At about 8:00, the rider’s meeting was ended with “Well, I guess it’s
8:00, so I guess ya’ll can start.” The “neutral rollout” wasn’t, with
a bunch of skinny-tire folks racing to the front, and one gent flatting in the first mile; we had been told that the start/finish road was the worst on the course, which turned out to be completely true, as there were potholes from 10-24 inches in diameter and 4-12 inches deep scattered across the width of the hard-packed dirt road for just under two miles. As we left the dirt for a quick jaunt down the I-35W feeder, a group of about twenty riders put the hammer down, and put a good gap in effect (silly me, I rode super-neutral until we hit the pavement.) The chase began, and after a mile I caught Mr. Clean. As I did, we began to chat, with him telling me that he had been over-training, feeling dead and might take the mid-distance route. We kept up a conversation for a few more minutes, until he yelled that he couldn’t hear me; “go play!”. I took off again, getting a small pack of riders in my sights, and within a mile or two had reeled them in. At 6 miles in, I was in a pack of about six, with three riding fatties, and somehow ended up in front as we turned onto another stretch of pavement; the wind was a little bothersome, so I tucked down and set a steady pace, but every time I looked over my shoulder, there were five shadows. Aha! I sat up and slid to the side, and sure enough, they wanted to play ducks-in-a-row. We kept a good paceline for the next ten miles or so through Krum, TX, until we hit the first extended gravel section, where the line broke and turned into a wide pack of various paces. Int the beginning of this section, we encountered a bit of impromptu road construction, wherein a Peterbilt managed to lose his trailer sideways, spilling fist-sized chunks of granite across the road. Some inbred truckers saw us coming and feigned shock/concern, shouting warnings about a wrecked truck that we presumably couldn’t see. A couple miles later, the yellow/white kit (the gent who had flatted in the first mile) blew by as if he was late for tea.

Somewhere around mile 20, we were back on a farm to market road, and were passed by Mr. Spinistry, who yelled “First Left!”, which I took since I was in front….it was a vaguely country-residential area, but since yellow-white was ahead of us by a quarter mile, we shrugged it off….and then he turns around. It was a private road, so we back-tracked a mile to the FM road and they put the hammer down, dropping me at the 24mph point (why so serious? you’ve got 90 more miles!) They didn’t get far ahead, as yellow/white (looked like B.Fawley’s colors) had dropped my guys (hah!) Once again, I reeled them back in and we met up with a trio of Big Pigs at the world’s slowest FM road crossing. Since there were no breaks in traffic (it was like a funeral procession, but marginally faster), we casually walked into the road and the oncoming traffic paused to let the ten of us across. More hardpacked gravel. A mile more, and the Big Pigs are dropped. A few more miles and the fat-tires in the original group are dropped. There’s one guy on flat bars (Jones H-bars with pretty-pink ESI grips) left, but he’s riding 38s or 44s.

By mile 30, it was down to three of us, all riding CX bikes. After we
settled into a pace, a few miles passed with idle chit-chat, and realizing I was probably going to be riding with these guys all day, I introduced myself to tattooed Shawn from Irving and Mark from Grandview. Miles pass. Gravel, slow rollers and some mashing (unexpected!). More miles. Mark and I discuss the Mellow Classic (he
got 2nd Cat-2 45-49 in 2009). All of a sudden, we see a rider ahead — he’s moving slowly and looking dead…it’s some kid in a Mad Duck kit (James) who randomly said hello as I passed him on my way to the registration desk. Three become four.

