Trans North Georgia 2012 - TNGA

[ryansigsbey]

Anyone signed up for the Trans North Georgia in August 2012???

Didn't see a thread started so thought I would start one.  Anyone have any thoughts or comments on the route? Gear? Bikes?  Anyone preriding any sections in the near future?

[driftwood]

There is a thread a page back on it:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,3162.0.html

My thoughts are it is a really good route and Georgia is a beautiful state with some surprising mountains. I'm looking forward to it 

[ryansigsbey]

Awesome!  I figured they would be but I guess I didn't look hard enough...thanks!

[sthig]

I'm going.

[BikeSwimmer]

I'm in too.  Have some unfinished business from last year due to Tropical Storm Lee.....

[ryansigsbey]

I have no idea what the trails/route is like!  I live in Boone and have lots of mountains up here so am not worried about that....just don't really know what to expect.  Is it a lot of gravel roads? single track? mix?  What percentage would you say of each?

[BikeSwimmer]

I'll stay out of the percentages, but it is a lot of fire roads, some single track, some pave, quite a bit of climbing, and lots of fun.  Last year, tree'd a bear, sleep under a picnic table, met a moonshine runner, got invited to sleep on said moonshine runner's porch, oh by the way, the moonshine runner's house was haunted (decided not to stay there), met and rode with Steven Martine, who is currently throwing down in the TD, for a few hours ..... and many more stories. The cue sheets are pretty good, but do not want to ruin that route finding experience for you : )  Good luck and see you at the start!  

[ryansigsbey]

Sounds awesome!  Basically it sounds like riding bikes up here...moonshiners, bears, no signs on trails, hard to navigate....can't wait!

I met Steve Martine in Banff a couple weeks ago randomly at a coffee shop.  Was just sitting there and a bunch of guys rolled up and he was one of them.  Said he was going to be doing it again this year. 

How remote is the route?  Do you pass through many towns and pretty consistent intervals?  Lots of places to resupply?  Do most people bivy or are there motel options?  I guess those are the things I mostly would like to know a little about in advance.

[sthig]

I spoke at length with Steve Martine about the TNGA - he pre-rode it a little earlier this year.  It sounds awesome however there's Snake Gap there at the end - it's, from what I understand, 8 miles down and fairly technical.

I'm in Birmingham and we have Oak Mountain trails here - I hear our Jekyll and Hyde is comparable to SnakeGap - if that's the case...it's gonna be a bumpy ride down

[sthig]

The very good folks at MulberryGap will take care of you too.  Yes there's bear, I have not seen one but when I did the Cohutta 100 earlier this year the guy behind me (about 10 minutes behind me) said he saw a bear between me and him. 

Can't wait to meet everyone!

also - fwiw - I'm slow but steady so I won't be leading the pack haha

[trebor]

I raced took part in the adventure the inaugural event.

TNGA is a MTB race not to be confused for a gravel grinder. Once you hit about 1/3 of the way into the state (heading E to W) you spend a ton of time on singletrack. Snake Creek, as mentioned, is pretty tough singletrack too. I don't recall the exact stats, but I'd say there is more than 100 miles of good singletrack out of the 350 miles. The climbing is nonstop it seems and the only flat part is when you head across the valley to Dalton and it isn't flat so much as rolling.

Have navigation and bike handling skill for sure on this one. And water is kinda hard to find in the last bit after Dalton.

[sthig]

The Mulberry Gap section is fun - although it's a fair amount of climbing.  I believe part of the route is part of the Cohutta 100 route which, fwew, you had to go to a very dark place to get through parts of that.  Nasty climbs with 14% grades.

My plan is to get to Mulberry Gap and take a pretty decent rest there - Diane and her crew make breakfast, lunch and dinner and let's just say it's...

caloric.

and awesome.

