Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Congratulations to Travis Jolly, the first person to cross the finish line of this year’s Trans North Georgia Adventure (TNGA)! Better yet, Travis did so on a full-suspension singlespeed. Plus, a special shoutout to Chris Joice and Lee Neal for securing second and third place spots, and Emily Cox, the first woman to finish. Find more details here…
Photos by Kate Gates from Mulberry Gap (@mulberrygapadvbasecamp)
The 2024 Trans North Georgia Adventure (TNGA) kicked off last Saturday with over 80 riders tackling the 360-mile route that crosses the state from east to west. Travis Jolly from Knoxville, Tennessee, was the first to reach the finish line at the Alabama border. As we learned in a post-race interview, this was 29-year-old Travis’ first time racing in this event.
Travis completed his 2024 TNGA in 2 days, 10 hours, and 56 minutes (2d:10h:56m). When asked about the toughest part of the race, Travis shared, “Trying to stay on the trail while attempting to catch a glimpse of a view, plus the last hike-a-bike (mile 310ish) before descending to the rail trail.” He also hit a tree on the challenging stretch of “The Snake” and lost his rear brake; he had to ride with just a front brake from there to the finish. Apparently, Travis only slept for two or three hours during his time on the route, “The body just did not want to sleep at all within the first day and a half. It sort of caught up with me at the end,” he added.
Travis was riding a Specialized Epic 8 with Vitoria Syerra tires and bar ends. More interestingly, he had it set up as a singlespeed using a Rohloff chain tensioner, a Wheels MFG Solo XD conversion kit, 34×20 gearing, and a flat top chain with squirt wax. “I never had to lube my chain,” Travis added, “I wouldn’t change a single thing for next year. Everything was flawless.”
When I asked Travis the most important question, “How was the spider web situation?” he replied, “The darkness was relaxing and I made peace with the spiders as they came. I started to notice the orb weavers would scurry away before I would come barreling down trail. I felt bad for them and started to sympathize for the spiders having to rebuild their home after destroying it. Ascending Stanley Gap with leftover rain falling in the wind while listening to Kikagayu Moyo was very enchanting.”
Congratulations, Travis! Also, hats off to Chris Joice (above left) and Lee Neal (above right) for securing second and third place finishes, both also riding singlespeeds, completing the course four and five hours after Travis, respectively. It appears that 32-year-old Emily Cox from Clayton, Georgia, was the first woman to finish in 2 days, 18 hours, and 35 minutes, although that hasn’t been confirmed. Congrats to you as well, Emily!
Further Reading
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