Snake Creek Gap #2
Here is a written expression of our weekend.
Once upon a time, three men traveled to a far far away place to ride just 34 miles on a legendary trail that goes by the name of Pinhotti. The weather was britterly frigid but they were warmed by the love of racing. Snow fell upon them for a majority of their epic journey. The men feast on chili and cobbler provided for the Snake Creek Gap warriors, for they were weary but encourage by the improved times under such challenging conditions.
I am posting this through google blogger app, so I am hoping to post some pictures below. If that doesn't work out, I will post later.
Chehaw Trail Map
Check out the trail map on Chehaw's website or follow the link created on the side of this page.
Thanks Walt, your time is greatly appreciated.
Chehaw Fat Four this Saturday!!!!!
The event is being hosted by the Parks at Chehaw, in Albany, GA. Chehaw has tons of great activities for the whole family; zoo, safari ride, BMX, playground, disc golf, great camping with wifi, and 8 miles of fast flowing singletrack.
Online registration closed last night but you can register day off the event for $40. Neutral support and neutral aid station will be provided. Here is our flyer for more info; Chehaw Fat Four Flyer.
We will have a free kids race before the start of the event at 10 AM. Each participant in the kids race will receive a custom animal print medallion.
Download your GPS to Strava.com and compete against the 2012 Chehaw Fat Four Strava challenge.
More info to come soon!!!!!!
If you have any question, you can email us at southgacycling@gmail.com or call Breakaway Cycles @ 229-432-6866. Check us out on Facebook @ ChehawFatFourMtb
ORAMM and Jerdon Mtn Challenge 2012
Dirty Deeds....
Dauset SERC/GSC
This weekends lodging was provided by Hampton inn. I like to think of the Hampton inn as the working mans ritz Carlton. If you measure your lodging on the 42" flat screen, lack of bed bugs and other peoples stray hair in your bed then the hand written sticky note stuck to the head board confirming that clean comforters had been provided, just sealed the deal on our pure luxury accommodations.
Since this weekend was a SERC/GSC race weekend the anticipation of a larger crowd was confirmed when there were approx 60 riders competing in the GSC bonus round TT on Saturday afternoon. I went off first and hoped to put down a fast time but was over taken for the 1st time this weekend by Ryan Woodall. This time by only 10 seconds. Gene had to wait about an hour to go off since we were heading out at one minute intervals.
Gene scored some needed points in his class with a 6th place to finish and I managed 2nd place 10 seconds of the winning time of a 4.5 mile course.
After getting cleaned up we headed out to margaritas Mexican restaurant for some nourishment. We were tacos were the food of choice and margaritas were the drink of choice. Texas, mango, and some big old beer margs were consumed. Gene may have chosen the wrong tacos. Bacon, shrimp, and other items may have caused Bolt Speedman to loose some of his bolt in the middle of the night. Maybe he and Bill need to discuss diet choices.
We had a last minute addition to the travel team. Buck and Haile joined us for dinner and came out the next day to hang out and cheer everyone on. Thanks!
Race day. After sleeping well in the Hampton inn ice box Amy and I are off for my start at 9:30. Arriving late as usual, I quickly checked over the faithful steed, lubed her chain and headed out to try to warm up in about 10 mins.
I decided to race in the pro class this weekend to see how I would stand against some of the fastest guys in the southwest. I was rewarded with the presence of Ryan Woodall and Thomas Turner. So my plan was to sit 3rd to 4th wheel and hang on as long as possible. So after the first turn when I was rolling second wheel, I wasn't too pleased but was up for the challenge. About half way through the first lap I even thought it was a good idea to go to the front and put down the pace to see how my technical skills added up against these guys. At this point it was just 4 of us that had gotten away from the field and the gap was significant. Everything was going well on the front until I came around a tight right hand turn in the big ring into a step technical climb. All three guys came by, I regrouped quickly but they were flying and I put myself deep into the red zone as they put 30 seconds on me.
I recovered and rolled back onto Robert Marion's wheel about 1/2 way through the second lap. We rode together till the finish where he nipped me in the sprint. He may have even pinched me into the barrier to slow my sprint. Either way, it was a great race and I finished about 4 mins off Thomas and Ryan's pace. I still have some work todo but a good measure to start the summer.
Gene went off at 11:45ish after a bit of a delay. He didn't get the best start but was able to ride a solid race and finished 12th for his category but will equate into some important points for the overall GSC series points.
