Cherohala Crossing Gravel Grinder Report

In its 10th year, the Cherohala Crossing is one of my favorite gravel rides.  It is about 50% dirt and 50% pavement, has 3 monster climbs, and covers two states, NC and TN.  The turnout this year was small, only 10 of us.  That was ok with me, as I got the chance to get to know everyone during the roll out to the Tatum Gap climb.  



The start was unusually chilly, but I was not complaining.  The weather fore casted a perfect day to ride.  The first 15 miles was pretty neutral and my legs were happy with that.  In the past two weeks leading up to this, I had logged some hard miles.  For me today was all about pushing through fatigue and finding that zen.

Party pace roll out.  Photo Cred:  Jimmy Deane

David Goggins, an ex Navy Seal and motivational speaker, has a 40% rule that I am struggling to embrace, but bound and determined to by September 23.

When you think that you are done, you are only 40% into what your body is capable of doing; that is just the limit we put on ourselves.

Once we turned onto the gravel, the pack broke up pretty quickly, as the road rose to the heavens.  I found my groove and stayed in it for the 4 1/2 mile climb, where, at times, I saw 18% grade.  Jimmy Deane (not of sausage fame) went up the gravel like a scalded pig.  I kept Don in my sight and used him as my pacer.

The legs were ok at the pace I was pushing, but there was definitely no sparkle. At the top, Jimmy and Don had stopped to wait on the rest.  I kinda wished they hadn't, but not wanting to be a douche, stopped as well.  Today wasn't really a race, but more of a group ride.  Over the next 10 minutes, the others trickled in.

The descent off the backside was super fun.  With the previous days' rain, the road was tacky and traction was superb!  Towards the bottom, it turned into pavement.  Still bombing the descent, just behind Jimmy, we almost became a hood ornament when a blue haired person in a mini van approached us, careening left and right across the road.  Thank goodness for disc brakes and quick reflexes!  I don't know if the person was drunk or having a stroke.

Once onto Hwy 143, I was treated to a bit of a head wind.  This road rolled steadily uphill, with a few small curvy descents to keep it fun. The first rest stop was at the Snowbird picnic area.  I quickly refilled my bottles and motored on. Some stopped longer, but I knew my body needed to just keep moving.

With my Garmin timer set every 15 minutes, I made sure to drink and take in some calories.  Just before we hit the second section of gravel, FS 81, the road pitched upwards.  I was hoping that I would not have to use the 40% rule until I hit the 3rd and final gravel climb of the day, but it was on the 9 mile climb up the gravel that I had to embrace the suffering.

Hero gravel.

Thankfully, the road was in perfect condition, unlike last year when it was so dry and loose that I could not stand without spinning out.  Today, climbing up to the Skyway crossing I alternated between sitting and standing.  Halfway up, Hill Billy made an amazing pass.  Good gawd, he was flying like he was on a moto!  Apparently those weekly group shop rides with the young bucks had paid off!

His kit was dialed! Photo cred: Jimmy Deane

At the top was the second rest stop.  Wayne and Jimmy were already there and I rolled in with Don. Once again, we waited on the others.  I learned a valuable lesson right here.  After 20 minutes, we finally rolled out onto the North River Road descent.  Most of it was so steep, there was no need to pedal.  By the time it leveled out and I had to re engage the legs, they were nowhere to be found. Apparently they thought the ride was over at the Skyway and so had completely ... shut ... down.

The struggle up River Road was real.  Fortunately, Don was feeling just as bad.  Together we agonizingly made our way to the final gravel climb, Harshaw Gap.  The first mile or so of this climb is pavement, which helps when it pitches to 15%.  When the tires hit the gravel, my legs had finally decided to come back to life.  I enjoyed the rolling nature of this climb. With so much traction, I didn't have to scrub too much speed in the corners and could carry momentum up small inclines.

Harshaw switchbacks of death!  Photo cred: Jimmy Deane

Plummeting off the backside of Harshaw, I found my smiley face again.  Once I hit pavement, I still had 11 miles to go, but now the legs were at least firing on 6 of 8 cylinders.  Most of the pavement was still downhill, but there were a few short but vicious climbs we had to "oomph" over.

