My first Multi-Day race coming up, the TNGA

[sthig]

I'll be racing the Trans North Georgia Adventure race on August 25th.  It's 350 miles with around 56k of climbing - so I've been training and doing what I can.  I know some of the route but not all of it and am considering pre-riding sections of it.

I'm still working on gear, bike setup and such - but being this is is my first adventure race (I'm hoping to clear it in 3-4 days max) anyone have any tips?  I've streamlined a lot of my gear but I'm still wondering what to eat for dinner after I stop riding for the day - what type of bivvy to use, etc.

Here in the south -we got bugs by the buckets.  Ticks are abundant in our neck o' the woods as well as where I'll be there are black bears (nothing like the grizz though).

Any thoughts?

[keeb]

I'm in the same boat as Sthig; this will be my first long distance race, and I'm a little trepidatious about water/food supply points.  I have no way of scoping out the trails before hand, so my resupply point planning is going to have to be by map alone.  I'm not too concerned about the bugs and critters since I've been backpacking in the south all my life.

[Chad B]

Tarp with a netting for the bugs?

[febikes]

Bears are not an issue so just don't worry about it.  Really just about zero risk.  Bugs just rub on some bug screen before the start and HTFU.

I am a novice at the ultra bikepacking thing but my last trip I felt my sleep system for warm weather worked fine.  

In something like TNGA you don't need to worry much about extreme cold so just go with a survival bivy or even just a few space blankets if you want to go fast.

I did a night on my last trip using just my space blanket and cycling clothing.  If it's warm that really all you need for a short 3 to 4 hour nap.  I had my full sleep system on the bike as well but I just wanted to try a lighter weight nap system.

One thing that will help you be warmer is to drink down 1/3 cup of olive oil right before you go to sleep.  Your body will heat up a little as it digests the fats and they should help you when you wake up.  I tried this as well and felt it help.

For the record, I have not done actual "race" but the above advice comes from some recent training/testing rides.  You should continue to research and also do some test riding.  What I found was that after 150 miles in the blue ridge parkway I was starting to feel unsafe and felt that I needed to stop or risk falling asleep on the long downhills.  The space blanket and olive oil with a short nap made me feel much better.

[sthig]

febikes - big thanks man!!!  You here in the southeast?

[sthig]

ah - duh.  You are NC.  Were you at the Cohutta 100? 

[febikes]

febikes - big thanks man!!!  You here in the southeast?

I live in Raleigh and last weekend I was at the Pisgah PMBAR race.  After the race I road the 400 miles to get back to Raleigh.

On my ride back I had a 150 mile stretch on the blue ridge parkway.  It was not very cold so I decided it was a good time to try ultra light sleeping for a four hour nap.  I felt refreshed and did 110 miles the next day with a longer sleeping session in Mt. Airy followed by 170 miles to get back home.  

The thing is there is no substitution for just trying things out.  I was more comfortable then I expected.  I slept in all my cycling clothing including an event jacket.  The down bag was in my pack in case I got cold but I did not use it.

[LenzMan]

I just finished the TNGA a couple weeks ago, pre ride before August and training for the TD....I'm not an expert by any means, just a fat guy with a good bike...email me and I'll answer any questions you may have.
steven@stevenmartine.com

[keeb]

I'm guessing for something like the TNGA (@ race pace) the main thing to be concerned with is food and water, with the bare necessities for clothing, tools/spares, sleep kit, and maps & gps slotting in behind in some order.  It seems like more a sprint mentality is needed, rather than a tourdivide type mentality.  With that mentality, I'm planning on forgoing a good bit of comfort with the tradeoff being less crap to haul from border to border. 

I was thinking for sleeping kit I'd just go with an emergency bivvy sack and nothing else.  Tools are pretty straight forward.  I haven't narrowed the amount of clothing down yet but I'm thinking along the lines of 1 pair of shorts, 1 jersey, 2 pairs socks (wool), stuffable rain jacket, and a long sleeve shirt and light shorts for sleeping.   (I'm sort of debating whether or not having two pairs of riding shorts would be smart or a waste of space).  Beyond that stuff it's just lights, cue sheets, gps, batteries, food, and liquids.

