Recap of ORAMM

When I first heard of the ORAMM I had just finished the Dauset GSC race and was chatting with Monti after the race so I checked it out. Initially I looked at the web and thought that don't look any worse than what I had done out in AZ in the White Mountains 66 or the Whiskey Barrel 50 both sponsored by Epic Rides. So I figured what the heck I will sign up. Well I headed out this past weekend to see how correct I was. Packed up Friday night and loaded up the family and headed out Saturday Morning. We arrived in Old Fort around 5pm and drove around lost for 30min(I forgot to print out directions to the campground). Finally after asking directions I found the Catawba Falls Campground which was a very nice camping area with great owners




So after getting set up with the tents we drove into town and found the race registration made sure I was good to go and got my number. After that we headed back to the campground to cook some dinner and set up my sag bags for the race.



Hit the sack at a decent hour and set the alarm for 0630hrs got around had to make sure we got the morning coffee especially before this epic adventure. Now onto the race!



I strategically place myself in the back of the pack and started out cruising with about a 1/3rd of the field having the same idea apparently. After the nice warm up on the road we hit the first fireroad which was still a nice steady climb and still a good warm up. Well a half a hour or so later we hit the single track were we are welcomed by a pleasant hike-a-bike due to the back up.

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Phrases like "Not going anywhere for a while?" come to mind as I look up the long line of riders in front of me. Well we eventually get thru the hike-a-bike and start riding up the trail and make our way back onto the road up to the first really fun part of the trail Kitsuma! Switchbacks and climbing fun stuff there so I manage to hike the switchbacks ride the straights up to the top. After that we are greeted with a short section of some HECTIC downhill, fortunately the Hectic part was only for a short stretch and and when it finally went downhill again it was downgraded to radical! I saw some hardtails out there and as I smoked the bakes through this section I wondered how in the heck did those guys ride this??! Well it is down to the first sag stop and I am registering almost 17 miles on the computer(it was suppose to be 15mi). Anyway a refill on the water fresh bottle of accelerade and one of there gel packs along with a turkey and cheese wrap made by the wife I am off again more climbing up some twisty single track switchbacks. By the way when they say the trail is in its natural enviorment they mean it 6ft diameter trees and all across the trail. We were rewarded by some wide trail rolling downhill to the 2nd Sag stop at which point I am registering 30 miles(this was suppose to be at 24mi). So along with the other riders I was hanging with I sat there discussing the impending 9mi and 2800ft climb in front of us until finally I motivated myself and headed out. I can't say I rode the entire thing but if I had hit this trail 2yrs ago after coming out from AZ I think I could have, we used to ride a trail up Carr Canyon, steeper grade just about 2 miles shorter but that not being the case I walked about 2 miles of it. Well sag point three was a welcome site were I sat recouping for a good while especially once I heard that the fabled 5mi downhill on the parkway was more like 4mi uphill and 3mi downhill. So I switch out my mp3 player get another wrap and accelerade and head up the hill after the nice break on the road where I had to stop to take some pics of the great view



After that the real fun began. There was some serious hike-a-bike section where once again they emphasized the trail in its natural state



This hike-a-bike was followed by a wicked(fun)downhill section which left my tri's smoked and my rear brakes just as smoked! It was the same switchbacks we came up earlier just in reverse back down to the sag point 5 where you went back up to Kitsuma(thought this was the Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell?) and then back down the radical downhill again, brakes screaming at this point. Further review revealed the pads where gone at this point so the noise was enough to keep any wild animals away! Well I came off the trail and hit the last three miles of road to the finish and manage to find some leg strength to finish off strong.



Overall it was a challenging and fun ride I took my time at the sags and enjoyed the trail as I rode through. It refreshed the definition of Mountain Biking for me versus XC riding and made me wish we had some of that terrain in this area. This is definitely a ride I will be looking to put on my calender next year as well

ORAMM Aftermath

1.Entry Fee for Race: $80
2.Biking Gear to Prepare $100
3.Gas for trip and camping cost $160
4.Being able to say I completed ORAMM - Worth it!

Well that was the toughest thing I have done on the East Coast without a doubt! There will be more to follow on the ride but for right now I just got back and unpacked this evening after a 7hr drive home I need some rest. For right now I'll just say I accomplished my goal and finished the whole event, will still continue to ride and unlike the Snake Creek TT I didn't finish saying "I'll never ride that again!" Here are the vital stats for now.

