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| 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 4th
place finish will easily translate into a top 3. Till then…there’s always next
year.
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