Monday, July 30, 2007

kind of a race report

I chose not to do another pre-ride on Friday. I knew the course well enough from Thursday's ride. Friday was a hang out day. And a lookout day. I was on the lookout for Dejay Birtch and Jake Kirkpatrick and Endurosnob and Paddy and Dallas Sigurdur and Joe and Travis.. No sign of anyone, yet. 5:30 rolls around, its time to register. Dar went ahead to save a spot in line. Thanks. I hit the line and guess who I run into. Paddy n Dallas! Right then and there, I knew it was going to be really tough. Paddy is for sure one of the top 5 endurance singlespeeders in the WORLD. Wait. Stop worrying about who's here and who's not. Just worry about what you gotta do. Drink. Fazolli's for some carbo loading. Then back to camp/"the pits" to put on the number plates before bed. My plan was to be in bed by 9:00pm. It ended up being 9:30 which is still OK. As you can imagine, it is really tough to fall asleep with such a big race in front of you.



9:45ish - My crew(Dad, Aris, Theo and Dar) decided to shoot the sh*t with Paddy n Dallas's pit crew right outside my tent. The same people who told me to forget about the Big Dogs, are keeping me up talking about the same Big Dogs I was supposed to forget about. I did not fall asleep till after 11pm. I was way off schedule due to some extremely interesting chit chat. Paddy, its not just you. All Canadians are cool!



7:00am - I'm up. Before everyone else.

8:00am - Prep.

9:45am - I receive the pep talk.

10:00am - Its a go.


My biggest problem lately is starting races slow. Or I could put it... I start with my "enduro pace". I always manage to put my self really far back in the pack early on. Most endurance racers can go really hard(high heat rate) for 3ish laps and shift into enduro after they have gappped the field. To stop this trend, my goal was to run hard for the Le Mans start to avoid bottle necks on the first lap, and do rolling pit stops when ever possible to not lose any time it the pits. The goals worked. I was sitting in 5th after 7ish hours.


The "your in fifth" news was great to hear. I was also only 20minutes back from 2nd. 1st? Out of the question.


I roll out feeling great. I hit the Flower Trail with some spunk. Then I see 4th place with a broken frame and walking the course. I keep rolling. I then hit the Party on Red Bud to receive even better news from the littlest Bro "your in 2nd!"


6:25pm - 2nd place. time to put on the lights.


6:29pm - I roll thru the timing tent. CRAP. I didn't need my lights yet. I ran an entire lap wearing lights that didn't need to be on. Close to 2lbs of extra weight. The upside was that I get to do a rolling pit when everyone else is stopping to put on their lights...


I was really starting to gain on 1st. So much that on the next lap I enter the pits in second and exit in first. Thanks to the rolling hand ups. Talk about a boost for my crew. I am sure they were pumped knowing they were the ones to launch me into first.


One problem. I sit in first place with close to 15more hours of racing. It was the best and worst feeling. A feeling I have never felt before in all....3 of my 24hr races. I left on that lap in first up maybe 20seconds on 2nd. As I leave for the lap someone tells me "no need to gap him yet. Just ride your race".


From that moment on I was in a constant state of fear. My adrenalin took charge over my mind and I rock the lap. I put a 4minute gap on second. I stop for butt cream and hydro pack swap.


I head out again. The gap grows larger. 8minutes. Still running on adrenalin. Stop to swap out batteries.


12minutes. Trixie asks me how I'm feeling. "great. But I'm running on adrenalin. And I'm worried its going to run out."


Gap grows all the way to 27minutes. My body couldn't take it any more. I make my longest pit stop of the race. Super warm pasta and a 3person massage while I ate standing. B on one arm. J on the other. Trixie on my almost cramping right quad. My 10minute pit shrinks my lead to 17minutes.


The body reboot allowed me to put in a hot lap. The hot lap led to a cold lap. Then the knowledge or second place gaining 3minutes on me from my cold lap pumped me to do another hot lap. back and forth. Hot and cold.


3:00am - Down and out. I was yawning all over the place. I felt like dropping the bike and falling asleep next to the single track.


3:10minutes later - I come up behind Dallas. He decides to kick it and ride with me for about a half a lap. Dallas, you saved my life. The talk alone kept me awake and motivated. He told me the morning would bring new energy and that energy drinks were ok to start taking.


5:30am - Dallas was right. I was saying "good morning!" to everyone out on the course. It was time to seal the deal.


Aris is loving the fact that that he gets to tell me "only 3more laps and you win". Its not the first thing I wanted to hear. It was the truth though.


Trixie n clan after they push me off for my parade lap.

Ditch the pack. Only one mile to go! It was the absolute best feeling.


I couldn't have done it with out you.


Dar, Dad, Trixie, Aris n Theo. You guys did it.
Aris - I completely understand that I dragged you in to this. Being my wrench that is. You must know that your love for the sport allowed me to win. You kept me rolling in so many ways.



Cody, Shelley, B, J, Patrick, Erin, Deanna, Jeff, Carlos, Holly, Dar, Theo, Dad - Thank you!
ERGON - 25hours on the bars. Not one problem.
Clif - Bloks n shots every lap and a Mojo bar for breakfast.
Trek - 1 29in wheel must be better than 2.
Oakley - you were my vision.
Lazer - covered my bad hair day.
Light & Motion - Flawless.
Expedition Supply - See...its not all for nothing!
Don't get me wrong. I won. But I know more than anybody that there are a hand full of SOLO Singlespeeders out there that could have showed up and took me to the cleaners. I get the unofficial title for one year because I won on that day. Thats it.
***Jeff Frings*** has posted his report.