At mile 50, we see some civilization and a store – “Hey, isn’t that where we’re supposed to stop and get a zip-tie?” “Yeah, that’s the chicken-fried-steak place!” We refill bottles, Mark orders a chicken-fried-stea, restroom break #1, and stretching. As we’re lollygagging, a rider appears and we talk. He doesn’t refill, but joins us as we roll-out (sans brunchtime Mark). This new guy, Jeremy (I think) rides a recent-year CX/Sport touring frame with both threaded fork/quill stem and STI levers….interesting. More miles, and Jeremy asks if Hammerhead sponsors Tender Gooch Racing. “Not really, but they let us drink there.” He claims to know the owner, Cody, his name might be, from the framebuilding world. Miles. Gravel, rolling hills, cluster of a pack, and the Mad Duck never sets a pace, just sucks wheel. I’m the slowest descender as usual. Somewhere around mile 65, we’re on a stretch of pristine county road with some larger than usual rollers, and Mad Duck decides he’s going to attack each hill (finally). In doing so, he pops, an after a mile of gravel, he’s off the back. Jeremy and I talk about whisky, and how he drank too much the night before. I admit that I had three beers and a wee dram of Glenfiddich, but he dismisses it as child’s play…hmm.. By mile 74 or so, we cross under a highway (I think, now, that it was TX-380) and into some town….ah, we’re in Decatur. Signage routes us through a residential area and down some manner of “main-drag” FM road through town. There’s lots of flourescant paint on the road, and I see an arrow and follow it, then we’re into a construction zone and coming down to…a highway? Discussion ensues, and Jeremey isn’t there….so Shawn and I backtrack, then spot his bike at the convenience store at the top of the hill. He’s getting a Mexican Coke, a bottle of Propel and a (GIGANTIC) bag of Chex-mix. Handfuls
of the carbohydrate/salt concotion are dispersed, and we wait….and stretch….and wait….Mr. Spinistry is called for route clarification — go down 287 to a petrified gas station –…I fill my water while J. keeps nursing his coke…and wait….Shawn’s rear tire is low, so he adds some pressure….and finally we leave. Almost back to the point of our turn, and Shawn’s tire is dead. Wheel out. Shoulder the bike while he dumps his sealant and gets his gloves covered in latex. Tube + CO2 + pop + pop + into the dropouts. Pedal, click click, done. Back to the errant turn and go left (what was straight.) After a half mile, my directions are questioned (since I led the wrong turn), and calls Mr. Spinistry again (”yeah, just keep going on 287 like you were doing”). As we’re on the phone ascertaining our position, Mark rolls up (”The chicken-fried-steak was awesome!”), and we inquire as to the state of young Mad Duck (”Haven’t seen him!”); it is surmised that he somehow found some energy and got ahead of us while we were exploring. OK, so Mr. S says we’re on course, but we wonder what Mr. S is smoking, since a “petrified gas station” doesn’t make any sense, so we ride pensively down 287 for a quarter mile and see an arrow, and then we see it….an old gas station that has been given a facade of petrified wood…and is now “The Petrified Wood Station (no gas).” Sure enough, just after this odd building we find an arrow sending us over the tracks into the gravel again. Painted upon the pavement are the words “HAMMER TIME.” Yippie-Skippy-Hooray??

The next 16 miles were absolute hell. We were riding south/southeast from Decatur, and the wind, coming from the southeast had picked-up (now on the order of 25-30 mph gusts.) To add insult to injury, Decatur is one of the areas on the course that had *actual* *hills* and large trucks that put up a quarter mile of dust….go watch “A Sunday in Hell” to get the idea of the cloud we were riding through….cars magically appeared from the cloud, heading our way. Pain. Hungry. Mashing hills like mad. The groups splits, with my original two comrades staying close. Legs running out of juice. Dust. Hot. Another car comes by, we escape the dust, and then spot and pass some redneck kid’s lemonade stand. (WTF? Why would you put a lemonade stand out here? I don’t even see the kid’s house!) BRAKE. Turn around. It’s the “26 miles to go” aid station, well-stocked with water, gels, HEED, pita bread, peanutbutter crackers, peanut butter, and other crap people think you’ll eat when your mind wants lemonade….Restroom break #2 is more yellow, so chug some water, down a gel (ooh, has caffine!), take a second, take some ibuprofen, double-up on the Endurolytes, all bottles filled. The group made whole (and fed), I lock “26″ and my present milage (90) into my brain and we take off. Within a mile or so, the roads level out, and we’re on pavement for a bit, then back to gravel with slow shallow rollers, then back to pavement, gravel, pavement and by 105, it’s mostly paved county roads. The paceline reforms and the four of us who take pulls do so at 21, 20, 19, and 15; 15-guy must be saving something or be dead…Sure enough, after pass behind the Texas Motor Speedway and cross I35W, he turns it up to about 22mph, just getting past everyone’s threshold for pain (in the last two miles). Now we’re back to the road upon which we started, looking twice as bombed-out as at the start…rumble..rumble…rumble….and we’re done. No finish line, no placement, just an instruction over the loudspeakers that we’re not done with the race until we pour a beer from the keg. Something fills my cup and is consumed quickly (IPA probably). I put the bike up, change, chat with Mr. Clean for a moment and head back for a second pint, then inhale two hotdogs, finish my beer, and am on the road to Grizzly-Adams’ for an evening of drinking beer, eating grilled mammal flesh, and learning how to watch rugby on TV.