I was glad to see the final left hander back to the start.  6:14 moving time, but the real kick to the body was the 6:54 elapsed time.  No wonder my legs were cranky!   Although I enjoyed getting to know everyone better, next time I will save the banter for the end.  So, in the future, if I don't stop, it is not that I am a "dickette," but that I have the engine of an old Massey Ferguson tractor:  once I get it going, I gotta get it done!

I definitely put the 40% rule into effect on this one.  Thanks Wayne for making it happen.  Now that there has been 10 editions, the CC has got to keep going.

Cysco Cycles CX Gravel Grinder Review

I have had this work of art built with love by Richie Moore, owner of Cysco Cycles and designed by Chris Williams for 4 months.  I have racked up several hundred miles, including one race.  I feel now that I can share my experiences with you about how well she rides.

Beautiful welds.

I wanted the frame as lightweight as possible, but still strong enough to minimize flex.  That being said, Richie ran with a 1 1/2" downtube and 1 3/8" top tube and seat tube.  Chainstays were 5/8".   Having PF bottom brackets on all my other bikes (and having no issues), I opted for the same.  It has an oversize tallish HT for comfort and I wanted thru axles front/rear so the rear is a Paragon Machine Works PolyDrop.

Paragon Machine Works eye candy!

3.6 pounds

I'll take the weight penalty for a real head badge.

I went with a Whiskey #9 Fork (475 grams), Cane Creek 110 headset, Stan's Ravens 700 x 35 mounted on Industry 9 UL CX wheels (1400 grams w/ tape and valve stems), SRAM Red 22 groupset (mechanicals now, but going back to hydraulics), Specialized CG-R seatpost, Specialized Toupe saddle, Thomson seat binder and stem, Specialized Women's carbon bar, King Ti bottle cages, and Xpedo M Force 8 Ti pedals.

As a basis for comparison, Lisa let me borrow her Cannondale Super X last fall.  In the two months that I had that amazing machine, I put a ton of miles and the Pisgah Monster Cross on it.  I loved how it handled and so based my Cysco off it.

With a wheelbase of 1013mm, HT angle of 69 degrees and a BB height of 270mm, she is stable!  I feel very at ease descending and cornering on the steepest of fire roads.  The only time I get a little rattled (both mind and body) is on stutter bumps.  Or descending Pisgah forest service road 2250 in fog so thick visibility is only 20-30 feet!

It is stiff enough for me.  Probably not as big an issue for me as a more heavily muscled, powerful rider, I don't feel any flex when hammering out of the saddle.

The compliance is unreal.  I was worried that the Whiskey fork might be too stiff being a thru axle, but I have been very comfortable on rides/races in the 4-5 hour range.  When I initially had the SRAM hydraulic brakes (pre-recall), I felt comfortable and in control descending on the hoods (unless I encountered long sections of deep stutter bumps).  During the HardFord 50, I descended mainly in the drops due to weather conditions and the mechanical brakes.  Couple the frame to the "cobble gobble" seat post and my tush was very happy ... no "jack-assage."  I also experienced no hand/finger numbness or shoulder/upper back achiness.

S-Bend Seatstays make for a forgiving ride.

Funky yet functional.

My only dislike is that on occasion, like when I am trying to manhandle her out of the saddle on 20% grades or turn around in a tight space, my foot will tap the front tire.  Not a fault of the creator, but due to how I run my cleats so far back on my shoes.  If I had to do it all over again, I would have had a slightly longer top tube.  But ... this has had no negative effects on my rides and race.

I am very pleased with my new steed.  Custom may not be for everyone, but I think everyone ought to try a titanium frame.  It's all about carbon right now, but everyone forgets how nice a ride titanium can be.  Richie has been building frames for 19 years, starting out with Litespeed and for the past 5 years via his own company.

Richie has standard geometry as well as custom.  Chris is the best and most patient person I know when it comes to the design.  He was always available to talk, no matter what hour of the day. And Cysco Cycles offers a lifetime warranty!

