another couple hundred yards straight uphill to be tackled. I resigned myself to the fact that the route went all the way to the top of the mountain, which it did. I had to stop 2 more times and when I closed my eyes I hallucinated pretty good. The road finally ended and the trail was somewhat flat, with some rises here and there. I wasted some time at the top putting my sleeves back on, climbed a little bit more, and then began the descent into hell (Farlow's Gap). Following such a punishing climb, the timing of this trail section couldn't have been worse. Normally, going downhill is fun; sometimes it's a chance to rest. Farlow's Gap consisted of 2-3 miles of down the mountain in a leaf-covered chute of boulders, large loose rocks, dicey stream crossings, steep cliffs, and then punishing hike-a-bike climbs. Even as a hiking trail it sucked, much less a biking trail. The first descent was ok, but it quickly progressed to me cursing the trail as ridiculous. I had to side-step down the rocks with one hand on the front brake and the other hand holding the tail of the bike down. Not fun. I lost a lot of time on this section. Mike caught up with me as I was walking uphill. It took me about 2 miles to shake the nerves and get back into a confident pace again. The loose rocks were just obnoxious, not at all like where I train in Columbia. The last mile or so was all-out hauling ass to the aid station.

At aid station 3 at 28 miles, I took some Advil, refilled my water and we took off on a teaser 2-3 mile section of flat, big-ring speedy singletrack along a river (Davidson River Trail). Nice. At 31 miles, we started up another long damned fire road climb. The question, 'how much further?' repeated in my mind and I found it hard to remain positive. I knew eventually the road would turn back into singletrack leading us to the finish line. Mike flatted at 35 miles, about a mile before the trail started. We stopped together while he attempted pumping up his tire the first time, and when he was done with that, I took off. A moment later I stopped and realized he wasn't keeping pace, so I turned around and rode back down to him, to see that he was changing his tube. I asked if he had what he needed, and he waived me on. Finally, around mile 36, I entered the trail again and did my best just to hammer out some speed. This was a repeat of the beginning of the race course, so I knew to expect several dismounts to walk the log bridges over the creeks. My arms had become so tired at this point I could barely shift gears. Again, the hits came so fast my bike felt like a rigid frame. I finally smelled the barbecue and knew that my ride would be over in a minute, I felt such relief. As I rounded that last few corners a spotter told the organizer my number and he announced me coming through the finish line. Click, smile.

My time was 5 hours and 47 minutes and I'm happy with that. Mike came in about 5 minutes later. My goals were no or minimal injuries, and to finish in under 7 hours. I learned a few things and would do several things differently to improve my time if I do this race again. Thanks for reading.