For me, it was a no-brainer to enter. I grew up riding on these gravel roads, so it is a bit of a hometown race for me. And it will be a good early season tune up, falling a few short weeks ahead of P2A.
With a name like Steaming Nostril, I can't really resist.
This will probably replace Hell of the North for me. While it was awesome, it was a little too much hell for me that early in the season.
with over half the race on farm or dirt road, does that include some of that farmers field where you sink down an inch and a half and pray for a lightning strike to end the misery.
Or is it just dirt road?
thanks
with over half the race on farm or dirt road, does that include some of that farmers field where you sink down an inch and a half and pray for a lightning strike to end the misery.
Or is it just dirt road?
thanks
I am guessing it's as you describe, or slick as heck double track with monster tractor tire ruts. Or maybe a combination of both. But since they note you need an MTB, CX or beefed up hybrid and distinguish farm and dirt roads, I am sure they are not the same. (if it was straight dirt and paved roads you could do it on a road bike. People were doing that on he'll of the north last year)
Its probably a bunch of unopend access or private roads that could be in any condition, from grassy paths through the woods, to the dreaded fields of life sucky misery. Sounds great!
Damn, this is really tempting as an early season fitness test. Unless you're a cold weather wussy like me. The body can't take the cold, but the idea of doing this is very attractive. I will continue taking my HTFU pills for the next couple of months and perhaps register day of.
I can't believe nobody is discussing tires yet! I'm not from the area and am all signed up. What's the word from people who know the terrain? Mountain bike tires or knobby 'cross tires.
I'll be running my 'cross bike, so it'll either be Mud2 or Conti Race Kings, depending on the expected mud:gravel ratio. I have no idea about the terrain though, just winging it!
It sounds like at a minimum it will be pretty muddy and soft. I'm wondering if there will be rocky fast sections requiring high volume tires.
Does anyone know why they aren't releasing a course map? Because its on private property maybe? I'll be coming down and staying with the in-laws that weekend and was hoping to pre-ride so I know what I'm getting myself into!
Does anyone know why they aren't releasing a course map? Because its on private property maybe? I'll be coming down and staying with the in-laws that weekend and was hoping to pre-ride so I know what I'm getting myself into!
Watch this guy. Never races (or so he says... ) but nearly tore everyone's legs off at Crank the Shield a couple of years ago, aside from the Zandstra / Watson / Glassford types.
I am late in responding and we probably won't see Overkill around here for a while, but for the record, I have no inside information at all on these roads. Wish I did!
Anyone have advice on SS gearing for this one? My 'cross bike race setup is 42:18, but I may have a 16 tooth freewheel kicking around... I have never ridden in that area, so don't have any sense of hillyness!
I understand from their website that the route won't be published in advance of the race, but I suspect that we will be spending a bunch of time on gravel roads in and around Wellesley township (the farming area to the southwest of Elmira). There are lots of rollers there, and a few leg breakers, but some flat areas as well. I can't imagine a race there that would not send us up Hawkesville Hill.
As always, though, the best advice (IMHO) for a race like this is to go for steep gearing, and walk the hills if necessary. SS races aren't won on the hills - they are won everywhere else.
But you may want to check with the organizers about going sans brakes. And let me know what you look like, cause I don't want to be anywhere near you.
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