I'm basically just thinking out loud here, but any comments/suggestions are more than welcome since I'm completely new to the whole bikepacking endurance race thing.

[LiiT]

Ya'll are fast.  I think I'll be out there for a week...at least.  But then again, I'm gonna party by a campfire every night.

[sthig]

I'm guessing for something like the TNGA (@ race pace) the main thing to be concerned with is food and water, with the bare necessities for clothing, tools/spares, sleep kit, and maps & gps slotting in behind in some order.  It seems like more a sprint mentality is needed, rather than a tourdivide type mentality.  With that mentality, I'm planning on forgoing a good bit of comfort with the tradeoff being less crap to haul from border to border. 

I was thinking for sleeping kit I'd just go with an emergency bivvy sack and nothing else.  Tools are pretty straight forward.  I haven't narrowed the amount of clothing down yet but I'm thinking along the lines of 1 pair of shorts, 1 jersey, 2 pairs socks (wool), stuffable rain jacket, and a long sleeve shirt and light shorts for sleeping.   (I'm sort of debating whether or not having two pairs of riding shorts would be smart or a waste of space).  Beyond that stuff it's just lights, cue sheets, gps, batteries, food, and liquids.

I'm basically just thinking out loud here, but any comments/suggestions are more than welcome since I'm completely new to the whole bikepacking endurance race thing.

The TNGA will be a training run for me for the TD (2013).  I want to treat it just like it was a leg of the trip to the border - so I'm very much interested in traveling as light and go at a speedy tempo as I can.  Right now I'm still back and forth.  I have a small bivvy-ish tent that I'm none too fond about carrying due to the setup, but I'd like something to cover me from the creepy crawlies at night. 

LiiT - I'm not fast just determined

[driftwood]

My first night of 'sleep' during the TNGA last year was spent defending my food from aggressive bears. While I was never concerned that they were going to harm me I was very worried they were going to take my food.

[keeb]

I have a small bivvy-ish tent that I'm none too fond about carrying due to the setup, but I'd like something to cover me from the creepy crawlies at night.

As an alternative to the full tent you could get a military issue insect repellant jacket.  They stay effective for a long time against ticks and mosquitoes if you use a DEET+Permethrin repellant and keep it in a ziploc bag.  It is important to use the military jackets over most of the nylon no-seeum jackets because they use cotton in the fabric that absorbs the repellent.  It is a good option for those that are leery of the critters and not too concerned about the chemicals.

[sthig]

My first night of 'sleep' during the TNGA last year was spent defending my food from aggressive bears. While I was never concerned that they were going to harm me I was very worried they were going to take my food.

Driftwood, I was going to use a bear bag - a bag with a long string that you attach a rock to, throw it over a limb and hoist it up where a bear cannot climb to - I was also going to put it 20 yards away from my tent.  That's what I do when I hike sections of the A.T.

Keeb - that sounds like a fantastic idea. 

[driftwood]

Driftwood, I was going to use a bear bag - a bag with a long string that you attach a rock to, throw it over a limb and hoist it up where a bear cannot climb to - I was also going to put it 20 yards away from my tent.  That's what I do when I hike sections of the A.T.

Keeb - that sounds like a fantastic idea. 

A bear bag is a good idea, especially if you might find yourself camping in bear prone areas. I tried to get a bear bag up but at 3am after 120 miles for the day I could manage to get it ten feet off the ground. I picked a bad spot to camp that night. There were signs warning against bears and I should have kept going a little further, instead I got to stay up all night trying to keep the bears from my food! Good times, I can't wait to do it again this year!

[LiiT]

What kinda tires are ya'll planning on running?  I'm thinking of going with some semi-slicks.  Probably stupid.

 This whole bivy bag, space blanket, no sleeping pad really sounds rough.  I guess if ya can ride the crap out of it in a few days, but still it's rough...I'd like to go uberlight but then I'll be out in the woods exhausted without any gear.  Maybe I can sleep in my down jacket?

When I was on the Pinhoti last year.  The ride from Mulberry Gap to Dalton kicked my ass.  The following day up Dug Gap and beyond kicked my ass as well.  I'm pretty sure that feeling continued until I stopped riding.

