This about sums it up...

Every year on the first Saturday in March, we shake our tail down to Montecello, FL for the Dirty Pecan. Enjoying the bright sun and miles of eroded sandy clay roads that meander the GA/FL border with visually stunning landscapes the entire way. Its always nice to take a reprise from Atlantas gloomy wintery weather to remember spring is around the corner. 

This year was different, way different. 

After 4+ hour drive, the crew from Atlanta sat around camp the night before pondering whether the 80/ 100 mile options would be a suitable endeavor for this motley crew of adventures. Regardless of weather warnings and threats of heavy rains, wiith vigor, we chose the 100 mile route. We all uploaded both routes to our Wahoo Elements and slept with content. 

That next morning we woke up to a light drizzle that quickly escalated to thunders strikes mere minutes from the open field where we set up camp. A rimshot filled with tools and tubes, packed up frame bags, Kofta and 40oz crushers pack with snacks, got in warm, dry clothes only to be sopping wet in mere minutes. Warmth was short lived as well due to an unexpected drop in temperatures. We all uploaded the 80 mi route on the fly, started moving and the warmth slowly came. 

Usually when we do this ride, weather is spot on perfect. The roads are hardened and dry with few patches of the infamous, “peanut butter.” An even mixture of clay and sand with just enough water to swallow your tires whole. But again, this year was different. These roads had flooded, swallowing tires and rims making for great resistance training or just a cold rainy sufferfest. Countless knobby tires dug deep trenches into the once glossy smooth roads, pedal strokes were lost to slight variations of shifting balance. Hills became almost impossible, almost! 

Wahoo Element guiding the way through this rainy mud fest!

This gritty, peanut buttery substance made all the bikes scream. The sounds of passerbys drivetrains dreaming and crunching and grit made its way into the minuscule crevasses of bike chains after being ground down between the chain and chainrings. Small chainrings, might I add. Questions arose through the concerto of drivetrain deterioration: “ do you hear that? Is that me? Do you have brakes? Do I have brakes?’

The sandy gak had its way with disc brakes. Eating them up within the first 20 mi. After half our crew were left brakeless and freewheeling a lesson in the Art of BMX braking was given and we chose the 20 mi bailout route. We hosed down all the brakes with our bottles, made all the adjustments, tightened up all the barrels, set our computers to return to start. The front was led out by the bike with V-brake that were still stopping and me, in the rear, fixed with no brakes but full control. Enough control to slow down two people, if such a situation arose...

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John Christopher Matyjasik rolling cautiously after realizing he has no brakes.

Several miles from the finish, the rain dissipates for moments as we brake at a local convenience store. After snacking and watching locals pull up in their various consumer-sized lawnmowers, industrial tractors and vehicles with questionable outdoor-raised seating, the drizzle started and we set off to the campgrounds. 

The large road sign flashed “ CAUTION: DIRTY PECAN EVENT AHEAD” and, shortly, the whiskey hit our lips. The victory of adventure and returning safely washed away any regret of not finishing the ride. Some folks were smart and didn’t even start the ride. We are not those people. 

After whiskey we washed ourselves, hosed down our bikes and enjoy the nourishment of the local large chain restaurant pasta dish, clamored over stories of what broke first on whose bike and reminiscing on old rides with similar conditions with other participates, from near and far, that were also not smart enough to bail on such a ride. 

Lessons learned: Rim brakes are king in muddy conditions and the off-road track bike may be the best vehicle for such conditions if gearing is chosen wisely and you’re dumb enough to ride fixed, off road. 

Gas station rain reprise

Pictured from left: John Christopher Matyjasik, Gerry Weber, Chanel Zeisel, Jacob Cronan and Gregory Zahl

Team Spray Farts

A special thanks to Mack & Betsy Barfield for the beers and post-ride Carrabbas!

words and photos by Andy Lovell:

When I started looking for a new travel pump I asked around to see what everyone was using and found my buddy Pat had three of the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive's. One for each bike. That was good enough for me. 

The pump comes in at 12 inches long and 7oz. It is not what you would consider a mini pump. If you're looking for something to throw in a seat bag or jersey pocket this guy is not for you. Marketed more toward the mountain biker crowd, it is slender enough to tuck right into a frame bag or hydration pack. It also comes with a bottle mount style frame mount if you want to go that route. I've done a couple bikepacking trips with it mounted on the seat tube with no problems. 

As for performance, I couldn't be happier. Being designed for higher volume tires this moves a lot of air with each pump and makes quick use of pumping up after a flat. There is a little tab that folds out for your foot to give you stability just like a full size floor pump. I was a bit skeptical but it's holding up well and really does make pumping easier.  

