Overdoingit.

This weekend... I just I don't know. Huge derailment.

Race Report:

I got there early and got all my equipment set up. Mike came out to help me hydrate and eat well during the race. He was good at having all my stuff ready for me for the 2 laps that I ended up riding.

I lined up, felt good, and started off. I really just started at a pace that was below my normal riding speed and planned to keep that speed all day long... I got through the added section of the first lap and into the first climb. My tire then got saggy... and I had a flat.  Jan from my Durham riding group was with me during the first part. I think I lost him in a hill. Jump off, look over the tire, fill it with a CO2 cartridge, and there's a hole in my sidewall. Jan goes by and asks if I need anything. I think I'm good but I'm running my finger over it trying to get the Stans to seal up. It finally did. I fire in another CO2 shot and I'm back on my bike. I never trust my rear tire for the rest of this very short race, although it was, and still is holding up in my garage now.

This isn't good as now I'm pretty much back of the pack, this of course doesn't fly with me, so now I'm ripping through crushing hills and trying to at least get back on track. The rear tire feels a bit squishy but its consistent, and I'm kinda liking the lower pressure. It keeps the back down on roots and rocks, so I kinda start to use it to my advantage over rockbed and such.

I take the jump, wait for my back tire to blow up, nothing, good.

Second lap.

Here's were things go to shit.

I passed someone who I think was retching on the side of the course. Right before the large open pit you ride through. I asked if he needed anything or water. He seemed pretty pissed that I asked. So I just rode on.

About half way though my second lap, I rode through a pretty loamy section and kicked up dirt over my legs. My cranks started to grind. I thought there was a small piece of sand in the hollow area of my cranks and never gave it 2 thoughts, but it was pretty noticeable. After another km or 2 it stopped grinding.

I then continued but things were getting crazy hard now. I was wondering if I was tired, or something. There's no way I'd be tired after 10km, that's just crazy... but flats for me now felt like massive hills. And hills just felt like I was biking through water. Like the most slightest of incline and it just felt like I was chugging. I managed to keep up and pass a large pack of riders who were lining up still in the technical areas. I actually just rode around them and jumped off one of the lips that a tree had provided. So that was at least 12 riders at this point that I had gotten back up on. I started seeing familiar solo faces at this point as well so I figured I was okay. But exertion to keep up was just unbelievable.

Around the big hill leading into the final down tech section I started to pedal again. I thought I had a stick stuck in my cranks as I felt something snap. Everything was working so I paid no mind. I pulled into the solo area and Mike again had everything ready like a pro. I downed my boost, downed my GA, filled and took off. Down to the timing chip area.. through, and onto 3rd lap. I felt better after having the Boost... like actually felt really good all of a sudden.

I got a quick sponge splash on me, and left for lap 3....

Now this track is a huge grind for the first little bit. I got through it but at this point I'm redlining on everything. I can't keep this up all day, something is very wrong with me... I get to the road crossing, I make a joke with the marshals, I cross.. I get off my bike cause its just getting impossible.

I look down and my bottom bracket is a twisted mess of sheared metal.... I can't ride another lap on it.. and I can barely turn it with my arms and hands. There is a LOT of resistance. I turn around, call in my lap reset, and hope the entire way that this can be fixed.

Nope. that's the end of my day. 2 and a half laps. I bow out at 2 hours in. At the pace I was going even with the bottom bracket shitting all over itself, I was on time to easily do 8 laps, and murder myself to try to get to 9.

My cranks are currently back at the shop. I'll call in today to see whats up and what warranty work can be done. I'm optimistic about getting my bike back and running by Canal Days this weekend. My entire family was coming out to that, it'll be a huge upset if I can't ride.

As I was packing up my bike, I also lost one of the nuts for my front quick release. So I have to replace that now too. It just wasn't a good Saturday. I got home, ordered a Pizza, downed it, went to bed at like 9.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon's ball game. I'm rounding third and turn on the jets for home, and POP.. yeah baby, hamstring injury. I hobble home. I hobble my way around 1st base for the rest of the evening.

Its hard to keep high spirits when you have a weekend like this but I'm trying to figure out the bright side. The only thing I can come  up with is this.

It was probably a good thing that my bike failed out on me from a physiological point of view. I probably would have murdered myself getting to lap 9. I don't know when to stop when I have a goal. It was really hot out, and the forest was just one huge pocket of humidity. I would have done well, and I would have stayed hydrated, but the heat would have gotten to me eventually, and I doubt 1 day of recovery would have been enough, and I'm sure the drive home would have been terrible.

