Eddie O

Let’s preface this report with the fact that I have not raced since July of 06. Sure I did a couple of 6 hour races in FL, but I had no real ambitions or delusions about my fitness at the time to actually be racing. This was the first time I raced prepared and with ambitions. That was a little nerve racking in it’s self. I was a little unsure I remembered how to do it, but sure enough it’s just like riding a bike.

At least I look ready:

I spent about 3 hours on Wednesday building up the Kona Hei Hei with race parts and then fitting it….too bad I missed the TdG that day. It turned out well:

I’ve been training on my Kikapu, so I needed get a fresh drive train and lighten up the Hei Hei…..American Classic 350 disc wheels, a bunch of SRAM XO carbon bits, the ESI Grips (which work beautifully with the grip shifters), I left the stock XT brakes because I didn’t have time to bleed my Avids….that was about it. I think weighs in at 24-25 right now and should get a little lighter as I make some more swaps. I’ll also have a smaller frame soon too.

On Thursday Namrita and I headed north to Ducktown get that pre-ride we missed last weekend. We parked at Boyd Gap and rode the first section of single track used in the race. It’s fast and flows nicely. I put in a few hard efforts to get the legs ready and work the dogs a bit.

After the ride we ate some Mexican food and then checked in at the IF Inn. My friend, Harvey, rented a cabin and invited all his IF buddies and us too. Harvey and his wife Lauren where are ready settled in and Harlan, Mark, Jeff and Andy showed soon after. We all had a few beers and watched Harlan build his new 29er with the lefty. An interesting rig indeed.

On Friday it was back to Tanasi to do some more pre-riding and then check in. We rode for an hour and a half with the dogs again…so they would sleep most of the Saturday while raced. Like the stuff we rode on Thursday it was dry and fast. We finished with the Thunder Rocks Express descent which is 1.5 miles of bliss. Fast, swoopy turns give way to steep edge of the mountain thrills.

Back at the trail head strategies were discussing, plans were laid and drop bags were filled.

Jackson guarded the Escape while we planned...

With all those detail attended to it was back to the cabin for dinner and sleep. Lauren prepared a feast for us all and then Nam & I were in bed at 8:30….too bad the rest of the house was up much later.

(Sorry no more pics. If you have any, please share)

Ahh…race day. I was all psyched up to see all the competition toeing the line. I pulled up to the line just about 30 seconds before the start. There was a bunch of big names Eatough, Tinker, Hendershot, Ernie, Harlan, Jansen, Prosner, Kerkove and some regional guys I know to be fast too Linder, Mills, Shrieheart , Joski and of course Harvey, Jeff and Andy. It was definitely going to be a fast day. Some local dignitary gave the start and we were off on the 2 mile paved climb. I was comfortable at the front, drafting Tinker…as best you can draft that guy given his size. I lost some places heading into the single track because I was expecting a right turn and we took a left. I was still OK as I could see the leaders at this point.

The Brush Creek trail is sweet at high speed. It’s smooth with banked turns and just one small climb at the end. I was stuck though. There is no room to pass unless someone really messes up and there was almost no chance of that. There was a group of 5 or so in front of me and someone was letting a big gap go….duh. I saw Ernie up there, so I figured worse case scenario there was some horse power to make up a chase group. We exited the single track for moment through the Boyd Gap parking area and I passed up about 4-5 guys. Down a quick descent and onto the Old Copper Basin Road. I followed wheels until the first section of big roots and rocks and made my move. I can roll through this stuff while everyone else is picking lines. I rev up the RPMs lean back a little and float the front end. That Hei Hei just ate it all up. I left another small group behind and made my way passed the white water center.

During the long ascent up the Tanasi trails I found myself in a group with Ernie, Jeff, Andy, & Collin Izzard from the Trek team. We all exited the singletrack and headed out into the National Forest within a minute of each other. Ernie, Collin and I rolled together for a while watching Jeff and Andy just 30 seconds up the road. We chatted a bit about nothing in particular. Suddenly this young kid in a Blackwater jersey coming blowing through, so I jumped on his wheel and let him pull us up to Jeff and Andy. This group of 6 rolled together until the climbing started just before SAG 2.

I was the first one to the back. That’s not exactly what I planned, but I was keeping an eye on my heart rate and I knew what was coming….about 20 miles of up with few breaks. The young kid pushed the pace and Andy followed. Soon they all disappeared from my view….for a while any way. I hit SAG 2 as those guys were leaving. I was in and out quick dowing some much needed calories. There was a group of 3 that came up from behind with Peter Joski, Garth Prosner and some other dude. Garth was telling funny stories that included the recreational use of Viagra and trip to the hospital. It was a nice change of atmosphere after watching the group pull away. I hung with these guys for 15 minutes or so and then they pulled away too. I was beginning to question my fitness, but pushed it out of my head and kept doing what I know I can do.