The construction of this guy is rock solid. The valve is one solid piece that you unscrew and flip to go from presta to shader. There is a blow off valve in the middle which is nice addition. One of my favorite features is that the valve screws into the base of pump which keeps the hose tight over the pump and houses the valve in the base to protect it. I've had the pump pretty caked in mud and the valve opening as always been free of muck. 

I recommend this pump for anyone who is getting rad and depending on their bike day in and day out. This pump adds a piece of kit that will keep you going no matter what the trail or streets will throw at you.

Cooper Creek Trail Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24069856

Written By Andy Lovell

Pictures contributed by: Andrew Beishline, Ezz-Eldin Hassan, Andy Lovell, & Adam Newsom

Cooper’s Creek is a challenging overnighter taking you through the Chattahoochee National forest through some of the best that the area has to offer. A great introduction to bike packing, this route takes you deep into the woods without ever being to far from civilization while leaving little options for re-supply. Thick wilderness and ferns line the route with many options for side trips and countless trails that beg to be explored. 

Starting from the Jake Mountain Parking lot, the loop takes you through the Blue Ridge WMA past lakes and streams over tough gaps and down killer descents on your way to the Cooper Creek WMA. Cooper's Creek is one of Georgia's larger wildlife management areas spanning more than 30,000 acres. This area holds some of the last old growth pockets of forest in Georgia with a few Tulip Poplar trees measuring a circumference of 18 feet! The second half of this route will take you down some of the most pristine country roads to be had finishing off with one more leg burning climb and hand numbing descent.

his route is doable on a bike with at least 32mm tires but it will beat you up a bit. There is a little single track on the route but some of the roads are quite gutted and rutted. Bigger the better in my opinion. 2.0 or above would give you some much welcomed cushion. Few folks have done it with 40mm tires and had no issue. 

Food is scarce on this route. There is one store at about mile 21 that will have basics like chips and candy bars. Don’t expect much more. There are times that the store has not been open at all. Pack what you need for the entire 2 days and use the store as a chance for a Strawberry Crunch and a corn dog if your lucky. 

There are a ton of spots to stop and filter water along the route with only one spot for potable water. A Sawyer mini would do you just fine. 

Camping is also plentiful along the route. The beauty of adventuring through WMA’s is you can camp anywhere you’d like so long as its not posted other wise. There are plenty of awesome free sites down along the river and at Rock Creek. Right at the half way mark is the Cooper Creek Recreation Area. These are $8 a night sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Potable water is available and two pit toilets as well. The creek runs right through the camp sites which makes for a great spot to take in a swim and listen to the water rushing by at night. 

Fishing is great all along the route. Pack your rod and take the time to stop and throw a line or two. The area between Rock Creek Lake and the fish hatchery is a prime location to catch some trout or just to take a dip in the lake. Great fishing can be found all along Cooper Creek as well. 

Take the time for a side trip to the Taccoa Swinging Bridge and Sea Creek Falls. They are right off the route and are worth the extra miles. 

The 2018 Southeast Tracklocross Finals descended on Ellenwood, Ga. a few miles outside of Atlanta. Qualifiers from Florida, Louisiana, & Georgia, with track bikes in tow, ripped through 6 laps of the 1.3 mile course laid before them.

Photo Credit: Andy Lovell/Jay Ritchey

The 1st race of the day was the Open ‘Rung what cha brung” category. Some racers nrought the rukus, others brought precious cargo:

Photo credit: Ezz-Eldin Hassan

Photo Credit: Jay Ritchey

Open Category Results

1. Eric Stewart-New Orleans, LA

2. Jacob Cronan- Atlanta, GA

3. Shared Chanel Zeisel-Atlanta, GA/Greta Cappelmann-New Orleans, LA

Photo Credit: Sharif Hassan

After a break and few beers the Tracklocross Finals were looming, and the course readied for the destruction of the track bikes brave enough to weave and wind through it’s steep climbs, and frisky descents. The Men’s and women’s finals were merged together and riders were ready to rip!

photo credit: Jay Ritchey

Photo Credit Jay Ritchey

Gallery Photos: Andy Lovell

RACE RESULTS

OVERALL:

1st: Joseph Chapman (Atlanta, Ga.)

2nd: Eric Stewart (New Orleans, LA.)

3rd: Molly Russell (Atlanta, GA)

WOMEN’S TRACKLOCROSS

1st: Molly Russel (Atlanta, Ga.)

