Eddie O

This past weekend held a number of firsts. Besides the already mentioned piggy-back Lemans style start here are a few others in particular order:
- Never changed clothes. I never had time. Many thanks to Chamois Butt’r for a nether region saving product.
- No BURN Energy drinks. They were missed.
- Roadie tactics in a solo race. I’m going to have learn some new tactics.
- Having a rolling support crew. Sure hope this goes away in mtb 24 racing.

FM.24.09

I had won last year’s edition and thought I knew what I was in for this year. I was wrong.

Saturday morning I sent all my gear over to the start/finish at Elliot Street Pub with Rich from AVX. Then I took the dogs out for long walk since Namrita was off to ride some trails with friends. Then I kitted up and rode the 4 miles over to the pub. I had another hour to kill and went about setting my cooler, food, clothes and lights in an orderly pile where I could easily get to it. I was planning to be self supported. I missed the racers meeting while taking care of “other business,” but soon found out there would be a short Leman’s style start. A running start in bike shoes? I tested the shoes on the pavement and nearly went down with little effort. Running was going to be scary, running with 100 others was going to be silly. I then thought to leave my shoes clipped in, run over in my socks and try to roll out triathlon style. This was a step up. Then brilliance hit me and recruited my friend Colin to carry me piggy-back style with my shoes on! This was a first, I believe, at the FM.24 and maybe in all of 24 hour racing. Read the rest of this entry »

We rode it yesterday and it was all that I remembered and more. With local knowledge we not only rode the 26 mile (mostly) descent, but railed the singletrack, took the more advanced options, stood behind a waterfall and dove into the Blue Pool. Amazing day.

It was so cold....50* maybe.

A view from the trail along the shore of Clear Lake

Heading to the MacKenzie River Trail today with the bachlor party. My cousin, Michael, is over from NZ to get married next weekend. In the meantime a group of friends are hitting some sweet single track around central OR. Look to facebook for some pics since it’s too much work to do from my phone.

The Ergon Blog has as great recap, so I’ll just fill in a few parts not noted over there:

- I tried a brown ale that had been dry hopped and it was darn good. Nutty and malty up front with a nice hoppy finish. Not sure what the availability will be, but I’ll check with my man on the scene this week.

- I could not lose…..even though I really wanted to more than once. I tried going one legged a few times to throw it, but still managed to win the round. At one point I thought I lost, went and ate a brat and was immediately called back up. I managed to keep the brat down….barely.

- My legs hurt for days. The drive up to MI was brutal. My legs ached all the way. My right leg was particularly sore. Let this act as the official excuse for feeling a little flat at Lumberjack.

- The event was awesome and I hope we do more of this for Ergon.

- Georgia beer laws are lame. I’m a big boy and those serving us were big boys and girls, we don’t need a church infulenced state making up silly laws for “our own good.” Especially when these laws are unbalance compared to those concerning wine. Lighten up GA and we’ll have some more breweries, ie tax revenue.

Here was the plan: Start fast and finish strong. I wanted to push myself to see what contenting for a hundie was really about. My realistic goal was to hang with the lead group for the first lap and maybe two, then maintain that position until the end for a top 10 finish.

Here was the execution:
I lined up in the front of the group for the neutral start. A perfect location to avoid the traffic yet still draft the fast guys to the single track. I sat comfortably just behind Shalk, Eatough & Simmonson as we rounded the corner into the Big M ski area and the pace immediately blistered.

9th into the single track behind the big guns:

The first climb is steep, crowded and soft sand. If you can get a descent line you’ll be lucky to not spin out. I managed to get both a good line and not spin out, but the anaerobic effort hit me like a pound of quarters in tube sock. I lost & regained spots as the others around me contented with the same elements. Once into the single track I realized I was not a contender for the overall today with those that would be already ahead by 30-40 seconds. No worries though, because I was still in or near the top ten.

The Inner Loop which forms the first 8 of the 25 total miles of the race course is series of short power climbs. My focus was on carrying as much momentum over the top of each so I bomb down the other side, then launch once again up the next. I reeled in 3 or 4 riders this way. Toward the end of this loop and the beginning of the Outer Loop the trail is flat and it’s best to have someone to work with. Travis Mullen and I paired up here and worked to gap those behind us, though soon I could hear Garth Prosser gabbing away to Roger Masse not too far behind.

