Heritage Park 9 Hour Endurance Race - Chainbuster 2011 Season Opener

Since she lives so close by,  I picked up my friend Sheri and the two of us piled our bikes, her pop-up tent, camping chairs, and all of our other necessary race gear into my pilot and made the trip towards Watkinsville, Ga.  I've raced on a team with Sheri, ridden countless miles with her at Chicopee Woods in Gainesville Georgia, and we enjoy sushi... so needless to say we get along.  She teamed up with another Sorella cycling member Brigette D. and together aimed at conquering the 9 hour two person category.  For those not informed, Sorella is the 'All Women's cycling club'.  They have been growing now for over 6 years and have attracted a lot of FAST and talented women cyclists.  

This is how the Pilot looks ready for racing...

Eight a.m. we pulled off the road and onto the long gravel drive.  Compared to last year, the Oconee Heritage Park seemed dry (at a glance) and gave us hope.  Last year it rained for a few hours the day before the race here, and I remember using a hose to rinse off my drive-train twice in six hours, just so my wheels would still turn.  This year I brought the Niner emd 9 converted to a singlespeed.  Even with no rain the night before, that proved to be a good decision. 

Nine a.m. and Bruce Dickman has already been going non-stop on the loudspeaker for probably 2-3 hours already.  I had him announce for me that I had a ton of  for the racers, and they should stop by the neon pink pop-up tent by the Start/Finish line and grab a few packs.   Many were overjoyed!  Several came by just before 10 a.m.  (race start) and said "Ohh I love that Emergen-C,  can I have some?"   Of course I let them have a few and told them to let me know which flavors they preferred.  I took a few pictures of some of the wonderful Sorella ladies, and a couple other people who stopped by to grab some samples.  

Ten a.m. and the sound of Bruce yelling over the loudspeaker  "AND THEY'RE OFF!!!!"  I started off near the back of the group of close to 300 racers because I knew the first lap would be slow, while people learned the course, and people thinned out a bit.  My Garmin GPS popped off my bike and exploded into a few pieces...  I stopped to pick all of it up, and quickly realized I was dead last.  That's okay...  it was part of my plan.  I spent most of that lap passing racers on climbs, and even passed a few people on downhills who were riding more conservatively.  2nd and 3rd laps got nasty.  The soil was frozen at first and once the temperature hit mid 30's it softened up quickly.  3rd lap it was probably around 40-45 degrees and the first 2 miles of trail was pure slop.  Mud was slinging on everyone from riders in front of them, and some very skilled riders went down hard because of it.  Tires with smaller tread blocks, or tires worn down were really a bad choice for this scenario.  The bad thing was,  in the days before the race, the trail status report that was going around said the trails were in 'Excellent Shape'  so everyone assumed there would be no mud.  I was not so easily fooled.  I remembered last year and the repeated use of the garden hose.  Being cold and muddy is one thing.  Being cold, muddy, and soaked from the hose and going out for another lap is much worse.  

Just before the 6 hour event ended I went back out for another lap.  I was racing the 9 hour event so I was looking forward to less crowded trails, it's much easier to find your 'flow' when no one is in your line of sight.
Faster racers generally look farther ahead.  That is just not possible when 3 people or 300 are in your way on some tight, twisty singletrack.  This is where I would also like to point out my favorite dirt.   Magic Dirt.
Magic Dirt is a common thing in some geographic locations, like British Columbia, or some mountainous regions of South America...  but it's basically just dirt there because it's so common.   Here are some examples of Georgia's magic dirt:

