24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest

I didnt sleep well and woke up early with the sun,  I turned on the heater in the camper and started to get ready,  Spare helmet with headlamp, batteries, warm clothes just incase, all pilled in a Tupperware bin.
The start was fast, it was myself, Kiviok, and Hemperly, in the front,  the three of us are on the same team and same category, but definitely competitive,  by the Single Track, i was third of the three.  and held that through this lap.

The trail is fun and fast and Silty,  and the first lap was very dusty,  I had not pre ridden, and petty much just watched the wheel in front of me trying not to breath all the dust.

I held my position and on lap two or 3, Kiviok decides to turn it up pulling a big gap on jeff and I.  Jeff took the bait and started to put it down.  I was trying to ride smart and kept my pace,

During the day you hope for night, because it means your getting closer to being done, and once night gets here all you want is the light,  24 hour racing is all about survival.  when its only 4pm and your on your 3rd lap, the task of riding all night seems impossible,  somehow you keep going, one lap at a time one hour at a time.
I had to take a 45 minute brake at around 4:30 am,  because my right knee had been bothering me since midnight, and I had fallen off my bike because I fell a-sleep..  I figured a break was in order,  I was still in 3rd place and 4th place was two laps behind me,  I felt safe.

when I came in for my break, I noticed Jeff Hemperly's bike was on the bike stand, so I knocked on the van door, and he was inside with a stomach ache.  Had I been thinking clearly, I would have taken advantage of this and gone out for one more lap, to get into 2nd place,  but my cloudy head took my right back to my camper for a quick nap. 

Sunlight came quickly, and I could Hear Lenny, (Solo SS) talking to Dan  Durland about how he just checked the standings and if he could get out for a couple laps to maybe get into second place passing me and Jeff,  "What!!!"  well My helmet was no sooner clicked when Jeff tears out of the van suited up and jumps on his Airborn and halls ass out on the course.  me hot on his heels!

Lenny had 8 laps and I had 10. all Ive got to do is get in two more laps and Lenny has no way of catching,  Two laps were painful, and once they were done I checked the standings and found that Tim from Back of the Pack Racing was on his 11th lap and probably due any time now,  I'm still safe because its only 10am,  there is no time for two more laps.  3rd Place Podium.

I roll into the pits to find Kiviok, clean and in street clothes, grabbing the lube, shouting, you've got time, get out there for one more...  WHAT?  ARE YOU INSANE!  Im Cooked!  and Im set 3rd is locked up,  I'm a happy camper.

Then Kiviok starts spouting some BS about youve got to do it for yourself, to push yoursef to see what your capable of..  Bla Bla Bla!   Well it would be cool to get 200 miles in..   out I went with only a bottle of water....    cursing Kiv on the way out of the Pits.

Feeling Great I tore up the first clime and smoothly sailed down the twisty single track, up another climb, then a false flat..  "this may be my fastest lap yet" I thought to myself.  Mile 3, Mile 4, Mile 5....  Uh oh! somethings wrong,  Im slowing down,  Im feeling a bit hungry...  with no food I drink water to try to help, but within 1/2 mile Im completely tanked and the following climb of maybe 2% i'm off the bike, head hanging, and walking slowly... completely Bonked! and wondering how Im gonna get out of here.

A rider comes up,  She saw me from a ways back and could tell I was in a world of hurt, and yells,  "you need Water?..  Food?"   "Yes" I shout in my raspy voice,  She reaches in her jersey pocket and tosses a Tigers milk bar on the ground,   "Thanks" I yell, and she says " Lets Go!, You can Do it"  That Damn Tigers Milk Bar was F-ing AWESOME!  I walked a bit more then got on the bike, managing to make it to the next feed zone about 4 miles further where I ate an apple, got a bottle of water and tossed a miller extra in my jersey pocket,  (celebration for later)

45 minutes to go 6 miles,  I think I can do it.     30 minutes later I finished..   Kathryn Grohusky was waiting at the finish line to make sure that half dead guy got the bar she threw on the ground.  Kathryn seriously saved my ass.  

Final Tally..  For the Solo Single Speed Catagory.  Jeff Wood in First, Jeff Hemperly in Second, and Paul Adams in 3rd.

Awesome Race and a great time, I

Iron Horse 2011

I finally did an Iron Horse,  I signed up through the LiveStrong Team and raised over 400 dollars for Cancer research. Usually im not the type to go for donations, but for some reason I decided to give this one a go,  and thank you so much for everyone who helped me to reach my goal.

The ride began with the whistle blow of the Steam Powered Locomotive in Durango at 8:30am on Saturday morning.  the air was brisk, and our challenge is to beat the train to the small town of Silverton Colorado, just 50 miles and 5000 feet of climbing to the north.

There must have been thousands of people on bikes taking advantage of the traffic free ride to Silverton,  it began fast, as most fun rides do for some of us, and I quickly made my way to the front pack for some easy pack riding until the first of the many climbs. 

As the weather warmed up, I became pretty glad that Kari had convinced me to bring two full water bottles,  because around the half way point I realized my ration of water was nearly half gone,, Thanks Kari!

The few gusts of wind made for challenging descents, and I finished with Pete Eschelere in just under 3 hours, which beats the train by about 20 minutes.

Silverton was a party, Main Street was lined with people cheering on the riders as they came off of Molas Pass into town.  the one mile stretch to the finish was a well deserved parade.

Tahoe and Carson City

Took a little drive out to Carson City and Tahoe a few days ago,  Man the drive from Hurricane Utah to hear is BOARING,  Not much to see out there unless you like scrub brush and the occasional coyote.  Once in Carson City,  I got settled into my hotel, ( Carson Station )  and began to plan my visit.   The whole point of this visit is to scope out the scene for cycling and other amenities,   Kari has been offerd a job in Zepher Cove on the Tahoe side, and Im here to see if we want to move here. 

Carson City is pretty nice and I got a chance to ride the ash trail system just outside of town,  its a small shared use system of single track that overlooks the city,  it also ties into the Flume trail system, if you take some of the old mining roads up into the Sierras,   The trails were fun but I could imagine they get old pretty quick.   after that ride I made my way to Tahoe and jumped on the Flume trail,   I parked at the state park for 10 bucks ( its 3 bucks if you ride you bike in ) and road the 20 mile loop on the old Flume trail.   This may be one of the most memorable trails ive ever been on,  the views were amazing, and nearly the whole Flume trail is exposed to the left side ( riding it clockwise )

Couple days off the bike

I raced at the 24 hour in the sage last weekend.  I raced on a single speed team of 4,  and although I felt I had a pretty good performance overall, we placed 7th in our division.  I took Monday and Tuesday off the bike, and now am itching to get back out and ride,  Its been raining a-lot here, so I'm not sure if I will be on the trails today,  Maybe a road ride, we will see.   Its really hard to stay off the bike once you start riding a-bunch.  but its funny how just doing something else, can make you faster!

Big Ring Paul

I got this nick name from  my job.  Im a mechanic and web designer for Kokopelli Bike and board.  When I began to go for shop rides I was riding with a 34 tooth chain ring on my Single Speed Voodoo.  and some of the guys started joking, calling me Big Ring,   Ive since acclimated to the area dropping down to a more reasonable 32 tooth chainring, but the name has stuck.  thanks guys