Last year I rode on single speed and that was going to be my plan again this year. Trying to avoid mechanical gremlins that have haunted me in the past. I decided to do some work on my single speed two days before I was going to leave for this year's race. Last year I rode a 42x20 and knowing this years course was going to have more climbing I decided to change to a 40x20. One of my bolts holing the chainring on decides to get stripped in the removal and then one of the cantilever brake springs breaks. Change of plans and I was back to racing on stinky pink.
Pre-race instructions and course notes to the racers.
This years course had a short neutral roll-out on the road for about a half mile, uphill of course, before the first gravel road and then it was Funk Time!
Starting in Glenmont this year allow the course to be right in the heart of endless miles of hilly gravel roads.
The first gravel road Twp 29 was a 2 mile climb with a half mile section of 15%.
The popular, depending on who you ask, Hike-a-Bike section made a return this year. Five miles in there is a road the county gave up maintenance on several years ago. A few riders complained about it, but since its only a 3/4 miles section in a 66 mile race its not that big.
My fueling strategy was to use what works extremely will for me. I had 2 bottles of my favorite mixture of Hammer Nutrition Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem mixed with a half scoop of Lemon-Lime HEED. I also carried several Hammer Gels and planned on taking one every 90 minutes. This year the "secrect" checkpoint was at mile 21. That along with a natural spring around mile 34 and the Buckeye Deli in Nashville having enough water without carrying 3 bottles was one less thing to worry about.
Going on to the Holmes County Trail
This years course had a little bit of everything closed roads, ghost towns, Bigfoot, abandoned railroads, rock quarries, covered bridges. And if that was not enough there was a stream crossing at the end.
My next big event will be riding in Velosano to raise money for cancer research. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for the support you give me. I am proud to be a Hammer sponsored athlete.
