Man I'm loving this thread! It's always so much fun to read everyone's recollections and thoughts post-event.
This year, I ended up working support at UHJ with fellow WS member Bob Rust. About 6 weeks ago I made the difficult decision to abandon any hopes of riding the event due to lack of training. The motivation was there, but so many training weekends were blown out due to weather, illness, daughter's travel softball, and trailwork (basically LIFE was getting in the way) that I decided to volunteer on the course. That way, I'd get to see the entire field come through, and get to meet and help out a bunch of folks that were giving their all on the course. I've said it before in prior year's writeups, but just as much as I enjoy marveling at how fast the top guys get around the course (Tinker blazed thru UHJ checkpoint at 820am - insane), I am really happy and proud of those riders who embark on the biggest ride of their lives. Some succeed, some fail, but as the saying goes, "there's always next year!"
Speaking of those who succeeded, I love Tinker...we all know what an ageless freak he is, but he always cracks me up when he asks where the trail is. Unlike a few years ago, we didn't let him continue down Main Divide; rather, we directed him down UHJ. (I think the year he missed it, he rode so fast that he beat support to the checkpoint!). I was thinking about that when I decided to roll at 5am to make sure no pros beat me there! Over the radio we heard later that Tinker made the top of West Horsethief at 940am...for the non-math majors including myself, that's 4 hours 10 minutes from the start line. Holy guacamole. I wonder what Bishop's split was in 2011?
I missed the starting line festivities since I left my vehicle at the Parkers at 5am and started pedaling up the canyon in the dark and mist. When I approached the National Forest boundary, thoughts turned to the recently located "hikers" and that creeped me out a bit thinking that both of them had been perched up on the EAST side of the canyon for 4 days. About 1/2 way up LHJ, I broke thru the clouds and realized what a truly beautiful day it was going to be. I opted for the HAB up UHJ instead of continuing the grind up Main Divide, and arrived at the top at 740am.
I got set up, Addie and her dachshund Heidi arrived to work radio support, and Bob rolled up a few minutes later. Bob checked off the VQ riders and I took the CC riders. We enjoyed the next several hours checking off all the riders that came through, and as previously mentioned, we were surprised to hear about the large number of DNS riders. Lots of buddies rolled through, from James Scribner who was doing his first VQ (Scribby said his back was hurting but I would have never known it, dude always has an ear-to-ear grin working), 7 time VQ finisher and UQ ironman Troy Liposec, fast guy Travis Clater, Tom "Gravel Powerslide" Robe, Rob Ross (KILLING VQ with a nutty time of 613 or something), Andy Lightle on his 7th VQ, all-around good guy Larry Harden, Ned "Lone Wolf" Reynolds, stud Mike Caffrey, Steve Schwartz (1st CC!), multi-year finisher Tim Leech, and on and on.
One rider came in way too hot and dumped it right at the UHJ drop-in! After a cloud of dust, he picked himself up in shame and rode off down the trail. Another rider showed up and asked if we had any tools. Seemed his rear brake caliper had become off-centered and his wheel would not even spin 1/2 revolution by itself. I asked him how long it had been like that, and he said "Oh, since the last climb on Main Divide before the Motorway"! What!? Dude climbed over 12 miles and several thousand feet like that. I removed his brake pads, re-aligned the caliper, re-installed the pads and he was good to go. That made me feel good to be able to help someone out. It never got too buggy up there, but at one point I did don my bug net to keep a few pesky gnats at bay.
Once the riders slowed to a trickle and we heard the location of the sweeps over the radio (heading toward Modjeska Peak) I asked Bob if he minded if I rode down. All those hours on my feet were starting to make my back stiffen up. Any time I can clean UHJ on my HT I am happy, and when I got to the LHJ drop in, I didn't hesitate to go for it. 3 seconds later, I was off the edge and picking myself up, trying to lug my bike back up to the trail. Not a big deal except I had called one of the participants off the top of the drop in so I could ride it...now I'm the fool like the dude who had crashed earlier right in front of us at the UHJ drop-in. With bruised pride and a ripped club jersey but no worse for the wear, I cruised out the finish and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with everyone.
Finally, major props to the Parker family for providing their property for the finish line - what an awesome venue with all of the shade, something that was always lacking at the end of the wash. O'Neill is beautiful but too separated from the finish. Hopefully we can keep that venue rolling into the future!
Next year, I hope to be back in the field of riders; until then, I hope everyone enjoys their riding and training - stay safe out there and see you on the dirt!
) wussed out and brought gears.
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