[sthig]

A bear bag is a good idea, especially if you might find yourself camping in bear prone areas. I tried to get a bear bag up but at 3am after 120 miles for the day I could manage to get it ten feet off the ground. I picked a bad spot to camp that night. There were signs warning against bears and I should have kept going a little further, instead I got to stay up all night trying to keep the bears from my food! Good times, I can't wait to do it again this year!

wait, now did you actually see bears? hear them? - if so, what did you do to guard your food?  I'm interested in this

What kinda tires are ya'll planning on running?  I'm thinking of going with some semi-slicks.  Probably stupid.

 This whole bivy bag, space blanket, no sleeping pad really sounds rough.  I guess if ya can ride the crap out of it in a few days, but still it's rough...I'd like to go uberlight but then I'll be out in the woods exhausted without any gear.  Maybe I can sleep in my down jacket?

When I was on the Pinhoti last year.  The ride from Mulberry Gap to Dalton kicked my ass.  The following day up Dug Gap and beyond kicked my ass as well.  I'm pretty sure that feeling continued until I stopped riding.

LiiT if I'm not mistaken - there's some techincal areas on the TNGA (yes?) - semi slicks may not be your best friend.  I'm not sure if part of the TNGA goes the partially through same route of the Cohutta 100 (I think it does) - semi slicks would not be fun on that loose chert...doable, but not fun. 

I had not considered tires yet - probably 2.2 or 2.1?  I usually use continental tubeless

Mulberry is nasty if you're spent - fun if you've got fresh legs!

[LiiT]

ON TIRES---I ran crossmarks 2.1 last year on a 250mi bikepack.  They were ok.  I've been using Nobby Nic's 2.25's lately and it's night and day on traction, but yes the weight and rolling resistance are more work.  Not sure if i wanna be sketchy in the loose, or the turns, or give up the extra cushion of the 2.25's, but this look's really really long to me.  Likewise, my Schwalbe's seem more prone to excessive wear on pavement/gravel.  Not sure I like that considering their cost...


ON Bears Schmares!!!  I'll kick a bears azz!   I sleep with my food--a pillow no less.  Tried hanging years back on a thru-hike, and not such a good thing.  I got my spectra cord hung up in a tree, it took about an hour of shenanigans to get it down. 

  If you do hang--- use the PCT method  with a stick and carabiner...  most bears know how to hit a cord tied off to a base of a tree or more often they like to climb up and bounce on the branch till it snaps off...  I had a bear come into my camp a few months ago...about 15 feet away when I woke up...  Sneaky bastard!  I'll keep a stick nearby or my pot to bang on...shit i dunno...a rock to throw..sometimes i have firecrackers.  If it's that annoying, I'll pack up and leave (hasn't happened yet)...  Bear's can smell food several miles away, bear's visit established campsites, bear's like dumpsters...Bears walk casually, but can run almost 40mph.

Ultimately you're food bag and the bear are like a drunk person and a late nite slice of pizza...  You must be holding you're slice otherwise someone will come along pick it up and eat it.   I don't set a can of beer in the middle of a party, leave the room, and then expect no one to drink it because I put it up high or hid it behind something.  In the world of food/carcasses, if you're not actively eating it or have your paw on it, animals will instinctively try to poach it... 

Really the biggest concern with this warm weather is gonna be all the nymph size ticks and copperheads.  I've seen 5 snakes on trail in the last month...

[sthig]

"I've seen 5 snakes on trail in the last month..."

That'd be a helluva belt

[driftwood]

wait, now did you actually see bears? hear them? - if so, what did you do to guard your food?  I'm interested in this

Yes, I saw bears while camped at Hog Pen Gap. I banged sticks, blew my whistle, threw rocks, etc and they just kept coming back every half hour until I finally packed up and left. I had made a poor attempt at hanging my food but was smart enough to hang it close enough to my person that the bears were not able to get to it. There were signs warning against bears and the drunk local guy in the bar in Helen I'd been drinking with a few hours earlier warned me about bears up there as well.