|   24 Hrs of Adrenalin- CONYERS | derrickseys
Oct 21, 2003 12:44 PM | | The 24 Hours of Adrenalin event in Georgia congers up all kinds of memories and expectations. Maybe it should be "Conyers up." One may recall the Olympics of 1996, troubled trail history with possible closure due to development, cross-country races, and the two sides of the course. The figure-eight course present rough south-east granite slick rock on one half and buff fast singlertack on the other half. A day-night difference and very fitting for a 24-hour event.
For me, it brings back these same memories as well as past Adrenalin events. This year would continue to build on a great tradition in Conyers with excellent organization and support. The team, It's a Mental Thing, had prepared for weeks and was vying for the Best Pit Theme award and a respectable finish in the Corporate Team Standings.
The team prides itself on our ability to entertain with our pit themes. A spoof on Gilligan's Island and Wayward School Girls were the basis for past years, but this year had to be different once again. We decided a 24 Hour diner and service garage would fit the bill. It would be functional and could be quite comical. It would include a water dispensing gas pump (24 octane), lighted signs, coffee urn, tacky decorations, roll-up windows, faux garage door, lap counting gas price sign, and a dinging bell to announce customers arriving. Everyone looked forward ot leaving the day-to-day grind at home. No more Smith vs. Jones in the neighborhood. No job to answer to. No worry about much of anything other than fun riding with friends.
Our props were loaded and we made the 3 plus hour drive to Conyers. Dark clouds loomed in the distance and approached slowly. By Friday afternoon, we had brief showers, but this was just enough to tack up the hard packed course. It delayed Paul's arrival into Hartsfield, but eventually all teammates and competitors arrived. By Saturday morning, the venue had swelled with avid bikers looking for the ultimate 24-hour adventure (or test) and weather had cleared. 850 total riders and a bunch of fun were soon to be delivered as Trilife's Chad and Matt pumped up the crowd for the final countdown. They rattled off names of forty crazy riders doing the event solo. Then the crowd joined in as the count reached ten, then nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, and off they were in the Le Mans start. Like a stampeded, the riders turned runners went for 600 yards around the campgrounds. Then a quick mile on a prologue before the first lap.
Our starter, Tiger, had us sitting mid pack and we were quite comfortable with that. When we set up camp, we were flanked by another corporate competitor, team CCR. Dressed in orange jerseys, we could easily track them. Little did we know how the neighborhood battle would develop. We cycled through the rotation that would give everyone a day lap, and a chance to get settled in. We greeted and entertained passers-by, passed out team stickers, and generally enjoyed the afternoon sun. A perfect setting. Mike had taken a spill that would keep him out the rest of the event, but we had a long way to go.
A great time to cruise around and soak up some fo the vendor displays, look at new wheels, check out equipment, and the pits. We found pirates had landed in a cardboard ship, the military was well represented, and a teepee provided and interesting camp. General happiness was all around.
The dark hours soon approached. Lights were needed after 6 hours of riding, and that is when the fun really starts. The not-so-slick-slick-rock starts to pound at your lower back and the lack of light adds to the increasing doubts in everyone's mind. Many doubted why they do this, but there was no turning back now. Darkness falls and the temperatures go along with it. The dreaded dark hours for us are 2-6AM. It is very funny how you can be so alone when there is such a large field, but it happens. The skies were clear and stars were out. I looked forward to my next lap at 3:30 AM.
The Diner was open and serving warm beef stew, coffee, home-brew, and all kinds of snack. Maybe a bite to eat, a little shut eye, and then my laps. We were close to second and were OK with the position. We knew our morning rotation with back-to-back laps would either kill us or give us some gap and second place position. The plan was coming together.
I fill the belly, and head to the tent. It is just before midnight. I have a chance to get a couple hours of sleep. Ear plugs are inserted and I crawl into the sleeping bag. After I get the chill out of the flannel lining and my heart rate down, I am about to fall off to sleep. About then a electronic beep comes for man adjacent tent. Then again, and again. After the tenth time at two-second intervals, it escalates to a rapid AK-47 rate. Realizing Terry is due out, I call his name. No answer. Paul's "home" is also close by. I call his name, no answer. Must be so asleep they do not here me. I get out of the warm bag, and head to find the chirping demon. I unzip an empty tent with the alarm clock perched like a rooster on a barn. Grab it and walk toe the Diner / Garage. "Is this someone's" I ask. A bewildered look is on all faces. Miles proclaims it might be his, and it is. He extinguishes the noise, and I head out. I quickly return to inform him his ten is wide open. Well, no sleep tonight it appears. I think the adrenalin flows so deep at these events you really get none anyway.