Just before SAG 3 and guy came up from behind and started to pull away as well. At SAG 3 I was in and out quickly again. I had a lot of food at this one so I could reload on the descent that would come not soon enough. That same guy, Daniel, was just up the road so I caught up and worked with him for a while. It was good to have some company. Around the next bend who do we see? The young kid in the Blackwater jersey….walking. He must have blown up pretty hard. He remounted when he saw us and we passed by with a nod. Next was Andy. We was just up the road and looking pretty bad himself. I felt better about my decision to go my own pace.

I attacked Daniel over the top of the climb just before the descent down FS 17. I wasn’t how strong he was and with the long descent coming I figured I go alone if I could. Nothing doing, he was right back on me once the road tiled downward. I began eating all I had: Clif Blocks, OCP, a gel flask, and bottle with about 400 calories. That was something like 1200 calories in 10 minutes. I stomach was a little heavy, but I knew I would need that later. What I didn’t know was that the bottle I saved for last had only plain water. I must have passed the wrong bottle to folks back at SAG 3 to fill. Now I had no calories on me and my next drop as at SAG 5. I had some time to think about it.

Daniel began to pull away as the descent gave way to rollers. I think all that food slowed my down a bit, but it was worth it. I decided to swing into SAG 4 and hope for Gatorade or some other sugary goodness. Nothing. They had Heed, but I stomach full of reserves, I need instant energy. I grabbed a half of a banana and left. Jeff happen to be back there too. He caught up to me a mile or so later. We worked together pretty well across the flat sections and eventually picked up Garth after a few miles. The three of us motored along until the road went up again. This time it was my turn to leave them. I suddenly had a 20 yard gap, so pushed a little more and soon they were out of sight….and Harlan was in sight! A new rabbit to chase.

Harlan looked like he was struggling, so hung back a minute, caught my breathe and then attacked. I did not want him latching on to me. A this point in the race I’d rather drop someone ASAP. Well that moved didn’t work. It was a pretty weak attack in hind sight. We did latch on and we passed guy from the Garth and Peter group from earlier. Harlan eventually began to recover a bit and took a pull and then I pulled and then….well we were cruising right along. I was beginning to wondering when my recent lack of calories was rear it’s ugly head, but soon enough we hit SAG 5 and I was reloaded.

Harlan & I continued to ride together, but no really working together any more. I tried to up the pace a few times, but didn’t put in a full attack. In hind sight that was a mistake. I should have chanced it and tried to get a gap. We did pass Collin though…that left Ernie and Peter up the road still. Harlan eventually pulled away. It was not sudden move, but a he just held the higher pace a little longer than I could. We were close though, so it was definitely not over yet.

I passed by Zeke Lilly who informed Harlan was just about 30 seconds ahead, so bombed the descent to SAG 6. I was good on bottles, so I blew through leaving Harlan standing there. It was go time. Still down hilling like a man possessed I got my gap finally. I swear I saw Ernie too, but it was brief and I may have been delusional. Then the trail went up….and Harlan caught and passed me again. This time I had to let him go. We were back into the trails at Tanasi, on the Quartz Loop to be exact and I had very little power for the short steep ups on that ridge. Luckily it was short and on the Bypass descent I chugged nearly a whole bottle.

Feeling a little better I pushed on. The Chestnut Loop was double track at this point and I didn’t see Harlan up the road….bummer. Soon though I saw Ernie again…for real this time. I rolled the big ring up the climbs and then sat back a minute. I was not about to make the same mistake twice. I pulled up to his wheel, waited for a steep section and with a quiet “on your right” I went. He didn’t give chase, but rolled out as if he were on my wheel. After a few moments of pain and suffering I was at the Thunder Rocks descent. I knew Ernie would not catch my on this ripping ride and I hoped I might still catch Harlan. This one meanders a little before bombing down the ridge with exposed edges and lots of rocks. Good fun. Near the bottom I was greeted with flashes…Mary and Kevin Keller from North Georgia Outdoors and Fitness. They informed me someone was just ahead. Sweet, must be Harlan.

There is only 1.5 miles left, but that’s enough if I really push. I crossed the dam on the Ocoee and saw not Harlan, but Peter Joski. He had about 40 seconds on me. I made the hard right onto the finishing pavement and pushed the biggest gear I could. Closing in…slowly…so slowly…I can get him as long as he doesn’t ……don’t do it….he looked back. He jumped a bit and that was it. I kept the show up, but there was no catching him now. I rolled across the line at 7 hours 27 minutes and change in 15th place. Not bad for the first race.

That was one awesome ride. I love the Cohuttas. This is were I really fell in love with mountain biking on SWAMP Club trip in 2000 and it’s been all good ever since.

I missed Namrita’s finish because I had to go get the dogs, but she was all smiles when I came walking up. She knocked it out just over 10 hours on her single speed. Her full report is over here.

Many thanks to New Leaf Adventures for a well run event and to all the SAG volunteers how made my race run so smooth. You are the unsung heroes of these events.

I also want to thank my sponsors for allowing me to chase my dreams. Check them out over on the right.

Thanks for reading,

Eddie O

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 at 10:43 pm and is filed under Announcements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.