Has anyone been on the XC course recently or know someone who has? I'm going to the 24 hours and haven't heard any word on what the course conditions are this year. I am assuming it can't be good with as much rain as we have had (i'm in OH) but you can never tell. Maybe I can get some info after the NORBA race. Thanks in advance.
Snowshoe XC conditions?
- Thread starter Jebadiah
- Start date
one word.........
MUD
<eom>
MUD
<eom>
My girlfriend raced the expert xc there. I put brand new brake pads on her bike 5 days prior and they were gone after the first lap. I walked part of the course and could not believe how bad things were. The pro men were supposed to do something like 38 miles, but their race was shortened to 21.5.
If you don't have disc brakes and mud tires, your screwed. Sorry for the negetivity.
If you don't have disc brakes and mud tires, your screwed. Sorry for the negetivity.
Thanks for the update. I took a look at some pics from last weekend and it didn't look good. It usually looks good there until the race starts, looks like this year may be that bad at the beginning. Oh well I guess everyone will be riding the same conditions. I don't have disc's but usually don't have many problems with brakes (slow), I am quite experienced with mud, I run Panaracer fire XC Pro's, 2.1 front @34 psi, 1.8 rear@36 psi. The only combo I've ever found better would be pure mud tires but if there is any hardpack or fire road on the course they become a problem.
Jebadiah i'll be there too!
Here is the official word from Granny Gear.... I guess they still have my e-mail from last year. Sounds like it is a bit of a mess.
6/25/03
Howdy Racing Fans
Heres the latest lowdown from The 2003 24 Hours of Snowshoe:
Rocks Rock!
The success of the crushed limestone armoring has been impressive.
Weve been riding it in the wettest of wet conditions and weve found that it
has held up beautifully over the winter and that its very rideable.
Our crews worked hard getting this work done last year but credit must
also go to a heroic little 20 horsepower machine that we rent from
Snowshoe, called a Pug. Its essentially an articulated, mini dump truck
with 4 wheel drive and big balloon tires. Its simply amazing how it can
carry up to 1,000 lbs. of crushed stone (enough to armor about 8-12 ft of
trail) into the most severe terrain. Weve relied on it heavily and we planned
to use it for the armoring tasks we had targeted for this years race.
Well, two Sundays ago, after the NORBA NCS, several drunken downhillers
hot-wired the Pug and took it for a joy ride. When they were done, they
rolled it down the ski slopes and into the woods. After winching it out of the
woods, Snowshoes maintenance shop worked on it for three days, welding
broken parts of the frame and chassis, patching the three flat tires,
repairing the electrics, and generally going over the whole thing to make
sure that it was ready for duty again. And now, it is. Our thanks to the shop
workers who patched it up so quickly and to Bob Kuntz for coordinating the
delivery of equipment and equipment operators for this weeks work.
The bad news is that because the Pug was was out of commission all last
week, we weren'tt able to get any new sections of crushed limestone
started. Nevertheless, our crews got out and did a substantial amount of
drainage work and hand armoring, digging local sandstone and turning big
rocks into little rocks with a withering amount of chain-gang-style sledge-
hammer work.
Course Modifications Announced
Were going to take out the Enchanted Forest and Aheadset sections out of
this years course. These sections have remained too wet. I rode the new
shorter course today at a moderate race pace (without the prologue but
with only two days drying from the previous three months of rain) and
clocked a 1:20 time (Im am average Sport rider with good technical skills.) I
expect the fastest racers will turn sub-45 minute laps, which means that
the winning teams will break 24 laps (a Granny Gear first!) I dont currently
have the mileage because a stick ripped away my cycle computer wire but
you can see a low res. image from the home page of www.grannygear.com.
We had hoped to add a mile and a half or so of fast gravel road but it would
have meant bypassing the ego-pumping Powerline downhill and we ended up
having traffic conflicts on the gravel road so we're keeping Powerline routing.
All-in-all, the course works well. The fastest riders may have to double up
their laps to get reasonable down times for their teammates but it should
work out great for everyone else. If rain does arrive and were back to the
wet conditions that weve had for the past three years, the course should be
much more rideable. Though there are still very technical sections left, the
most impossible sections of Enchanted Forest and Aheadset will be gone.
Significant sections of Lower Beaver Dam will be newly armored and well
be using every bit of armored trail that was built last year.
Because of the smaller number of teams the big steel bridge weve used to
cross the Silver Creek entrance road wont be necessary. Instead, there will
be a traffic stop/road crossing at entrance to the Airport Road Climb.