Jeff Walters also made the trip up from Albany to compete in his second MTb race of the season. Good to see you out there Jeff.
Missing his weekend were the other usual suspects we haven't heard from mr. Riddle after he assured us that he was coming up Sunday.
Another fun weekend of MTb racing. Lots of good folks that get along and share great stories. Thanks to Sarah and Amy for your support. Thanks Buck and Haile for cheering us on out on the course.
I you made it his far through the write up then thank you for reading as I rambled. If our weekend of racing and adventure sounded fun to you then you should try it. Goneriding.com has a couple races in June near he Albany area. Or you can always check out chainbusterracing or dirty spoke racing for other great events around the state.
Until next time...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Dauset trails
12 hours of Santos
Bill
Mitch
The adventure begins at the grocery store, as usual, in the parking lot when we notice a truck that has the same bike rack as me. A couple of tall slender chaps walk out and we inquire if they are racing at Santos tomorrow? "oh, we are, have you pre-ridden the course?". We say no. They say , "wow!" , "The reds are at the start and finish with the flats in the middle." bill asks,"what are these reds that you mentioned?" Slender 1 replies " Technical" Slender 2 adds, "are you two a team, or solo, because I did a 12 solo last year and it was a 'Death-march!!!' " Later in the check out line. A patron with a t-shirt on that reads "we do it in the dirt" is ahead of us as we wait to check out with our carbohydrates. Bill questions the individual "are you racing Santos ?" "Yeah." the patron retorts. Bill asks " What do you think of the reds?". Patron says "I don't know what you are talking about." Then the patron and his buddy proceed to go weigh themselves on the free scale and announce to any and everyone that the scales are "Wrong!!". Bill and I exit immediately. After a few carbs, we turn in relatively early, even though as Dave the Oracle Muse states, " the night before the race is not as important as the night before the night of the race".
6:30 am race day
Food intake for bill. Oatmeal and coffee with a banana (even though a fruit, not citrus)
Food intake for Mitch. Eggs, pork, oatmeal and herbal tea with honey.
8:00 am race day
Mitch and bill enter the vehicle and point it toward the event....10 minutes away.....
8:45 Mitch and Bill after a few mis calculations arrive at the race site.
9:00 pre-ride. The "reds" mean business.
9:45 line-up for the lemans start. And we are off at 10:15?...
Anyway the crowd of racers " sprint" up the hill toward the bikes and mount and speed down the road to the hairpin turn-in and everyone halts and the conga begins for the first lap. The " reds" have a manageable flow with sharp ups and turns that have strategically place limestone boulders in the path...bursting out of the initial "reds" one finds themselves in the flat-lands of speed and burmed turns...sweet mother of pearl...then back to the ruthless cliff hanging trails of death and craggy climbs of insanity until the trail spews you out of the "vortex" to the transition area...8.9 miles of fun and a touch of pain.
2nd lap for Mitch.
Cruising through the flatlands a call of on your left comes out and I shift to the right as a racer proceeds safely by.....then as we allow the polite racer to proceed, the trees tighten and a lunatic appears on the left and attempts to squeeze through the non existent space between the trees....my handle bars lock up with said lunatic and we dance off the trees to a beautiful rolling somersault on the left of the trail...some pleasantries were exchanged and then the lunatic decides to "pull" at 5 mph...I then explain to looney that passing someone improperly then having the access to lead usually would result in a faster pace instead of a slower one....I then say "on your left, kind lunatic" and zip through the reds to rid myself of this vermin.
4th lap for Bill
The Pain cave has set in....the pace has slowed.....and yes the dreaded lock-up cramping has appeared. Bill has navigated through the reds, the flatlands, and now is about to enter the vortex, when his legs fail him on the second wall of doom.....his legs lock, he is half way up the the hill...he grabs a sapling to his right and holds on for dear life as trail crewman rush to his aid....and what do you think happens?........yep, he hears, "on your right!". Pepe le pew has decided the quickest route up the second hill is straight through Bill's clinched lifeline....Bill says.." young man, you should know that I refuse to let go of my wood and you best consider a different route option." or something to that effect.
Mitch finished with 3 1/2 laps with neck/back pain due to his tumbling routine.
Bill finished with 4 1/2 cramp filled finale.
Post race:
Chick-a-fil
Bill and Mitch in the line to order when bill almost collapsed....a lady in front of us asked if she should call 911? to which we replied..." not yet......."