Travis was kind enough to pull through and take the pace making while I caught my breath and got some calories in. Garth & Roger continued their sewing circle and even added a few with another couple of riders catching up to us. Half way through the lap I took over at the front. I felt good and no one complained about my pace (nor that I was doing pulling them around). 4, 5, 6 miles passed and I considered letting someone pull through, but the trail was so narrow I didn’t like the idea of being in the back of 6-7 others. I heard carnage more than once as those behind lost concentration and fumbled.

Garth attacked with about 4 miles to go. He came around me standing up on steep pitch, but didn’t get too far. My only response was to remain steady. I could feel the press from behind, but at 21 miles in and 79 to go I had no intention of making a move. If he wanted it he could have it. On the next descent I brought him back. No effort spent, just stayed off the brakes and let it rip. Again he jumped out of turned and stood through the climbs to get away. Again on the descent I’d bring him back. Finally on the last gradual ascent he powered away. No worries. If he can hold it, good for him, if not we’ll see you in a bit (today he would hold it).

I peeled off the front of the remaining group at the transition area to grab bottles. Many thanks to Scott Chambers for his help. My stops were fast and effective. In, out. I rolled out for lap two just out of the top ten. I wanted to punch it through the Inner Loop again and then figured I’d crack the top ten and wait it out until the last lap. The first climb changed all that. It’s only a one minute effort, but body did not respond well to it. It felt like all the muscles around my sacrum were in a spasm and I had no power. It came on so quickly. I walked some of the climb, remounted and hoped to spin it out. Just cruise until the loosened up. The problem was that this is a power course. Punchy climbs is not the place to relax.

I had to let a handful of riders get away while I waited out the back pain. I came out of the Inner Loop and saw Chambers waiting on his wife and yelled that I’d like some Aleve on the next lap. That proved to the race saver. I rode the rest of the lap alone. I kept it steady and in the end only lost 6 minutes on the previous lap. It could have been much worse.

I came through the transition to begin the third lap with high hopes. I’d take the Aleve, 20 minutes later I’d start to feel somewhat normal again, then I would start to work on moving up a few places. The “somewhat normal” didn’t come. I rode that lap alone until the end when Scott Cole come up from behind and pulled me to the transition for lap 4.

I took another Aleve and an extra gel. I struggled up that first climb one more time and then through the Inner Loop while I watched Cole slowly pull away. Then finally as I came out to the flat section I began to feel better. I passed a rider (orange jersey) who had passed me earlier. I was sure I pulled him around the first lap and to be sure I didn’t do that again I jumped passed him and kept the pace up. I headed off into the Outer Loop alone except for the occasional lapped rider.

I looked back and saw the orange jersey catching back up. That stung the ego a bit, but decided to play him out. I figured I caught him the first time because we was not climbing well on the Inner Loop, so I slowed a bit on the flat and waited for the little climbs to begin again. Then I punched it, the legs responded well and I had a gap. I punched again on the next one and the next one and so on until I couldn’t see the orange jersey any more. Then I just concentrated on steady finish. I used Cole as a rabbit, hoping to reel him back in, but all the riders I passed were getting lapped. As I came into the last couple of climbs I pushed with all I had left, but alas I rode in empty handed in that regard. I was glad to finish and not too unhappy with a 14th place finish.

Not on the podium, but I am in the picture….

Don’t forget about the clinics coming to Atlanta, GA next week June 16 & June 17. These clinics are not just for racers!
Topics include: Nutrition, training, equipment choice, building endurance, & more…

Many thanks to Elizabeth McCalley for these shots from the Disc Burner 12 hour.

Andy Applegate, what’s with the glasses and shoes?

Yours truly cutting through the rocks.

Carey Lowery on her way to the 6 Hour win:

Me again:

Susan Williams on her way to the 12 Hour solo win:

Don’t forget about the clinics coming to Atlanta, GA next week June 16 & June 17. These clinics are not just for racers!
Topics include: Nutrition, training, equipment choice, building endurance, & more…