8hr solo Master Men +40
13 out of 19 in 6 laps @ 7:39
I was watching pics of last year’s race, I was wearing short sleeve jersey and shorts: very different story.
Temps below freezing most of the time, the start was a cold one: most of the course was in ok shape except for a few really muddy sections.
Lap 1-3: I missed the gunshot at the start: my cassette decided for complete freedom (freewheling in both directions), so had to quickly swap rear wheel, going from the trusty mud tire to a sketchy almost bald LK Fastrack, basically a slick tire: that’s ok, just had to re-learn to ride my bike. Off I go, probably 5 mins after the crowd, go full steam and pass about 100 riders on the long fireroad start. My face is numb, can’t feel my lips, toes or fingers: and that’s the first lap. Big dent on morale. I decide to keep going and don’t stop for the first 3 laps. Keep reminding myself that everybody else is feeling exactly the same.
Some sections are really sketchy and look like they will be getting worse over the course of the day. Something’s wrong with my right shoe. The retention of the buckle got ripped off, probably in a contact with the chainring in one of the semi crashes. Shoe is lose and the bucke is interfering with the crank: great!
At the first stop after 3 laps the drivetrain is all mucked, spend about 10 minutes to clean it up, total stop time about 15min. Swap my right shoe for the spare one (always bring spare shoes and helmet).
Lap 4: My hands are really cold, I can’t feel the brake levers and I have a couple of close calls, start thinking of how long will it take me to crash real good. Did I mention it’s really cold? The long stop didn’t help, vison narrows and blurs. I gulp down 2 hammer gel with caffeine shots: that takes me back from the dead. Second half of the 4th lap feels better, feel my hands again, but deraillers start acting up and then I’m stuck in the granny ring. Finish 4th lap in good company with Kris who wonders how did I pick my rear tire. Pit stop, clean up deraillers, more Starbux solo shot and food. Get back out for lap 5.
Lap 5 is bad. Don’t feel the cold anymore, that’s usually a bad sign. Rear brake pads are gone, deraillers don’t work anymore, stuck in granny ring and rear gear skipping, and then right pedal latches and I can’t unclip: go down hard in a muddy section. Pedal clip is locked: have to pedal unclipped. I keep hearing comments about my rear tire: “talk about tire choice…” is one of the best. The HR monitor stops working: may not sound like a big deal, but I rely a lot on HR to push harder or not, especially in long races.
Finish the miserable lap and I’m determined to put in one more. It’s around 2PM: either work on the geared bike for maybe 20mins to make it work or hop on the SingleSpeed. I go for pain. (always)
Lap 6: I have an easy 32×22 on the 29′, so it’s just a matter of pacing the climbs. Much better traction on these tires, the bike feels on rails in comparison. Halfway thru the lap one of the saddle rails fails. No saddle. I don’t miss it much on the SS, since I’m standing most of the time, but damn!
I put in a decent 1:14 lap in but I’m done. There would be probably time for another lap, but I just don’t have it in me. I’m happy it’s over and I want beer.
Broken cassette, wrong rear tire, broken shoe, locked pedal, HR monitor dead, rear brake pads and broken saddle: 6 laps in 7:39 with 6:55 moving time. I think I did ok.
Believe it or not that was fun: don’t ever give up. My butt is sore and my toes are still not right. Hopefully I learned something.
Many thanks to Carmen and Jeff for the delicious food (mmm brownies…) and Team Wrong Way for the fun and company. Looking forward to next year.
