Big Frog 65, 4/23/10

Matt & I headed out to Ducktown, TN Friday night prior to the Big Frog 65/Cohutta 100. I did the 35 mile option two years ago and Matt has done the 65 miler for the last couple of years. This year he decided to go for the 100 while I entered the 65. I started riding my single speed last spring and I don't think I've been on a geared bike since . . . in fact I no longer own a geared bike so it was nice to have a female SS category just for me and one other female SSer, Kristi!

We stopped by the White Water Center and picked up our packets then headed out to the cabin . . . stopping for beer, cookies & snikers on the way! Matt & I love it when we get to hang out with our TN friends. I had a couple of beers, caught up with the TN crew, then hopped into the top bunk of the bunk bed.

We woke up EARLY the next morning since the race was set to begin at 7am. I had a little bit of coffee then normal race day breakfast of oatmeal & a banana followed by a PB sandwich shortly before the start. When we got to the WWC, it was still dark and I think it was kind of raining but it eventually stopped before the race started.

The 100 milers took off at 7 and I lined up for the 65. I was just a couple of rows from the front of the line. I wanted to be somewhat near the front so I could get started on the 2-3 mile road climb up to the singletrack . . . SS is great until it comes to flats and downhills. I'd spin, spin, spin only to get passed by geared riders and even the SS guys with lower gears. We finally reached the turnoff for the singletrack but I had no idea where I was in the group. The pace was working for me though so I was happy. Much of the rest of the race I spent riding by myself or playing leap-frog with a few other riders!

Since this was going to be the longest amount of time I'd spent on my bike in a race setting, my main goal was to keep moving. I attempted a 12-hour last year (Tribble Mill) but spent a lot of time taking a break between laps and ended up quitting early. Granted, I'm in much better shape this year and Matt & I spent a lot of quality time in the mountains over the winter but I did learn that you need to keep moving!

There is one sketchy section once you pass through the overlook parking lot that scares the snot out of me every time I ride it. Lucky for me there was a girl followed by a guy in front of me so that took some of the pressure off and gave me some good lines to follow down. I almost ate it a few times but my "recovery" technique is improving since I'm such a technical spaz! I survived!

The only other section that concerned me would be the flat-rock creek crossing. There is always a camera here and I didn't want to be the one with 20 shots of me falling in the creek! When I made it to the creek, there were people slowing and getting off their bikes and another guy already walking in the water so I just let off the brakes and plowed through the water . . . SUCCESS!!! :)

Until the rain, the rest of the race was not very exciting . . . climb, climb, and climb some more. I only stopped at the sag with my sag bag (both times) so that I could refill my perpetuem and top off water. Everyone was super nice and encouraging of my SS efforts . . . there were a few times that another gear would have been a change of pace but I tried to stay as consistent as possible throughout the race.

There was a storm moving in on the fire road climb out of the lollipop loop to the West Fork trail but as soon as I hit the Quartz loop the bottom fell out of the sky. It was POURING! I followed another girl from Ohio through this section . . . she asked if I wanted to pass but I felt safer following someone through that mess. Once we cleared the Quartz loop I opened it up and just pedaled my heart out through Chestnut and finally Thunder Rock Express. Water was pooling up on the trail so I just held my breath, let off the brakes and hoped that I wouldn't wipe out on a root or rock. Thunder Rock Express is a fast, fun downhill to the end of the race but when it's a little different when it's wet . . . again I held my breath and hoped for the best!

After TRE there is a gravel road descent to the campground followed by a flat, one-mile spin to the finish. This final mile is brutal on a SS and the added headwind and pelting rain didn't add much to the fun! I was so excited to cross the finish line at 6:31 and some change. I really have a firm goal in mind but was hoping between 6 & 7 hours so I'll take 6 1/2! I had soooo much fun . . . even in the rain and the Misfit Psycles SS was awesome, as always!