|   24 Hours of Castaic Lake | Bill Wildenberg
Apr 29, 2003 7:19 AM | | W O O D E N L E G S - THE 24 HOURS OF CASTAIC LAKE, APRIL 26/27
12 noon and 24 hours to go... I have used this expression before and plan on using it a lot more often in the years to come. It embodies the deep gulp of anticipation participants of 24 hour mountain bike races feel as the race is about to start. Castaic Lake, California was no different. In fact, after previewing the course the day before the race, our team never made it past mid gulp. This course would be the most difficult 24 hour race we had seen. This race, held on a mere 6.2 mile course, would climb into the heavens (almost literally). I was never sure if the visions I had during the race were due to a previous mental condition or the fact that I had just made it up the climb another time.
As the race started, we had our all star line-up set to tackle the various awards. The race starts LeMans style; with a bullet and then an all-out sprint to each racer's bike. Steve started our voyage hinting a cry of revenge after his second place finish to the LeMans start of the Idyllwild event. This time he would take the run as it would vindicate his abilities as a runner and would also reward him with a new pair of Merrill running shoes. The gun sounded and Steve was up front going head to head with another racer. As they passed the finish, Steve was in second place. The racers then must take their bikes and do one more lap before entering the course. Doing so; Steve crossed the line first winning the prologue. Steve never won the shoes as he placed second in the run, but his first place entering the course was awarded with a Thompsen stem. Unfortunately for him, he was so fast that the race organizers didn't have enough time to open the course. He started another prologue lap but quickly realized he needed to turn around and enter the race, now in 5th place.
The race would be long not merely in time, but also in our will to keep following the pace and goals set for ourselves. Steve crossed the line first setting the tempo for our team. This was only to be followed by what would become the fastest day lap for the event. Chad took this honor as he blazed through his record setting lap time of 27 minutes! As each of our riders went, we continued to post strong times in the 30 minute range. Soon we realized we didn't have much competition in our own category so we had to shift focus to keep our motivation. Our new ambition was lofty; we would race for the overall win. Others also thought as we did and the competition was set. Each of our riders would ride two laps at a time to maximize rest for the others and minimize preparation time for each turn out. We kept at it through the first day and were holding first place with one team charging close behind. As night started, we knew the racing would change. Laps could get slower, temperatures could drop, and mechanicals would be more difficult to fix. The night starts with new expectations and this night would be no exception. Our night started with the possibility of being disqualified. Each team is responsible to bring a volunteer to work for 4 hours ensuring safety for the course. At 7pm, our volunteers were nowhere to be found. Numerous phone calls and bad words behind their backs still couldn't summon a single one of them. Calling for old favors, new favors, and some standard begging finally found ourselves the volunteer we were looking for (and more). Richard Cunningham, editor of Mountain Bike Action magazine who is also one of our teammates old racing coaches was able to avoid a dinner with his in-laws and take part in our crusade. Bringing his nephew and working the exchange tent, his lasting words which rang in our heads were "win, or you will see your loss in print". As he spoke these words, we were nearly slipping into second place. Being a good student, Chad took it upon himself to impress his old coach with a lap that would eventually be marked the fastest night lap of the event. Each of us continued posting great night laps from 34-41 minutes. During this time, however, one of us would falter. It happened to be me. I hadn't received the nod of recognition in the exchange tent needed to ensure the start of my next lap. While I had called out my number and looked our volunteer in the eye, there were three other racers trying to do the same. I took off on my next lap sure that everything was recorded. However, my first lap was not. My teammates were frantic when I arrived from my second lap asking what had happened and if everything was ok. Everything was ok and I was stunned by the questions. Luckily the exchange tent is a back-up measure and my first lap was indeed scored. The fact that no one else knew this though sent Steve off into the night on a rescue mission to find me. He was now the missing person and we needed him to ride his lap. He luckily showed up with just enough time to gear up and ride. Relieved from this experience, we pushed on through the very cold night into the morning. We were all drained and some of us were starting to physically transform. Steve's leg had turned to wood, Jake started becoming uglier, and Chad started crying. Reassuring Steve and Chad they had nothing to worry about, we started the next day with a one lap + 6 minute lead. I finished my last double lap at 10am leaving each of us to possibly do one last single lap. This was accomplished by Steve and Chad who both posted 34 minute final laps to seal the fate of our 24 hour adventure.
The race was now over and all we had to do was wait to see where our main competitors were. As we waited, laughter was in full force. We realized the feat we had accomplished and were reveling in that fact. We had just won our first 24 hour race!
