 Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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on: October 03, 2013, 06:43:17 PM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« on: October 03, 2013, 06:43:17 PM » |
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The AML400 kicks off at 8am tomorrow! I thought I'd start a separate discussion thread. I'll cover all calls I receive into MTBCast so if you are racing, feel free to call in! And, of course, follow the blue dots here! |
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« Last Edit: October 04, 2013, 06:34:52 AM by mtbcast »
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #1 on: October 04, 2013, 08:08:18 AM
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Camber29er
Posts: 1
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« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2013, 08:08:18 AM » |
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Good luck to all the riders. A moment of prayer:
Our Father,
Which art in Allegheny,
Mountain Bike be thy name.
To thy trailheads we come,
Thy maintenance be done
On fire road
As it is on singletrack.
Give us this day our daily ride,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those that trespass on us.
And lead us not unto illegal singletrack,
But deliver us from equestrians
For thine is the knobby,
The SPD,
And the Lycra forever, Amen
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #2 on: October 04, 2013, 09:19:49 AM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2013, 09:19:49 AM » |
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Last night: MTBCast: Episode 169 – Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013! A pre-race call from Chris Tompkins and we run down the AML400 start list. http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/ |
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #3 on: October 04, 2013, 09:20:18 AM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #4 on: October 04, 2013, 11:39:09 AM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #5 on: October 04, 2013, 01:20:22 PM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #6 on: October 04, 2013, 05:15:04 PM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever the GeoPro is parked.
Posts: 2863
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« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2013, 05:15:04 PM » |
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Any opinions on the orange boxes with first names vs. the classic initials and bluedot?
We already had one 'nay' vote from a bluedot junky. I kinda like it though.
Oh to be out enjoying the fall color in Appalachia...
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #7 on: October 04, 2013, 07:37:22 PM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2013, 07:37:22 PM » |
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I'm not sure. Orange-box junkie doesn't have the same ring. :/ OTOH, you see the names.
Yes, I had hoped to get a nice Fall ride with some good foliage views but probably not unless they hold off until the end of October.
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #8 on: October 05, 2013, 05:09:44 PM
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Mr Cup
Posts: 36
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« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2013, 05:09:44 PM » |
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So bummed I can't be up on this route right now. Been planning to ride in October for months but work comes first.... I'll get up there sometime.
Hope everyone riding has a safe and fun time. Looking forward to reading the ride reports.
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #9 on: October 05, 2013, 06:29:46 PM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2013, 06:29:46 PM » |
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Chris and Taylor are on the final leg of the route!
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #10 on: October 05, 2013, 07:11:49 PM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #11 on: October 05, 2013, 07:53:03 PM
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Nathan Jones
Posts: 129
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« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2013, 07:53:03 PM » |
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Looks like Taylor got nearly a couple hours ahead of his intended target, a damn fine showing! As for the dots, I like the names in the boxes, but maybe they should be blue for reasons of cultural tradition.  |
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #12 on: October 06, 2013, 04:41:27 PM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2013, 04:41:27 PM » |
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #13 on: October 06, 2013, 04:51:33 PM
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Snowbd2u
Location: Culpeper, VA
Posts: 112
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« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2013, 04:51:33 PM » |
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Is this a mountain bike loop? I'm here in va and have never heard of this?!
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #14 on: October 06, 2013, 05:11:26 PM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2013, 05:11:26 PM » |
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The Adventure Cycling Association established the route. It's not a mountain bike route per se' but does include sections of the Greenbrier River Trail. You can learn more about the route here. |
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #15 on: October 07, 2013, 06:22:40 AM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #16 on: October 08, 2013, 12:53:49 PM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #17 on: October 09, 2013, 09:36:31 AM
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Mike K.
Posts: 24
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« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2013, 09:36:31 AM » |
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I felt great being part of the 2013 AML 400 and would like to recognize Chris Tompkins for organizing the race and coordinating everyone. Thank you, Chris, I had a fantastic time! Congrats to all the racers! I really enjoyed talking with you sharing your passion for cycling!
I love riding bikes. Always have. Riding and the adventures that go with it are a great joy to me. I’m a regular guy, husband, father, and employee, and definitely not a real racer. Something about “ultra racing” really appeals to me, though.
I think it boils down to riding with folks who get as much pure joy out of cycling that I do. Riding with my friends or family from home, while fun, leaves me feeling like the ride was too short or not challenging enough.
So, looking for some close-to-home adventure and having a three day family pass, I threw my hat into this year’s AML 400. Considering I am not a SPOT user, Chris was very welcoming. I’m not into folks who aren’t actually there watching me. Just my personal preference. I did record a continuous GPX of my race for anyone who would like to see.
Blacksburg is a great place to start and finish. Eleven racers started. What most impressed me is that everyone seemed to be in great shape and well prepared with strategy and kit plus they were great fun to ride and talk with. Here is my very unofficial interpretation of the finishing order:
Taylor - OH (1:13:20)
Chris - OH (1:13:21)
Ruth - PA (2:03:31)
Jeff - VT (2:03:31)
Mike - VA (2:08:45)
Mark - MD (2:09:40)
Greg - VA (2:09:44)
Jim - MI (2:10:55)
Chris - VA (2:10:56)
Jason - VA (?)
Aaron - OH (?)
The AML will challenge adventure racers of any level, even expert, experienced riders. It’s no joke with 30,000 feet over 400 miles. The route is not technical, but there are some real challenges:
Climbing. Obviously shorter but every bit as hard as the GDMBR in Canada and Montana. Even without snow, I pushed some.
Long stretch between services (for me Seebert at mile 128 and Paint Bank at mile 347). That’s 220 rugged miles with tons of climbing. I found pump water at miles 200 (Glady) and 280 (Mountain Grove), but I had to treat surface water several times. I was out of food and suffering when I got to Paint Bank.
Appalachian Mountain weather is tough - temperature extremes and wet. Only rain sprinkles this year, but massive humidity was a factor, mostly because it was quite cold at night and the humidity just ate into me. I was so wet and cold that I had to wrap my foam sleeping pad around my torso inside my jacket for the two huge early morning descents into Paint Bank.
Short days in early October means significant night riding. Competitive riders will need a substantial light strategy.
Soft trail in long stretches (West Fork Trail for 23 miles and Greenbrier River Trail (less gooey) for 78 miles). The dirt roads are often steep and burly. Not a huge amount of washboard, but enough that you have to watch for it on the big descents.
Lots of twisty, steep rollers - the route rewards way above average bike handling skills.
Lots of navigation turns - I normally navigate primarily from printed narrative, but used my GPS almost the entire way and used eight AA lithium ultimate batteries for GPS just to get me to the Mountain Lake Resort. I had to steel from my main light for the last thirty miles home.
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #18 on: October 12, 2013, 07:19:56 AM
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Topic Name: Allegheny Mountains Loop 400 2013 Discussion
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Reply #19 on: October 13, 2013, 07:45:51 PM
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