Blowing Out the Cob Webs @ the Snake Creek Gap Time Trial # 2

It's been five weeks since the last Snake Creek Gap mountain bike time trial in Dalton, GA. During that time Jafer has had plenty of time to train and work his way back into shape. Today was the best weekend in recent memory as the mercury rose to near 70 degrees with clear, sunny skies. While Jafer was busy tearing up the single track in Dalton, Oscar and Joey were tearing up the roads in Athens at the Winter Bike League's 130 mile Toccoa World Cup on their brand new Louis Garneau road bikes.

Last month, Jafer struggled to post a 3:17:00 with the 34 mile trail as he had just started training. However, this month he shaved about 16 minutes off his previous time to finish with an official time of 3:01:17 (split time 1:20 at mile 17, 1:41:17 for second 17 miles). The second 17 miles is more technical and requires a little more finesse to avoid flat tires and a trip over the handle bars, which Jafer lacks since he doesn't get to ride/race his mountain bike very often. The race course is one of the most fun point to point races around with switch backs, fire roads, fast descents, short steep climbs, rock gardens, and long sustained climbs. Today was also the first race that Jafer has used his Ipod in a race for a little bit of extra motivation, which really paid off. One of the best things about the event is the snack food table at the end of the race complete with chili, cookies, fig newtons, pretzels, and the local homemade mega cookie (chocolate chips, oatmeal, cranberries, etc). (photos courtesy of J Burnette)
The trail conditions were near perfect allowing Thomas Turner to blaze to an official time of 2:46:25. Other notables were Sam Koerber @ 2:46:49, Harlan Price @ 2:52:20, and Timothy Carson @ 2:56:06 who all rode the 34 miler.