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Pats Peak 12 Hour |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Sven Cole
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Tuesday, 24 July 2007 |
24.12.6 Hours of Pats Peak
MASS #6
Henniker, NH
Saturday, July 14 & Sunday, July 15, 2007
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Needing a tune up for the 24 Hours of Great Glen fellow Bikeman.com rider Dennis Morgan (JJ) and I headed down to Pats Peak to ride in the 12 Hour event as a good way to test our fitness. I had never been to Pats Peak in any season, so really had no idea of what to expect for terrain. I had poured over the web in the weeks leading up to the race hoping to find some idea of the course as both JJ and I were racing on rigid single speeds (Salsa El Mariachi’s- the frames rock) and really wanted to get a feel for the gearing. We selected 32x20’s but had 22’s sitting in the van ready for a quick change if after the first lap we felt over geared.
The rider meeting was interesting to say the least, we learned about the politics between USA Cycling and EFTA and we also learned that riding on the lawn at Pats Peak can result in disqualification. We heard that last bit in both a calm tone as well as an aggravated yelling over the PA as a downhiller rode over the grass.
We also met a fellow Team Bikeman.com rider- Jason Achilich, at the start. JJ and I had met him last year at the Jay Challenge, and he was actually the inspiration for us to give 29’er SS’s a try (do I thank him or curse him???) Needless to say we anticipated we would see him at the start and that would be about it- he looks like the type that does that “training” thing.
The race began with a run, which we took very easy and the first half of a lap was nice and mellow as the field slowly strung out. The climbing was very doable with the 32x20 but if we were going to ride for 12 hours I knew that I would be better off with a 22, so with that in our heads we rode the first lap to get a feel for the terrain.
Most of the single track was classic NE single track and reminded you why New Hampshire is the Granite State. The course was pleasantly dry and the climbing was laid out in such a way that you could recover well in between short efforts. That said it was clear that walking some of the climbs would be the smart move in order to save the legs a bit. It always amazes me that you can push your bike with what feels like little effort while next to you a person is killing themselves on the climb riding it yet they’re barely moving faster. I know it’s a props thing, and I’d much rather ride then push- but in this case it came down to the proper utilization of limited resources.
The long downhill surprised me, it is the only downhill that I can think of that actually seems to go on longer then it should. For whatever reason I just couldn’t groove into it and ride it smooth so I was on my brakes way too much, and often really wishing I had put the Reba on the bike. I was very glad to be running the Ergon’s as I think my hands would have taken a pounding otherwise. At one point I stopped to let a few PSI out of my front tire (Panaracer Rampage- best tire I’ve used) and that seemed to make a huge difference in my downhill comfort.
We finished up the first lap and pulled into the pits for a gear change. I know, no changing gears on a SS during the race- but this was equipment testing so we bent the etiquette. With the lower ratios we headed back out to the course, this time able to ride our own pace as the field had completely thinned out. After the first long climb we began to descend, there was a nasty water bar that I hit first and yelled back to warn the riders behind me. Seconds latter I hear someone yell to me that JJ had gone down. I turn around to see JJ sitting in the dirt and not looking too anxious to move.
Before I go any further, I should mention that JJ and I have been riding and skiing together for a number of years- and in that time I’ve seen him fall down go boom many times and often resulting in various doctor visits, slings, and PT schedules.
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I won’t go into the bad thoughts I was having about my fallen teammate (you can read that on my blog) as I was assuming he had fallen due to the water bar, but upon closer inspection he had fallen due to something still not known to us at this time. Either way the end result was a pile of JJ with a shoulder and elbow that was not looking the way they do in the Gray’s Anatomy Book (at least in the before images). Sooooo, we had another guy we were riding with charge off to find first aid and I hung out and found some old course tape to fashion a sling. We then hung out while we waited for the cart to come up and pull him off the hill. After they took his sorry ass off the hill I continued my lap with the idea of calling it a day to drive him to the ER. Since this was to be my last lap I tried to hot foot it around the course- completely blowing up on one of the climbs, but knowing a cold beer was in the cooler made it wall worth while.
The only problem was that when I got back and had gone through the timing tent I headed down to first aid to find out JJ had already left there, next stop the van, nope, then inside and again no such luck. I walked back up to the timing tent and there he was- a nicer sling then the course tape holding up his arm, and a bizarre looking smile on his face. It was then he informed me that he was good to sit for awhile and that I had to get back on my bike and keep riding.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the courage it took for him to sit there drinking beer and probably hopped up on some sort of pain killer, but I had just crushed myself on the last lap as I was calling it a race and the idea of going back out after having mentally checking out was not that appealing. I said some choice words and rolled back out, figuring that after another hour or so he’d be feeling not so chipper and would want to bail. That took place two laps later.
The end result I completed four laps, enough to “finish” and place last. We were loaded up and rolling north well before the six hour race had even finished. To say the least it was disappointing, but we’ll be back next year to put in a better showing.
As for 24 Hours of Great Glen, I’ve got a pit manager in the form of JJ- a one- armed pit manager but a pit manger nonetheless. That’s it from here- see you out on the trails!
Sven
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