RR: 50 miles for Project Rwanda

[Abui]

I arrived at Cook's Corner early enough (6 AM) to get parked in their lot. But being early means being cold. After unloading, registering, and waiting around I was still cold. We got a brief sendoff from Doug Grant and then everybody started. Well not everbody, a group of about 10 took off earlier in the early darkness.

On the road I tried to find the largest person to draft, not for speed but for warmth!

At the crest of the paved road I was warmed up and stripped to lighter gear. Slight mistake - the descent took us into Modjeska Canyon where it was still cold.
Finally the dirt cimb began. It was my first time on Harding Truck Trail, that climb is unrelenting! A few areas were warmed by the sun while the shady sections were still cold, even ice at one point. I had no choice but to keep cranking - getting warmer was a benefit.

Two hours and 5 minutes to the top of the ride. At last! Time to grab the free food and dress for the descent. I was running higher than normal pressure in the tires so the descent would be a hammering. At least I wouldn't meet the fate of someone I saw just starting down - bump - bump - pssssssss.

The descent was as expected, long and eventually tough on the calves (standing on my rigid SS). Over the paved road and back to Cook's Corner, ahhh. I took a long break - Cook's has automatic flush toilets!

The second 25 miles was a unique collection of trails, pathways, and fireroads. O'Neill offered some really steep sections. I was determined not to walk them (or was I too tired to get off the bike?). While speeding over a rocky fireroad my partner for a few miles said "It's impressive the way you seem to float that 29er", I'm thinking float or die.

I saw ocrider going the wrong way on the loop. Hey did you pay or poach?

If only I could have found a way to float over the rocky stream bed(?) leading back to O'Neill, grrrr.

The end of the ride - finally at 1:25 PM.

The raffle - I was winning nothing until the almost the end.

Prize - $60 massage. Traded it for a Yoga mat with 4 hour DVD - "Yoga for Athletes". Uhhh - second thought I might need a massage.

Prize - Laker tickets (row 4). Labeled as $400.00 prize

Prize - BMX Race Bike, I don't think it's me. (retail $195.00).

I talked with other riders but I guess we didn't say "You STR?". So who was there?

Sorry - no pics but I saw a lot of cameras out there!

[ShinKen]

i was there and I think I saw ya on your way down on the first loop. u had the green niner right? I was riding my old Redline but didnt feel as bad this time around. Second loop did wonders for me!! I was having way too much fun with all that pain!! all the lycra wearing full suspesion gear monkeys where laughing @ our little SSing bikes!! I heard I guy say why u do that to your self? all I could do is laugh!!
Justin and Jeff where there too!! Thanks guys for hanging with the old fart!! It was nice to have company out there!! beerZ on me next time ehh!!


btw great job on your new SSer Jeff. WHat a ride to break it iN U trully love the pain.


ah yes my whole body still hurtzz

[maxwell]

I was also out there for the first 25.
I had signed up for the whole 50, but after getting off work at 5:45 am, and pedaling my Stinky up Harding, I decided against going the last 25.
It was the first time for me to clean Harding on my Stinky, in my middle chain ring. And yes as rough as it was on a 39 lb. bike, I STILL think S/Ser's are NUTS! I've tried it, and I'm to much of a wuss!
Man, it was great to see so many people out there for this event!
A great time for all involved I'm sure. Thanks to B.G. for sharing his B-Day for such a great cause!

[mtnbikej]

I was signed up to do the whole ride on the SS. Didn't feel well right off the start. My right knee was tight, but I thought it would get better as it warmed up. Well, I kept waiting for that to happen, but it never did. I got up to the first small decent on Harding and decided to call it quits. I was in no mood to destroy my knee. So I turned around and rode back to Cook's and hung out with my friend's from Switchback. I ended up helping out with the traffic control for the riders comming back into Cook's from Harding. Mrs. mtnbikej continued on the ride without me and would end up completing the whole ride.