24hr Solo Singlespeed National Champ


I never knew you had it in you. Dar, you killed it.

Theo aka Ted aka 2nd best Junior team in the Nation!




Jeff, You have every reason to have that smile on your face. 4th Place Solo Freak. There is so much more...stay tuned.



The Red Bud update.
Real nice fist pump, hey... I didn't have much left in me.
A real race report to come. More pics too. Mad congrats to all the "official" National Champ Yokels. What Was That?, not bad for a bunch of little boys. Carlos, Have I got a pic for you. Cody, way to not let the bonk get you down. Aris, just wait.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

wow

Support anyone?

Friday, July 27, 2007

Ready and Waiting

We arrived early early Thursday morning. Around 10:30am. We had hoped to take advantage of our early showing and get our favorite pit spot from last year...A locked gate kept us from our destination...for a while.

This pic was taken from our pit...The spot we were hoping for. Yup, thats a Segway. Yup, it has ERGON grips. It has been a major hit...The grips and the Segway. Here I am training fellow team member Jeff Frings. He and EVERYONE else was in awe. Its a GREAT bathroom runner. The Segway even got some sOLO gOAT press.

I rode one 69er and Aris rode the other for the pre-ride Thursday afternoon. The bike even looks fast at a stand still.

The hopefully soon to be National Champs came along on the ride as well.

John "Poz" of the Etough camp was loving the green grips. I think we might have a converter.... I am ready to go. Pumped as I'll ever be. Batteries are charged. Bikes are primed. And the crew is stoked!
Good Luck

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Packed

Everything but the kitchen sink.

I mean everything.

It all fit too.
I feel like I had no time to prep. I feel like I have not done the proper training. I feel like I'm not getting any sleep. I feel like I didn't bring enough assos. I feel like I'm under packed. I feel like I forgot something... All that said, I don't think I have ever been so pumped up for an event ever before. Ok, OK, ok...The day I married Trixie tops this. I'm ready as I'll ever be.
I brought the puter Kerkove style, and hope to do a few updates pior to the 24-9.
Trixie - Keep doin what you do.
Carlos - I got your eZup locked up. Get some sleep.
Jeff - Spot will be saved. I know your ready.
Aris - I need you.
Theo - Ride hard when it's your time. Rest in a chair, not on a bike.
Dar - Stay intense. Work the camera Gripped style.
Dad - Oversee.
Deanna - Be cool. Stay real.
Shelley - Hurry hurry hurry.
B n J - You know what to do.
Code Man - Keep those tires rolling. Make it happen!
John G. - Hope you can make it. Thanks for hook'n a teammate up.
Lets do this

Packing

What? I said I'm packing.

Monday, July 23, 2007

You know its bad when...

Your wife comes home from TWO jobs and falls asleep before she gets inside. Without her, I would not be able to do the things I do. She busts her ars every day just so I can buy this and buy that and ride bikes. 24hour racing would be out of the question. Period.

Thank you Trixie.

Breaking in the new gloves. I wish I had these though.

Also breaking in the new shoes. So far ... so good.


Thanks to B n J. My bikes are showroom quality.
Tomorrow will be a light spin mixed with a few more 24-9 errands to prep. Hopefully Light & Motion stuff will show up tomorrow as well.

Chris T


B n J







Saturday, July 21, 2007

WEMS Metro Challenge

The two youngest shine.

The event mirrored the ever popular WNR. Course. Atmoshpere. Peeps.


Chris Cooper and Al Brunner ran the event the way all events should be. I hope my help was adequate.


Jeff Frings, what AMAZING photos!


The two 24-9 hopefulls decided to stay off the race bikes today. I pit. Jeff manned the camera.


These first two photos say it all. Brandon and Jordan worked their tails off in the 60mile DUO. Never gave up, EVER. Flats, Cramps, Crashes, Size, Age, no suspension...Nothing. They gritted their teeth and grinded it till the bitter end. It took their final lap make the step up to podium. The boys started it 3rd for 2laps then dropped to 4th for the rest of the day untill lap9. 3rd Place. I kid you NOT. They earned it! Not because they wear the green n black. Not because they are "oh so cute". Not because they were the youngest racers on the course. Beacause they EARNED it. This is by far their biggest win to date, and they did it together. 40min on, 40 min off. Can you see the drive???


Fast.

John on his new Fish. 30mile.

Not so little any more Theo prepping his mind, body and bike for 24-9. 30mile Old skool.

Chris Tamborino fly'n thru the pits>>>>>>>> 30mile.

Who is that pit bitch?

ERGON style. They worked it this weekend. All photos from Jeff. Thanks dude. I hope you're ready?

Friday, July 20, 2007

New stuff

These gems are hopefully going to be the best purchase I have made(say that alot) in a long long time. Way way back in 2005 I rode the chrome version of this same saddle on a rigid Bianchi SASS(SAFG). I never once had Monkey Butt issues then. I wasn't using any butt butter either. It treated me well.

Fast forward to the 2006 version of 24-9. I finished well. I rode well too. My butt took the worst hit of all. I picked up the worst case of Monkey Butt to date. Last year @ 24-9 I was not using a WTB Rocket V. Go figure.

SHIMANO SH-181L. I wore these babies all day. I like. I like. I like.
This was today's project to help keep part of my mind off of 24-9. New tires, headset, fork, chain ring, BLING chain w/ the addition of the XC Jones bar. This is the 4th or 5th different mutation this frame has undergone.



Brandon and Jordan's bikes are super ready to go for their 60mile DUO tomorrow. I am SO excited to be pitting for the entire EXPO Racing crew. No race for me...24-9

Trixie added an "I do" slide show if anywho is interested