2014 24 hours of Adrenaline
At the beginning of the season I started contemplating racing this event. I mean what's not to like about this event... it has a great vibe and being that it is basically in
my backyard... I was in!
I was able to talk
Julie and Steve Kelly into running my pit for me, which helps a ton. Cor was
going to help with Zach, but it was good knowing that they could take a step
back. It's big job to have a 7 year old
all night and put up with my shenanagins for 24hrs.
With some great training volume and a crappy result at Spokane
July 19th had us set up at our pit location that evening, a
prelap, a chat with friends and then off
we head to the Stoney Nakoda Hotel for a quick dip in the pool and some
much needed sleep.
Some chatting with fellow racers in the start lineup, had me next to Ryan Gardiner, Andrew Bovard, and Jesse Mong. Jesse looked fit as always and he looked like he brought his Ä game which I expected. I like Jesse a lot, he is a fierce competitor, and as genuine as they come.
The gun goes off and I run my leman start,
make my way back to the start finish and
climb on the bike for some 24hr goodness. An hour or so later I ride down solo
pit area just in time to see our mechanics tent get blown across the course
with Steve ending up on his butt trying to stop it and Cor chasing after the
tent as it righted itself across the lane and stood straight up like it was
meant to be there.
Julie, was on task running after me to hand me a bottle, and
I went out on my 2nd lap with a few thoughts on my mind. When I returned from
my second lap I had found out that everyone was ok, and all things were back to
normal, and knowing some kind souls had lent my pit crew some tent pegs to make sure that the tent wouldn't blow across the course, again.
The next few laps
were uneventful (thank goodness) and I was enjoying riding with Ryan for the most part of them. I found the temps a bit on the warm side but the descents made up for that as they
were a bit cooler. Around 8pm Ryan and I separated to ride on our own. It was a bit after this that I was riding the Matching Jersey's section of the course and feeling
great when I heard a loud, "snap" as my
chain disintegated into 2 pieces. I pull off the trail and add 2 quick links, within 5 mins I was on my way to finish
this lap.
 |
| Ryan leading |
When I came in I asked Julie if she could get my spare chain (I kept on hand) installed for me by the mechanics on site. Then I would take out my spare bike and not lose any valuable time. I now had a trust issue with my primary bike and its chain, I figured it best to get it fixed while it was still quite bright out. Then I wouldn't have to worry about repairing this chain again, especially when it would get dark.
Out I go on my spare bike, it's nice and light but not very
compliant. I had installed my rigid fork for training on much smoother
terrain, but it wasn't much fun to ride
the choppy descents on and I was happy that
this was only going to be a one lap affair on this bike.
I pass check mark 1 and head into the tree's
(and roots) for some more climbing and I hear a really loud "snap"! and my bike
stops immediately. I look down and see a
branch jammed into my derraileur, pushing it into my spokes. One
of the roots I just rode over has snapped back and hit my derraileur and chain
. Seriously?! I take a a few minutes to fix it but it requires me to bend my
deraileur by hand out of the spokes and my chain ends up in 2 pieces as a
result. I sling the chain onto the side of the course and start pushing and
coasting my bike back the way I came.I get stopped by the marshalls as I ride back to the checkpoint I just pass and am told that I will have to forfeit this lap or run the balance of the 17kms to make it back to the pit to make this lap count. The idea of running the balance of the lap in my carbon soled biking shoes was not appealing at all.
So there it is, I forfeit my lap via the Marshall
Julie runs back into the pit, and I jump on my Carver 420
Ti, and head back to the timing tent first so that my laps can restart. Now I can get back to the
task at hand... trying to make up lost time.
I'm told I lost 54 mins (not counting the ride around to
the timing tent). This also put me a lap down from the leaders, and put me
somewhere in the 6th placing, from my previous 3rd place standing.
Ugh, anything can happen in a 24hr race and it just did. So
I settled into some smart racing, ticking away the miles hoping that I could
make up the time and maybe try for an attack in the morning.
After this lap I come back in and get my lights on the bike
and helmet, and get out for some night riding.
 |
| Trying to make up some time and feeling it |
 |
| Money Lap |
I come upon the 4th place rider and he and I chatted for a
quick sec and I could see that he was hurting so I just pulled away. Around the
last bunch of climbs after "long road to ruin", I recognize a
familiar jersey riding ahead of me. I
could see that it was Jesse, and I was looking forward to riding with him.
I pull him back just in time to the last downhill before the
only piece of pavement in the event.
It's at this point I decide to test our legs a bit. I ride up next to Jesse, and he sees me and we both start sprinting, which is funny as we still
have quite bit of riding left to go. I look back now and I start laughing,
because of how funny it must have looked as we both sprint up the hill and down
to the pit lane, especially with some
cheering coming from the sidelines kinda going like this "way to go
solo's" way to finish a lap". We were both full on racing.
I drop into my pit just ahead of Jesse and he drops into his, ahead of mine. A split second later and he is back out on course riding for all he was worth. I had Cor and Julie take my lights and gear off, I take a sip of coke and start mashing away at the 3-4 min lead that Jesse has just put into me. I'm feeling good and my legs are feeling awesome, 5kms later I am able to grab Jesse's wheel and pull past him with just a bit of jostling between the two of us. I love racing with and against Jesse he will make you work right to the finish. I had better legs today.
I get out in front and start mashing away to put sometime
into him and to pull back the second place contender, who is on this current
lap as well. 40 mins later I was able to pull back this rider, .
A lap or so later .....
I am now somewhere around the high 30 mins behind the leader
and I am trying to catch him, but I'm running out of time. It was around this
time that it starts raining, and up near the top on all the exposed rocks it is getting
slick. With a couple of close calls I am forced to slow down. The upside of this was that it only rained for around 30 minutes or so. It was
then that, I pretty much knew 2nd place would be the best I can do today, there just isn't enough
time left....
 |
| Goofin around |
 |
| Heading out for the rain lap |
I'm happy with this result, I had to overcome some challenges, not to mention race with and against some of the best endurance racers around.
In summary this is the 4th time I have raced this event solo. 1 top 5
finish and 3 podiums. The icing on the
cake was that this was the 10th 24 hour solo
event I have competed in and it all began here.
I want to say a huge thanks to my wife Coralee and my son
Zach... they put up with my training schedule....
To Steve and Julie Kelly, (mostly Julie) :) I owe you this
one, totally there Julie, top notch support. and friendship
To my coach and friend Shaun Taylor.
To Forrest Carver, (Carver bikes) thanks for the bike, the
setup and advice. Carver Bikes are awesome. If you don't believe me ride one. (And no you can't ride mine!)
NiteRider lights, Tommy Bryant, You guys are always in the trenches with the racers... all night
long and it shows. Thank you
NOX composites for the dope wheels.
To Dr Dave and the staff at AST Sports Therapy, for putting
up with all my injuries this year and
for fixing me up, as always... I couldn't do this
without your continued support
To Pedalhead Bike and ski, thanks to Al for the post race recovery beer, and the rest of the guys at the shop.
Next race
http://25hoursinfroghollow.com/
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