Weather or Not
The long range forecast has been improving all week but currently theyre
still showing a 30% chance of thunderstorms on Friday. We can only hope
that the high-pressure system thats bringing the sunshine this week stalls-out
and gives us a couple more days of dry weather. Heres a link for the forecast:
http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/ public/local_index.asp?zipcode=26209&partner=accuweather
Better Late Than Never
On-site Registration will remain open till 10 p.m., Friday night, at Kids World
next to Silver Creek Lodge. Last minute entries are welcome. Heres a link
where you can download the Team Entry and Individual Release forms:
< font style="font-family:'Arial';font-size:10pt;">http://www.grannygear.com/Races/Sno wshoe/2003/registration.html#mailin
Mud Issues
A reminder for all of those who are staying in housing or condos, please
take steps to minimize the tracking in of mud. Here are some
recommendations: 1) hose yourself off at one of the bike wash, 2) bring old
towels from home to wipe your bikes down and for general mud cleaning,
3) bring drop cloths to put over the carpet where youll change out of your
muddy clothes.
The Silver Creek Home Owners Association will NOT be allowing bikes to be
taken into the rooms this year. With hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of new carpets and other improvements, theyre very concerned
about mud and chain grease. They will be providing a secure bike check
tent in front of the main entrance for lodge guests.
Log-in Registrars Still Needed
With a smaller field of teams comes a smaller pool of volunteers. Were still
looking for a few more folks to fill the registrar positions in the log-tent.
Weve got openings on all shifts. Weve said it before and its certainly true
that this is a great way to experience the race. By all means let us know if
someone you know would like us to reserve them a front row seat. Heres a
link where folks can volunteer, on-line: http://www.grannygear.com/volunteer .html
2003 24 Hour Race Series Jerseys, Shorts and Jackets On-Sale
Weve designed a really cool jersey and shorts (and even a few jackets) for this
years 24 Hour Race Series. They'll be will be on-sale, while supplies last, at the race.
Well, we hope you've enjoyed this sunny week and gotten out on
your bike for some good rides. Were really looking forward to the race and
looking forward to seeing everybody again.
Happy Trails,
All the Folks at Granny Gear
6/25/03
Howdy Racing Fans
Heres the latest lowdown from The 2003 24 Hours of Snowshoe:
Rocks Rock!
The success of the crushed limestone armoring has been impressive.
Weve been riding it in the wettest of wet conditions and weve found that it
has held up beautifully over the winter and that its very rideable.
Our crews worked hard getting this work done last year but credit must
also go to a heroic little 20 horsepower machine that we rent from
Snowshoe, called a Pug. Its essentially an articulated, mini dump truck
with 4 wheel drive and big balloon tires. Its simply amazing how it can
carry up to 1,000 lbs. of crushed stone (enough to armor about 8-12 ft of
trail) into the most severe terrain. Weve relied on it heavily and we planned
to use it for the armoring tasks we had targeted for this years race.
Well, two Sundays ago, after the NORBA NCS, several drunken downhillers
hot-wired the Pug and took it for a joy ride. When they were done, they
rolled it down the ski slopes and into the woods. After winching it out of the
woods, Snowshoes maintenance shop worked on it for three days, welding
broken parts of the frame and chassis, patching the three flat tires,
repairing the electrics, and generally going over the whole thing to make
sure that it was ready for duty again. And now, it is. Our thanks to the shop
workers who patched it up so quickly and to Bob Kuntz for coordinating the
delivery of equipment and equipment operators for this weeks work.
The bad news is that because the Pug was was out of commission all last
week, we weren'tt able to get any new sections of crushed limestone
started. Nevertheless, our crews got out and did a substantial amount of
drainage work and hand armoring, digging local sandstone and turning big
rocks into little rocks with a withering amount of chain-gang-style sledge-
hammer work.
Course Modifications Announced
Were going to take out the Enchanted Forest and Aheadset sections out of
this years course. These sections have remained too wet. I rode the new
shorter course today at a moderate race pace (without the prologue but
with only two days drying from the previous three months of rain) and
clocked a 1:20 time (Im am average Sport rider with good technical skills.) I
expect the fastest racers will turn sub-45 minute laps, which means that
the winning teams will break 24 laps (a Granny Gear first!) I dont currently
have the mileage because a stick ripped away my cycle computer wire but
you can see a low res. image from the home page of www.grannygear.com.
We had hoped to add a mile and a half or so of fast gravel road but it would
have meant bypassing the ego-pumping Powerline downhill and we ended up
having traffic conflicts on the gravel road so we're keeping Powerline routing.