While I absolutely hate driving anywhere near I35, I’ll be back to another Spinistry endurance event just as soon as I can. They’re just simple and fun.

Edit #1: I fully intended to take photos, but between the wind and the constant turning of the pedals, I didn’t think about removing the camera from its case. I did take some photos of the bike dressed-up in it’s new framebag, though.

Let me tick off the notable points:

1. Bilbo has been relieved of the Sandbaggins moniker (at least until the fall Dirt Derby) by virtue of his 7th place finish (out of 10) in the B race.
2. Bill was the only one out of 10 B racers with a wingnut or hydration pack of any kind.
3. I thought I heard a bullfrog croaking but it was just Bill’s Dissent picking up speed on one of the downhills.
4. Pro rider Rick Wetherald in the A race took a beer hand-up and swapped out bikes with another A racer and then borrowed Bill’s Zeppelin bike for a couple of laps.
5. Rick jumped Bill’s bike a solid 8 feet and cleared the gap to the next section on the early jump.
6. Bill’s bike is able to go quite fast when not being ridded by Bill.

Check out the set on the Tendergooch flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tendergooch/sets/72157623286326666/

(WARNING – lots of words and pix here.  If you just want to scroll through and look at the pix, I won’t be offended.)

Just like my EB ride, it looks like my ride report is going to come in last.  I’ve really enjoyed reading what everyone has had to say.  So many little tidbits of description of a particular place that triggered my own memory when I passed through there (many hours later).

I knew from last year’s inaugural Enchilada Buffet that there would be some serious fast dudes battling each other for podium finishes, and there would be those of us towards the back of the pack who weren’t even racing but just trying to see if they could finish this dang thing.  Nothing made that difference in approach towards the EB more clear to me than someone mentioning being ticked off that Iain had sprinted to make the light onto 360 while they were left to wait and watch him slip away.  Now that is a different attitude than I had!  Of all the challenges that awaited me on my LONG way to the finish, trying to make a red light was the least of my worries.

One last item before I get into the actual ride part of my report.  A heart-felt thank you to all those waiting at Walnut Creek in the rapidly chilling (and dark) evening for me and James to return.  It really helped me finish knowing that all y’all were rooting for us to make it, and you didn’t have to, so thanks.

BACKSTORY – I was one of only 2 DNF’s from last year’s EB.  I had made it into Thumper, got about 5 minutes in, and my arms/legs just quit when massive cramps took me out.  I don’t like to DNF – it’s unpleasant.  I especially don’t like waiting 12 months to redeem myself.  That monkey has been hanging out back there behind me for a LONG time.  So my goal for this year’s EB was quite simply just to finish.  I pussed out and put a cassette on the back wheel of my trusty Dambala to help out on the road sections, and would ride conservatively all day (and some of the night, it would turn out…)

OK, the day started just before sunrise in the WC parking lot getting all the gear together.

6:28a – James getting ready while the Todds try to catch a few last seconds of shuteye.

6:29a – I compliment Bill on his flesh-colored armwarmers and righteous Tender Gooch Racing jersey.

6:31a – Sean also looks dapper with his TGR jersey, Pearl Izumi Woolie armwarmers, and f3Designs hat.  I’m rocking the same duds today, but somehow Sean pulls it off better than I do.

6:35a – We start queuing up on the start line.

At 6:44a, we officially roll out and begin the 2009 Enchilada Buffet with a nice leisurely-paced ride out the back side of WC and down to Zilker via Shoal Creek.  We can’t find Fixie Todd after a few minutes, and are hoping he hasn’t had a mechanical.  Somehow SSer-extraordinaire duo Greg and Jeff, who have already popped open a beer or 2 at this hour, end up leading us on some crazy-ass route under Mopac via Windsor and down the Mopac feeder road to Lake Austin.  Whatever, we make it.

Once we hit Barton Springs, the hard dudes keep rolling right onto the main trail while the rest of us use the facilities.  Jeff and Greg, hard dudes of another type altogether, have another beer (I think Bill got to share a bit, too).  Strong work, men.

