Dragon's Tale 2012 - SOOOO GOOD!

We hope everyone had a really good time. Yes, the event might be the shortest one we put on, but it is the most challenging and rewarding event mile per mile as compared to our other events. A FULL ON mental and physical challenge.

Here is a link to the 2012 RESULTS (yes, it is an XLS file posted on our website with 3 tabs at the bottom)

We had a chance to upload 2 raw clips on facebook today while cleaning up the event supplies.
Check them out... good times!!

- here is a little stroll along North Mountain with Kyle Lawrence during the event


- here is Deer Trail coming off North Mountain with Graham Snyder

Dragon's Tale 2011

Early spring is a great time for bicycling on the dry ridgetops of the George Washington and the Jefferson National Forest's. North Mountain Trail is home to a great network of shared use trail in the Jefferson National Forest west of Roanoke, VA. These trails are cleared in Feb and March for use in the annual Dragon's Tale bicycle event.

Check out some of the amazing video's and photos below of the Dragon's Tale backcountry bicycle event.
Results from 2011 are HERE
A photo gallery is on FACEBOOK - higher res images are in our Picasa gallery below.
Lots of great video clips of the riding below too.

Sue Haywood is a smooth rider. Check out her confident riding along Broad Mountain and down into Ferrier Trail.




Sue gave another nice ride on the final roll in on Ferrier Trail. She is soooo smooth in the corners!



We got to follow Laura Hamm down Deer Trail too. She is fast and smooth. Her front brake stopped working early in the event so she was a little cautious on the switchbacks. She has solid backcountry ethics and wasn't going to skid around the corner just because her brake wasn't working. So she took it easy and walked it around the bend. Thanks Laura!


Doc George covered our backs yet again and made a great video to share with us all. Thanks DOC!



Here is a great slideshow from the event in the SMT Picasa Gallery



Kirby was a huge help with the course and logistics. Sorry about the flats Bro!

From Dragon's Tale 2011

Also huge thanks to Ben and the Brown family with the Moonstompers, the Tilson's, Suzanna, Doctor George, Joe Therrell, Gramham, the USFS and the community of New Castle, VA

Iron Mountain 100K in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

The Iron Mountain 100K has some gems
Jerry's Creek Trail is lush and green
Tight singletrack with a steep exciting sidehill
The trail has a 10 x 6 ft. divot missing from the tread
A huge tree borrowed some soil for a while
We are going to harvest the soil off the roots
And return it to the tread so we make it though there again
A few rolling grade dips need to be refreshed
We have to keep the water flowing across the trail and not down it
The only place the water needs to be running
Is in the beautiful creek far down below

Riding/Recon on sections of the Dragon's Tale race course

Got out to the Catawba/New Castle area today with Matt Smith and Kirby Walke to do some riding and check out some sections of the Dragon's Tale course. The leaves up on the ridge are nice and packed down from all the snow and the riding is great. The downhills of Turkey and Deer trails are nice and fast with some tough switchbacks; totally worth the solid climbs to get there.

Cleared some debris off the trail with our hands and a small saw, back with the chainsaw later for some of the big stuff.

A great cold ride with views of McAfee's knob from the ridge!