Team Nuckin' Futs/
Anthony's Cyclery
(from left to right)
Tim, Jake, Bill, Chad, Steve
39 laps in 24 hours
report by Bill Wildenberg |
| re: A more readable copy | Bill Wildenberg
Apr 29, 2003 7:41 AM | | W O O D E N L E G S - THE 24 HOURS OF CASTAIC LAKE, APRIL 26/27
12 noon and 24 hours to go... I have used this expression before and plan on using it a lot more often in the years to come. It embodies the deep gulp of anticipation participants of 24 hour mountain bike races feel as the race is about to start. Castaic Lake, California was no different. In fact, after previewing the course the day before the race, our team never made it past mid gulp. This course would be the most difficult 24 hour race we had seen. This race, held on a mere 6.2 mile course, would climb into the heavens (almost literally). I was never sure if the visions I had during the race were due to a previous mental condition or the fact that I had just made it up the climb another time.
As the race started, we had our all star line-up set to tackle the various awards. The race starts LeMans style; with a bullet and then an all-out sprint to each racer's bike. Steve started our voyage hinting a cry of revenge after his second place finish to the LeMans start of the Idyllwild event. This time he would take the run as it would vindicate his abilities as a runner and would also reward him with a new pair of Merrill running shoes. The gun sounded and Steve was up front going head to head with another racer. As they passed the finish, Steve was in second place. The racers then must take their bikes and do one more lap before entering the course. Doing so; Steve crossed the line first winning the prologue. Steve never won the shoes as he placed second in the run, but his first place entering the course was awarded with a Thompsen stem. Unfortunately for him, he was so fast that the race organizers didn't have enough time to open the course. He started another prologue lap but quickly realized he needed to turn around and enter the race, now in 5th place.
The race would be long not merely in time, but also in our will to keep following the pace and goals set for ourselves. Steve crossed the line first setting the tempo for our team. This was only to be followed by what would become the fastest day lap for the event. Chad took this honor as he blazed through his record setting lap time of 27 minutes! As each of our riders went, we continued to post strong times in the 30 minute range. Soon we realized we didn't have much competition in our own category so we had to shift focus to keep our motivation. Our new ambition was lofty; we would race for the overall win. Others also thought as we did and the competition was set. Each of our riders would ride two laps at a time to maximize rest for the others and minimize preparation time for each turn out. We kept at it through the first day and were holding first place with one team charging close behind. As night started, we knew the racing would change. Laps could get slower, temperatures could drop, and mechanicals would be more difficult to fix. The night starts with new expectations and this night would be no exception. Our night started with the possibility of being disqualified. Each team is responsible to bring a volunteer to work for 4 hours ensuring safety for the course. At 7pm, our volunteers were nowhere to be found. Numerous phone calls and bad words behind their backs still couldn't summon a single one of them. Calling for old favors, new favors, and some standard begging finally found ourselves the volunteer we were looking for (and more). Richard Cunningham, editor of Mountain Bike Action magazine who is also one of our teammates old racing coaches was able to avoid a dinner with his in-laws and take part in our crusade. Bringing his nephew and working the exchange tent, his lasting words which rang in our heads were "win, or you will see your loss in print". As he spoke these words, we were nearly slipping into second place. Being a good student, Chad took it upon himself to impress his old coach with a lap that would eventually be marked the fastest night lap of the event. Each of us continued posting great night laps from 34-41 minutes. During this time, however, one of us would falter. It happened to be me. I hadn't received the nod of recognition in the exchange tent needed to ensure the start of my next lap. While I had called out my number and looked our volunteer in the eye, there were three other racers trying to do the same. I took off on my next lap sure that everything was recorded. However, my first lap was not. My teammates were frantic when I arrived from my second lap asking what had happened and if everything was ok. Everything was ok and I was stunned by the questions. Luckily the exchange tent is a back-up measure and my first lap was indeed scored. The fact that no one else knew this though sent Steve off into the night on a rescue mission to find me. He was now the missing person and we needed him to ride his lap. He luckily showed up with just enough time to gear up and ride. Relieved from this experience, we pushed on through the very cold night into the morning. We were all drained and some of us were starting to physically transform. Steve's leg had turned to wood, Jake started becoming uglier, and Chad started crying. Reassuring Steve and Chad they had nothing to worry about, we started the next day with a one lap + 6 minute lead. I finished my last double lap at 10am leaving each of us to possibly do one last single lap. This was accomplished by Steve and Chad who both posted 34 minute final laps to seal the fate of our 24 hour adventure.
The race was now over and all we had to do was wait to see where our main competitors were. As we waited, laughter was in full force. We realized the feat we had accomplished and were reveling in that fact. We had just won our first 24 hour race!
Team Nuckin' Futs/
Anthony's Cyclery
(from left to right)
Tim, Jake, Bill, Chad, Steve
39 laps in 24 hours
report by Bill Wildenberg |
| One more picture | Bill Wildenberg
Apr 29, 2003 7:46 AM | | The views at Castaic Lake were majestic as hinted by this photo. |
| |
