Sure, it’s been a minute since I posted last, but the taper week before a race is, well, boring. I had a “tune-up” of sorts scheduled for Wednesday, but I woke up feeling pretty off, so I called it and went for an easy ride that afternoon after work.

Everything else leading up to race time went nice & smooth- Thursday, I got a jump on the 7.5 hour trip by leaving around noon to go to Nashville, where I rode the Montgomery Bell trail and crashed at Marsha’s house (I also dropped the geared A9C off with her so she could try her 1st 29er). Friday, I arrived a little early at the Hiker Hostel (favorite race lodging ever). After settling in, I went up to Montaluce Winery (new race headquarters) to pre-ride a little of the race start and pick up my number.

Breakfast at the hostel was excellent as always.

Unlike the last two years when the race began at Camp Wahsega (located at the base of the first major climb of the race), the start this year was from a winery located about 5 miles from the race loop. The race began with a 3.5 neutral rollout- nice for the singlespeeders since the majority of that section was rolling/downhill.

Time for another beer and some dinner…