Wilderness 101 2015 Recap

[jamesframes]

Last weekend was the Wilderness 101: a nearby NUE Series race. GG and I made our way to Amish country for a long day in the saddle. The prerace weather was perfect as we enjoyed the Elk Creek Ale Works and our cozy hotel room next door to prep for the next day race.

Race day was sunny and chill at the 645 am start. The gravel climbs began early in the race and for me, never seemed to end. The downhills (when they did come) were chattery and rough-little recovery was too be had. A few sections of amazing singletrack turned my frown upside down for a bit. My highlight was clearing the "three bridges section" followed by riding the log ride to the crowd's delight-apparently I was the only rider at that point to link it all together. Smile on my face, I continued on to end the day with 94 miles and 10500 ft of climbing.

Given that I do maybe one of these a year, my expectations are low-but I was hoping to break 10 hr. Perhaps the tad shorter course this year made that possible coming in a 9:37 despite a wrong turn at the very end of the race that tacked on a few bonus miles for the many that made the same error.

Of note, was GG's amazing afternoon. She too broke 10 hrs and according to the results beat me...that said I was drinking during the period which I could contest the results. A bunch of local folks were out on the trail kicking butt.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ex-zXN6r2s

http://www.mountaintouring.com/htm/wilderness_101/w101_body.htm
_________________
If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough




Support your LBS-Bicycle Depot New Paltz NY

[Forest_biker]

Congratulations on the race you two!!

It's hard to imagine ten hours in the saddle with PA fireroad climbs and the rock fields in that area.

[GG]

Thanks Forest biker! It sure was tough, and this race doesn't even focus on that much of the amazing singletrack the area has to offer....I smell a weekend trip coming on!!!