It’s not too long on the BCGB main trail, on one of the early rock gardens, that my muddy front wheel just slips right off a rock and I am immediately on my side.  Stuck my left hand down to catch the fall and bruised the crap out of the meat of my left hand, with shooting pain from my hand down my ring/pinky fingers.  Dammit, I haven’t fallen on something that easy in ages, and now I get to ride all day like this?  Ibuprofen would help a bit, I hoped…

We roll up on the first creek crossing, and I can’t believe how many people are stopping to take off their shoes and socks.  I like dry feet, too, but that is just way too much trouble.  And if you’ve got wool socks on a sunny day, how bad can it be?  Unclip, toptube on the shoulder and into the water I go.  Wool socks FTW.

8:50a – James, Ron and I roll up on Jeff who has a flat, he thinks from letting his Stans dry out.  I loan him my pump so he doesn’t have to use up a CO2, get some nutrition in me as we enjoy the morning.  As hard as the whole EB was, it is easy to forget about just what an absolutely gorgeous day we had for riding.  I mean, if you were going to pick weather for an all-day ride, you couldn’t have cooked up anything more perfect!

Uneventful ride up Pumphouse (which was in way better shape than the main trail), through TC, down Jedi and Mulch to the Dam.  I say uneventful, but I forgot about the yellowjackets until BigCircles’ writeup reminded me about rolling up on him getting stung.  He must’ve been ripe because they were swarming all over him!

9:39a – Crossing the dam…

9:51a – Todd, Todd, and PA Chris coming up the Hill of Life.  Well, we are all walking the Hill of Life except Todd on his new True Fab.  Might have to get me one of those someday…

James, Ron and I roll uneventfully up 360 along with Antonio.

10:27a – When we reach the bottom of Courtyard, I decide I’m going to spin up until just before my legs and/or lungs start to feel a bit of pain, and then I’m going to walk.  I have to conserve myself, and I know I’ll catch back up to Ron and James on CP Rd with my 1×9 anyway.  James surprises and impresses the hell out of me by riding his SS up the entire Courtyard and City Park Rd hills without stopping.  I can do that on fresh legs on my SS, but not on the EB.

10:33a – Still walking on Courtyard.  I too recall laughing at the old Austin Chronicle laying in the gutter with the review of the Hurt Locker!  WTF, that movie came out like a full year ago!!??  How is that newspaper not disintegrated by now?  Must be a harbinger of the good times still waiting us on our path.

10:34a – I have conquered the mighty Courtyard!  Or maybe I didn’t conquer it exactly, but hey I’m on the top and there is an amazing view back down Lake Austin to downtown.  Seriously, am I the only one of the whole EB that even turned around to take this view in?

As I take a couple of minutes to enjoy that view, I see Greg kicking ass as he crests the hill, and he follows just behind me down the backside of Courtyard.  Once we start back up City Park Rd (and it is here, on City Park Rd, that I hate Courtyard.  Not on Courtyard itself, which is a tough climb but one I enjoy – but the fact that you immediately give back your precious elevation knowing full well that you will just as immediately have to gain it all back on CP Rd with the cars buzzing right by you in the climbing lane) I do the same drill here as on Courtyard.  Once the heart rate climbs too much, I walk to save myself for the hours ahead.

10:39a – Snapping a few more pix as I walk, here are Greg and Ron just ahead of me on City Park climb.  I pass Ron as he takes a cell call, catch up to Greg and we have a nice ride together on CP Rd until I stop at the firehall to liquidate and he keeps rolling.

11:06a – Sensing a pattern here at the CP trailhead.  By now, we’ve formed quite the ragtag rear echelon with me, James, PA Chris, fixie Todd, tillerman Todd, and Ron, with an occasional report coming in from the SS duo Greg and Jeff.  With their beer-laden backpacks, I begin to think of them as our own EB rescue/reconnaissance St Bernard’s team.  I knew if I was truly in need they would have the right medicine to get me going again!

The City Park loop is uneventful, which is nice.  I do take us on a wrong turn – I still get turned around where that one bypass section is, along with the rocky climb/descent (Cheesecake, I think?).  Whatever, we find Jeff, the Todds and PA Chris up there and get back on track.  Jeff says he has hit his limit with being sick all week and has to bow out.  I think Antonio gives it up somewhere at the end of CP also.

The roads back to St Ed’s are uneventful.  I pull ahead of my SS brethren on 360 when I make the light (hah!) at 2222/360 and they don’t.  I see Bill and Druber near Old Spice and Yaupon as they are headed up to Thumper.  Ron has to bow out somewhere in here, and I wait for James at the foot of St. Ed’s.  James is a smart one and remembers the correct turn at that unmarked fork so we don’t lose any time there.