The big question is:  had I not been a sponsored racer, would I still purchase a Cysco?  The answer is undoubtedly YES!  I just would have had to wait a little longer while I worked some additional shifts.

HardFord 50 Race Report

Every time I would travel through the chicanes of I-40 East to places like Brevard and North Wilkesboro to race, I would catch myself looking up at the mountains and wondering if there were some places to grind out some good rides.  Well, I found out last Saturday that there are some spectacular forest roads in this part of the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests.

I found out about this inaugural gravel grinder through my FB NewsFeed.  I was itchin' to race my Cysco Ti gravel grinder and so pre registered a couple weeks prior.  In hindsight, I was glad I did.  Because as the time approached, the weather forcast got uglier and uglier.  As I was traveling to the venue, the skies opened up and the rain came down.  Oh, and it was just warm enough for rain ... 36 degrees.

I never thought about bailing.  After my fail at P36 a couple weeks back, I was determined to beat Mother Nature at this one.  I came with an arsenal of wool and waterproof gear and was using this race as a testing ground for the Pisgah Productions races I would come to love/hate later this year.

My SCUBA suit

51 of us began this race.  Wes, of 35 North Produtions, was the promoter.  He was raising money for Grassy Fork Elementary School ... the only school in Tennessee to still be on a well and septic tank!  And yes, it was still raining.

I was warm and happy as the lead group took it easy for the first mile or so.  But as soon as we left the pavement and hit the first dirt climb, the front runners took off like bats out of hell.  I was content to let them go, knowing it was going to be a long epic day and my legs were not quite ready to up the wattage yet.

The first big climb up Black Mountain Road had some steep pitches and a couple sections of freshly laid large gravels.  That made it tough keeping contact with the road and not spinning out. But for the most part, the gravel road was hard packed and fast.  Even though it was raining and temps were in the 30's, I had to unzip a layer.

The second climb up Mt. Sterling Road was much like the first.  It was here that I began to pass a few people and inch my way up the ladder.  I bypassed the first aid station.  Did I mention that it was still raining?  So far my shower cap, GoreTex, and duct tape was doing the job, keeping the wind and rain outside so that I was all comfy cozy on the inside.

The descending was a little slower than I would have liked, but I am kinda new to this CX skinny tire racing with mechanical disck brakes style of racing.  And even though the conditions were miserable, people were still out in their 4WD's and I did not want to become a hood ornament.  As Zeke would say, "You don't get old by being stupid!"

On the second big descent I noticed that when I squeezed my brake levers they were getting closer to the bar.  I tried adjusting them on the fly, but with all the mud and cold fingertips that was near impossible.  I told myself that the next time I stopped I would adjust them.

I was going to stop at the second aid station to refill my bottles.  As I approached mile 26, there was a distinct odor in the air:  BACON!  Probably someone at a campground.  But as I rounded the corner and saw the TVB van and a couple EZ Ups, I realized that it was they that be doing the cookin'!  Thick cut bacon, real French toast, and hot coffee!  I could have easily eaten 5 pieces of bacon, but I wisely chose just one, as the big climb of the day lay ahead.  Can you say BEST AID STATION EVER!

The climb to Max Patch was a humdinger:  2500 feet in 8 miles.  It was here, approximately 2 1/2 hours into the race that I felt the first signs of fatigue.  I had chased my 1 piece of bacon down with 2 gels and was waiting on that to kick in.  At least the grade wasn't as steep as the first two climbs. At about the 3 hour mark, the rain had FINALLY stopped.  As I got towards the top of the climb, the fog had settled in thick.  Climbing through it was pretty serene.  Closing in on the last aid station, I saw two volunteers shrouded in the mist, cheering me on.  "Only 200 yards to the top," they said.

I stopped at the last aid station to take in some more gel.  The volunteers there were awesome, asking if I needed anything, making sure I was warm, and warning me of the first technical descent. 2250 was a 2-3 mile stretch of unmaintained forest road in the Pisgah portion of this race.  On a good day with a full suspension mountain bike, it would be hard!  What with the cold, the fog, the mud, the puddles of water of unknown depth, and the fact that I had forgotten to adjust my brakes made for a pucker factor of 10+ on that first mile down.

