Prologue

The Swank 65, the sort of end of season classic here in Brevard. It has quickly climbed into one of my almost “must do” events of the year. It’s an extremely well run event, a fun course, and seems to bring out a lot of fun riders. This year it fell the week after Double Dare which was tough on more than one front but it’s my last event for a little while now, so somewhat begrudgingly I was given the ok. Which was really cool because I got really excited about this race for some reason this year, more than normal I think.

Coming off Double Dare last weekend I wasn’t really sure what to expect from my legs, while we only really had about 100 miles on the bike, it was a lot of saddle time, not much sleep, and some tough riding. However I never really felt too terribly crushed from a physical standpoint so I was hopeful. I rode pretty sparingly during the week trying my best to get some good recovery and I think it mostly worked out.

Sunday came around and it happened to coincide with the end of Daylight Savings Time, or the beginning? I’m not really sure, all I know is we “fell” back an hour which for me kind of means an extra hour in the day because I was pretty much wide awake at 5, which was now 4…On a day with a race that isn’t a terrible thing. Also being a fall race the start time isn’t until 10 am so there was some time to make some pancakes and have breakfast with the family before heading out.

Pulling into Cove Creek the sun was already warming things up and giving us a preview of how amazing the scenery and weather was going to be. For some reason Joe was standing in the spot where they were telling me to park so I already had someone to BS with as soon as I got out of my car. Shortly thereafter Katie showed up with Lizzie, Chris, and Ridge man it was a good start to the day, now I just hope the race goes this well.

The start for Swank tends to be a little hectic, there is a downhill gravel road to a narrow bridge or creek crossing then a flat gravel road out to a climb that goes from doubletrack to singletrack and gets pretty rough. So unless you like trying to pass people who are in way above their heads it is pretty important to get as far up in the field as possible. In the past I’ve been on a single speed and that is really tough. This year I did bring the geared full squish bike so I was going to be ready. This also means being in the first couple of rows of the start is pretty critical.

The Swank

We were lined up, music cued, and next thing I knew it we were off. A few pedal strokes in and I realized I had gears and it was time to get moving. We got to the bridge, seemed like a cluster, screw it the weather wasn’t bad, let’s do this…and into the creek I went, which wasn’t too bad until some A-hole came in flying and splashed a few of us. Anyhow, through the creek to the road and I see the front group ahead, they’re motoring. Decide trying to bridge up is a bad plan. No need to go that far into the red when I can’t hang onto that group for too long anyhow. Then Matthew Busche and one or two guys fly by me like I’m standing still, hmm…. I guess that’s why they’re pro riders and I’m not… oh well, Art comes up to my wheel and I decide he’ll make a good pacer. So I go with him.

Up one side of Daniel, down the other, rolling with Art and having ourselves a good ol’ time. Now this is fun. Back to the road, Katie and company are hanging out waiting for us, which was awesome. Tried to get Lizzie to come with me on the strider bike but no luck. She probably would have dropped me anyhow. We made our way up to Gloucester gap, through the gap, down to Butter, up to Butter gap, and we chased down another guy who we unfortunately couldn’t catch before starting the descent. Art let me lead down and I started pressuring the guy in front of us, luckily he bobbled up near the top and we were able to get by.

Down the slip and slide that is Butter Gap and onto Long Branch. Long Branch has some punchy climbs in it, not long but short punchy painful things. Typically on a single speed I’m pushing up these. Today I had gears, 12 of them, smoke em if you got em….So I hit the tiny gear and motored my way up. Hmmm…that was interesting…I almost got away from Art, but he managed to hold on.

Back on the gravel, we were on our way back up to Gloucester for the 2nd time, this time to head up to Farlow Gap. Art and I stayed together until about half way up 229 (the road to Farlow) then he started standing and cranking and I just couldn’t match it. I tried a few times and just didn’t have the power. I sat and let him go and just kept my pace. Art’s had a great year and has been really strong I felt like I had done pretty good so far.

Over the top of Farlow, into the gnar, I was feeling good, rolling well. The 160 mm dropper on the Stumpjumper (my bike) was a welcome change to the 125 mm of drop I have on the SS. I rolled most of the way through the rock garden until a rock under a pile of leaves pushed me off my line. Oh well, I made it farther than I usually do. The bottom of Farlow is the fun part and I made short work of that, onto the rocky side of Daniel Ridge, after terrifying a hiker or two (who I did check up for and wave and smile) I was clear of the rough stuff. Only to look back and see Jacob right on my wheel. I know he’s a good descender, but I thought I rode that pretty well.

Anyhow, the fact that he caught me this late meant I was still doing pretty well, Jacob is a really strong rider. Into the last aid station and I needed some water, so I stopped, he didn’t. A quick splash, two shots of coke and I was back on the road. I could see him just ahead, and that’s how it would go for the rest of the day. All the way up 475b and I could see him a curve or two ahead. We made the left onto 225 and then all of the sudden another rider. Coming up to the top and he caught me. I gave it a couple pushes but he was rolling. I got on his wheel and into the final single track.

There is one spot you have to dismount to cross a sketchy bridge and clamber up some rocks. I figured this was my shot to get around or get in position to get around before we start the last bit of downhill. Well, coming out of the rocks I went to mount and slipped getting into my pedal, then again…Oh well, I still pushed hard but and really almost caught him in the chute to the finish, but he ended up beating my by about 3 seconds.

Wrap up

What a fun day in the woods, the trails were in good shape, the weather was unreal, the fall colors were mindblowing, and all kinds of friends around. I would have loved for Katie and crew to be able to be at the finish to hang out as it was a great time afterwards as well. I ended up finishing 10th overall and 1st in the Vet Men (30-39) with a time of 3:36 for 35 miles in Pisgah with about 6,000 feet of elevation. So it was a pretty good day for me. The field was a lot faster this year than last which is honestly kind of fun to see how you stack up. I was 7 minutes faster than last year and 5 places lower in the field.

It was a great way to wrap up the year, a little sad the “season” is over but it’s a pretty welcome thing right now.

For anyone interested, I did finally get to properly test out my fueling/nutrition plan of almost solely relying on the CarboRocket 333. All liquid based calories, electrolytes, etc. and I was actually pretty happy with how it went (and how it tasted, this is some of the best drinking sports drink I’ve ever had). I didn’t really eat anything during the race just drank and felt a pretty consistent energy level and no major bonk like I’ve had a few times this year. The cramp twinges reared their head a couple times but I think that is bound to happen when you’re at your limit for that long. In the future for over 4 hours I would try and work a little solid food into the mix, not much, just something to have some change. My stomach was a solid as it’s ever been which was a really good feeling.