RR: 24 Hours of Hurkey Creek Pre-Ride

[lukewiens]

Brrrrr.......

Wasn't it just like 110 out here recently??

Anyway, i went up to Hurkey Creek tonight to get a couple of laps in before the race this Saturday. I brought my new Niterider Enduro HID to pop my night riding cherry as well. I managed to summon up a guy named Jeff who was willing to meet me out in the brisk mountain air for a night ride.

We got to Hurkey @ about 6 pm or so and parked down the road that runs along the southern edge of the park. There was a little turn out on the section of road that the course pops out on, and I figured this was as good a place as any to park.

We geared up and headed out shortly after and proceeded to ride the tail end of the loop from the road taking us back into the park. After the fire road we hit that little hill they put at the end of all of the Iddylwild races just to piss you off. After making our way through the small section of singletrack the course (fully marked btw) we poppped out into the park to see the huge 24 Hours of Adrenaline trailers and chutes set up for the athletes. Everything was clearly marked and nearly ready for race day.

It was still fairly light out as we head up the long easy graded climb that runs next to the highway. Everything seemed pretty firm with a couple of loose sandy sections. Johnson's meadow was the usual (big gear and hammering) up to the Exfoliator singletrack. Exfoliator ran pretty nice, everything was firm for the most part with just enough turns to keep your speed down. Down to the start of Hell Hill, everything was running pretty smoothly. By this time is was starting to get fairly dark and that was when I noticed that the contrasts on the trail while using the light was throwing me off. I figured, better run a little longer with it off. At the top of Hell Hill, there are a couple of long sandy stretches that are enough to throw your balance if you aren't paying attention. The beginning of Tunnel of Love starts with a little drop where a bunch of sand has collected at the bottom. In the dark this was pretty tough to navigate and pick a line. We took our time through the rest of the descent and the lines came fairly easy with a kick back speed.

Lap two was in total darkness. The climb that runs next to the highway ran well, just as long as you were paying attention. In the dark, many of the small rocks can throw your line into the sandy washes on either sides of the trail if you aren't paying attention. After the peak, the descent got really cold with the sweat that had built up. I started pushing it a little in Johnson's Meadow to try to get the body temp up (unsuccessful). After the climb to the Exfoliator the body temp was back up, but my hands and feet were completely numb. Hell Hill warmed me up again, but the second descent down the Tunnel of Love was tough with numb hands and feet.

It got cold out there. If you are racing, make sure to bring your cold gear. I was in arm and leg warmers with a wind breaker over a jersey and base layer. There is a possibility it may rain on us out there so bring some extra pairs of cycling gear just in case. If it would have rained on us out there, I could easily see going hypothermic. There were several sandy sections that were pretty easily ridden in the light....the dark made it much more difficult to choose the line so figure it out before the sun drops. Brings warm clothes, heaters, whatever if you are riding with a team....the wait is going to get chilly. If it does rain out there, it shouldn't affect the course too much. I don't think the sandy spots will firm up much, if any, in the case of moisture.

All in all, great course as always, I continue to forget how fun that track can be. Night riding rocks.

Have a great race.....or ride.