Post by Scott Baker on Jul 14, 2008 22:15:13 GMT -5
Here is a brief summary from my perspective of the event this past Saturday. I am torn on the official title, but I'll go with "Silent Bob Speaks Loudly".
Andy Stenberg and I met up to ride the 100-miler and the weather was perfect. We rode to the Pisgah Inn & back (along with Gibbs) a week ago Tuesday (~96 miles and 9600' gain), so I had about 11 days recovery and easy riding before the HD100. They staggered the starting groups between the 100-mile, 100-kilometer, and 25-mile fun ride. There looked to about ~100 doing the 100-miler, so it was a good showing. The route is very scenic and on very low traffic roads. The course profile shows five major climbs, with some shorter climbs in between and some "sawtooth" sections. Having not ridden it before, I kept a course profile in a zip lock bag to reference, which helped knowing what was coming most of the time.
There were a few cyclists I had seen before at other rides, such as "Silt Bob aka Paul from the Tour de Cashiers and Greg (tall guy on the Seven bike) from B2B, Mitchell, and the Nantahala Nightmare. Andy Applegate was riding on (the only) tandem, and Cujo was there (who I did not know, but recognized the DLP kit and assumed it was him, introduced myself after the ride). So, after seeing some heavy hitters at the "cookie ride" as Josh calls it, I figured I could still get a top 10 or so.
After the first few miles and a few small climbs and accelerations, the lead group was quickly down to about a dozen. Someone behind me flatted on a downhill section that had a big gravel patch, and a few miles up the road I realized it was Andy Stenberg. At about mile 12 or so, I was unhitched from the lead group, still contained all aforementioned cyclists. Damn, I was pissed that I did not feel good, but it sometimes is a lottery on having a good day for us mortals. ;D So I rode along at a pave I felt comfortable with , and some other guys caught up with me around mile 22. The first big climb started at mile 28ish, and it was a long one. Just after starting up it, Andy S. let me know he was there. Very impressive. He feigned hurting, but the effort to catch back up must have been some serious work.
After topping Doggett Mtn, it was a nice, long descent down the other side, then a nice slight descent into Hot Springs. Andy & I were together and hauling major butt. It would have been great to be on the tandem's wheel here for sure. We caught up with a guy that dropped us on the climb and waited for him to latch on. The three of us rode together for the next several miles.
The next-to-last long climb to Sam's Gap was tough, with a few small climbs before it. I needed to stop for fluids for the first time about mile 66. This is where Andy "Cookie Monster" Stenburg came to life. He kicked it up on the slight ascent run-in to the Sam's Gap climb. Once the climb started, he really took form. As the grade hit a short and steep pitch of 18%, I cracked. Andy held strong and it was the last time I would see him until the finish (where he would be waiting). I suffered up the rest of the climb and wanted a refill at the top. Unfortunately I got a mildew-ridden Gatorade fill-up, which I wouldn't know about immediately since I had another bottle on the ready.
The last long climb is a real slog. Just before it I dropped my chain, and lost a spot as someone on the 100-miler passed me. Thanks for offering some help, not! I was pissed, but could never catch the guy even though I could see him. About a third of the way up the last climb I reached for my bottle-o-nastiness Gatorade, unaware of the foul Gatorade I was about to chug. After gagging and spitting out the Gatorade, I emptied it and prayed for an aid station soon. There was one at the top of the climb and I had to stop for a last bottle.
From there on in there were a few short climbs that were gut-busters, and the miles were not ticking off very fast. I passed one guy on the last long climb, he passed me at the aid station, and we mostly rode together to the end at 5:52:35. I had hoped to break 5:30, but it was not to be. Silent Bob aka Paul came in first at 5:06:46. Very impressive. Cujo was second at 5:20:41. Nice. Maybe he can give a different perspective than mine on the event.
www.mhc.edu/hotdoggett/results.asp
So, I'll probably do it again and try to avenge my time and hopefully break 5:30 the the whooping that Cookie Monster Stenberg put on me. To be fair, the event had like 8 or 9 aid stations that had awesome support and great food and drinks. The one bad Gatorade, while a really bad thing, did not overshadow my opinion of the event. On several climbs there were people spraying mist to help cool off. Way cool. The event started & finished at Mars Hill college, so getting dressed and having showers at the end was also outstanding. The food was really good too. Hats off to the Madison County Rotary Club for a great event.
