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6-Gap Century RevisitedBy Tom BakerOctober 2000Years ago I was a runner who took racing seriously. In other words, I competed nearly weekly for the elusive age group trophy or award, more often then not "scoring" — in the top three. After realizing I was getting too cocky, I’d travel to Atlanta for a race. Here I’d get a full dose of humble pie — learning that one is only as good as the competition allows. To receive this important message via the bike experience, I suggest you go to Dahlonega and ride the Six Gap Century. I have done all but a couple of these events since its inception over a dozen years ago, and continue to "learn" from the experiences. The Six Gap is an excellent report card for your fitness level at the moment. To complete it (relatively) successfully — sub-seven hours in the saddle has been my goal, although I unrealistically and unsuccessfully attempted sub-six a few years ago — 6:10 was the closest I got. This year we all started at 7:30, and I got off my Woodchuck at 2:50, for a 7:20 ride. Between some of the best and longest downhills a rider could have were some of the longest, steepest climbs designed to transform one’s legs to JELLO. Starting at 20 miles, Neal’s Gap rose for six miles — much longer than what we find in Chattanooga. Next came Jack’s Gap, which takes you to the entrance to Brasstown Bald, the most severe of all Georgia’s climbs. Jack’s Gap is about four miles in length and hurt a lot more than I wanted to admit. Next came Unicoi Gap, a more scenic climb than Jack’s and slightly less severe. Unicoi took us to the outskirts of Helen where we took a right for 3 miles to the base of the Richard Russell Scenic Highway en route to the infamous HOGPEN GAP! These seven miles to the top were severely steep (although we were "allowed" nearly 3/4 of a mile downhill along the stretch). It is here that I bid farewell to my Chattaboogie ride companions, Larry English, Danny Gork, and Steve Strain. For the next half hour, I was passed by numerous riders who, seeing my triple chain ring, said they wished they had one, too. From my struggling pint of view, I thought "What for? You’re able to pass me without one." Four miles into this self-imposed agony, we came to a sag stop, drawing us like a huge magnet. Those who could resist and bypass the stop were surely Olympians, I thought. Few did. After a brief stop, it was more business as usual for the remaining 3 miles to the top (another sag!) The down side of the HOG was only 2 miles, but even more steep then the climb up. Before I could take 10 breaths, I had reached 49 mph and needed to brake — no 50 mph club for me this day! A soaking shower made the fifth climb, Wolfpen Gap, a slosh as we meandered up the prettiest of all the mounts. This climb had no vistas, only pristine woods. The last of six was Woody’s Gap, less than 2 miles and not too steep. Once we climbed to the top we had the most pleasant 15 miles of the ride: predominantly downhill to Dahlonega! So, once again I have been fed my limit of Humble Pie. Of the 600 riders there, probably more than half finished ahead of me! Certainly this is a good incentive for me to train harder, and next year become the SMOKER rather than the SMOKEE? Certainly. But first I’m going to need more recovery time!! Tom
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