Fools gold 100

I've done the Fools Gold 50 the last 3 years and it is an awesome event. The route is a mix of forest service roads and single track in the Jake Mountain/Bull Mountain area. There are plenty of sag stops and there's a big meal at the end with kegs of Sweetwater and Terrapin cold and tapped.

For the Fools Gold 100 (same event, different distance)you have to so the same 50 mile route - TWICE! This can be brutal mentally as well as physically because its not just a tough route, but its made even tougher by actually crossing the finish line after 50 miles and having to go back out again. I've never done a 100 mile mtn bike race but I have heard that this isn't the best one to be your first. I recommend doing the 50 and maybe another sub 100 mile endurance race (like the Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell) before doing a 100 miler. Aaron also told me the Shenandoah 100 is considered a good 100 miler for first timers.

Speaking of 100 mile mountain bike races (which I've never done) - its not to be taken lightly. I don't know exactly how much endurance mtn biking experience you have but a good rule of thumb is that an off road mile is about as tough as 2 road miles. So a 100 mile mountain bike race would be the equivalent of a double century on a road bike, more or less depending on the difficulty of the trail, of course.

You should also talk to Emily (occasional FM poster, former FM:Race Mtb Team member, current FM:Race Cx Team member). She's successfully completed several 100 milers.

Good luck!

I volunteered last year at the busiest SAG at FG. It was the 2nd/3rd SAG stop. You'd go up Bull Mountain and loop around and come back out to the SAG again. Seeing the people doing the 50 going into Bull Mountain and coming out, roughly mile 20-30 was like night and day. Mile 20 they were hitting their stride and loving life. They'd get done with that adventure and were totally drained.

Seeing the 100 milers go through mile 70 to 80 was like seeing ghosts. I have no idea how some people can manage that level of pain/fatigue and still stay upright. Some of the people were just so defeated looking. We only had a few tap out at our SAG though. It's a brutal distance.

Now FM-24 was a pretty cool, weatherwise race. FG is in the dead heat of summer. In the afternoon that day I think it hit 94 and was sunny with not many clouds. Now we all know rolling through the shade in the woods is a bit more manageable but its also something to consider.

I am still debating doing the 50. I might or might not, we'll see where this year takes me. Seeing one lady who it took her 11+ hours (on her 50th birthday) I think. I am convinced if you just race your race it's very doable. Now the 100... I can't even fathom that.

Thanks for info.... I've done many 100's and 24's. I even ran 100 mile trail once...How far is the Shenandoah away?

Here's my GPS data for the 50 last year http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11264130

the northern loop looks spectacular....are these designated mtb trails? Some of 'em? Can I go up there and ride the course?

24 hours at sebring is this weekend.
if your looking for the toughest ride in GA try Bundricks's Revenge. Its the Fall 200K put on by Audax Atlanta. 20 more miles and twice the climbing of 6 Gap... and a 14 hour time limit.

Brevet's are cool! More like a long training ride with others....200K on roads tougher than 100M on dirt?? Explain...

Well I've never done 100M on dirt before so I really cant speak to that. The 200K has roughly 24,000 ft of climbing including Hogpen from both sides and Brasstown bald. The time limit is the hard part. You can finish it, but finishing it under the time limit is the hard part. Also, I'm a "Not Petite" buy on a recumbent.. so anything with climbing is hard for me!
Brevets are great, especially if you get in with a good group. The Gainesville FL series is a really nice too.
I'd love to setup a 200K or Permenant on fire roads in N Georgia.
Do you run out of the little running store in Oakhurst? I thought I saw you down there one night a month or two ago.

Which way do I go? Thanks Aero-70 for the explanation. That does sound huge!! Jeb shows 6600 ft of climbing for the 50 miles, so 13,200 ft for the 100? Massive difference. If I'm gonna spend the day riding, I prefer to do it in the woods. I do run from One Step at a time on Wednesdays, just not that often.

http://www.heartofthesouth500.com/

would be fun. Crew and sag vehicle, etc...would be a drag, IMO. The double sounds like a decent course, no crew or sag needed..