Farlow Fame

Great day on the trail today! 32 miles with 5,500 elevation gain, including lots of gravel road climbing and singletrack descents, including the famed Farlow Gap, which is renowned for its harrowing baby head boulders and stream crossings (one racer did get his bike wheel stuck in a waterfall...). Phil came in 6th overall today and was 1st in his category (mens 40+) and I was 2nd woman. There are 3 women in the open category and the local woman, Kim has quite a lead (45 minutes on me from the two stages). Anna from New Brunswick has 18 minutes on me (but took a wrong turn today, costing her some time..) It is fun to start out with these women, leap frogging/drafting each other for the first hour (until they decide to "go").

Too late for too many details tonight but see the photos and videos below. The Sunset Motel hosts the evening awards, stage video, food and libations. Tomorrow we can look forward to some road climbing and then flowy single track descents. The race organizer called it a "vacation," but I think that means "hammer-fest."

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249739-2012-Pisgah-Mountain-Bike-Stage-Race/video/656166-Phil-Beard-6th-I-didnt-know-you-were-so-fast-did-you-know-you-were-so-fast-Pisgah-Stage-Race http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249739-2012-Pisgah-Mountain-Bike-Stage-Race/video/656165-Kelly-Ault-2nd-Intense-and-mentally-challenging-Pisgah-Stage-Race