[Abui]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

i was there and I think I saw ya on your way down on the first loop. u had the green niner right? I was riding my old Redline but didnt feel as bad this time around. Second loop did wonders for me!! I was having way too much fun with all that pain!! all the lycra wearing full suspesion gear monkeys where laughing @ our little SSing bikes!! I heard I guy say why u do that to your self? all I could do is laugh!!
Justin and Jeff where there too!! Thanks guys for hanging with the old fart!! It was nice to have company out there!! beerZ on me next time ehh!!


btw great job on your new SSer Jeff. WHat a ride to break it iN U trully love the pain.


ah yes my whole body still hurtzz

Yep, I had the green Niner. Someone else had a green Unit 2-9 with the same fork (Pace), same brakes (Marta), same Easton bar, and (apparently) same Polar HRM.

[ThinkFast]

Great Day! The volunteers made this an awesome event . The girls at the sports park were classic. They must have been there just for encouragement.

I was in a group that started earlier than everyone else. Saw Justin and Jose on our way back down. You guys are studs doing the whole 50 on single speeds!!. Hopefully I'll get the chance to meet more of the STR gang next year.

Happy New Year.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by trekker

Yep, I had the green Niner. Someone else had a green Unit 2-9 with the same fork (Pace), same brakes (Marta), same Easton bar, and (apparently) same Polar HRM.

The rider on the Unit was SSheetz from this site. I wasn't there but I know he was going to ride this today. Congrats to all the riders (you too Jose) for a great ride and a better cause.

[SScheetz]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

The rider on the Unit was SSheetz from this site. I wasn't there but I know he was going to ride this today. Congrats to all the riders (you too Jose) for a great ride and a better cause.

Yeah, you called it Mike, that was me on the Unit 2-9. BTW trekker’s Niner is very sweet!

Jeanne and I had a great day. She opted out of the second half, the lure of taquitos and brew at Cook’s Corner were too great. That’s what gave me incentive to rip thought the second 25 miles.

It was fun to see so many familiar faces from STR, MTBR, Warriors, and local races. There were 248 riders and loads of volunteers. It looks like they rose over $30K for Project Rwanda.

Oh yeah … Justin … thanks for the tube, I owe you one.

[ocrider]

Originally Posted by trekker

I saw ocrider going the wrong way on the loop. Hey did you pay or poach?

lol I didnt do the 50 mile ride. I did STT rose canyon and through oneil. with some freinds.

[Wrecker]

I was there, thought the "cruise" part would be more of a cruise though...I'm sadly out of shape, the next 2 months should be fun

oh yea, I had gears (black Titus)

[guero]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

i was there and I think I saw ya on your way down on the first loop. u had the green niner right? I was riding my old Redline but didnt feel as bad this time around. Second loop did wonders for me!! I was having way too much fun with all that pain!! all the lycra wearing full suspesion gear monkeys where laughing @ our little SSing bikes!! I heard I guy say why u do that to your self? all I could do is laugh!!
Justin and Jeff where there too!! Thanks guys for hanging with the old fart!! It was nice to have company out there!! beerZ on me next time ehh!!


btw great job on your new SSer Jeff. WHat a ride to break it iN U trully love the pain.


ah yes my whole body still hurtzz

nice job playa bubb!!!! man, you are an animal, i hope i can ride that long when i get my 29er s/s rig!!!

[Winger]

Originally Posted by trekker

At least I wouldn't meet the fate of someone I saw just starting down - bump - bump - pssssssss.

Yeah, that would be ME.

It HAD to happen within a mile of the top.

I like that everybody is friendly, but it sucked having to tell everyone going up & coming down that I was OK and had everything I needed. We need to come up with a universal symbol to tell everyone we're set


Other than that, the ride was a lot of fun. The organizers did a great job.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by Winger

Yeah, that would be ME.

It HAD to happen within a mile of the top.

I like that everybody is friendly, but it sucked having to tell everyone going up & coming down that I was OK and had everything I needed. We need to come up with a universal symbol to tell everyone we're set


Other than that, the ride was a lot of fun. The organizers did a great job.

Just tell them "Do you know how to change a flat?" Then just stand back and let them do it while you get some rest.

[Schecky]

I don't know if you all saw these.
Check out the bikes they are rocking in Rwanda:

[ericfoltz]

Images taken by the photographer up on Harding are at:

Eric Foltz Photography

If you want prints, the proceeds are being donated to Project Rwanda.