I did it in 2019 on a Farley with 29x3’s, it’s a super fun course.
You are going to want to go out hard on the start & for the first dirt roads to make the first climb. The climb itself is nothing if you’re a mountain biker but there will be folk who don’t ride a lot of trail that will fumble on this climb. The first descent is pretty buff & you can rail it. For these first 25 miles, carry a bottle in your jersey & ditch an empty one at aid one at the bottom of the first descent. You’ll want 3 bottles between the start & aid 2 but you’re not going to want to stop so soon into the race at aid 1 which is just water anyway.
Try to find people to work with from the bottom of the first descent to the Lynn climb, it’s mostly gravel with some road before you duck into the woods again. The first hill you see is damn steep but it relaxes for a few switchbacks, all easily rideable. Then it gets damn steep again -rideable for many but most will end up off the bike one way or another.
Rip it on Wolf down but beware there are a couple of short steep ups on he descent.
You’ll end up on the gravel that took you to the Lynn climb & eventually will turn onto a paved climb that drops into aid 2/6. Folks will be on hand & likely take your bike to lube the chain while you refuel. Keep track of your bike! I lost mine briefly here.
You’re now going too climb the full Hankey. A good 2/3 is dirt road but it narrows & steepens significantly toward the top but it’s easily rideable.
Next is the 3rd descent: Dowell’s. Rip it!!! This was my favorite descent of the day. Great singletrack but parts are off camber & may be slick but you’ll be fine.
I think aid 3 is somehwere here at the bottom but can’t remember for sure. The next section is mostly a paved climb -find people too work with here & save some gas for the next section of singletrack.
You’ll dip into the woods for a short, rocky hike a bike & then hop back on for the real ascent, Bridge Hollow. It’s not a bad climb but it is very rocky. keep up your momentum & you’ll be fine.
Next is the descent to Brailey’s Pond & aid 4. Fun descent but nothing to write home about.
Now you’re going to start what they call the Death Climb which is a crapload of gravel for 20+ miles. Settle into a rhythm & just go. It’s not a tough climb at all, just long. Eventually, you may think you smell pizza…
Aid 5 had pizza which I took too long to enjoy. Stick to your normal aid strategy & get ready for a tough descent down Chestnut Ridge. It’s rough, steep & fast singletrack but you are going to be fatigued for sure. Toward the bottom of the descent, there are a few short ups. Eventually, You’ll end up at aid 6.
Aid 6 to the finish is pretty short but you will repeat about 1/3 of the Hanky climb but take a left instead of continuing straight. When you go left, you’ll continue to climb for awhile but will end up descending through some pretty flowy singletrack which ends at the Stokesville campground where you started. Congrats, you just finished SM100!
Have a blast man, it’s a great race & the atmosphere is fantastic!