Fool's Gold Mudfest 2010

Just 10 days ago, the Fool's Gold singletrack was bone dry, except for the few usual puddles here and there that never seem to go away even in a drought. But, the forecast was looking questionable for race day--reports were suggesting anywhere from 40-60% chance of rain, but we figured if it rained it would happen in the latter part of the day.

It rained pretty hard on Thursday just before I set out to mark a short section of trail. It was a slick, muddy mess. This mud is red clay and there are plenty of sideways roots and some nice erosion going on until the trails are revamped (a work in progress). I was REALLY glad I chose to run the Conti X-King 2.4 tires with protection. I used to run the Mountain King and recently switched to the Race King 2.2 for less rolling resistance. However, the lack of side knobs was a bit sketchy in some of the fast gravel road corners. Well, the X-King is the perfect hybrid of both the Mountain King and the Race King. The 2.4's are not heavy, they have less rolling resistance than the Mountain Kings, and inspired a lot of confidence in the loose gravel and through the wet rocks and roots. Plus, I could run the pressure really low with the Stan's No Tubes setup. I am sold on these!!

On Friday, we didn't have much rain but the skies were overcast all day. Perfect race weather, for some. I personally prefer 85* and sunny but that's just me. We had racer check-in on Friday and that was good times...300 racers coming into Dahlonega Wheelworks over the course of the entire afternoon and evening. Thanks to the volunteers for helping me, between that and multiple Wally World runs I was beat down by the end of the day. I tried to fall asleep at 11pm but I was so wired from eating whoppers all day (All I ate for an entire day was whoppers, Cascadian Farm granola, and Powerade Zero). At 12:30 am it began....first thunder...then lighting...then BOOM...the rainstorm. Heavy rain for over an hour...and then lighter rain for most of the night. I dreaded what was coming when we lined up to race at 7am...

photo by Mark D

I didn't know it but there was even more heavy rain coming. No way around it, it was going to be an epic day. I knew ahead of time that these trails are pretty much hell to ride in the rain. The mica (glittery stuff) in the dirt just tears your brake pads apart in no time. Luckily, the bike shop had just replaced mine with brand new metallic pads the day before.

The 100 milers went off at 7am. I still haven't quite figured out my "100 mile pace" yet but I knew that my perceived "most conservative/taking it easy/holding back" pace actually turned my fastest lap time at Lumberjack 100. So, my goal for Fool's Gold was to sit and spin up the opening climb to Cooper Gap without wasting too much energy. I would hold back a little on the first lap and spend everything on the 2nd lap of 50 miles. I also knew the trails would be muddy and I would want to spare a little energy for cleaning the steeper, muddy technical climbs. On a good dry day everything is rideable..however, this day was going to be anything but dry.

The first 1/2 mile was a little painful. Sue Haywood passed me as we bid good morning to our legs. I was feeling the previous long day and the mere 3 hours of sleep in my legs but I didn't sweat it..I just sat and spun my legs until they opened up a bit and soon I was climbing at a satisfactory 100 mile race pace for a tired me. As I reached the top of the 3.5 mile climb the skies opened up again. This time the rain was steady, and heavy at times and it was not going anywhere. I went back and forth with a couple singlespeed guys. They would pass me on the climbs and I would pass them on the descents. I didn't have my glasses on as they were fogging up and I couldn't see *hit. I decided I would rather get junk in my eyes and be able to bomb the descents than have to ride slow because I couldn't see and crash anyway.

I was interested to see what the Turner Creek singletrack looked like now, since just two days ago it was a muddy, slick mess. Whoa...the trail conditions had deteriorated 200% since then! There were huge peanut butter mud sections and more puddles than I could count. On just the 2nd little incline my chain got stuck in between my front ring and my frame. WTF!!! Chainsuck on a 2x10 drivetrain just 15 miles into the race??? Oh man...now it was going to be a really long day. I had to stop twice on just this short section of singletrack to yank my chain out. I don't know how many people passed me on Turner Creek...10 maybe? Ugh. Many of them asked me if I needed anything, and I would just respond "Yes, a singlespeed, please!"