2nd: Erika ( Florida)

Photo Credit: Andy Lovell

MEN’S TRACKLOCROSS

1st: Joseph Chapman (Atlanta, Ga.)

2nd: Eric Stewart (New Orleans, LA.)

3rd: Taylor Mills (New Orleans, LA.)

Photo Credit: Andy Lovell

Photo Credit: Jay Ritchey

Big thanks to all the racers that came through and our new friends from all over the Southeast who brought all the stoke for the weekend.couldn’t have made this possible with out our Sponsors Loose Nuts Cycles, Thomson USA, Southern Brewing Company, & Montane Sparkling water for helping us set off the 1st Southeast Tracklocross Finals with fury, looking forward to next years festivities!

The Southeast Tracklocross series is upon us with racers from Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia all rallying at the chance to make the finals here in Atlanta. The ATL crew came correct on there rigs, so we though we'd showcase some of our favorites. Be sure to check out the finals October, 13th 2018 at The Ellenwood CX ranch in Ellenwood, Ga. 

All Photo's by Andy Lovell

Molly Russel's State Warkhawk switched to a flat bar, new fixed wheel by Loose Nuts Cycles. 36x18 gearing on Maxxis Raze Tires. Mega fun to rip around! Molly took 3rd overall and 1st Womens.

Chris Bartlett's vanilla chromo Felt Fixe Frame that's been built up in as many ways possible since 2010, stock fork w/ riser bars, track drops, road drops, pursuits; first dirt/gravel build. Swapped All-City Nature Boy fork in 2013 with 3sp sturmey archer fixed gear hub, had to braze on rear canti bosses and cable stop; current build is medium length mountain risers, front mtb v-brakes, 42:19, 172.5 cranks, 30mm Kenda kwicks (don't sleep on cheap kenda rubber). This my go-to bike period because of its versatility and how fun it is to ride no matter the terrain. The steering is twitchy with street track frame geo and 45mm cross fork, skinny tires and short gearing make it easy to stay spun off pavement. Also fixie tricks are a kinda fun

Jonathan Agee's 50cm Kilo TT purchased in 2012 or 2013. It's seen commuting, group rides, and an MS150 before being put out to pasture in favor of Japanese steel. Brought it out of retirement with a smattering of parts, 45x19 gearing, and 28c tires for tracklocross. The oldest parts (seat and the BB) are from 2008. Out of the 4 track frames I have, it has the largest clearance and I wouldn't be bummed if I bent it.

Eric Nicoletti's Bianchi pista, c. 2000, flat black. I put the cheapest CX fork I could find on it, chrome.  Stole a cheap wheel off my sisters bike the morning of the race. I should ride this thing more. Nico took 2nd overall and 2nd Men's.

Jason Started with a stock All-City Nature Boy Reynolds 853 complete bike. Swapped cranks for late 90’s Dura-Ace track 165mm and 46 tooth chainring. Threw on an old Specialized Roman saddle. Got some Chromag OSX bars. We The People grips are my favorite touch. Had Loose Nuts Cycles build a Phil Wood disc fixed up up to a DT Swiss R460 db rim. Avid front disc brake. Shimano SPD XT pedals. 19 tooth All-City cog on back. 

Gike's 2001 Bianchi CUSS, the third of 11 SS’s they produced, with the guidance of Sky Yeager. (3 steel, 8 Aluminum. Mine is aluminum). Came stock with a Cars-R-Coffins sticker, Paul Hubs, RaceFace cranks (which I snapped a drive side crank arm on a nasty climb up the backside of Mt Telemark during a Chequamegon Fat Tire event). I built a fixed wheel for this badd girl in 2004 and its been this way most of the time since. One of our favorite rigs of the race!

Opie didn't even get to wipe the  TNGA dust off before hitting the Traclo-course with his All-City Log Lady with Paul hubs laced to 700 wheels. Tires were 700x33 in the back and 700x42 in the front. Running 36x?? for gear ratio. Risers for my handlebar set up. Opie took the top overall in the qualifier.

Spindlero Sharif's long distance dirt destroyer is a custom built track frame from a
former Atlanta bike builder, Seth Snyder. Built 3 years ago with heavy gauge Columbus tubing with plenty of clearance for 35+ knobby cross tires and a high bottom bracket for jumping shit. I’m rolling on Phil Wood hubs, laced to H plus Sons SL42s with Challenger Dunes 33s to the
ground. For longer gravel, I run 47 x 15 for Tracklocross I’m running 46 x 19.