Thomson Days – Coldest Ride Ever
Photo by Offroadratfish
No really. I’m sure I’ve said it before, like the first winter after I moved up from Florida and ever ride was the coldest ever, but this one, I hope, will remain the coldest ever. The Thomson Days 4 hour and 20 minute enduro race went off at 11:00 am. We started under a tent…all 30 or so of us. From there is was straight out into the elements….rain, mud, puddles, and near freezing temps. I started near the back, but in an attempt to get warm I just stomped on the pedals and went. I realized a second later that all this was going to do was soak me thhttp://eddieodea.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=255
Eddie O › Edit — WordPressrough with cold water, so I went for the pass through the biggest, deepest, muckiest, puddles and surged on. My only hope was that I could generate enough internal heat from going completely anaerobic to stay warm. That may not have been the best plan with another 4 hours and 18 minutes to go.
Here is a video of the start: Thomson Day 4:20 Race Start Not sure who took…leave me a comment if you want credit.
Photo by Carl Mesta
Lap one down and I’m in third with someone on my wheel. I’m chilly, but OK. I’m not sure how long the lap took, but it had to be under 30 minutes. We pass by the the timing tent and then through the soggy field for fresh layer was frigid muck for me and the bike. I’m picking my way through the wet roots with ease and then I feel it, the soft, squishiness of a slow leaking tire. My rear was sagging. I pull off the trail and the single speeder guy behind goes on. I use my C02 for the quick fix, more so to get me moving again rather then saving my place in the race. My dexterity with bulky, wet gloves and frozen fingers was not working out, so off with the glove. Then I realize just how cold my fingers are by the fact that I can’t really feel the valve stem when I unscrew it. I give the tube a shot of air and remove the C02, but I can see the valve stem is now frozen in position from the cold blast. I try to close with my bare fingers and find out I still have some feeling after all, but only for things colder than my ambient temperature. I pulled from thick saliva from my mouth and coated the stem, freeing up the valve. I donned my glove and was off. I may have lost a minute and 2 or 3 places in the race. No problem it’s early…..ten minutes later I had to do it all over again.
I had no choice but to stop when I came through the timing area, because I was now out of C02. The two stops and the slow ride back had left me cold beyond anything healthy. I could not feel my hands on the brakes (which were no longer working anyway) and then during my cross style dismount at the car I became aware just how cold my lower extremities were. It felt like was walking on peg legs. I could not feel a thing from about mid thigh down. Mike Stanley of the Wake’n Bake Team was quick to offer help, which at first I declined. Then some racing instinct spoke and said “yeah, let get a tube and more air.”
Photo by Polemac
While Mike & Cody changed the flat, I went straight for the timing/party tent where the propane heaters made spectating bearable. Elbowing my way to the center , I went directly to the front of the jet like heater. Someone offered a beer and I passed, then someone else offered coffee…”yes, please!”….then someone offered rum for the coffee…”hells, yeah.” So, now I’m semi warm again, have a nice hot cup of coffee when I hear from the back of the crowd “Eddie, your bike is ready.” “Let the air out and try again” was I could think of. I finished the coffee and mounted up before I had the time for second thoughts. The icy water in the field quickly reminded me just how stupid this was.
Photo by Polemac
The coffee and rum wore off in all of two minutes and every bit of warmth I had accumulated in the tent was washed away with the muddy stray coming from all directions. Surprisingly there were still others out there both riding and spectating. Both gave me some motivation. I tried once again to warm myself with anaerobic efforts, but I was just too cold and the only nourishment I’d had now as coffee and rum. My bottles were too cold to drink even when I knew the consequences of not eating or drinking anything. A steady effort would have to so. The course was a mess, but the constant rain kept the mud from gaining any consistency and turning to peanut butter. I rolled along and even picked off a couple of riders on the way. Then it happened. My chain jumped of the top of the cassette and lodged firmly between the cassette and a spoke. I tugged, I cursed, I stomped around in a fit of frustration and then I walked with the rear wheel dragging behind.
That was that. I found my way out of the woods (eventually) walking on my peg legs. I made my way directly to the jet heater again and sat down this time. There were a number of other racers this time, all crowding in front of one of the various heaters. The support was tremendous….I was offered beer (draught or bottle?), rum, Hot Damn, food, and coffee. Then Namrita came in…..done as well.
Photo by Mark D
Photo by Barbie
The showers, and the hanging out and watching the rest of the race, the big dinner all deserve there own stories, but I need to go freeze on the bike again today, so you’ll just have to imagine. You despite all of the discomforts of the day it was a lot of fun and hearing the stories of from the Thomson family really brought home what Ronnie Thomson was able to achieve in his lifetime. It’s so much more than just a seat post.
Photo by Polemac
Photo by Carl Mesta
Eddie O