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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - 24 Hours of Adrenalin Photo Essay Contest
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For the spirit of Adrenalin, walk a mile in these shoes! (1 post)
|  For the spirit of Adrenalin, walk a mile in these shoes! | D Dinerman
Jul 8, 2003 9:38 AM | | My Dalton Race Report
I wish I could measure: Just how many miles does a support crew member walk during a 24-hour race? There is going to the transition tent with each racer, making sure they are fully equipped and cheered on for the lap ahead. Running back for the forgotten baton or glove. Getting lights to the charging station and picking them up. Catching the photo op at the over/underpass. And, what? Someone needs a cup of coffee?
And while the racers are encouraged to catch a nap between laps, the support crew is up and running practically the entire 24 hours and then some at least on a small team like ours that doesn't exactly have people lining up to offer relief on the 3am shift.
In other words, the support crew is a great place to start if you're looking for an example of the true spirit of Adrenalin races.
Maybe I noticed the miles more because I did them all with a sprained ankle. You see, I got to know and appreciate the life of a support team member thanks to the above-mentioned result of severe klutziness. It forced me to resign from my spot on the 5 person, co-ed B-team at this year's Dalton race, and knowing I didn't want to miss out entirely, I immediately volunteered to join our faithful support crew from our previous 3 races. Her name is Anne Marie. AM for short. A nickname that seems even more appropriate considering that after midnight is when she really kicks into gear to keep the team going. She, by the way, brought a soccer-related knee injury with her.
In previous races, as a rider, I'd do my lap. Come back, grab a bite to eat and then find a spot to plant my weary bones until the next lap. As a support crew member, however, you're always on. Each hour, there's another rider to prep. Another one to feed and get water for. Another thing to add to the growing inventory you're keeping in your brain. "Rich went out at 4. Dave better be ready by 4:50. Gatorade is in the blue cooler.he looks like he needs some. Lights on in 2 hours. 8 hours until the midnight corn roast."
While Anne Marie and I had help doing this during the daytime, it was just her and I once "decent hours" passed. And having rode a mile or ten in a racer's shoes, I certainly didn't want to drop the ball when it was me being relied on for support. Even if it meant handling sweat soaked helmets and hydrapacks, or finding somewhere to stow sticky, half-eaten Clif shots.
Of course, by needing to stay awake and alert for virtually the entire time, I got to witness some great race moments I might have otherwise missed. From the stirring LeMans start (several team members, including myself, nearly well okay, did shed a tear as the Rocky theme blared). To the turning point for my team when my brother announced he was doing a double at 1:30 am after he heard we were down yet another rider due to injury, and the rest of us were thinking it was time to call it a night.
After that, I got to watch the enthusiasm catch back on like a bad habit, as our next two riders followed suit with their own doubles bringing us well into daylight with no breaks had. It was great fun to watch.
And speaking of that other injury. I felt a little surge of pride seeing Dave come limping into the transition area only to find out he rode his entire lap after having a heinous wipe-out within the first 2 miles because he couldn't imagine stopping.
Then there was Tony. Tired out and already clean or at least as clean as you can be when you've showered only with handi-wipes putting on his well-worn (translation smelly and sweaty) bike clothes one more time for the remote chance we'd be able to squeeze in another lap before the 12:00 mark hit on Sunday. We didn't make it, but he didn't complain.
And Mike, who came back from every one of his laps smiling and ready for more despite his frequent "diggers". Seems he couldn't get enough of the uphills.
And all along I couldn't help but think, they might not have pulled it all off without a support crew behind them. I think they knew it too.
Throughout the 24-hour period, I also came across the spirit of Adrenalin in other support team members. Especially late into the night hanging out around the bonfire watching movies, munching on popcorn and swapping stories. We were all in it together. Tired, in awe of the riders (especially those who never realized quite how crazy their mountain biking friends were until this moment), calculating hours and laps until sunrise. Suddenly, one person would leap to their feet and take off running to meet a rider coming in, or head back to their pit to wake up the next person up. Which of course would leave an open spot by the fire for yet one more person to fill in with new stories.
Being a support team member was definitely a different and unique experience. Next year though, I can't wait to ride again. After all, I need a little rest in a 24-hour period! I just hope AM doesn't decide to sleep through the next one. We'll definitely need her. |
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