• Dry Georgia clay.  It hasn't rained for a month and georgia clay packs together hard.  Finer particles in clay make for a very hard surface.  It can be extremely smooth and fast to ride on, or it can be jagged like rocks.  It's fun to ride on, but if the climate stays too dry, it becomes dusty and a rider can slide out while taking fast turns much too easily.  
• Wet Georgia clay.  It's rained for a couple days and it's the winter in Georgia.  The soil hasn't had time to drain fully and you go for a quick spin at the local trail.  Your tire now presses 2-3 times deeper than it normally would into the ground, leaving ridges on either side of the tire.  This 'peanut buttery' surface not only adheres to your tread, but it also 'grabs' more than one edge of your tire at a time, effectively increasing your tire's rolling resistance to the point it slows you down by minutes per lap, instead of seconds.  This wastes valuable energy on your part, and kills the momentum you are working so hard to carry.
• Magic Dirt.  Take the first two examples  'Dry' and 'Wet' and mix them together at just the right proportion...  When done correctly this is the sweetest thing.   You are rolling quickly, tires gripping, not sliding.  But they aren't digging too deep into the ground, and your momentum carries well too.  You fly towards a tight corner and lean over a bit, then a bit more.  Right at that moment when you think something is sure to give and your are going to be removing leaves and dirt from your teeth, you realize you are already through that corner and careening toward another.  Turn after turn, hill climb after hill climb your tires connect with the earth in a way that makes you feel faster than ever before.  The only downside to riding in magic dirt:  withdrawal.  Once you've ridden the perfect soil-moisture proportion, everything else seems slow.

Now after 3 laps,  the majority of the race-course had become Magic Dirt.  Taking turns was getting faster, and less cumbersome.  Climbing hills was better because the tires were actually gripping instead of slipping.  After 5 laps though, and lots of slipping around for the first 4,  I didn't have much energy left.  Also, the fact that I was single-speeding came into play.  Changed clothes and ate a sandwich.  Here's a picture of quite possibly the best race sandwich:

Peanut butter with honey, blackberry jelly, and bananas on wheat bread!

Went back out for more.  Arms started to hurt from torquing on the handlebars.   I made my 6th lap my last one, especially after fighting off cramps in my quads.  I made it my longest singlespeed ride yet to date at 48 miles,  and moved from 6th to 5th place.  Not too bad for a season opener.   Time for an adult beverage, followed by sushi at my favorite:  Thai Diner,  and a nice big glass of water with some wonderful and delicious Emergen-C.  Here are some raceday pictures for your viewing pleasure,  While you look at these... I'm going to go and start to get ready for the next race at Conyers....  

The Pre-Race Emergen-C stash!!!  Come get ya some!!! 

Charles Weaving III and Myself (Dammule)  pre-race handing out some samples to the Sorella ladies!

Sheri T. and Nicki S. ~ a couple of FAST ladies on bikes

5th place at the season opener...   not too bad.  Looking forward to Conyers!

team name:  Blankets WFO - these are some baaaad mammajammas !

Brigette D. showing off her Sorella Cycling kit and grabbing some Emergen-C!  Nice Pose!

 While days are finally getting longer again,  they still aren't long enough.  I like to hit trails a little later than most people on weekends, so they are less crowded.  Downside:  lack of daylight.  Here's what I use to increase my ride-time in the dark.    

1. Night time urban rides. -  Take the mountain bike out on some local sidewalks, neighborhood hills etc.  Fat tires have a lot of resistance so this is slower and a better workout than a road bike. 
2. Night time trail rides. - Many local trails only allow night riding on occasion, and several require you to pay a special fee to the area's parks and recreation department.  Here are a few that you need to pay/pre-register to attend:   Chicopee Woods, Big Creek Park, Yellow River, Tribble Mill...   Blankets creek is free to night ride as long as the trails are listed as 'Open' on their website. Also, Fort Yargo State Park in Winder allows night rides as long as you are out of the park by 10pm.  
3. Trainer/Rollers - I could do this in the dark I suppose, but there is plenty of light in my garage.  I rock out to my ipod stereo and crank away some miles a couple times a week this way.  I don't have to worry about traffic, weather, or getting my mountain bike clothes dirty and having to do unnecessary laundry.