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24 Hours Georgia Race Report

A Chain Buster and Dirty Spokes Production

The 24 hours of Georgia is a great event and a really good way to “Get into” 24 hour events or take the step from team to solo racing. If you have never ridden out at Conyers before you should. It is a very unique ride and home to the first ever Olympic Mountain Bike Race (ATL 96’).

My buddy Tim and I decided that it was time for us to make the move to duo racing in 24hr events. It also helped that during football season in the south it is nearly impossible to get anyone to give up a weekend of booze and football for 24 straight hours of fitness.

Tim had arrived slightly after noon on Friday and was able to get a spot on the course where we would be able to watch the riders finishing the final 200 yards of a lap. This was a great spot and there were many equally good spots available even on Saturday morning. Compared to other events (Burn 24) this event was spread out and wonderful for camping. Unlike the Burn they may have skimped a little on the Port-o-Potties and water. However later I did learn that an event sponsor was providing coolers full of their drinks.

The race began without a lemans start and had a 1ish mile parade lap to get things going. I road this section for my team, Chasing HardTail. It was more a dusty traffic jam than anything else, but I still prefer this to a lemans start. My first lap was great. Fueled by adrenaline and caught in tire to tire traffic I found myself pushing harder then I may have normally.  

The race is broken down into two pretty distinct areas: the granite and the backside. The granite section of the course is pretty technical with two notably steep climbs that had most of the field jumping off of their bikes for a demoralizing upward push. This section was 4 miles long. The “backside” welcomed riders with a sign stating these were the beginner trails. This section was fast (all except for 2 hills) and long, 8 miles. Bringing the lap total to 12 miles.

The Granite. The first 4 miles was mostly granite. Think mountain biking over the top of Stone Mountain. If you fall it hurts. No matter what it is bouncy. And the moans and groans as people entered this part of the trail could be heard well into the night. The granite section lasted for maybe a mile or a mile in a half and was mostly flat chompy and slow. The apex was a super steep climb that transitioned into a white knuckle downhill to some very narrow single track.

Once on the single track the pace was fairly fast. The trail work that had been performed the week before left the soil very loose and dusty. There were a couple of narrow bridges that warranted slowing way down and paying attention. After the bridges everyone was treated to the toughest climb of the course “Olympic Hill”. Out of the 4 times I have been riding out at Conyers I have only seen one person climb this hill (Professor Bill, during the race).  

After this steep climb it was a short single track section that spit you out back on the granite. A fast section that brought you back near some of your previous ride and finally to the transition area leading to the backside. This section of the course took me about 30-45 minutes.

The Backside.  A slow grass pedal for several hundred feet takes the riders from the Granite side to the backside. Once you enter the woods you immediately feel great (after all you have only been riding for 4 miles at that point). The single track is fast and flows. The turns are wide and with the exception of 2 climbs the whole section is a breeze. I was able to average about 45-60 minutes on this section of the course.

I broke the Backside down in my head into 4 areas. First there was from the entrance till you cross the three creeks. This was the longest section but also the easiest. Secondly there was from the final creek to the wooded climb. This climb is notable as it is the longest steepest climb in the woods. Thirdly from Wooded climb to Heartbreak hill. Heartbreak hill was a power line that was very climbable (early in the day) and close to the finish yet continued to demoralize me as the day wore on. Finally from Heartbreak hill to the finish line. This last section was very similar to the first part of the course. From here you could begin to hear the crowds around the finish and with the exception of one washed out steep section the riding was elementary at best.

LowPoints By far the thing that stuck out to me the most (in a bad way) about this race was the amount of smoke in the air from all of the campfires. When we entered I thought it would be great to have fires. After 10 hours of breathing in smoke I had changed my mind.

Aide stations: There really weren’t any. Some LBS stepped up to offer neutral support but there was not a cup of water or a Gu to be found.

Mechanicals: Tim and I both had our share of issues but Tim took the cake with 1 or 2 broken chains and a flat tire. As for me I ran out of battery on my headlamp with about 3 miles to go on my second night lap.

HighPoints. Race director/MC. These guys really cared about the riders after about two laps it seemed they knew everyone’s name (we did not have individual timing chips, so they couldn’t simply read it off of the screen). The MC was even able to rock hard all night announcing riders, playing music, and just keeping a good vibe going.

The swag bags were pretty sweet. I give major cootos for the pint glass. If you were lucky enough to stand on the podium you really lucked out. This is where the sponsors really showed up. Maxxis tires, bike pumps, cyclocomputers, and more.

The People: Atlanta Bike Tech who was offering neutral support on the Granite side. Tim could not speak highly enough of the guy. He gave Tim the chain links that he needed and left his tools out for Tim to use (Bike tools ain’t cheap) even when he left to get some shut eye.

Nick of team, equipo de fuego infierno huracan. This kid was awesome. Nick and his dad were doing their first ever 24hour event and had decided to each take 6hour shifts. While I think their strategy could use a little twicking their attitude and sportsmanship was above reproach. I met Nick at the top of Heartbreak Hill and he noticed that I was “trying” to ride by moonlight. He offered to let me follow him for the next 3 miles. I accepted and he saved me some serious time. Thanks man!

Summary: This was a great event and I couldn’t have imagined racing it with anyone other than Tim. It is really cool to see how far we have come from our pathetic 5k races in Tuscaloosa to now. Thanks to our gals (Lindsey and Cat) for making an appearance to bring us hot food and pick up our spirits. I’m sure if we keep our training consistent, our 4^th place finish will easily translate into a top 3. Till then…there’s always next year.