Total Time: 10hr 33min
Riding Time: 8hrs 38min
Distance:62.13
Average: 7.1mph
Max Speed 40.2mph
Goo Packs consumed 10
beers drank (After Race) 4

I will Leave you with some pics

On the Edge(Garmin Edge)

Well I finally broke down and let the wife buy me a GPS computer with PC Software, I know all of you avid gadget fans are thinking "that is awful big of you". I got a Garmin Edge 205 and based on the reviews and information I have seen so far it looks like a good investment. At least I will be able to tell at what location and altitude I am suffering the most this weekend! I did a early ride out at Dauset on Wendseday and I must say that the Crack Spider and his Bee-otch are alive and well and working in the trail at Dauset! If your not familar with the Crack Spiders Bee-otch go to this link. Anyway other than the spiders it was a pretty nice ride took a casual pace up huff and puff and focused more on staying in a even flow for the entire duration of the ride. Managed to get a short ride in today on the roade more of a sprint than anything else which was nice I will have to pack up tomorrow and head out on Saturday to get to the Campground and ready for Sunday so if your out there on Sunday planning to suffer I will See You on the Trail!

Seats and Squeaks

Seemed appropriate since I seem to history being a little less than conservative on my downhill riding


Well it has been a slow week and a half since I have returned from Carters Lake and a week of leave in MI. Which actually translates to I am not at tip top shape going into the ORAMM which should make it all that much more interesting of a ride come Sunday. Since the race I have ridden two painful laps around Thompson probably due to the fact that the seat was positioned incorrectly, that was Thursday since it rained on Wednesday, did a 4 mile run on Friday and then Sunday afternoon hit Arrowhead. I adjusted the seat this time and took off for a couple of laps around the trail. Well the seat adjustment must have been dead on because I felt really good on the lap no back pain or anything which had been a problem ever since I got back and had been riding the ETSX. The first lap went so well I rolled right thru the parking lot and did a second lap which felt just as good. I stopped for the third lap grabbed a gel and full water bottle and headed out. Well the back still felt fine but the suspension started creaking like I had a frog in the top tube. Not sure what it was but I couldn't take a pedal stroke without hearing it so made it kinda irritating but I finished the lap and felt pretty good about the ride. Didn't smoke myself too hard but did manage to make all the climbs and keep the bike upright finishing the 16.8 miles in just under 1hr 48min. On a downhill note I did manage to top out at 32.4mph on the utility trail downhill. Took the bike in today had Charles give it a once over check the suspension bushings and true the wheels to make sure it was ready for the 64miles of ORAMM on Sunday at least the bike will be well prepared even if I am not! Makes my goals pretty simple to finish with my pride, bike and body intact and enjoy what should be some beautiful scenery. I am doing a ride with the Company Commander tomorrow and probably do a road ride on Thursday just for some distance. I will pack the camera and try to get some good pics to add to the blog when I return so if you happen to be one of the brave souls riding the 64 miles with us then I Will See You on the Trail!

Good To Be Home

My favorite freedom on leave, The Beard!


Well it was a enjoyable week up in MI, I was able to get a couple of rides in and while it wasn't the terrain best suited to practice for Carter's Lake it kept me from getting rusty over the week. I rode Egypt Valley which was more like the Pig Trail really fast and smooth and Cannonsberg Ski Resort which had some hills but was pretty smooth as well. They keep the trails so clear of roots and rocks up there while it might be trails it is almost too smooth that it takes away some of the challenge and definitely made the trail at Carters Lake a welcome reminder of what true Mountain Biking is. We left MI on Saturday and drove from there to Ellijay arrived about 8pm or so and checked into the Stratford Inn, nice place after I got things around for the race was about midnight when I crashed out. Not the preferred way to prepare for a race - if you can AVOID traveling 14hrs the day prior to your race I highly recommend you do so!
Race day started off normal enough, good start with a small field, 12 total riders, and the road section gave us a chance to separate prior to the single track. Started out pretty good however the lack of preride of the course and the warnings of dangerous downhills made me a little too cautious as well as getting my butt handed to me by the big hill out there! I managed to keep the rubber side down the entire race so even though I finished 9th out of 12 I felt pretty good about it considering the lack of preparation coming into the race. My next major event to prepare for will be the ORAMM which I am looking forward to, I haven't had a long epic ride of this duration in two years so it will be interesting to see how I handle it mentally as well as physically. Should be out at Thompson on Wednesday for some riding and the OMBA meeting so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!