Moab 2005 Part Two

The cannon went off at noon on Saturday. I found myself running through the dirt and dust toward a large juniper bush some 250 yards in the distance. After circling the bush and emerging out of the dustcloud--I get on my bike and start pedalling. I start thinking, "How do all these people run so fast? I'm not slow, but, man, I'm towards the back of the pack, time to move up." I ride down the road passing when I can, staying at a good tempo, and then there's a left had turn and the climb starts. There are parts where the trail narrows, and everyone gets bunched up, there's one part which is fairly technical, and everyone is walking because of the congestion.

The Moab course is technically loaded on the front end, and speed loaded on the back end. The trail is really congested for the first 5 miles. Then we approach nose-dive hill. After nose-dive hill things started to spread out. Finally a chance to big ring and get moving. During the first lap, a young lady passes me, and then I pass her, and then she passes me, and then I pass her, this continues until the last 2 miles which includes a descent back to the finish. During the final descent my legs no longer have it, I'm pushing a headwind and I'm not making any tracks. Then a big train of 6 racers pass, they yell "Jump On!!!" I Jump, I'm riding with them and so is my young friend. I stay with them for about 3/4 of a mile and then the guy I'm following looses steam and falls off the train. I try to bridge the gap, but to no avail. Time to put my head down and ride it home. Not feeling that great, I wonder what's in store for the later laps. I finish the first lap and transition to the Cruzinator.

I had a chance this weekend to witness true Biking Passion--raw, pure, and unspoiled. Cruzinator wrenches at a LBS and has raced in the past, but hasn't done any racing this year. I asked him to race with us and he was ecstatic. I had a chance to see a young man race his heart out just because he had the chance. Before the race, the Cruzinator wasn't looking for the latest full-suspension bling machine, he just wanted a chance to ride his bike as fast as he could. Ironically his bike didn't look like anyone elses. And everytime he finished a lap it was great to see his enthusiasm and fire for riding. I've been to this race a number of times and this is the first time I've seen anyone try and tackle the course on a cyclocross bike.



The Cruzinator ended up riding just as fast as I but I didn't expect anything less. I also new when it got dark he would be pulling the fastest times. Next on the course would be CL. She was nervous at first, but by the end of 24-hours she was ready to head out for some more. She put in an excellent lap first lap. Then Speedie went out for another great lap. Finally, Hollywood would ride from dusk to dark. I met Hollywood in the transistion area in the dark. I headed out for the first entirely dark lap. The temperature was great and the course was in good condition. The rotation continued and I headed out on my 3:30am lap. It was colder, but I was more worried about the rain, it was spitting rain here and there throughout the course. I made it back in good time and handed off to the Cruzinator. He took off again ready to ride.

When I got back to camp it was pitch black, no more fire no more lantern, it was time to do some support. I got the fire started, I found a headlamp, then I got the latern going, and then I asked Speedie if her knee could handle another lap. She said she could ride, but would prefer not to to save her knee. No problem we'll move up the rotation. I helped get CL ready for the next lap, and then I ate some soup and oatmeal. CL headed down for her lap. I told Hollywood he would be next to ride.

And then I went into the tent for a good 45 minute nap before my oldest son asked, "Where's mommy?" "She's racing her bike, she'll be back in a little while." I tried to convince the boys that they were still tired and needed to sleep, but they would have nothing to do with it, the sun was coming up and it was time for a new day. I found out that Cruzinator had spent part of his lap racing in the sleet and rain. "It was great, the rain got rid of some of the dust and moistened dirt. My bike was really hooking up." Passion I say, pure passion!

Hollywood went down to the transition area and I predicted he would be back in around 10:20. We had a decision to make, who would go next, and would we go for 16 laps. I asked the Cruzinator if he wanted to make the run under 1:35 or did he want me to try. He said, "You're the captain, you can decide." Well, I told him, he was heading out next! I thought, if anyone deserved to get in an extra lap it was Cruzinator. He should get the glory of riding a fourth lap, and if he didn't make it in on time, odds were I wouldn't be able to make it in on time either. Then it was time for a little nature hike.