Tim Wreck Report

So about two weeks ago I dislocated/subluxed my right shoulder (pretty sure I sprained my AC joint too, but that wasn’t the official diagnosis) while riding the Flying Squirrel Trail at Chicopee Woods in Gainesville, GA.  As soon as I got my awareness back after the crash, I knew I was hurt.  I didn’t really know how bad until I tried to get back on the bike.  I put weight on the shoulder when I grabbed the handlebars and thought I might eject that morning’s egg sandwich.

            It felt like déjà vu.  Last spring I tore the MCL in my left knee a few months before the Burn 24 while skiing off piste and living in Vermont.  Now instead of a knee, it is a shoulder.  Instead of the Burn 24, it is the 24 hrs. of Georgia.  It seems like I am destined to be injured in some form right before any major mtb race I enter.  While I think the shoulder actually hurts more – my med school girlfriend tells me that there are a lot of nerves in the shoulders – injuring a shoulder still allows me to train cardio, whereas my knee had to heal first.  So what do I do?  Well, the shoulder does not allow me control a bike yet, so I am running.  I figure by running I can prepare my cardiovascular system for the race, but of course I will be missing time in the saddle.  Perhaps my biggest worry is losing my nerve on downhill sections.  After dozens of pretty good falls without any real injury, I guess this was bound to happen.  I just wish it wouldn’t have happened 2 months before race day. 

Burn 24 hour challenge Race Report

Chasing HardTail

This years Burn 24 hour challenge was great. Again we arrived in the rain, setup the tents in the rain, and enjoyed muddy trails with super slippy roots. However this year we came prepared. I cannot express enough how important preperatoin is on 24 hour races. From food to fans, from wallets to wheels you have to prepare. 

Zach's Uncle's killer Lightspeed with custom deer skull

Camp

Last year we only had one Easyup tent and no tables and no fans. This year we brought 4 easy ups, two fold out tables, six coolers, multiple camp chairs, and our secert weapon, General Robert E Breeze.

Tim awaits Zach's Tag with Bucky and the Hat

Riders

Zach the Macho Man Riggins started for us on the lamans sprint around the lake. He tagged up with Tim (who was happy to not have to ride an extra lap this year) and rocked it back to tag out with Bucky for the 1^st full timed lap. Bucky’s first lap was brutal. The noon day sun was beating us and Bucky got a little bulemick at the half way point (2x) and then 4x more times in the camp. Next I jumped on my trusted stead for a “feeler” lap (that is how I justify my speed) and then Zach rounded us out and putting us a solid 4 laps and 4 hours into the race.

There’s always next year…

This would become our new team moto as personal goals were abandoned and our team goal of 24 laps in 24 hours became more fantasy then reality. In our defense the field was stacked this year, “The 2011 B24 saw record lap times, both day and night!  Julia Tellman peeled off the fastest laps among female competitors.  Her fast day lap was timed at 41:15.547 followed by a lap in the dark at 44:44.543.  Julia earned $150 from Boone Bike & Touring and a Seca 700 from Light & Motion.  Not a bad haul for two fast laps!  The dude’s competition was tight!  Bradford Perley scored the fast day lap with a time of 33:16.121.  Defending fast lap winner Tristian Cowie turned a 33:18.606 followed by Bradford’s teammate, Sott Fredrick at 33:25.120.  Those cats were smokin’ it!  Bradford scored $150 from Boone Bike & Touring for his effort.  Alex Ryan turned an impressive lap under the cover of darkness that would typically rival any fast day lap.  He was timed at 35:18.688 and took home a retina scorching Seca 700 from Light & Motion for BURNing up the night.  It’s worth mentioning that Alex comes from the same team as Bradford and Scott Fredrick.  These guys along with their Champion System/Cannondale teammates set a new record in the 3 – 5 man category turning 40 laps overall.” 

View of the camp ground from atop the dam at B24

Results

Tim gets mad props for posting both the best day and night (true dark) laps for our team. I think we were all a little down that no one has broken a 50min lap in 2 years but …There’s always  next year. Finally the most incredible thing ever happened. Bucky set a Burn 24 hour challenge. I am still awaiting an official email reply from the RD but I am tentatively claiming that Bucky finished the race closer to the final cutoff of the final lap then anyone else in history. To put this in perspective the race ends at 1:00 p.m. Sunday. Bucky finished at 12:59:41 p.m. giving him a nice 19 second cushion .

Bike Lanes are great!

Burn 24 Race Photos

Burn 24/7 race photos are finally posted at http://www.mabephoto.com/index2.php#/proofing/. The password is posted on the site to log in but just in case it is burn24

Note: all of these photos are from 2009 and may be seen at ryansigsbeyphotography.com

Burn 24/7 Race Results12:59:41.351

LAP	Tim	Bucky	Brooks	Zach	Race Time
1	55:54.669				12:55:54
2		1:05:33			14:01:27
3			59:28.339		15:00:56
4				57:46.118	15:58:42
5	52:34.731				16:51:16
6		1:06:32			17:57:49
7			58:34.526		18:56:24
8				56:47.068	19:53:11
9	59:03.619				20:52:15
10				1:12:05	22:04:20
11			1:15:05		23:19:26
12		1:17:41			24:19:38
13	1:10:05				1:47:13
14			1:12:57		3:00:11
15	1:15:15				4:15:27
16				1:08:35	5:24:02
17		1:18:06			6:42:08
18			1:10:25		7:52:34
19				1:00:44	8:53:18
20	1:06:51				10:00:09
21			1:10:07		11:10:17
22		1:49:24			12:59:41

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Come run the premier 50k trail race in the Southeast. Taking place on a beautiful dirt-packed trail with Tennessee mountain stone thrown in -- and with a 5000+ ft. elevation gain -- the Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k benefits Wild Trails for trail access and maintenance efforts in the Chattanooga area. Looking for a shorter race on the same beautiful trail? You're in luck! There will be an 11-mile course offered as well.

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