Mike Swift (2)

The Dirty 130 is tuff! For any mortal it is an all-day journey that requires planning, good equipment, decent weather, fitness, and grit!

Buck and I began our planning and preparation for the TN Gravel ITT Series about a year ago, this crazy D130 loomed largest of the three and we decided to attempt it in early Fall. We completed Tellico Highlands in the Spring and knew that we had a big task ahead.

I may have gone a bit overboard in planning but I knew this was at the limit of my capability and didn’t want to miss the mark due to overlooking a detail. I sketched a chart of the course layout and requirements and applied a likely timeline to various checkpoints. I broke the course down into 8-legs, knowing that incremental accomplishments are best for remaining on track and not getting overwhelmed in the moment of what lie ahead, see photo. I planned food and hydration requirements of 200 – 300 calories and 16 – 24 ounces of water with electrolytes per hour.

We set out a little before 0530, we backed into this start time due to Webb Store not opening until 0900 (after Labor Day). Pushing off into the dark was not bad with a 1.5 hour climb, the slow assent is much easier than a speedy decent in the dark. Kimsey Mtn Hwy climb went well, I really moderated my effort throughout knowing that the day was going to be very long. After getting to the top of Kimsey Mtn, at about sunup, we started the 2nd leg, down to Webb Store. I underestimated the difficulty of this leg, the chart showed two Cat 4 climbs but overall, the surface was not ideal and required effort. Lost Creek Road was closed for repair and a legit gully-washer road repair operation is underway. Being a Saturday morning there were no workers present and a hike-a-bike got us across the ravine and on our way.

Webb Store worked well for water, calories and a restroom stop and then off to Hambright Road. While riding down Hambright, before the road ends, a passenger train passed us heading East, the passengers were gazing out at the amazing scenery all waving at the two lunatics on drop bar gravel bikes peddling vigorously along the road. In the moment I was envious of their next few hours of enjoying the scenery and probably a nice lunch on the horizon, but I was having my own type of fun! Crossing Spring Creek was a shoe-off, change your socks affair that took a few minutes. The water was not too high (knee level) but no way I could have ridden through it.

Star Mtn climb was not eventful but there are a few pitches on the climb that pop up to 10-11% that will get your attention. The decent off Star Mtn is good and eventually the road turns from gravel to paved and fairly smooth. Once on Ivy Trail Road the route again turns uphill before getting down to Towee Falls.
Sailing toward Coker Creek Welcome Center was nice until coming off Hot Water Road (ending at Hwy 68) with the Welcome Center in sight we were attacked by a loose pit-bull. Fortunately, I was able to dismount and use my bicycle as a shield between me and the dog while the owner screamed obscenities at his dog, just after telling me “It’s ok, he won’t bite”. I really should have reported this to the police, if it were a kid on a bike, it could have ended tragically. I recommend caution in this area, I’m not certain that the owner is going to change his method of control (or lack thereof).

Don’t get into a hurry at the welcome center, light snacks are available and running water, but I was the only one in there in a hurry. Very kind attendant just not too fast. Leaving the half-way point the next point of interest is climbing Unicoi Gap into North Carolina, the climb was good, surface not bad and the decent down to the Hiwassee on the other side uneventful.

Next up, Buck Bald climb, overall good gravel surface and not terribly steep, fairly steady grade. I had planned for an hour but finished the climb in about 50 minutes. It was nice up there, took the required picture and set off down the hill. At the bottom you turn onto Hwy 68 for a short stretch and turn left onto Baily Road and then Fingerboard. The miles and elevation gain were piling up when you get to the intersection of Powerhouse, the route goes left but a right will take you to Reliance Fly and Tackle. A quick right turn and 2/10ths of a mile down to the last refuel stop. The store closes at 6pm and I got there at about 5, ate a honey bun, drank a soda and refilled water for the last 30 miles.

There is a steep but short climb on Powerhouse Road before coming along the Hiwassee for an absolute beautiful stretch of riding beside the river. Cross the suspension bridge and begin the climb up FR 236 (I call it Powerhouse Climb) it has some steep parts with loose gravel adding difficulty. The days work is really adding up at this point but knowing just one more big climb ahead keeps me focused on the goal (finish).
The last climb starts not too long after the piped spring at mile 107, the climb up FR 236 is not terrible, then turning onto McFarland and it gets serious. Several stretches of road are more akin to something the Romans built in the First Century. At this point in the day, strength is waning, daylight is playing out and my ability to ride through some of these very rugged sections is non-existent. The right decision is dismount and push through the worst of it, catch my breath and get back in the saddle when I can manage. Once the route rejoins Kimsey Mtn Hwy, it’s dark but I get the renewed confidence that the worst is behind me. Two more miles to the top were an easy ask after what I just endured.

At the top of Kimsey, I had cell coverage to text my ride that I had about an hour remaining before needing a lift from the store in Reliance. The decent was dark and parts are rough, at one point while thinking that I was flying I looked down and Garmin showed 9 mph, ha ha I thought to myself, this may take a while. With about 2 miles remaining the road turns to pavement and then all smiles back to the store.

Things I did right:
• Food and water plan.
• Route planning, I knew the route from a great deal of research.
• Equipment set up:
o Litespeed Flint, gravel bike
o Shimano GRX mechanical with an oversized cassette (11-42), I used the 42 a great deal, especially late in the day
o Bag setup for carrying all the food, supplies, first aid, charging battery, cables, water filter, pump, plugs, inner tube.
o Tires: Continental Terra Speed 45mm, set up tubeless using orange seal (didn’t flat)
• Light plan: used headlamp (secured to helmet) and front light during 4+ hours of darkness

Thing I didn’t do right:
• Secure my food, I lost 5 serving of gel (in a squeeze bottle) that bounced out of a bag that I didn’t have tightened up during a treacherous downhill section. Went back and looked, couldn’t find it, there is probably a black bear out there somewhere all hyped up on Vanilla Hammer Gel.
• Stopped too much, my file shows an overall time of 16:40 with a moving time of 14:10. I really need to find a way to reduce the 2.5 hours of not moving.

Closing thoughts: thanks much to TN Gravel, Velo View Bike Tours, Shannon and Kim and anyone that keeps this ITT going. It’s a great way for folks like me to enjoy a special event on our own timeline. I get a great deal of satisfaction setting and achieving difficult goals. Again, just I began with, this was difficult, if you are reading this and haven’t ridden out in this area, don’t underestimate this course, pack a lunch you’ll be out there a while!