Luckily I was able to hang on for longer than 8 seconds (that will the closest thing to riding a bull for me) and when the terrain finally leveled out, I hopped off my bike and adjusted my brakes.  Needless to say, I am NOT a fan of mechanicals.  After what seemed like an eternity (frozen fingers, moisture laden gloves, and mud-caked inline adjustors), I finally had brakes again.  This made for a little more enjoyable second half of 2250.

The remainder of the descent down to pavement was smooth, fast, and furious!  And fun, I might add!  Popping out onto the pavement, the race director said to follow the yellow line and I would be at the finish in 8 miles.  That was a long 8 miles!  Not to mention the boxer who just about nailed my right ankle as I was climbing a nice little kicker halfway (I had difficulty unclipping, but was able to at the last moment, and kick him away).

I would choose the Cysco CX over a MTB again.  Just need to work on my technical descending skills.

I came across the finish line in 4:29, 1st woman and 10th overall.  And, with a gritty smile across my face.  30 out of 51 finished.

What an epic day!  My clothing choices were spot on.  Other than cold toes and fingers, the rest of me was quite toasty all day.

The sun finally came out for the podium.

I loved the course.  Three tough climbs, 1 technical descent, and for the most part the dirt was smooth and hard packed.  The aid stations were great, the volunteers motivating, and the post race barbeque was most delicious!  I hope that I can return next year and race it when it is a bit warmer and drier as I heard there are some killer views.

And hopefully Grassy Fork Elementary will be one step closer to getting city water and sewer.

Thanks Wes for preparing me for my future adventures this year!

Southern Cross Race Report

I was hoping that this race would be my "break out" gravel grinder race.  I had the best for me bike, a Niner Air 9 RDO with a 1 x 10 drive train and Stan's Raven cross tires.

 I was a hurtin' buckaroo on the Noontootla climb.  Photo by Donna Combs Garcia.

I have an awesome coach who is able to prepare me for any distance and terrain.  Her plans are tough.  I have cried "Uncle" a few times.  But the end result is one lean mean cycling machine!  I was being a good student, completing all my homework on time.  I could feel the fitness coming.

Lynda Wallenfels, aka Coach  "What doesn't kill ya, ..."

And my nutrition has never been better on a slightly modified Whole 30/Paleo lifestyle.

Not a fad diet!

 But I was blindsided 3 weeks ago during an outing to a restaurant with my team mates.  Even though I made sure the waitress knew of my celiac disease (basicially I told her that wheat/gluten would kill me), I got "glutened."  My order was simple:  a plain steak, plain sweet potato, and plain salad.  For those of you unfamiliar, one itsy bitsy breadcrumb is enough to do me in ... for 4-6 weeks.  I cannot absorb nutrients, I have gastrointestinal distress whenever I eat, my power dips 10-15%, and I have a hard time recovering.

Usually by the third week I am feeling better, but not this time.  Disappointed, yes, but I was not gonna throw up the white flag.  So on a frigid 30 degree morning, I "toed" the line in a stacked ladies' field.  At 10 am, the gun went off and 270 racers were "balls to the wall."  Within 100 yards we were funneled in to the "cross" portion of the course.  Super soft, off camber grassy hillsides, 1 mud bog, 1 log crossing, and a run up from hell.  I was absolutely loving it!  I passed a lot of people as I was on a mountain bike with some front end squish while most people chose to run cross bikes.  After about 5 minutes of epic Eddie O'dea style cyclocross terrain, I popped out onto pavement and hooked up with a pack of snot slingin' racers.  Man it was cold!  I could not feel my face; the windchill must have been in the teens.

I caught up to Lisa and hung onto her wheel.  After the initial adrenalin rush, I could feel the heaviness in my legs.  I tried to shake it off, telling myself that it was just the cold and the blood would eventually flow into them.  I was faster on the descents and soon caught Paula and Shannon.  Lisa was there to and the four of us hit Winding Stair together.  Although I never saw Cheryl, I assumed she was in the lead.  Winding Stair has close to 2000 feet of climbing in 4-5 miles.  Anytime the pitch got really steep, my legs would just not cooperate.  I fought to stay on Lisa's wheel and watched as Shannon and Paula slowly rode away.  They were strong today!

