Yeah I saw the Jeter downhill! That will be interesting. I saw the segment on Strava and saw my time up it last year had an avg speed of 4.8 mph haha!
2 Likes
Good luck to everyone riding/racing on Saturday!
3 Likes
Anyone read the Bjible yet? What is the deal with the ‘Irate Pit Bull’ half way, up and down, OUDE KIRK?
One of my bike club has posted information about an NCDOT project that looks like it could affect the course at about mile 37-38 of the Waffle route.
"Green River Rd. will be closed from June17th until July 5th. DOT will be replacing the small bridge 1/4 mile past Cabin Creek Rd."
1 Like
WOW!!! You and my anxiety are close friends these days.
Just looked in the NCDOT project site, thanks for the heads up.
Yes, there is a project awarded to replace this bridge. The project milestones do not show if the contractor has mobilized yet, which gives our race big hopes of no reroutes.
Those dates are not posted, but if the contractor said they will start on June 17th, normally they start about 2 weeks late.
Project Id: BP14-T013
Contact: Zach Shuler / ztshuler@ncdot.gov
Finger crossed! When I saw Blue Ridge Bike Club post about not riding Cabin Creek/Bob’s Creek loop, well, that was concerning.
How was it? Did you like the new routes?
1 Like
I did the Wafer and finished in 5:20. I did the Wafer last year as well. The course this year was definitely toned down a bit but I think it was just right. Still a fun event with a lot of rough sections, but not having the bottlenecks made it all much much better.
The chunky gravel section (forget the name of the road) was definitely challenging. I had 44c tires and if I had less I think it would have been really difficult.
The Jeter mountain downhill was super fun IMO but I heard there was a bad crash. I didn’t see it though. I passed a lot of people going down Jeter.
I put a dropper post on for this year and I 100% think it was worth it. It made navigating the single track much easier for me.
I personally really enjoyed it. I still think the entry fee is too high but then again I paid it so shrug I was not given a food ticket this year and when I asked they said the food is only for purchase, which is kind of annoying to me because it stated you get a food ticket when you sign up for the event. I’m sure the tacos I got in town were better anyway.
I stand by my decision to go on the bigger side of tires for this event. Even though there is a lot of road you just lose so much by having small tires on this course with the type of gravel that is out there.
3 Likes
Thanks for the update on the new route. I did the original Wafer route and loved it. I did the Falling Creek version and hated it. This route looks better. I’m glad that you had fun.
$250 entry fee and no food?!? Who do they think they are, Unbound?!? lol
3 Likes
You had a Food and a Beer ticket at Unbound this year…plus the food ticket was good at any of the food vendors, so you had a ton of food options.
not if you finished after midnight. I wouldn’t expect a meal after midnight at unbound but I would have been happy with a coke and a snickers bar
I still think the entry fee is too high but then again I paid it so shrug I was not given a food ticket this year and when I asked they said the food is only for purchase, which is kind of annoying to me because it stated you get a food ticket when you sign up for the event.
Call me a Karen, but I would totally complain if they advertised food being included and then not providing it.
3 Likes
Pinnacle Mountain was brutal. I rode the Waffle on 40cc tires and they were not enough. I didn’t flat but it was tough to navigate the big chunks.
1 Like
I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for asking.
My favorite parts were Cascade Lake (uphill), Green River Road (downhill), Summit Lake and Reeb Ranch. Least - Mine Road and that SE water basin area, Pinnacle Mountain and Jeter (uphill).
Had to walk hills 11 and 12 because of cramps.
I did see two crashes going down Jeter road and it was bad. No need to push the pace at that point in the race.
I did the Waffle and surprisingly I was ahead of schedule by the 50mi Aid (3.5hrs)…However, after mile 66 I hit bad cramps on both legs and took over 1.5hrs to walk 4-5 miles. After the Aid on mile 70 and 30oz of pickle juice I was able to rejoin the race and finish at 11hrs and 1min.
My cramps were so bad that about 10 riders and 4 cars stopped (because I was rolling on the ground) to offer help or rides. I took neither because I wanted to finish on my own. (one dude did stretched my legs while I laid down, and one other gave me LMNT powder packets - neither help was illegal I hope).
All and all a great long day on the saddle.
Considered quitting, but:
- I did not want to explain to my two young kids that dad did not finish the race we came so far to do. It seems way more painful than sitting on my behind and pedaling.
- I bought a sh!t lot of BWR gear and bags that would be meaningless if I didn’t finish. Not gonna wear a BWR socks or Ts if I didn’t finish the race…right?
I am doing SBT GRVL this year. there were great lessons learned that I will use and incorporate in these new long races I am entering.
It looks like I may do training and this race with a family member next year, and typing that gives me goosebumps. Cannot wait.
See my video review in my youtube channel.
2 Likes
Ugh, sorry to hear about Pinnacle Mountain. I would love it if NCDOT maintained it like Cascade Lake (or if the state forest service took over maintaining it) but DOT has it classified as a “primitive road” and that doesn’t seem likely.
1 Like
Thanks for the ride report. Like you, I really enjoy both Cascade Lake and Green River Road.
Have fun as SBT GRVL!
1 Like
Thanks for the ride report David and good job pushing through all the cramps and finishing! I had 44c tires on Pinnacle and I felt like it was just barely sufficient and in no way great. My triceps were burning after that section from holding on for dear life!
3 Likes
Great job finishing and making it through!
I did the Wafer and it was a lot of fun. Didn’t mind the chunky stuff and my bike (Lauf Siega with 48s) seemed to float over a lot of it. Only blemish was not a clean ride - I laid my bike down on a very gentle downhill curve on gravel. Super bummed as I was otherwise descending extremely well at that point. I broke my left shifter and was stuck in my 10 cog with 20 miles to go (including up Jeter). I contemplated bailing but like you, was determined to finish under my own power, equipment and road rash be damned. Was on AXS so was able to use the phone app to change the shifting direction of my remaining shifter every so often so I could get into my 50 for uphills and back down to 10 or 11 on downhills. Definitely slowed me down and missed the time mark I was going for. But at least was able to finish. The beer did taste good at the end!
2 Likes