Pisgah 2015–So close yet so far away

The last stage was similar to the previous two stages. I rode my own pace up the initial climb to Farlow Gap and opened a significant advantage over the rest of the singlespeed category. 

I was really looking forward to this descent after breaking my nose there several years ago and crashing out the day before last year I was looking for vengeance. Instead I wasn’t riding as well as normal and missed the good lines most of the way down.

Despite all the little mistakes, I made it down safely and actually got back in the groove and railed Daniel Ridge with rhythm and gusto. The sun was out and I enjoyed the ride across to the final descent into town with my roommate for the week and kindred single speed spirit Gordon “Quadsworth”. We had a great chat and while he held up to wait for his duo partner, I charged down Bracken Mountain to the finish at Brevard Music Center.

In the end, three stage wins in succession by large margins were not enough to offset the time lost on Stage 2 and I had to settle for another bittersweet 4th place finish in Pisgah. Hopefully I’ll be back next year for another shot at redemption in this amazing mountain bike paradise!