[C4 Rides] {Spam?} Re: Assault on Currahee!

[Scott Trufant]

I'm glad you lived to ride another day! Thanks for the great story. 
-Scott 

On Feb 29, 2016 11:48 AM, Chris Ashworth via Rides <rides at centralcarolinacycling.com> wrote:
>
> Wow!  Talk about taking a knife to a gun fight.  I did the Assault on Currahee Mountain Saturday and what a day it was.  It was cold early(31degrees), but by start time of 10am it was close to 45degrees.  I was dress for the weather and jacked to ride, but I noticed as I looked around the parking lot that everyone else must have known something I didn't.  It was all 29er mountain bikes with fat tires.  From where I was parked it looked like I was the only person with a Cross Bike and for sure the only person in the race on 25mm smooth GatorSkin tires. :)  The race gave new meaning to the term gravel grinder:).
>  
> The first few miles and the last few miles are paved while the rest is predominantly fire lane roads through the woods and single track as well.  Lots of rocks and boulders so you could NOT take your eyes off the trail for a second.  My hands are still vibrating from the terrain considering the Bontrager forks don't dampen THAT well.  I got a lot of comments about my bike handling skills all day which were usually followed by "Are You NUTS!".  The bike was all over the place especially through the mud holes, deep sand, & large loose rocks.  I felt like I was sideways more often then I was pointing down the trail.  I can't count the number of times one hand or the other was jerked out of my grip.  My ass & lower back are still not back to normal.  The climb up Currahee, while I made it over 3/4 up before I tipped over and had to walk a 100yards, was brutal and deserved a short rest at the top.  The descent on those skinny tires and brakes that did not behave as nice as I would have liked was about as intense as I have ever experienced.  There was a sharp turn just before an extreme cliff that had one guy older than me saying out loud "If I miss that turn don't come looking for me!"  What a rush!  My adrenaline was spiked the rest of the ride.  I could have done without riding across a river/creek, but that's where the crowd was so "If you are going to make a scene, Be seen" and I flew across.  Now my feet were soaked and everything else up to my knees.
>  
> The highlight of the ride for me and the guys behind me getting an eyeful was a crash at about 30miles.  I was finally back on paved road so I was going like a "Bat Out Of Hell" just excited to be on pavement again.  Well up ahead there were plenty of signs and arrows pointing off road through ditch and up very steep bank up to another paved road.  I always figure if you hit something fast enough you'll make it so "Giv-R!" was the only thing that entered my head.  Success was not to be mine this day as the skinny tires hit & stuck.  I flew over the handlebars, but stayed clipped in so my years as a pro water skier kicked in and I tried a tumble back on the wheels after the bounce.  No success there either, but the guys behind were laughing to hard to ride after that.  One guy said "I would have called that and un-rideable, But you proved it!"  So as is the case for most of my races I didn't win, but the experience is UNBEATABLE!  Can't wait till next year!
>  
> It was a very well organized race and loved the experience.  I would recommend it as long as you use a mountain bike and full suspension at that.  Cross bike just won't make for any resting or relaxing throughout the 36+miles     
>  
> Next is Southern Cross if the feeling comes back to my hands:).
>  
> Christopher Ashworth
> Motion Control Integration Services
> 9611 Brookdale Drive St100 PMB320
> Charlotte, NC  28215
>  
> (704) 608 1280