Southern Cross January ride #1

I have to admit I hate riding in the cold. I've been doing pretty much all my riding indoors when it's been cold lately..mostly because I was sick for 5 weeks but also because ever since I got frostbite on my toe a couple years ago I have to be really careful.

Because I haven't been doing much outdoors in the mountains this winter I kind of forgot how to dress for it. So, I just wore everything. Defeet baselayer, Craft baselayer, short sleeved jersey, long sleeved jersey, jacket, hat, winter gloves, leg warmers, wool socks, and shoe covers. Too bad we started out at the bottom of an 8 mile climb up FS58...I was regretting the extra layers as a started sweating no less than 2 miles into the climb. I unzipped everything I could and put my head down to get my workout done. Most of us regrouped along the ridge on FS 42..this is where it really starts to get chilly.

FS58 conditions on Jan 16 = perfect, hardpack, mostly dry, smooth, except for the usual few rocks towards the top (steepest) part of the climb. There's a handful of pot holes but not bad at all.

FS42 between Aid station stop #2 and Cooper Gap: There's new gravel between Winding Stair Gap and Hightower Gap but it should get packed in nicely and quickly. There's already two lines that are rideable now for cross bikes thanks to vehicle traffic. There was a few patches of ice which may actually stick around through February..who knows but watch out for them.

This is the most "gravely" part of the top- at least it's flat here.

When you see this on your right you know you're almost to the right hand turn to descend from Cooper Gap for the last bit of the gravel loop

Descending from Cooper Gap to the pavement - this road is in perfect condition. Smooth, dry, fast.

View on the left

Getting close to the bottom. Cross bikes - you are going to love the descent this year- as long as conditions don't drastically change between now and Feb 25!

Once you get to the bottom you will go LEFT through the barricades on the pavement to head back in the direction of Montaluce Winery.

(We continued straight on FS 28 as we started the race course from the bottom of FS 58).

FS 28 from the junction of Hightower Gap road up to FS 77 was also in excellent condition. Actually, so was the climb up FS 77 to Winding Stair Gap (where you will see the Aid station for the first time). It was the smoothest I have ever seen it, granted it is still steep at the top.

You will go right at the split for FS 77 from FS 28 - make sure you make this right and then a right again to continue on FS 77 to the top

Getting steep towards the end of the climb

This really is steep..the photo doesn't do it justice.

And at the top, finally. The Aid station will be in front of you slightly to the right but the race course will go LEFT down FS 42 towards Springer Mountain and Doublehead Gap Rd (~8 miles total) where you will make a right onto pavement.

We didn't ride down FS 42 today but the latest reports is that there is new gravel being put down..what hasn't been graveled yet is supposedly muddy. We'll probably check it out later this week to see for ourselves.

As you can see, my bike stayed clean..we rode most of the gravel part of the course today and it was in excellent shape. As you can also see I rode a mountain bike. I highly recommend a cross bike for the race if you have the option because, well, it is a (ultra)cross race!

The rest of my Southern Cross photos are here.

If you have any reports or photos to post please do so on the Southern Cross Race Facebook Page - thanks! See you in February!