All-in-all, the course works well. The fastest riders may have to double up
their laps to get reasonable down times for their teammates but it should
work out great for everyone else. If rain does arrive and were back to the
wet conditions that weve had for the past three years, the course should be
much more rideable. Though there are still very technical sections left, the
most impossible sections of Enchanted Forest and Aheadset will be gone.
Significant sections of Lower Beaver Dam will be newly armored and well
be using every bit of armored trail that was built last year.
Because of the smaller number of teams the big steel bridge weve used to
cross the Silver Creek entrance road wont be necessary. Instead, there will
be a traffic stop/road crossing at entrance to the Airport Road Climb.
Weather or Not
The long range forecast has been improving all week but currently theyre
still showing a 30% chance of thunderstorms on Friday. We can only hope
that the high-pressure system thats bringing the sunshine this week stalls-out
and gives us a couple more days of dry weather. Heres a link for the forecast:
http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/ public/local_index.asp?zipcode=26209&partner=accuweather
Better Late Than Never
On-site Registration will remain open till 10 p.m., Friday night, at Kids World
next to Silver Creek Lodge. Last minute entries are welcome. Heres a link
where you can download the Team Entry and Individual Release forms:
< font style="font-family:'Arial';font-size:10pt;">http://www.grannygear.com/Races/Sno wshoe/2003/registration.html#mailin
Mud Issues
A reminder for all of those who are staying in housing or condos, please
take steps to minimize the tracking in of mud. Here are some
recommendations: 1) hose yourself off at one of the bike wash, 2) bring old
towels from home to wipe your bikes down and for general mud cleaning,
3) bring drop cloths to put over the carpet where youll change out of your
muddy clothes.
The Silver Creek Home Owners Association will NOT be allowing bikes to be
taken into the rooms this year. With hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of new carpets and other improvements, theyre very concerned
about mud and chain grease. They will be providing a secure bike check
tent in front of the main entrance for lodge guests.
Log-in Registrars Still Needed
With a smaller field of teams comes a smaller pool of volunteers. Were still
looking for a few more folks to fill the registrar positions in the log-tent.
Weve got openings on all shifts. Weve said it before and its certainly true
that this is a great way to experience the race. By all means let us know if
someone you know would like us to reserve them a front row seat. Heres a
link where folks can volunteer, on-line: http://www.grannygear.com/volunteer .html
2003 24 Hour Race Series Jerseys, Shorts and Jackets On-Sale
Weve designed a really cool jersey and shorts (and even a few jackets) for this
years 24 Hour Race Series. They'll be will be on-sale, while supplies last, at the race.
Well, we hope you've enjoyed this sunny week and gotten out on
your bike for some good rides. Were really looking forward to the race and
looking forward to seeing everybody again.
Happy Trails,
All the Folks at Granny Gear
I wonder if this was one of Sideways blackout moments
Because of this statement, I am officially done racing with Granny Gear. The conditions of the Snowshoe course were terrible 3 years in a row, and they were terrible in October, yes, after the drought. The good days of the 24 hours of Canaan are over. Best of luck to the racers this year, the field looks pretty thin, so I reckon I'm not the only one who has lost faith in Granny Gear.
I have not given up hope on Granny Gear, just snowshoe. Once was enough for me. Moab is an awesome event! I thought Granny Gear did a great job organizing it as well.
Recently I did my first 24hrs of Adrenaline event, they put on a good show, but somehow it did not have the feel of a Granny Gear event... it just felt too commercial... I'll let you know if my opinion changes after this weekend.
Snowshoe, I think, is just a really tough venue for them... it would probably challenge any of us who wanted to put on a race there. It kind of seems that they are forcing an eastern location... to its credit tho... that course is definately a test.
on a side note, if you do believe anything Laird sends out in his e-mails, two weeks ago he sent one of these e-mails talking about just how bad the course was, and mentioned that moving the race back to Canaan was a possibility... remote... but a possibility.
Recently I did my first 24hrs of Adrenaline event, they put on a good show, but somehow it did not have the feel of a Granny Gear event... it just felt too commercial... I'll let you know if my opinion changes after this weekend.
Snowshoe, I think, is just a really tough venue for them... it would probably challenge any of us who wanted to put on a race there. It kind of seems that they are forcing an eastern location... to its credit tho... that course is definately a test.
on a side note, if you do believe anything Laird sends out in his e-mails, two weeks ago he sent one of these e-mails talking about just how bad the course was, and mentioned that moving the race back to Canaan was a possibility... remote... but a possibility.
Anyone remember mud year at Canaan? We were unhooking our brakes and pushing the bikes downhill. My team quit after we all rode a lap and started drinking this bottle of moonshine that had a bunch of blueberries shoved into it a few days before.......yes.....I was one of those idiots.