The Cohutta 100, the Big Frog 65, and the Old Copper 30 are some of the best mountain bike events in the Southeast, as rated by Strambecco and part of the National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE). The Cohutta 100 has been a staple on the endurance mountain bike scene for over a decade. Hundreds of determined racers from around the world gather yearly in the Cherokee National Forest to test their physical ability and mental will. Racers are challenged by over 12,000 ft of elevation gain through extreme single track and demanding fire roads.
For the mortals of the cycling world, do not worry as there are some more friendly lengthed options for the course at 65 and 35 miles, respectively. The Big Frog 65 is no simple challenge but remains a formidable course for an endurance mountain bike racer. The Big Frog covers 65 miles, and there is a whopping 7,890 feet of climbing, according to Veloviewer and Strava. The much more manageable Old Copper 30 is not the biggest distance in the world, but I would still call it a challenge with 35 miles in the distance and over 3,753 feet of climbing. Any of the three races you decide to do will be a significant accomplishment!
The racecourse includes 6 Aid stations. Bags can be dropped at aid stations 1, 3, 5 & 6. See the maps on the Courses page for aid station locations. The aid stations for the race course are well stocked with fresh water and snacks, and you should be sure to carry with you the hydration and nutrition you require according to your training and health needs. Each racer is allowed three (3) one-gallon drop bags.
Aid 1 – 20 miles
Aid 2 – 42 miles (Cutoff to reach this point is 1:30 pm)
Aid 3 – 59 miles
Aid 4 – 73 miles
Aid 5 – 83 miles
Aid 6 (same as Aid 1) – 93 miles
There are some nice perks when entering this endurance mountain bike race. All racers will receive a super comfy cotton blend tee AND custom Handup Gloves ($28 value) as well as a commemorative finisher mug, finisher award for all finishers (the tradition of the mugs continues), fully stocked aid stations with volunteers, Hearty post-race meal, music, and camaraderie, Transport of drop bag(s) to the aid stations, Clearly marked course with course marshals and “wrong way” indicators at critical intersections, Neutral mechanical support at aid stations.
The Cohutta 100 and the Big Frog 65 are part of the National Ultra Endurance Series. The National Ultra Endurance Series (NUE) is a race series that has some of the best endurance mountain bike races in the United States. NUE comprises an Epic Series, 100-mile events, and a Marathon series, which includes 50-mile and 75k length events.
- True Grit 100/50
- Cohutta 100 – Big Frog 65
- Mohican MTB 100
- Wilderness 101k
- Telluride 100/50
- Shenandoah 100
- Marji Gesick 100/50
- Ring of Fire 100
- Big Grizzly 100/75
- Carrabassett 100
- Pierre’s Hole 50/100
Listed below are the GPS routes of the two courses. Here at Strambecco, we use Velo viewer, a top route-viewing software the top World Tour cycling teams use to look at things such as stage profiles and specific data before races. Below are the three race courses in a unique interactive 3-d course profile map that you can play with and use as a visual representation of what you will be riding. There is also a map of the course with distances. Enjoy!
