My friends at Felt www.feltbicycles.com hooked me up with a new bike to “test” just in time for a new stage race. The FRD 100 full suspension bike proved worthy of the task and quickly became one of my all time favorite bikes! I really had no idea what I was in for since I’ve never visited North Carolina before. Evidently, the weather cards weren’t in my favor as NC was stricken with unseasonably cold and wet weather for a week before the race and the entire week of the event.
Prologue
I assumed this would be a parade lap TT around the college campus—boy was I wrong! Turns out it was about a mile long course totally slick and saturated from the torrential rain storms. With only semi-slick tires I could only watch as the race went away. It was a ridiculous showing and unfortunately ended up being a very decisive time loss overall.
Stage 1
Determined to get some time back we took off in cold and drizzling conditions. The course was awesome but my riding wasn’t so and I stacked it up a couple times from catching my feet on unnoticed sticks and rocks. Between all the down leaves, rain, and water visibility of the track was next to impossible. After losing some time initially, I still managed to pick off several riders in the single tracks to finish third on the day.
Stage 2
Again we started in the rain—this time was more the downpour variety, though. My body was already hammered from the cold and wet and barely functioning. That was before we crossed a river nearly waist deep countless times before climbing to the top of a mountain in the snow. I was basically racing for survival and to get done as quickly as possible. The descent off the top was sick and likely one of the longest technical trails I have ever ridden. The numerous roots, ledge drops, and rock falls made it ridiculous with numb hands. I rode it clean but flatted near the bottom after clearing all the difficult sections. My hands were so numb I had to get help changing the flat at the next feed zone and ended up losing all the time I had gained leaving me still in fourth place overall.
Stage 3
This was supposed to be the “queen” stage but the snow and overnight freeze prompted the promoter to change the stage. It ended up being way easy compared to the other two days but was still hard on me. I have come to the conclusion that I am definitely a fair weather flyer! The sub freezing morning temps wreaked havoc on my performance and I was again unable to make up anytime on the GC. I finished the day fifth and fourth overall only able to imagine how rad this race would have been in more tolerable conditions!
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