1:45p – St. Ed’s cliffside view.  I enjoy this moment with the gorgeous day, that sweet Waltworks frame, and…gruff but loveable James.  I’ll take 2 out of 3 any day.

The Yaupon climb (err, walk) sucks, and it is getting pretty toasty now.  We stop to eat some food at the Thumper trailhead, Fixie Todd catches up to us and goes on in for his dose of Thumper, and Sean pops out for his exit as we were getting going.

Thumper sucks (today – normally I actually really like Thumper).

4:00p (ish) – I end up walking about half of Thumper, probably,  and James and I complete our lap together in just over 90 minutes.  At this point, I am thrilled to have completed Thumper, since this was where I hit my wall last year with massive cramping ending my day.  I’m quite wiped out now, but I’m still moving, ssslllooowwwllly.  I had run out of water at the end of Thumper and bummed off James, so we will need to refuel.  Happily, I live north of Thumper about a mile from the trailhead, so we pull into the house for hydration and to swipe some of the kids’ Halloween loot.  No pix of any of Thumper or all the way until the finish because I was really hurting and it was taking all my will to just keep moving.

I have my only moment of doubt for the whole day briefly while at the house standing at the sink filling the Camelbak – I feel a few chills/cold sweats and I can feel my body starting to shutdown and that evil little voice tells me I can just lay down and be done if I want to.  Nope, there’s a cooler full of beer and a whole bunch of people back at Walnut Creek wondering what the hell is taking us so long!  I go back out in the driveway to check on James, and we do the math and realize that we’ll be able to finish, but with the time change it will be dark by then, so I grab my lights and shove them in my Camelbak.  We hit the road and almost immediately I get a second wind and feel great on the entire road section over to Parmer and into Walnut.

James keeps asking if anyone will still be there, and I think he really doubts if there will be more than a handful of faithful still there.  I keep telling him I think we’ll have a huge reception waiting for us and man, am I glad to be right about that!

5:35p – I am still feeling very good at this point, James grabs his lights from his car and I hook mine up and we roll off for our WC lap.  We knew Fixie Todd was out there somewhere but didn’t think we’d catch him at that point.  I feel fine through Log Loops but Tangle/Mark’s Art really starts to suck for me and my lower back.  James is killing it, but kind enough to wait on me as I had to stop repeatedly and stretch the back muscles so they wouldn’t cramp up.  Cody had promised the last place Lantern Rouge prize to whichever of us hit the parking lot first, and James would have had that hands-down if he wanted to.

6:46p – But no, James is too much of a gentleman for that, he waits for me, we enter the parking lot together and cross the finish line at the same time with hands aloft.  Finished – 12h02m.

Last finishers of the 2009 EB.  My first finish in the EB.  Longest single-day ride (by time) for me.  First ride that started before sunup and finished after sundown – which feels particularly good to me in a warped way.

In a reprise of last year’s last-place tie, a chugoff is required to settle the tie.  James and I are in no mood for suds quite yet, so we are allowed to pick our respective proxies.  Who better to chug a beer than my TGR mate F-Bomb Bill?  Well, pretty much anyone, really, that guy sucks at chuggin’ but I just felt like making Bill chug a beer and knew he wouldn’t be able to refuse.  Corey begs off, so James finds the remaining TGR Sean to be his proxy, and it is ON.

6:48p – Chug, chug, chug, chug…

Finally, thanks most of all to Cody and Travis for organizing this excellent ride.  It wasn’t easy, and you done good.

Right behind them, thanks to James for suffering with me for 12 hours on this thing, and a Hells Yeah! to TGR for a perfect 5 out of 5 finishing the 2009 EB.  Now get off my back, you monkey-fighting monkey!

I have done some training for the ride. I’ve been on rides that strung together several of the parks on 360 to get a taste of the saddle time and the climbing. But by far, this would be my longest, most difficult ride I’ve ever attempted.

Like most guys, I didn’t sleep well the night before. I went to bed early but woke up about 10 times throughout the night. The anticipation of the ride/sufferpalooza never let me settle down. I finally got up about 10 minutes before the alarm. I strapped on the lycra, doused myself in sunblock as I knew I’d be in it all day, grabbed some breakfast, loaded the car and hit the road.

