So here is the official version and I’ll add in a few notes in italics…..
Snake Creek Gap Time Trial #1
01.03.10
To bring in the new year, Eddie and Namrita O’Dea from Georgia rode in the first of three Snake Creek off-road Time Trial races. Over 300 riders registered and most of them braved the day’s below freezing temperatures. The O’Deas competed in the 34 mile race. Around the first mile marker, there is a knee-deep creek crossing that all the 34-mile racers needed to negotiate.

Namrita chose to ride it and Eddie chose to walk it with bare feet and legs. Both were successful. After that, the next several miles are rolling singletrack and doubletrack with some steep ups and downs and many rocks littering the trail. Because the ground was frozen, the trail was pretty fast riding.
Namrita and I started separately, so I missed her successful crossing. I did witness 2 or 3 others not make it across and get soaked. I decided to keep the shoes dry due to the 19* temps. Not the boldest decision I’ve very made but neither my feet nor my drivetrain froze later.

However, because it was so cold outside, riders were dealing with frozen drinks, drivetrains, brakes, and limbs. The last five miles of the trail are very technically demanding with steep pitches and many technical rock gardens. Eddie got a flat tire and had some trouble changing it. Thanks to the help of a fellow (Ergon-sponsored) Faster Mustache Team rider he was off rolling again. Eddie caught up to Namrita after the singletrack and both rode into the Finish Line together.
I forgot to go by the shop and pick up tubes. Dumb, dumb, dumb move. So over course I flat. Someone gives me a tube (and they flat just before the finish), but I can’t the tire off the rim because it’s so cold it’s much tighter than usual. Someone gives me a lever. Then I’m messing with the Co2 to refill it and the valve keeps freezing. I try 3 Co2s, but only manage about 15lbs of pressure. I carry on riding up the climbs but walking anything rocking on the descents which is everything on this trail. After a 1/2 mile of this slow crawl someone loans me a pump and I’m on my way. Can you say unprepared?
Race times, in general, were longer than expected for most racers. Namrita finished in 1st place in her class and Eddie, even with his flat tire troubles, finished in 8th place.
I was doing the post-race math and I would have been only an hour back on winner, Thomas Turner. I’m never fast in the winter, but wow, this is a new low. I have much work to do.
The race and volunteer support was excellent, as was the competition in all classes. There are two more Time Trial races left on February 6 and March 6, 2010.
This is all true. A very well run event and I have a chance to redeem myself.