Bake Shop

This weekend I tried out a 24 hr race for the first time. I've done a 6 hr solo and a 12 hr duo but this was my first 24. I was pretty unsure of myself cause I knew I hadn't trained near enough to race at the level I'd like to. Luckily enough I got on with a 4 man team that was just out to have fun and ride what we could.

I got nominated to go first which was probably a mistake. I blew up big time trying to ride off with the lead guys and was feeling dead 15 mins in. This made my first lap pretty tough. I also overate with all the prerace gunk and my gut was not feeling good. Pretty much felt like everything was just sitting there sloshing around.

My next lap I took off at my pace and things were going much better. I cleaned the first climb with no struggles and then went thru the next 15 min tough section and still felt good. On to the next section my tire started feeling a little soft. Finally on a tough switchback I felt my tire roll over and realized I had a flat.Great! I'm feeling great and now a flat. I decided to just put some air in it and see how far I could make it. I managed to make it to the near end when it got really soft. I decided to push thru and finish the lap. By the time I got to the finish line it was near flat but I still turned in a lap only 5 mins over what I wasa shooting for.

I did one more lap right before dark and then Jacob got in a "zone" and turned out 3 laps in the dark. Mike and Sterling also both put in another night lap and I hit the hay around 1. About 7:30 in the morning Sterling started knocking on the van windows and told me to get ready. I suited up and put down one more lap. I couldn't get my legs to get woke up but I still put in a sub hour lap so not too far off my average. I think we ended up in 4th place out of 7or 8.

Dennis Grelk took the win the solo category with Jeff Kerkove coming in second. I think Squirrel came in 4th after pulling out to take his very very pregnant wife home for a good nights sleep. She was going to tough it out and help him but he realized her getting a good nights rest was more imporant than a race. Good call bro! Our other Rassy team of Cam, Jed, Tony, and Jason kicked butt and took home the 4 man title.

We had a little drama with some punk who wasa turned in some ungodly lap times and leading the solo field. He was busted when Jed left 1 min before him but yet this cat turned in a faster lap and never passed Jed. Hmm....yeah, that doesn't happen. I was glad to hear the race organizers DQ'd him.

Alright...enough babbling...time for some pics.

With this strut you'd think I would be faster.



Chocalate flavored Hammer Gels taste horrid. Definitely not my favorite.





Cam "I have more muscle in my tricep than your thigh" Kirkpatrick getting ready to defend his course record.



Tried to stay on Squirrel's wheel for a little while. I kept him in sight for about 15 mins.



Hanging with the front group for a little bit.



Squirrel rocking the Surly rigid single speed.



Finishing up my first lap.



Jacob taking off to tear it up.



Lebeda heading out for his first lap.



Sterling finishing up a lap.