Pisgah Double Dare Race Report and K2 Warranty

[k2biker]

Double Dare MTB Adventure Race

2 days, 2-person teams, 10 checkpoints each day with a 12 hour cutoff each day.



I started the race late - big shock! My teammate (PRAJC) was a little annoyed with my laid back approach since I was still in khakis and a t-shirt at start time, but then he realized that he had lost his blinkie light, so it all worked out We hoofed up to Saddle Gap then proceeded to Wagon Road Gap -- on the Blue Ridge Parkway.



Now, I must interject here. After ORAMM, I told myself that I would never ride a bicycle up to the BRP again. When I discovered there were checkpoints that required this action, I wanted to die! We got up there and had two CP's in an hour -- not bad.



The ride on the BRP this time was much more enjoyable than at ORAMM. Great scenery and plenty of traffic. Two or three tunnels later, we set off on Big Creek Trail heading down Little Pisgah Ridge. Quite a fun ride and well worth the trip to the BRP. We picked up CP's on the Big Creek trail and at the Henderson Resovoir. Refueled with a Little Debbie oatmeal creme pie and Snickers Marathon Bar and off we went. Our 5th CP was up Seinard Mtn Road at the top of a trail whose name escapes me. We bombed the downhill singletrack and started climbing to Yellow Gap Rd where we donned lights and warm clothes while two hunters looked on with utter bewilderment. As I approached the summit, my teammate was already there and asked me how I felt.



Now, after I've done the amount of climbing that I had to this point, I don't believe in mincing words so my response made the hunters chuckle.



We started down Yellow Gap Rd in the direction of Bradley Creek to catch the mandatory CP at Turkeypen Gap. About 1/2 mile from the bottom is when the fun began. Peter and I rounded a right hand turn and my rear wheel drifted into a very shallow rut (maybe 4" deep and wide enough for the tire). When I pulled the wheel out of the rut, something felt very squishy on the rear end. I stopped to examine if the cones on the wheel were loose and finding them nice and tight, I threw my leg over the saddle and commenced with pedaling. The squishyness was still there so I stopped again and examined the rear end of the bike closer. To my chagrine (sp?) I discovered that the drive side chainstay had snapped at the weld where the rear dropout mounts. Peter and I discussed our options and I told him I was NOT climbing back to Yellow Gap only to walk down to North Mills River, which was in the opposite direction of our travels. I decided to press on to Turkeypen Gap, fording the river about 5-6 times and running / walking with the bike to keep my body temperature up.



My plan was to find someone who was parked at Turkeypen Gap and hitch a ride. After awhile, Peter was getting a little antsy about our pace and wanted more CP's so he went on to locate more CP's. There I was in Pisgah, in the dark, all alone. All good Pisgah stories of Gnomes and Sasquatch start like this! I'm sorry, but I cannot report sightings of either of the aforementioned creatures, but I did encounter a very drunk hunter and some backpackers -- none of whom were parked at Turkeypen Gap and thus could not help me so I pressed on. Once I FINALLY reached the top of the climb out of Bradley Creek, I found nothing in the parking lot but empty cars.



My decision now was to either yank out the ol' emergency blanket (mandatory gear-- CHECK!) and hunker down for the night, or continue down the fire road to the highway and pray for safe passage back to camp. I decided that the bike was stable enough to slowly ride down the road because 6 mph was faster than the 3 mph I was walking. I came across a house with lights still on so I lite up the front of the place with my Light & Motion HID light and knocked on the door. The kind gentleman who was sitting in his living room answered the door with amazement, but not shocked. Turns out, he said people stop by about every other month -- lost, broken gear, out of water, etc.



He let me call the local sheriff who came and gave me a nice warm ride in the squad car back to the finish line. For it's insolence, we placed the bike in the back seat, behind the glass and chatted about his time spent with the Marine Corps in Desert Storm (HOO -WAA!!). Upon my return to the finish area, I was treated like a celebrity with hugs and cheers all around. Peter had already made it back, so everyone knew my plight.



I spent Sunday laying around by the fire in my camp chair, talking shop with Eric and Wode, and waiting for other riders to finish their day.



I think Peter was the only rider who went out anytime close to the 6am start on Sunday -- everyone else slept in and a couple teams left at like 11 or 12 noon! Like has been said earlier, a VERY laid back "race" !



Will I go to Pisgah again? Likely so in two weeks. Will I RIDE in Pisgah again? You bet. This race and the PMBAR are great events with a great venue and some cool folks hanging out. I can't wait until PMBAR. Bring on the BRP!

__________________

"We can get that for you...next lap. Now go ride!"



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[k2biker]

Turns out that K2 is warrantying the frame. Since this frame (an '04 Zed 4.0) was issued to me as a replacement for a frame (Pro-Flex 755) that had a lifetime warranty, this frame -- for me -- carries that same promise.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love those folks at K2!