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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - 24 Hours of Adrenalin Photo Essay Contest
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holiday fun farm,Dalton,mass (1 post)
|  holiday fun farm,Dalton,mass | dang
Jul 3, 2003 3:16 PM | | my team,mtbmind.com boy boyz,made it through the 24hours with success after an early mechanical jeopardized a good finish.we ended up 3rd in the 4 person team category,losing 2nd place to the mysterious detatched brake caliper.
all started well for Chris,Tom,eric and me,Dan.chris was the 9th person on his bike after the lemans start and 4th at first spectator spot.the riders looked kinda funny running in their shoes though.
the first rider rotation went fine with the old guy(me)setting the fastest time(46min) among us due to the fact the course was the funnest fastest course I've ever ridden and it really suited my riding.but within 10 minutes chris was back saying we needed someone to be ready because his brake caliper fell off and he had to cancel a lap.what? luckily eric was somehow right at the transition area(40min early!) and was able to go out. we pull all my parts out and make the repair with some despair because we're all thinking we just ruined our race.but my goal was stated as being we're here to have fun and do our best.chris thinks someone messed with his bike but that's impossible.
well, the Dalton,mass course continues put smiles on all faces who ride it because we're on the funnest one ever.the last 4mi of 8 is like a roller coaster.thankfully the waiting line is 2 1/2 hours long.
we all think its going to be tricky riding at night due to the roots rocks and mud and SPEED.even me.all lights go on,including my homemade 20w with Dewalt battery light.my first night lap is interesting.the dew has really made the roots slick,and sliding around is the norm.but the really fast sections are not as scary as anticipated and 15yr-old Tom,I'm 40,hammers in our fastest night lap with a 50min.I can't believe but it's true.the rest of us are slightly slower.
as night falls our lap times remain very fast and our mechanical induced 15th place is improving evry lap.by sunrise we're bouncing between 3rd and 4th.
during the night things get quieter but they have corn and movies to watch.austin powers with fat bastard,cool.oh I'm too tired and nauseous too watch. ahhh!! what the FHU%&^($(!! my propane lantern is engulfed in flames! I unscrew the tank while it's on fire. well, great there goes the light.now how am I going to survive this night?
as I wait for my rides at night I'm hoping young tom won't do any low 50's because please 5 more minutes ,tom.I need every minute!,,
I get to do the sunrise lap.it was kinda fun.it's 4:30 am,what am I doing on this bike now! and Im'on the 1.5 mile climb and I'm feeling it but I'm staying at 6mph which is good.I again fly through the fast section.boy does that wake you up!
as morning continues it looks like 3rd place is ours to lose.I somehow do two 51min laps but I'm not feeling as well as the others.oh oh hey who has the pancakes! oh, can I have some? oh, the syrup is .. oh, give me more.oh this syrup is great!... umm I'm not feeling well.
chris has decided to take my lap,thankyou, and rips off a 50min.all our sunday laps were still very good.and chris does the final lap at 53min.I know he wanted faster but that's good enough for 3rd place 4-person team category
well we all made it.it was tough.I thought we lost it all with the bike problem but we all kept riding hard and the Dalton course just makes you want to go go go.it was an memorial experience. |
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