Cruzinator headed down for his last lap. Hollywood, despite breaking a chain on his final lap made it in by 10:20. It was now Cruzinator's turn to get in before noon. I found a spare jersey and shorts packed in my bag, got dressed,lubed the chain, and headed down to the transition area. It was time to finish this thing off. I looked up the road and saw this bike hauling faster than all the other bike heading toward the finish line. I told Hollywood, "that's Cruz." "No he said, he was wearing a white helmet." "I don't care what color the helmet is, that's him, he's hauling @ss." It was him, he made it in under the cutoff, I was ready to go. I found out later that he had a flat tire on his last lap, unbelievable.



I told myself I wouldn't let the Cruzinator's hard work go to waste. I was going to push hard on this last lap. As I was riding on the course, the racers were now seperated into two groups. Those trying to make up time, and those just finishing off the lap. It was the extremes of the race being played out on the final lap of the race. Everything was clicking, and when I headed back to the venue, there is a small hill before the final sprint to the finish. On the first lap, this hill almost did me in. On the last lap I was stoked and motivated, I had the bike in the Big Ring and I was standing up and rolling by everyone. It was a great way to end the race. I rolled into the the transition tent, turned in the Baton, and headed back to camp with a huge smile on my face. Time to pack. We packed up and finally left the venue about 3:30pm. It was a long drive home, but there were a lot of stories to be shared. It was great to spend the drive home talking to my wife about each of our experiences. Another good race experience. 'til next year...

Moab 2005 Part One

If you look at the entire population, only a small percentage of people have a passion for mountain biking (the crazies). Out of these crazies a smaller percentage race their bikes (the freaks). Out of these freaks a smaller percentage take their families to a24-hour race (the wackos). Out of this wackos, only a few would race with their spouse and with the kids (the insane).

I admit I am one of the super-crazy-insane-wacko-freaks.

CL and I headed out west this weekend for a little event called the 24-hours of Moab. We signed up three other friends (5-person open team). These are true friends, individuals who are willing to do a 24-hour race with the super-crazy-insane-wacko-freak family. And without these friends, we would not be able to race, so I thank you.


The irony of doing a 24-hour race with your family is that your focus is not on the race, it is on your children and your spouse. You're concerned that your kids have a great experience, and your wife has a great experience. In between playing, reading, hiking, eating, story telling, and pottying, you ride your bike as hard and fast as you can--so you can get back to camp and do the first part all over again. :).


We had an eclectic team this year, CL, Speedie, Hollywood, Cruzinator, and me. CL had never raced at night, Hollywood was returning from ACL reconstructive surgery, Speedie is always up for a Moab race, and the youthful Cruzinator was along for his first ever 24-hour event.

When I called The Cruzinator about joining are team, he said, "I only have my Single Speed Karate Monkey. Is it okay if I race on that?" I said, "I don't care what you ride just come out and race." "All right," he said, "I'm in." When I showed up at the venue The Cruzinator had a suprize. "I'm going race this bike on the day laps and the Monkey on the night laps."

Other people were more dumb-founded than me. I know one thing--what ever the Cruzinator rides, it goes fast.


The usual suspects were at the race again this year.



And there was one special and honored guest. An ol' friend of mine who wanted to try this solo thing after his retirement. Excellent job Darth :).


Everyone had a great race and a great time. I want to give a special thanks to Steve and Cruz at The Roubaix Bicycle Company for getting the bikes ready to race in Moab.

Everytime I do one of these races I come home with a new set of gifts. The gifts are there if you are willing to receive them. The same thing happened again this year.People ask me why I would do a 24-hour event. The answer is not that simple to explain or to understand. The answer lies somewhere in stories behind these pictures--that is the reason.