Pulled into Walnut Creek about 15 minutes early and was surprised at how many people were there. I figured with all of the rain and uncertainty, the turnout would be very small. To see nearly 30 was awesome. I got my gear together, bundled up in arm warmers and toed to the line. Chatted with a couple my TGR buddies and other friends I’ve meet on the trails. Tim from TGR was a DNFer from last year and we had discussed strategy for the ride. As we just wanted to finish, we decided we wouldn’t blow ourselves out. I was introduced to another SS, Ron and we decided then and there to stick together. After Travis’s and Cody’s last instructions, we headed out. Of course the one and only water crossing at WC got my feet soaked… great, prune feet for sure. The ride down was a good clip. Nothing too much for my gearing (32/20) and got a chance to chat with people and whatnot. It was a good warmup. I chatted a bit with Chris for PA. Really nice fella and super ballsy for doing this ride cold. Much props to him. We hit Zilker and I didn’t even see the front guys bolt. I had different goals so I didn’t mind. I hit the bathroom with the pack, took a swig of beer from Jeff and hit the trail. Met up with Ron and Tim and we were off. I had never ridden BCGB with water flowing so the crossing were interesting. I saw some guys taking off their shoes but since my feet were already wet, I didn’t bother. Fixie Todd and Chris caught us on Jedi and we met again at the HOL. I’ve never ridden up that and wasn’t going to try that day so I popped off and started walking. Stopped at over look and grabbed some calories and shucked off some layers. Hit the top of HOL and started rolling to 360. If I remember correctly, it was right at 10 a.m.. Check #1 park off the list.

Crossing the creek at the Dam on BCGB

Started rolling 360 and set into my spin-tastic cadence. Met Antonio on the road and he dropped in behind and paced me. A group of us hit Courtyard together… Chris, Todd, Tim, Antonio, Ron and Myself. I had ridden that on several training rides and I told myself that it was on the list of “must dos” so I rode the whole thing. 9 minutes of grinding but I cleared it followed by CP road. During the climb of CP road, Greg caught me. We had ridden that same path during training and we chatted a bit. Tim had mentioned on 360 that he was going to fill up at the fire station. I had enough water for CP so I told him I’d meet him at the trail head. On the cut off road to CP I saw the two leaders rolling out. I shouted a greeting but got blank stares in return. They had their game faces on and I wasn’t offended (you jerks ).

Once at CP, Greg asked if I wanted to go with him but I told him I was going to wait for Tim. Just that time the Iain, Cody and Corey started popping out of the end of the trail and the social hour ride by PulpWoody and others were arriving for their Tea sipping and hopscotch games. Some pleasantries were exchanged and Tim, Ron and I hit the trail. Antonio was with us a while but we eventually lost contact with him. CP was largely uneventful. Ran into Jeff and he was hurting. Apparently that SOB was sick all week and still was taking a cut at the ride. Grade A stud. He finally tapped the mat and we wished him well and kept rolling.

Popped out of CP trail and kept rolling. Check #2 off the list. I ran out of my power drink mixture on the way to CP but had a large supply of electrolyte tablets. My original plan was to stop at the Jester Stop-N-Rob and refill but we stopped at the Fire Station and only refilled with water. Downed some PayDay and a Cliff Bar and kept rolling. I think this would come to bite me later. Ron taps out. In our first conversation of the morning, he mentioned that his goal was to have a fun. “Once the smile is gone, I’m done”. Well, his smile had long since passed. We gave him some instructions on how to get back to WC and we hit it.

We were rolling 360. Tim is rolling faster than me so he gets a huge lead, followed by Ron then me. I see Ron roll past Spicewood and I turn left. I churn up Spicewood feeling rather tired. I see Bill and another guy rolling away from St. Ed’s. Bill shoots “Keep peddling” and he blasts by. He was looking nice and strong and that made me feel even worse. I meet up with Tim at the base of St. Eds. We do a mixture of climb/walk as we’re feeling rather tired at this point. We hit the top and work our way down. Pretty uneventful. Check #3 off the list. Tim gets in front on Spicewood and pulls me to Yaupon. I had the goal of riding it to (like Courtyard) but I knew what was waiting for me at the top and that broke me. We dismounted and walked it. I feel like I failed myself at this point. We look behind us and see Todd and Chris. Tim and I stop for some calories and Fixie Todd comes up. We chat for a bit and he’s off. Sean comes out of the trail and is looking a bit rough. He mentions that he’s having bad cramps. I have a full bottle of water and share it with him and he’s off.

