Indy Rootstock :: Mike Garrison

For a couple of years now I have been hearing about how awesome this century ride is. An amazing and challenging 100 mile loop course that takes you over three mountains (Signal, Sand, Lookout) and through three states (TN, AL, GA) with somewhere around 7000' of climb. This year I decided to pony up and head down with a big crew of Rootstockers and others.

The weekend had an ominous start with about the worst drive to an event that I can recall. (The drive to the PA Sprint in the apocalyptic rain storm last year was wild, but short.) It rained constantly and the traffic was ridiculous. I eventually lost track of how long we had been driving but we at least didn't have to drive straight to the start line.

Dinner Friday was fun other than the fact that those of us with internet capable phones could not resist checking the weather every 37 seconds or so, as if that would somehow bring a more desirable forecast for the morning. Greg just kept saying "it can't be worse than last year" as the heavens opened up throughout the meal. (Apparently no one has ever educated him in the finer points of "jinxing" yourself.)

We all got out to the start line the next morning under overcast gray skies. Sure enough within seconds of the ride starting I felt the first raindrops. By the time the pack was moving through the streets of Chattanooga, it was raining for real. The rain continued to pick up as we got into the first climb up Sand Mountain.

I have to say of all the climbs this one was probably the prettiest with Suck Creek running just along the side of the road for the majority of the climb. I've never done a climb even close to this long (5 miles I was told?) and I must say it was a blast. I managed to hang with Greg for about 2/3 of the climb then I had to ease up a bit or else blow up on mountain one of three. (As I watched Greg ascend away from me, which would become a theme for the day, I thought he was giving every single rider he passed "the look". Turns how he was just being social and greeting all those that he passed.)

Just as I reached the top of the climb the rain got crazy hard. There was thunder and some lightning, but I didn't see any ground strikes, and no one around me was slowing down so I kept on. I couldn't see anything between the rain from above and the rooster tails and splatter from the road. The descent was five miles and it wore my hands out more (riding the brakes) than the climb wore out my legs. Coming out of the descent I caught up with Greg at the first SAG. We were cold and it was pouring so we pushed on.

By the time we reached the second SAG both of my feet were ridiculously numb. Wearing new shoes for a century started to seem like a really bad idea. Thankfully a few minutes out of the shoes and walking around brought the feet back, and they didn't have any problems the rest of the day. Turns out I had just cranked them down a bit too tight at the start of the day.

Michael caught up with us at this point and the three of us pushed on together. By the time we got to the split for the metric century any thoughts of doing anything but the full century were gone. I definitely think having an adventure racers mentality and ability to suffer made this ride more bearable for us than a lot of the folks out there. It was a miserable first 35 miles!

The climb up Sand Mt. was shorter that Signal, but had some gnarly switchbacks. At the top was a beautiful ride along a ridge line. The views were great, even with the valley filled with clouds. I'd love to see it on a clear day! At the SAG after the Sand Mt. climb I started to realize how gassed my legs were feeling. The infamous Burkhalter climb was going to be challenging for sure.

Some rollers brought us to the descent off Sand Mt. and a quick ride brought us to the SAG at the bottom of Burkhalter. We made a quick stop so I could get a bathroom break then kept moving. I realized at this point that I had forgotten my Endurloytes AND Greg had forgotten his. I also didn't realize until the SAG at the TOP of the climb that they were providing them at each SAG! Whoops...

I'd heard all kinds of horror stories about Burkhalter so I was a bit worried as we got started. Greg's pace separated us and a few moments after he took off my right hamstring started to cramp. Wonderful. I tried riding with one leg for a bit to stretch it out, but realized that was not going to accomplish much as I sure as heck wouldn't be doing the whole climb like that. A minute or so off the bike to recover and I was on my way. I never felt like I could go "all out" on the climb for fear of cramping on the steep part, but the legs cooperated enough. The climb itself was very cool as we ascended into a cloud.

As we neared a steepening section there were two volunteers out there offering pushes to those that had fallen or just plain stopped in their tracks. At this point I thought there was still more climb, but it turned out that was the top. A tough climb for sure, but to be honest, not as bad as I had been expecting. There's something to be said for being "oversold" on a climb's toughness.

Greg and I got a few handfuls of grapes at the SAG (and I got a very welcome pack of Endurolytes) and then took off. I think one of the volunteers might have said something along the lines of "it's all downhill from here!!" Uh, not so much. Those last ten mile or so of rollers from the top of Burkhalter to the descent off Lookout are BRUTAL!! If you ever do this ride, DO NOT mentally checkout at the top of that climb thinking you are cruising home. You're not. There is still some pretty serious work to be done.

Greg dropped me at this point and I kind of limped my way to the descent. Some more leg cramps forced me to take it pretty easy. Again, even with the clouds the descent was beautiful. Only the traffic and one clueless rider (he made multiple trips across the rumble-stripped center line and somehow figured out how to cut me off form the left on a wide left turn at the bottom of the descent), made the downhill a little stressful.

The ride had great support back through the city with cones almost the whole way to the finish. A nice crowd and some cowbells were there to greet the riders. All in all, a great day of riding!

Mike Garrison

Indy Rootstock

Personal Summary

Mike Garrison

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

2009 Three State Three Mountain Challenge

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