I clamber out of the tent in an hour or so to check in. I am up for two laps and will ride at the balmy 3:30 AM slot. We are close to CCR and the neighborhood battle most of us chose to leave at home, has returned. We are too close to let up now. Our strong riders, Chris and Tiger, had hammered out great night laps to tighten the gap. A spectator volunteer, Chris, was still out on the course cheering on riders and offering them encouragement. Albeit a bit drunk, his heart was in it. He said he was going to do it solo, just in his own way.
Shaking off the cold jitters, I check in with the friendly volunteers at the transition tent. Check the results and see we are just minutes out. The competitiveness in me grows. I may make that up with two laps. Joel comes in right on time and I take the wooden dowel that has been treated like a sibling on each lap. Off I go realizing a bit more practice with night riding could have been done last week. The fun sweeping first half of the course is all out. The starry climb on the power line makes for a pleasant setting. Nice and peaceful. Sweep around the back of the campground and our site. Soon the love-hate relationship with slick rock would be met. The day-night difference between the two course halves was very real. Crossing the road, I hear some fans cheer on a orange jersey. Seconds later I approach him and ask if he is 508. Yes, our neighbor. We had second. Now could we hold on for the remainder of the event. I bounce a cross the slick rock, and head for a very steep climb. Course is getting a bit loose, and I slam into the switch back before the steep rock climb. The soft soil eats the front wheel and I take a big endo. Some how I feel no pain, and the bike is not damaged. I will walk the climb this time. I get the cob-webs out of my head and ride on. I think the awaiting rider is going to see this and think I am crazy to press on, But I am pumped. I taste the dirt around my lips and feel the dust in my eyes. I feel good, and tell Joe I am going out again. He waits until next time to take over.
We had spent most of our power, and would need the breaks of other riders. We still had a couple laps left in all the strong riders, but they needed a break as well. I finish the second lap. It is 5:18 AM and we have completed 20 laps.
We now appear to be in second by several minutes. We have a mixture of riders coming up, and hope we survive with no mishaps. The dark cold night coupled with fatigue and no sleep tend to make you think this way.
I enjoy a light breakfast and a couple of beers. Chris is still cheering riders along. Some even say thanks, other say they can't believe he is still up. One even stops and takes advantage of the beer offer. Slowly, the sun begins to lighten the sky. WOW, how energizing.
Slowly, the sleeping warriors awake and ride out the last laps. Smiles are now more prevalent than the grimaces of the night. It looks like we are positioned in second with a half lap lead. Sure the results are always dated, but we are just riding along and maintaining a good pace. We discuss finishing strategies, do we need ot do a final lap, and other things. We figure we had better plan on it because the neighbors could take advantage of the timing and get in a lap on us. It looks like I get to ride the final lap.
I check in a see we are on the same lap as the neighbors (26), but the big concern is a separation of only 6 minutes. The y had matched up with us. They had quick laps we had slow laps and the gap was closing. Doug was on the course, and I chatted with the man in orange from team 508. It is up to us we concurred.
Doug arrived soon, but I was not sure of the gap. I just rode. I looked back, and did not see the bright orange jersey. I crossed over to the slick rock section and felt I could for sure out-climb my archrival. It would be a lap of trade-offs. Selecting dangerous speed and conservative moves to avoid a crash. Broken chains, flats, chain suck, all went through my mind. Fortunately, up to now none of that had happened. I finished the grueling stone climb, the sweet track that followed, and then saw the flash of orange. He was just climbing the rock. A good three-minute gap was my best gap. Just two good climbs, and then it was a big-ring ride out.
Finish line 12:17PM on Sunday. It was over. The wife greeted me and I headed to the other orange jerseys I saw waiting for their teammate. I relayed to them how the team enjoyed competing and the tight battle. Less than five minutes separated our teams. That was 12 seconds per lap. Wow, what fun.
Chad and Matt continued to pump up the crowd with door prizes and trivia. Almost 4400 laps completed and 30,000 plus miles fro all competitors. WOW. We waited for the Best Pit Award to be announced. The list of competitors was five deep and some very interesting. This is what we had hoped to win. The others had the same aspirations and very valiant efforts. Fortunately, the announcement was music to our ears. It's a Mental Thing's 24 hr Diner and Garage had won. Following that, a second place podium visit and awesome Platypus hydration pack. Mission Accomplished, now some sleep. |
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