Im doing it...

Its a great race and a great price too... $40 for a fully supported race in one of the best riding locations in the country. Plus its arguably one of the hardest 35 miles +/- you can do in The Pisgah. All the classics... Turkey Pen, Laurel-Pilot, Black Mtn...

I recommend this to anyone looking to get into Pisgah racing. 

Bring your hiking shoes 

pearl wrote on 05/11/16 at 2:21pm:



It's an incredible experience, especially for the price, but...

you keep mentioning weather.  You do realize it's not until May 22nd and not this weekend, right?

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pearl wrote on 05/11/16 at 6:03pm:


In my own experience, it's just not worth looking that far out.  A week, maybe... but even then?  Not really.

Three days out max is where I start bugging out, especially for Pisgah.  It wasn't supposed to rain this past Saturday AT ALL right up until the last time I checked before the event started.  Still saw some concerning drizzle that ended up being nothing at all about 3.something hours into the day.  It is still a rain forest.

Anyways, if rain is what makes your decision, start considering things next Friday.  I've done the 111k in some of the worst conditions, and it certainly made some lasting memories.

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oh man, that looks like an epic day. im sure it sucked the big one the whole time. but cool to look back at.

Did this last year. It was easily the worst time I have ever spent on a bike my entire life. If I wasn't rehabbing a couple of nagging injuries I would have gone back this year.

It's an amazing, albeit miserable, experience. Every one there is great. Rest stops are fully stocked with just about anything you could want. 

He wasn't kidding about the hiking shoes. You will spend (regardless of your ability level) a good bit of time on foot. Especially the initial climb up black.

There was a little rain the night before, but not during the race. 

It was my first trip to Pisgah. So I really didn't understand what I was in for. I typically do laps at Rocky Knob so I am familiar with elevation and technical climbs that stretch out for a ways. Pisgah is another animal all together.

I went there thinking that it would all be ridable and the hike-a-bike people were talking about was just fitness related. You know, maybe a 7 mile climb you just might need a break and you could walk some. While laurel mountain climb was like that, 100% ridable but tortuously long, other parts are like you are attempting to ride up steps. Steps that are 2-3 feet high.


My favorite part of the ride was Laurel mountain -> Pilot rock. (Between check point 2-3). All I remember is switchback after switchback going up Laurel thinking to my self holy **** is this ever going to end. Then the sheer bliss of ripping down Pilot Rock hoping it would never end.

well i have a problem, i cant find a shimano XT 11 speed RD and I need one as I trashed mine this week riding... 

i think i just made a donation unless someone going to this race has a spare the can loan me... this sucks!

or ill have to singlespeed it, 32x20 will work?

pearl wrote on 05/20/16 at 10:25pm:

Do it SS, 32x20-23 would all be exceptable gears, if you like the stand a lot 20, sit and spin 23.

pearl wrote on 05/22/16 at 1:10am:



How'd your race go?

Nice write up , welcome to North Carolina kinda race