I did not post what actually happened race day and afterwards.
We got up at about 4AM to get the last few things done but we were all prepared the night before with bikes tagged and bags ready, with nutrition etc. We had already handed off some drop bags for John Odle and Michelle Ortiz to crew for us at Twin Lakes. We ate a quick little breakfast and drove down to main Street. After parking, we rolled the bikes over to the strart and found a good spot at the 11-12 hour mark. We did not want to get run over but also thought we should at least arrive within that time.
Hangin around we met Floyd as he rolled his bike to the start at the front with Dave and other invited Pros. He signed Mikes and my shirt so we rode with signed shirts, kinda cool.
The race started at 6:30 and we rolled downhill with the pack, it was a fast roll but quite crowded. We made the turn towards the Junction at the entrance to Turqoise lake and then hit grid lock, everyone bottlenecked getting on the dirtroad to St. Kevins.. Once things opened up we started towards St. Kevins (first climb). All three of us were pretty close together until about the mid point of the climb, Mike pulled ahead a bit and Steve and I rolled back and forth for a bit. It is truly a tough initial climb that separates the pack (acclimating is key before this point or it will break you). After this we passed carter Summit and I think none of us stopped and we continued down Hagerman Pass with a fast 40 mph paved downhill leading to a rougher dirt road leading to Powerline.
Once we got to Powerline we were a bit more separated, Mike and Steve ahead of me. I started up and down the upper sections of Powerline (a big rougher downhill section on top of Sugarloaf). I got past all the upper sections but on the lowest section where the ruts are pretty big and the granite dust is loose, I took a good spill. It took some time to uunclip, inspect myself, wash the dirt off the cuts and hobble back on the bike. I imagine I lost about an extra 10-15 minutes there. I started downhil and finished Powerline.
John Storb was at the end of it on the paved road where he got pics of Mike and I coming out. I started down flatter sections of the ride towards Pipeline Station. John passed me in his car to check on me since he saw me bleeding. Thanks John!!! I got to Pipeline, washed my wound, avoided the medical guys, I did not want to get pulled, and rode towards Twin Lakes. I thought I would make it but later found out I had lost too much time. On the way to TL, its a series of dirt roads, some rougher some smoother, some steep some flat but nothing too hard except the "Cobra" or "North Face". This is where the leaders zipped past me with Dave in the lead. I got to the "Cobra" when a helicopter was overhead, but my understanding is a rider broke his femur there and was medevaced!! I am glad I did not see this it would have been a bit more nerve racking.
Once I got on the pavement to TL, I could see the aid station and dam, I rolled onto the Dam where Mike mentioned..."Se Acabo" or it's over. I knew it was when he was off his bike, but I said some foul words about my leg and siad I was going to at least check in. I rolled over the dam and never found the checkpoint table, so I rolled to our Crew where John Odle, greeted me and took my bike. Bill one of the race coordinators came running and asked if I had just passed the dam, when I agreed he asked to cut off my wrist band. It was over.
In this craziness, Nancy came back down from the Columbine climb. She was pissed, understandably, she flatted on the way up, but in the swap of her bags at the aid station the air pump did not make it into her new bag. After some fast work by John repairing the tire and some encouragement she took off back up the mountain. Now it was a waiting game. We waited there for Janice, Jill and Nancy to come back. We saw, "Doc", Mick, Bob (Minnesota) and several others come back. Jan came back first of the ladies, fresh as day and hungry, she replenished and flew out. The Jill, just as fresh and she was gone. We were biting our nails hoping Nancy would make the cutoff but it was too much time to go up that Mountain 2 times, she came back and hopped in the van with the rest of us...congrats Nancy you rock.
We checked to see that they all made it past Pipeline on the way back and apparently they had. We went to the finish line where Mike and John had watched the leaders finish. There we watched all our new friends arrive. Jan got the buckle and Jill finished over 12 but she finished which is a HUGE accomplishment! Congrats everyone.
I had such a great time I hope everyone else did also. See you all next year at the finish line...