Decending St. Eds

Tim and I take a deep breath and start Thumper. I don’t care for Thumper. It destroys me on my best days… and this isn’t my best. We end up doing a lot of hike a bike. I comment to Tim that I felt like my first time at Thumper. Which was a good thing because it took 6 hours of riding to get me to that point now. I must be improving. Anyway, we spend about 1:45 to get through there. But we’re out! Check #4 off the list.

Luckily, Tim lives right off of the road from Thumper and we stop at his place to refill water and take a breather. I take a banana off his counter, wolf it down and excuse myself outside. If feel sick to my stomach and don’t want to repay his hospitality with a present on his floor. We look at the time do the calculation and know that we’ll be in the dark at WC. He grabs his lights and we’re off.

After a bit, my stomach settles and we’re clipping along. I start to see the end of the tunnel and feel better. Tim was still grinding through. We cross Mopac and my spirits start to improve. We joke that it would suck if we got back and everyone had already left. We knew we were last… by a long shot. We roll into WC to see a large group of people hanging out and cheers erupted. That was a welcome sight and really lifted my spirits. We stopped and rigged our lights and they informed us that whoever wins the last lap is officially “last” and would be treated to a prize from Hammerhead. We roll out with new energy and keep up a good pace. I roll through the RootDrop and dunk my bike for the first time. DAMN both hubs and the BB. I was careful at the BCGB NOT to do that. We roll pretty quick then Tim starts to fade a bit. I slow down a bit to keep in touch with him. In our tired state, it would be very easy to get hurt and it would suck to be alone. We hit all the features and I tell myself to kick Matt in the balls the next time I see him since he included everything and the kitchen sink. The flour marking were easy to spot with our lights so we were good to go. At one point, Tim starts to really fade and he tries to tell me to take off. Hey, that guy kept me going and we worked all day together to get to that point, there was NO WAY in hell I’d leave him then. We cross the creek again (more wet feet YEAH!) and finish up the last bit of trail. I pop out into the parking lot first and the crowd cheers for me to cross the line. I held up and waited for Tim and we crossed together.

We then selected our stand-ins for the beer chug. Tim grabs Bill I try to get Corey because I blame him for everything that is bad. He had to decline because his wife was there and apparently he’s been drinking plenty already. I get Sean and they go at it. Sean pulls through with excellent form and I win! I’m officially LAST. I chat a bit with everyone there. I realize then that that’s how I’d feel if I raced a 12 hour solo race and I’d only be HALF way done with a 24hour! I find Iain and tell him that he’s insane and a maniac for doing 24hrs.

Great time… easily the longest distance on the bike I’ve ever done and the longest time in the saddle. I was very happy to that all of the TGR guys finished but was more happy that Tim got his finish this year.

Thanks to Cody and Travis for putting this together and sticking to it even though the rain made the scheduling difficult. Thanks to everyone who rode and kept our spirits up and congrats to the TGR guys for finishing what they started!

In the open class, a shop owner with a geared bike beat a recovering luddite on a single speed.

The post race sausage-fest was a winner, with both maize and flour tortillas with which to wrap the titilating tubesteaks. However, points were deducted for lack of sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard.

The Boys were running in 5th place for the first 8-10 hours and really felt like they had made a mistake cating up to expert, but near dawn they were moving up and on the lead lap near TBD and Whole Foods.  The Whole Foods Market Racing Team would ultimately win with 23 total laps and the fastest Men’s lap time of 51 minutes!

“The conditions were muddy, and it was the sandy, loose mud that gets into everything but does not ruin your traction.  Our bikes are trashed,” complained TG Racer Corey of the event just prior to opening his 4th beer.

Overall, the TGR Relay Team did well for their first big event and look forward to more 24 hours races.  The shining star of the Team didn’t actually turn out to be their “special guest” ringer, but their very own TGR Teammate, Russell.  By putting in 7 laps with the top three lap times of the Team, Russell helped TGR secure the 3rd place finish by humiliating the 4th place team into ending the race and drinking beer.

When asked about his goals for next years 24 hours of RHR, Racerboi Russell had this to say: “GRANDE.  We try to get 24 laps and smash EVERYONE!  I can run sub-1 hr laps with 7 hours of break time…But I’m totally kidding, Grande is lame.”

TGR Relay Captain Sean was unavailable for comment.   Be on the lookout for TGR’s favorite photos of the event soon!

Since we have no shame, and the 24 Hours of RHR has no beginner category, we figure our special guest is our only chance at the podium!

See you there!