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2008 24 Hours of Great Glen |
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Written by Jason Achilich
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Friday, 22 August 2008 |
Soldier Hollow Biathlon
August 9-10, 2008
{Looking back over the 2008 24 Hours of Great Glen, many lessons were taught. It might be that this was my first long race of the year, spending most of the other races this year on a 20km Wednesday night race series. Or if I was thinking this year would be easier as a result of racing on a double single team.
Lesson learned:
1. When the thought of changing your gearing crosses your mind, do it.
2. Don't wait until the morning you are leaving for the race to change tires for a mud specific tire.
3. Don't do a duo class event in hopes of hanging out with your buddy.
We initially had hopes of racing this as a 2 person fixed gear team. But a broken frame left my partner searching for a bike to ride. He ended up borrowing a bike, but spent until 7 pm on friday to pick it up. In my own procrastination to get my bike ready, I spent friday morning before work cleaning, swapping my rear tire from a worn out WTB Nanoraptor, to a more aggressive tire for the upcoming mud. Mounted the other tire, gashed sidewall. Thoughts of booting a tire for a 24 hour race was not the best option. Out comes the Panaracer Fire Cross, 45 millimeters of tire love. Big Blue, my Independent Fabrications 29er SS now was a hot rod, Panaracer Rampage in the front, Fire Cross in the rear. In my 24 hour experiment I found that a 2.3 inch knobby works much better in the mud we had than the 45 millimeter cross tire.
Race morning was a break in the weather, the sun was shinning, a first in New England for almost a month, great sign. I make George do the lemans since he runs much more than I do. He comes through the run in 15th or so place; he gets a bike hand up that would make a world cup cyclo cross racer envious. And we are off and running for 24 hours.
50 minutes later, I am off on my first lap. Same super fun course of the past years, though some sections are cut off, due to the mud. Carriage roads are bone dry, singletrack sections have literal mud bogs in them. Thankfully we are on single speeds, as I watched many drivetrains explode over the race.
For the first 6 hours we swap back a forth low 50 minute laps, chit chatting at the hand offs. We make the decision to try to have a team meal either in the evening or in the morning.
As night descends onto us we switch to 2 laps each, and run with this through the night. I noticed at 8pm our lead had stretched to 2 laps and we were 4th overall for all pairs. Dinner was put off.
Laps kept being churned out. Around the time I went out for some laps at 2am I was cold my body was beat. Made it around for one lap in about an hour and a half. I was cracking. Head back to camp sleeping bag, coffee, chips and energy bars. The 34-20 gear ratio was starting to grate on me. George had a 32-21 on his 29er and was fairing much better, or maybe he was in shape. Ran my 34-20 last year solo, and had no issues, but this year the moist soil was pulling my wheels back with every rotation.
As I pull my self back together, I head out for some more time on the course, stopping by the results wall. To my surprise all the other double single teams had gone down for some shut eye around 9pm. Our lead was now 8 laps.
Off the course around 5am. Send George out, lucky man gets the bag pipe/sunrise lap. While he is out, a breakfast of cowboy killer coffee and perogies was made. We relax joke around and start to have fun again racing our bikes. The morning brought a new perspective on the course, new lines, warmth and smiles. It was the group decision that the night had been hard.
My last laps, had me riding some of the technical back singletrack with Tim Johnson. Yes he can ride a cross bike, yes those skills translate to being able to kill it on a MTB. Tim passes me cheering me up a climb, me riding his wheel, telling him he looks strong and smooth. Like he didn't know that!
We finished with 22 laps, 11 each. Though my laps slowed down through the race, while George's were constant. A great race, as always, but more everyone on the course was super stoked to be riding trails again. I hear the bar is being raised next year by some folks, we shall see. Thanks to Bikeman.com for the support, Panaracer for some contrasting super sweet tires, and Greyhound Juice for some great anti-friction cream!!!!
Jason
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