[Groundshine]

The TNGA is a great route and the race is a really fun time.  (although I only did half because of Tropical Depression Lee)  Dave and the Mulberry Gap folks are wonderful.  It is for sure a mountain bike route.  A perfect mix of roads, trails, and single track.  Southern Appalachians are very similar to where I ride in Vermont - yet I was surprised by a few things: 
1.The mountains are higher!  Many of the passes are > 3,000 ft.
2. In the first 11o miles the trail crosses the Appalachian Trail 5 times!  There are several other gap climbs as well and each time you are dropping > 1,000 ft back down to the valley floor... a lot of climbing!   
3. Poison Ivy - it grows really well here and is hard to avoid riding and camping.
4. heat - this was a major suffer factor for me.  I'd like to complete this route someday - preferably not in the summer but apparently Georgia's long deer/ hunting  season is a limiting factor... which I didn't really believe until I saw
5. the number of people out enjoying nature.  When people say all Americans do is sit around and watch tv - they weren't talking about Georgians!  I have never seen so many people fishing along one section of a brook. - 2011 TNGA was run on Labor Day weekend so that added traffic - especially up the paved Hog Pen Gap (3400 ft) from Helen (1400FT). 

I rode my rigid Tour Divide bike with a 2x9 gars instead of the 8spd Alfine.  Next time I would probably add a front suspension.

I am also looking forward to a family trip to Mulberry Gap just to kick back and ride and eat.  If you are considering racing TNGA one day I highly recommend a visit to Mulberry Gap as a shake down ride.

[sthig]

Groundshine - you forgot to add that we have tics down here too....nasty stuff

[Groundshine]

Even Vermont has ticks now... and of course we have black bears in case you haven't heard: http://www.wcax.com/story/17409406/gov-shumlin-chased-by-bears-in-backyard 

I did see three rattlesnakes on the trail!  And the day before the race someone had been bit by a copperhead!

But the poison ivy... it kinda blends in with the Kudzu.  One of the racers who had done a pre-ride of the TNGa was sporting some nice P.I. racing stripes on her arms!

In the end it was the heat that got me.  I am just not acclimated to that kind of heat and humidity. I would really like to do this race another time of year- if I can find a hunting season friendly window.  I'd love to hear local knowledge on other times to ride the TNGA...

[sthig]

Groundshine - I live in Alabama...the humidity is something you adapt to here.  I love heat but it will cook you if you don't stay hydrated.

[Chunt]

In general the mountains of north Georgia are going to be about 5-6 degrees cooler than the Atlanta area if you're watching that on your weather feeds. You can get a better idea from factoring in north Georgia towns like Clayton, Dahlonega, Ellijay, Chattsworth and Rome for route specifics. Wunderground.com usually has feeds from personal weather stations in the mountains and can be a good source. I'd keep an eye on trends though, as late summer is when the jet stream starts pushing in some cooler air. It's not unheard of to go from a week of 80's-90's, to a out of the blue week of the 70's with lows in the 40's or 50's in late summer.

[sanjuanrider]

TNGA will be a very last minute decision for me if I go out due to a grandbaby expected to arrive a few days ahead of the race.  I really want to fly out and do the event.  I noticed the website still states "Pending USFS Review".

1.  Does anyone know the status of this and if it is possible that the permit will not be issued? 
2. I see it is capped at 35 riders - anyone know how close they are to the cap at this time?
3. How much does Mulberry Gap charge to take racers to start/pick up from finish?

Im thinking ITT in Late Sept or October if logistics don't work but prefer to start with the group.

[ryansigsbey]

The event is a GO....it is full also but I saw on Facebook they said to still sign up because about half the field will bail last minute.  Might work out good for you that way....either way sign up!

The ITT plan would work I think but I know there are a lot of problems with Hunting season in the area.  A lot of the route either closes or you just don't want to be out there with some of them crazies and guns!  Not sure the details on that so look into it.

[Groundshine]

Deer season starts October 22 ( a Monday?) 

I am thinking of an October ITT...  or maybe a winter one.