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Race Reports for Brasstown Bald Buster Century

[1]

Comments: Here's my "race" report for this non-race, and as usual I'm too lazy to fill in all of the myriad blocks above. Do you really care how the pavement was at mile 57.5, anyway? Fellow BTer Mike45 and I have each done this ride before, in 2007 and last year, respectively, but we hadn't done it together. This year Mike signed up early and I eventually grudgingly paid up so he could have some company. I took my travel bike, as I didn't want to change up the gearing on the race bike. I weighed it last night, just for kicks, set up with the frame pump and bag as I rode it this weekend. 26 pounds. I think next time I'll bring the light bike... I don't really have anything new to say about this century that I didn't say last year unless I want to make up some new cuss words or something. One guy stood out as we were about to start; he was tall, had a blond ponytail, and was rocking those white support socks up to his knees. He was also on a tri bike with Zipps. Dude! About

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[2]

Race rating (5)

Comments: low key event, but well organized. This is a total roadie event. There is only an 80 mile option under the century. That eliminated the casual cyclist, so there are no slouches here. The SAG's were well stocked and volunteers were great.The mexican meal at the end was a real treat too (although it was not very tatsty, they had beer and margaritas). I dont have a desire to do the full 100 any time again soon, but the 80 mile hammerfest would be a great time.

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[3]

Comments: One word sums it up: Brutal. I love climbing mountains on the bike, even though I'm not built to be a climber. I've done the 6 Gap Century up in this area before, and that was the hardest ride I'd ever done at the time. I watched the Tour de Georgia coverage, with the pros suffering (and walking, at times) up Brasstown Bald. Want to suffer yourself? The Brasstown Bald Buster century starts in Helen, meanders around the countryside while accumulating 6,000+ feet of climbing, and then at 77 miles, the real fun starts: you climb 7 miles up Hogpen Gap, then descend, then several miles up Jack's Gap, to be greeted with the final indignity at mile 97 or so: 3 miles of ridiculous climbing up Brasstown Bald, including a 20%+ section known as "The Wall". Total climbing: almost 14,000 feet (see elevation profile below). My friend Mike (Mike45) did this last year, and I signed up this year to ride it with him. Unfortunately, he had a crash last week, and got to stay home in the recliner

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