Finally, back out on the gravel road..I was feeling good again and the cranks were turning over nicely. No chainsuck. I got on the little singletrack connectors leading to the Jones Creek trail and those were a muddy nightmare, too. Super fun to ride (I love riding in mud) but I was starting to worry about my drivetrain. I was also worrying about my eyes. Now the no eye-wear was proving to possibly be a bad idea. The shiny metallic stuff in the dirt could potentially scratch my eyeballs and the horse poo could cause an eye infection so I spent some time trying to ride with my glasses granny-style on my nose. As we hit the red clay slick as ice singletrack through the field leading to the dam climb I almost lost it a few times. Aaaargh. Two more people passed me. I would just have to risk an eye infection today! The glasses were coming off for good.

As soon as we hit the dam climb Jamie Dinkins passed me and motored on up. I tried to stay light on the pedals but sure enough, one and a half pedal strokes into the climb..CHAINSUCK. I jumped off and "ran" up the hill...remounted..pedaled until the next mud puddle..made it through to the next incline..pedaled once, felt my chain starting to suck, back pedaled...pedaled again a couple times...CHAINSUCK. OK, I was getting super annoyed and as I rolled up to SAG 2/3 I was kicking myself for not dropping my Squirt Lube in my bag there. I rolled by the SAG which was pure craziness already and said "I should probably just quit now, but I'm going to see if my bike will make it".

photos by Mark Stutzman

My legs were feeling great and if my bike would let me finish then I thought I could do pretty well today, being that I had local trail knowledge, too. Well, on the singletrack climb up to Bear Hair, I had to make the decision. I couldn't climb ANYTHING without having chainsuck. I knew it would be a lot of muddy climbing, and I would have to walk a lot of it. I also knew the subsequent long descent would likely tear up my brake pads.

Here's where the interesting decision making process comes in..at the Fool's Gold race I am a race organizer and, therefore, responsible to the racers, but today I was also wanting to do well in the race. I was starting to have my doubts about finishing 100 miles in this mess..I honestly didn't think my drivetrain was going to make it. I also wasn't sure about my brake pads lasting the entire race. I also felt guilty that I was out there while the volunteers were standing in ankle deep mud helping out racers with their own issues in the pouring rain. I knew the right thing to do was not keep trying to race but, instead, to go back to SAG 2/3 to try to help them. I turned around to descend the slick rooty singletrack which was good fun.

This proved to be the right move. None of the racers coming off Bull Mountain had brake pads. Many of them needed a ride back to the Start/Finish as they couldn't even ride the gravel road descents..I mean, they had NO brakes. People were crashing like crazy and dropping like flies...the DNFs were already adding up fast just 30 miles into the race.

At this point, DNF'ing our own race wasn't really bumming me out. I was more concerned with the safety of the racers and the logistics of getting everyone to the finish line safely. I was also worried about the volunteers and their willingness to tough out the horrid conditions.

I traded place with a course marshal so he could shuttle the racers with mechanicals back to the camp. I finally got back an hour or so later and learned that Harlan Price had crashed really bad and needed to go to the ER..and all the leaders were out of brake pads. Everyone was out of brake pads. Eddie did the right thing and called the 100 mile race after one lap. Everyone that completed one 50-mile lap would be scored officially.

This created it's own issues..normally we'd have racers coming in gradually all day..but now we had 200 some racers back at camp. Food needed to be served all at once now, instead over an eight hour time-frame. Most people were really understanding as none of us can control the weather. There were two women that were spectating their significant others that were NOT SO KIND and understanding of the situation...and I'm being nice here. Anyway, we went on with the awards and everything as planned but it was definitely a rough day. It made me feel for the race directors at Dirt Sweat and Gears two years ago.

Thank you so much to all the volunteers that worked extra hard in such nasty conditions. I know there were some mistakes and miscommunications that happened but I cannot forget that these people volunteered their time to be there and help out the racers. Also, thanks to all our sponsors--because of them we were able to give out some really great prizes this year!

I had a lot of people tell me that, despite the muddy conditions, they loved the course and they will come back again to race it. I also love the course. It has everything..gradual gravel road climbing, steep technical singletrack, buff singletrack, and enough constant change in the course to keep you interested.

The clean-up this year was insane..I have never seen so much mud..OK, I did at DS&G 2009..but still. Now I need to get back on the road to home..the Fall semester starts tomorrow. Sigh.