At the top of Winding Stair, Zeke was there and handed a bottle off to me.  There was still more climbing to go after this and I could feel a little desperation kick in as I knew that my legs were leaving me for good.  I chugged some gels from my flask and washed it down with my sports drink, hoping that the additional calories would jump start my system.  Lisa began to pull away from me towards the top.  I was able to catch and pass her on the long descent down to the pavement.  However, there was a strong headwind as I pedaled to the Noontootla climb and Lisa caught back up.  I rode her coat tails until the climb and then she dropped me like a bad habit.

The Noontootla climb is my type of climb:  smooth, perfect 5-7% grade, and a beautiful view of the creek.  But today it felt like I was going backwards.  Normally at this stage I start passing people but today was the other way around.  Around each corner I kept looking for the top ... 6 miles later and what seemed like an eternity, I saw the SAG tent.  What a wonderful sight!  I stopped to exchange bottles and gel flask and take a moment.

As I began to ride the rolling ridge of Hawk and Sassafras Mountains my legs began to feel a little better.  I seemed to be making some ground back up.  I thought of Lisa ahead of me and what she must be thinking.  Was she wondering where I was?  Was she looking over her shoulder on the descents?  This motivated me to attempt to dig deep and try to catch her.  Fueled with fortitude, I hammered the short climbs (or at least in my own mind I did) and railed the descents (who needs stinkin' brakes).

Flying down Sassafras Mountain towards the Ranger Station, I COMPLETELY blew by the left hand turn onto the pavement.  (Note:  having not done this race last year, when Zeke and I pre rode a couple months ago, we were under the assumption that the course went down by the 4-H camp).  Had I not been going so fast, I might have seen the small black arrow point left.  There was supposed to be a volunteer there, but he/she decided at the last moment that staying inside where it was warm would be a better option today.  I can't say I blame them; it is ultimately up to me to know the course.

That wrong turn cost me 15 minutes and probably more as that 2 mile climb back up to the intersection was brutal!  I still made a feeble attempt at racing back to the winery.  As I entered Monteluce Winery for the final cross portion of the course, I was about to raise the white flag.  But then I saw Loretta at the second run-up from hell.  She cheered me on as I "crawled" my way up that beast!

Run up from hell -- 100 meters at 20-30% grade.

When I was half way up, I caught sight of a female racer at the top.  Well, crap!  Now I gotta race!  With game face back on, I was determined to redeem myself by gaining one spot back.

One advantage of a mountain bike ... I was able to ride this creek crossing.

I passed her on a pavement climb and was able to hold onto my lead through the remainder of the super soft, energy draining, leg killer of the cross course.  As much as I was hurting though, I enjoyed this section of the race and at one point wished there was more!  Crazy insane?  Or insane crazy?  Yep, I do love to suffer.

I ended up crossing the finish line in a time of 4:11:23.  That 4 mile detour cost me 3 places, maybe 4.  I was upset with my stupidity.  In a way, I was glad I was not near a podium finish as I would have really been pissed off about that wrong turn.  I chalked up today's race as a good solid training ride.

I congratulate all the ladies who finished as this was one tough power course.  Gravel grinders are a new beast to me and one that I hope to be able to conquer as the season goes on.  Thanks Eddie, Namrita, and all the volunteers who made this event possible.  I was cold out there but probably not as cold as those who had to stand around and help the racers all day!

Everyone has excuses for having a bad race.  Most are legit; some are just a racer's way of justifying why they were beaten by a certain someone.  For me, I will always wonder how I could have done, but for ...  However, the ladies who were ahead of me today deserve their placings as they all train diligently and worked super hard today.  And that gives me something to work towards.

As for me, I have sworn off restaurants forever.  The only ones I trust to prepare food for me are my Mom and I.  Now off to Florida for some much needed Vitamin D therapy!

Having bowel issues?  Just ride Moonscape at Alafia ... I had at least 5 "Oh, sh!t!" moments.