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

Maca Roubaix

Ride Hardcore

Lamour Supreme for Prolly is Not Probably: Biking Viking Teaser

Ever Wonder about the Custom Bike Process?

So im not sure this is how all custom fab shops do it, but this has got to be one of the best videos on the web detailing the process. Check out their bikes and more here.

Geekhouse Movie from Geekhouse Bikes on Vimeo.

Great Interview

StumpJump 50k: Josh Wheeler from Rock/Creek on Vimeo.

Rock/Creek Race Team member and Chattanooga native Josh Wheeler, currently a pre-med student at Appalachian State, talks about his experience as an ultrarunner. Wheeler won the 2009 Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k. He would come back to Chattanooga a couple months later and win the Lookout Mountain 50 miler as well.


Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k 2010 from Rock/Creek on Vimeo.

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.

Proceeds benefit Wild Trails, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the use, expansion and promotion of trails in greater Chattanooga.

50k Race Details >
11 Mile Race Details >

New Team Support Van!

Pic from Sportsmobile Custom

You can buy one as well here.

We Also Like to Climb

Rhapsody of Steele from Will Eccleston on Vimeo.


Heart of Stone - Standard Def from Andrew Kornylak on Vimeo.

Some cool movies to celebrate the completion of collecting $25,300 to purchase climbing "Deep Creek, TN" Did I mention it only took 6 WEEKS! If you want to help open up some climbing areas in the South East or save the ones you love check out the SEC here.

I hurt for this bike

My next BAMBOO Bike

Boo & Panda Bamboo Bike

This bike is absolutely amazing! Check out more Boo & Panda bikes at BikeRumor.

Very Cool Project

The Geography of Youth from Restless Collective on Vimeo.

Keirin, Where Football Meets Cycling

29er Vs. 26er

29 inch mountain bikes are not going to revolutionize mountain biking the way suspension forks did, however they do have their advantages and some people will swear by them.

When it comes to choosing the right size mountain bike forget about the size of the frame or the length your crank length and saddle height. The first thing you need to decide is: are you a 26er or a 29er?
I am of course referring to the size of the wheels on your bike. Check out the picture below for a look at their difference…

The 29 inch mountain bike ride is different to a 26 incher and it’s good!
Riding with bigger wheels at lower pressures the wheels absorb small bumps and holes in the trail and stick to it like a fly on maple syrup. The downside? Weight! You will never be able to build wheels on 29er mountain bikes as light as 26 inch wheels. And that extra weight is rotating mass so it counts double.
A 29 inch mountain bike is actually very similar to long travel dual suspension trail bikes. Both have extra weight and slow steering and are designed for similar situations. So which is best? Read on to find out…
…both types of bikes are actually very good at trail riding. A long travel dual suspension 26” bike will take the 29er on rougher descents and descents with tight turns but you will find a 29er to be more stable and confident in technical situations. This is due to its rigid frame, wheels that easily roll over small obstacles and a lower centre of gravity. A dually on the other hand will hang-up on rocks, its suspension will absorb valuable momentum and it will generally lurch around.
So does the 29er win the contest because it can match the performance of a more expensive and advanced dually, or does tuneable suspension make the 26er more versatile and the winner? Only you can answer that.

WHY 29er???

One thing I can tell you is that big wheels found on 29 inch mountain bikes can be run at lower pressures and allow a bigger contact area with the ground. This gives much more grip. The extra weight and momentum they carry at speed will allow you to ride a straighter, more confident line.
They are however more suited to taller riders who find themselves getting bigger frame bikes.
If you are not the tall then it comes down to how you ride. But if you can’t afford a quality dual suspension trail bike I would seriously consider the smoother ride you can get from cheaper 29er mountain bikes.
Of course you can always go for the much more expensive and much heavier dual suspension 29 inch mountain bikes, but that’s another can of worms.

Who Doesn't like 69

A combination between a 26er and a 29er, a 69er has a 29” wheel up front and a 26” wheel down the back. A small amount of weight is saved and they accelerate a bit faster than full 29 inch mountain bikes but the big difference is with the chainstay.
A shorter chainstay brings the rear wheel in close to the bottom bracket. This helps climbing and shortens the overall wheel base. It also helps to get the front wheel up in times of need (over a log or just chucking a wheelie). Maintenance and spares for 2 different wheel sizes can make things a bit difficult though. - Mountainbikeworld.com