I’m just going to get my mostly crappy race report out of the way before I talk Infamy.

I felt awesome, had a great start, and was totally rocking the lead. I had a rear flat super early, but didn’t sweat it too hard since it was 15 minutes in to a 5-6 hour day. However, getting back into a race on a narrow, technical bench trail is super hard and ends up being physically and mentally exhausting because you have to yell and beg and punch your way around a couple of hundred people in conga-line groups of 3-10 at a time. I’d worked my way through about 3/4 (I think) of the field and was settling back in to a good rhythm when I flatted my front tire and ended up at the back of the pack again. I fixed it and bailed at the next trailhead, making  the decision to cut my losses based on the proximity of TSE and how hard I would have chased & destroyed myself trying to get back to a podium spot. Additionally, having a bunch of air in my front tire was super sketchy because the rocks & roots were already wet & muddy, which makes them a type of slick that you just have to experience to really appreciate.
I hate quitting a race more than almost everything, but my legs feel great (for you wattage nerds out there, I averaged 301 watts for 8 minutes going up the first climb, and wasn’t blown up at the top), and I didn’t want to screw it up by turning myself inside out or having a dumb wreck.

Still, the feeling of a DNF decision is on my top 5 list of things I hate, just under “death or illness of a loved one” and “getting attacked by a swarm of Africanized honey bees.” I still feel regrets about dropping out of Rouge Roubaix after getting hit by a car.

So, that’s it. The highlight of my day was watching Poolboy Matt finish his race in 5 hours, 10 minutes- good enough for 12th overall and 5th in singlespeed. He’s come a long way- doing well at Syllamo’s Revenge is a combination of having the best fitness, skill, and luck.

At least I didn’t get hit by a car.

“Infamous” Trail Designation

Some trails are technical and can be hard on people who arrive unprepared, either mechanically, physically, and/or mentally. They aren’t all too uncommon, and they dot the map all over the U.S. Lots of people refer to them as “Epic,” and they often become popular tourist destinations. However, I can only think of two trail systems- Syllamo and Pisgah- that go above and beyond techy/difficult/epic to achieve Infamy. These are trails that can chew up and spit out even the most well-prepared rider and equipment. If you can ride there, you can ride anywhere.

The name “Syllamo” comes as a tribute to a troublesome Creek Indian who inhabited the Sylamore Creek area in the early 1800s. It’s said that he used to steal horses an support raids of settlers’ homesteads, and, while he was eventually shot, it’s rumored that he still haunts his territory to this day. If there’s ever a legend that I’ll believe, it’s this one.

When people come to the Syllamo trails for the first time, they’re often not prepared for what’s there. It’s 50 miles of the most remote, rocky, and beautiful singletrack that I’ve come across in my relatively few years of riding off-road. The terrain includes steep stuff, flowy stuff, and lots of rock gardens. The shale that makes up the rock gardens is unique to the area and is a challenge in and of itself in two ways: 1) It’s sharp as all getout and will rip holes in even the toughest sidewalls, and 2) when it gets wet, it’s quite possibly one of the slickest surfaces known to man. It’s impossible to go to the Syllamo trails and ride “easy,” because it’s a constant challenge in some way, shape, or form.

No matter how strong, skilled, and lucky you are, the Syllamo Trails can crush you and/or your equipment. That’s why I love them more than any trails I’ve ever visited. I get the same vibe from the Pisgah-loving people out East. It’s a mix of respect (for the trail and its ability to destroy) and an undercurrent of the self-confidence gained from successfully riding trails that cause a disproportionately large percentage of the people who visit to swear they’ll never come back.

Even though the trail won out this weekend, there were hints of awesome in my very short time racing. I don’t think it’s possible to be more ready for Trans-Sylvania than I am now.