This is a stupid question, but how does the Swank 65 compare to the ORAMM. I know the Swank is shorter but is it just as technically challenging? I'd like to do it, if only for the fact that it's named after some of my favorite reading material... How was the weather last year? Pisgah can get b*ll-numbingly cold in November...
the swank this year is supposed to include farlow gap to daniel ridge. farlow is straight off the fall line and is very rocky, wet, and fast at times. it crosses i think four creeks before you get to daniel ridge, and then once you reach daniel its very rocky and still wet. id day its way more technical than the oramm. the oramm includes heartbreak and kitsuma, both are pretty smooth yet fast trails. it could be warm and could be cold. or both.
Do you have any other info on the specifics of the course? Just this morning some friends asked me if I knew the course and I said "no, but I hope it doesn't have Farlow Gap in it".
I agree...early Nov in the south...both cold and warm is a good bet.40 degree temp swing morning to afternoon is common.
KP- the rumored route for this year will be shorter than ORAMM, but will include the exceedingly tech descents on Farlow/Daniel. There's just nowhere near as much climbing or mileage , even with the big climb up to Farlow and the additional trail . Look at it this way...
Last year, on a slighty easier course than rumored for this year, Sam Koerber won the Swank in 2:53. Sam came in 4th in the ORAMM in 5:30. Even adding an hour to the Swank time with rumored changes, which is probably way too much, it would almost 1:37 minutes faster than the ORAMM finishing time...and in race time, 1:37 is A LOT. For a more average mortal comparison- it took me 4:07 to do the Swank last year with a plate and seven bolts in my shoulder, so I was proceeding cautiously. This year, in about the same shape( one month of training after last surgery in March) but no hardware, it took me 8:20 to do the ORAMM.
Hello!!!!!
Did someone say FARLOW?!?!?!?!
Hmm... I had sworn this race off for awhile, BUT FARLOW!!!!!
The Wonderboy on Farlow:
That pic doesn't even come close to showing the steepness of FG. As for the comparison FG aside technically they are very close. Climbing up to FG is tough but not as tough as Curtis Creek IMO.
I think the attached pic is from the last time I rode up there 2003 (?). Used to have a nice shot with *rt* in it from 2000 (?). She's so tiny - it makes the STIL effect better.
I think the attached pic is from the last time I rode up there 2003 (?). Used to have a nice shot with *rt* in it from 2000 (?). She's so tiny - it makes the STIL effect better.
So uh, yeah... wheres the trail? Is it the skull-sized rocks?
So uh, yeah... wheres the trail? Is it the skull-sized rocks?
I try to stay on the torso sized rocks as they are more stable. The skull sized rocks can tumble down if you bump into them and kill any riders in front of you.
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Originally Posted by teamdicky