Here is my Garmin 305 ride data. Enjoy!
trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6231371
Andy Stenberg and I met up to ride the 100-miler and the weather was perfect. We rode to the Pisgah Inn & back (along with Gibbs) a week ago Tuesday (~96 miles and 9600' gain), so I had about 11 days recovery and easy riding before the HD100. They staggered the starting groups between the 100-mile, 100-kilometer, and 25-mile fun ride. There looked to about ~100 doing the 100-miler, so it was a good showing. The route is very scenic and on very low traffic roads. The course profile shows five major climbs, with some shorter climbs in between and some "sawtooth" sections. Having not ridden it before, I kept a course profile in a zip lock bag to reference, which helped knowing what was coming most of the time.
There were a few cyclists I had seen before at other rides, such as "Silt Bob aka Paul from the Tour de Cashiers and Greg (tall guy on the Seven bike) from B2B, Mitchell, and the Nantahala Nightmare. Andy Applegate was riding on (the only) tandem, and Cujo was there (who I did not know, but recognized the DLP kit and assumed it was him, introduced myself after the ride). So, after seeing some heavy hitters at the "cookie ride" as Josh calls it, I figured I could still get a top 10 or so.
After the first few miles and a few small climbs and accelerations, the lead group was quickly down to about a dozen. Someone behind me flatted on a downhill section that had a big gravel patch, and a few miles up the road I realized it was Andy Stenberg. At about mile 12 or so, I was unhitched from the lead group, still contained all aforementioned cyclists. Damn, I was pissed that I did not feel good, but it sometimes is a lottery on having a good day for us mortals. ;D So I rode along at a pave I felt comfortable with , and some other guys caught up with me around mile 22. The first big climb started at mile 28ish, and it was a long one. Just after starting up it, Andy S. let me know he was there. Very impressive. He feigned hurting, but the effort to catch back up must have been some serious work.
After topping Doggett Mtn, it was a nice, long descent down the other side, then a nice slight descent into Hot Springs. Andy & I were together and hauling major butt. It would have been great to be on the tandem's wheel here for sure. We caught up with a guy that dropped us on the climb and waited for him to latch on. The three of us rode together for the next several miles.
The next-to-last long climb to Sam's Gap was tough, with a few small climbs before it. I needed to stop for fluids for the first time about mile 66. This is where Andy "Cookie Monster" Stenburg came to life. He kicked it up on the slight ascent run-in to the Sam's Gap climb. Once the climb started, he really took form. As the grade hit a short and steep pitch of 18%, I cracked. Andy held strong and it was the last time I would see him until the finish (where he would be waiting). I suffered up the rest of the climb and wanted a refill at the top. Unfortunately I got a mildew-ridden Gatorade fill-up, which I wouldn't know about immediately since I had another bottle on the ready.
The last long climb is a real slog. Just before it I dropped my chain, and lost a spot as someone on the 100-miler passed me. Thanks for offering some help, not! I was pissed, but could never catch the guy even though I could see him. About a third of the way up the last climb I reached for my bottle-o-nastiness Gatorade, unaware of the foul Gatorade I was about to chug. After gagging and spitting out the Gatorade, I emptied it and prayed for an aid station soon. There was one at the top of the climb and I had to stop for a last bottle.
From there on in there were a few short climbs that were gut-busters, and the miles were not ticking off very fast. I passed one guy on the last long climb, he passed me at the aid station, and we mostly rode together to the end at 5:52:35. I had hoped to break 5:30, but it was not to be. Silent Bob aka Paul came in first at 5:06:46. Very impressive. Cujo was second at 5:20:41. Nice. Maybe he can give a different perspective than mine on the event.
www.mhc.edu/hotdoggett/results.asp
So, I'll probably do it again and try to avenge my time and hopefully break 5:30 the the whooping that Cookie Monster Stenberg put on me. To be fair, the event had like 8 or 9 aid stations that had awesome support and great food and drinks. The one bad Gatorade, while a really bad thing, did not overshadow my opinion of the event. On several climbs there were people spraying mist to help cool off. Way cool. The event started & finished at Mars Hill college, so getting dressed and having showers at the end was also outstanding. The food was really good too. Hats off to the Madison County Rotary Club for a great event.
Here is my Garmin 305 ride data. Enjoy!
trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6231371