The Frankenbike 50

In my honest opinion there is no better way to kick off the ‘cross season with a nice tough ‘cross bike ride. Typically these rides are done on the chutes or a tough ‘cross bike ride on single track. Last year we spent the beginning of the season at Mohican State Park, packing in all the climbs, all the off camber turns and all the epic descent. This year’s start to ‘cross season was different. It was finally time; The Frankenbike 50 was upon us.

Earlier in the season Andy, Mason, Mike O and Dave spec’d out Scioto Trails. I had no knowledge of what was going to happen down there 6 short months later. I figured it was another 3 hour ride that involved all of the climbing in a desolate and dank state park (for February anyway). Fast forward 5 months and an announcement that Labor Day weekend would be host to, in my honest opinion, the toughest bicycle ride of the year. Once the announcement was made I spent many a Monday down at Scioto Trails with Andy, Mason and quite a few others. Never really knowing where I was, I rode along and tried to play along; mock sprints, epic climbs, br00tal single track descents, and everything Rapha wishes they could capture in Sepia toned vintage reel to reel footage.

So Mason and I oiled up his fine European automobile and made the common drive an hour south to Chilicothe. Eight to ten miles southwest of was Scioto Trails State Park, ready and waiting to have all the gnar shred on it’s unforgiving and every changing terrain. We arrived to the parking lot already delightfully crowded. Days prior whilst being tattooed any projected the race turn out maybe be anywhere from thirty to forty people. When we pulled in the number was already pushing 20. Two short hours later, moments before the start it was announced that they needed to make a water run because there were more people than anticipated. AWESOME!!!
 
We were off. A few guys who thought they could blow the race apart in the first 15 minutes pounded a great 25 mph pace to the first climb. For roughly four to five miles we traversed in and out of the state park until making a right hand turn to a ramp that was close to 8% grade. Once on the climb the race was blown to bits. Knowing we still had close to 45 miles left to race I let guys go ahead of me and made a nice tempo to the top of the climb. It felt good. My derailleur got all goofy half way up and I couldn’t use my smallest gear. It kept the cadence high and crested the summit only to descend 10 feet and then rise once again to the top of the ravine.

Next up was the first section of single track. Down I went. Barely clinging to the bike I weaseled my way down the fairly smooth single track. It was by far the best descent of the race. A race friend of mine, who I could was feeling real good, flatted out on the descent and I gave him my only tube. Luckily I made it past the first checkpoint, down another single track descent to the aid station before incurring a flat all of my own. I slowly rolled to the "half way" point with a flat front and was on my way.

The second half of the race featured two hike-a-bike ascents and one hike-a-bike descent. The first was long and gradual compared to the second which was long and steep.  The descent was rocky and eaten up by horses. In between the two was roughly three to four miles of road. On the descent I went over my handlebars whilst trying to ride a real rocky section and bonked my derailleur. I stopped at the intersection, tightened the cable and played catch up to Mark Farmer who I could see in the distance. I caught him and we pretty much stayed together for the rest of the day.

Atop the second hike-a-bike we descended a rather rocky downhill, however the valley was amazing. It was smooth, fast and curvy. From the valley, which was double track, we were ejected to the third and final check point on course. It was Mason’s checkpoint and he was feeding us faulty time information. Saying the race was an hour ahead and that our buddy Tim who had only a few seconds on the double track was 15 minutes our leader. We had a nice three man group. Farmer, Markstein and I rode the final gravel climb at a steady tempo. At 35 miles in to the race it was tough to hold such a pace but I fought hard. At the top of this climb was the most beautiful scenery of the whole day. It was evident that this road was the one used to look over the entire valley to spot fires. The road crested and we rode across the top of the hill for a few miles hitting short, but steep, hills along the way.

Knowing that this was the last climb before the final descent to the finish, Farmer and I rode smoothly to the final descent which was rather treacherous on tired arms with that path so badly beaten by horses. Once to the bottom we took a left on to gravel, a right on to pavement and farmer started the sprint for fun! I saw him go, tried to close the gap and the race was over. Not sure if I got him or not. We’ll save that ending for ‘cross season.

All in all I finished 12th out of roughly 40-50 riders that finished. It felt good. The average distance was around 43-44 miles and I did it in just over three and a half hours.

All I can say is that it was an awesome time. So much pain. There was hardly a spot to recover; once to the top of the climb the road went down for a moment and right back up. The single track was no recovery either. It was full speed ahead the entire race or cramping would get you.

Big thanks to Andy for throwing the Frankenbike together and all the volunteers for doing what they did. If this is any representation of the way Cap City Cross will be this year, I am even more excited than I was before the Frankenbike.

Spencer