I'll try again in September's 8H. I need a bit more time in the saddle really and to get some more sprinting training in, but my plan was sound and I'm sure I could have done 8 over the day.

I need to let my leg heal. My right leg over this year has taken a beating. This winter I know exactly what I'm going to do for training, and I'm already looking forward to getting stronger physically.

I refuse to let this weekend shake me off my horse though. I've had a good run up to now, and I was due for a mechanical just through sheer odds alone. *The fact that I got through P2A without ONE mishap was already statistical wonder* Oh well. I'll get that crank replaced, I'll get a new BB, and my tire is fine.

Canal Days up next. Then my first triathlon. We'll see how things go from there.

Things To Bring to a 8 Hour Race

This is something I'll continue to work on, but I can't find anything online that really lists it in detail. So consider this a work in progress and hopefully this helps other first time 8H riders.

Tertiary:
1. Sun Screen
2. Ibuprofen
3. First Aid Kit
4. Mesh Dome Type Tent Thingy *29.99 at Canadian Tire Kinda Thing*
5. Chair

Bike Crap:
1.Bike Equipment *This should be mandatory stuff to ride, gloves, helmet, your bike, cleats*
  b) Spares of the above.
2. Repair stuff: *Extra set of cleats, and tools required to wrench you bike*
3. Tube
4. Compressed Air
5. Bike Stand *If you can manage it. I can't
6. Spare Tire
7. Hydration Pack

Food:

Perpetuem
Boost
8L of Gatorade
8L of Water
Watermelon
Gummy Bears
Beer

I think I have myself covered. I'll write more if I bring anything else or if I see other good ideas.

Wish me luck. Race report Sunday!

Over the weekend..

I managed to get out to Hardwood last weekend to ride the epic 8 course.

I found it easier then Albion's 24 hour course. I donno why, I just did. There's not a lot of places there to keep your speed, and there's going to be some terrain that's going to cause some people to slow down, and a few really hairy areas but nothing out of control. Some sections were long and grinding but I really didn't see a place where it was horrible.

I'm pretty optimistic about meeting my goals of 80K. If I take my time, fuel right, water myself well, I should be able to get through the day. If I average 40-50 min laps should be okay, and MIGHT have enough for 9 possibly 10 laps. *If I do 10 laps, I'd be pretty happy with myself to be honest*

We'll see how my legs hold up.

I've been biking a lot with a group of guys and gals that I met on a miss timed DMBA ride. I got there early. They got there early and we just rode together. Now we pretty much ride consistently every Saturday morning.

This weekend we spent all day crashing and falling in Hardwood. The course wasn't bad, most of the crashing happened when we decided to ride through Gnarly. I was having a really good go at it actually then ended up getting overconfident, and setting a new record for number of trees hit in a single fall. I believe it was 4. I got complacent *Read: Tired* and ended up not timing a drop well.

Anyway, these guys volunteered to help be support during the day helping me get water, gatorade, and food as I'm riding. They're also riding in 2 teams of 3 and 5 so I'll see them around the course as well, and I'll jump on one of their wheels and keep a bit of conversation going to keep me sane.

I'm actually looking forward to this. I'm really interested in seeing how this plays out for me :)

Shopping list being made today, then pic of food and stuff on Friday night :)

7 out of 500.. 8H of Solo.......

 

Well then.

It would appear that I'm in a 7 person category. I know of some of the other riders I'm racing against I've seen them around and I lurk / post a bit on the Eastern Ontario MTBR boards where they do the same. But... odds are... I'm going to come in dead last... and I'm okay with this.

I'm in my 1st year of racing. Solo racing is a pretty large step up all things considered. I won't go into how people don't do it, or how soloists are crazy, and how hard it is. I'm pretty much sure that this is an assumed thing by all people.

I'm not doing this to toot my own horn *Hi, I'll be that SS riding Clyde in last place*. I'm doing it because I want to see how far I've come past last year.

Last year after a month of biking, I rode 50km in the heat in Heber. At 289lbs and poorly prepared, I was able to finish it, limp home, then pound a truckload of banana's and apples. All I brought with me was 2 bottles of Gatorade for that ride. It took me the greater part of 3 and a half hours to do it on flat surface with one major climb in there... that I did on foot.

I got home and went to sleep almost immediately. I never cramped though, and never quit or thought about quitting.

Later that year, I rode an 80km ride same idea, poorly prepared but better prepared then last time, I still completed this in about 4 hours. Faster then the original ride, with more hill climbing, and less hill walking. Less panic when I got home, and less frantic eating. Still major sleep that evening.

I have no illusions that this is much different given the terrain I'll be riding. Nor will I have the option of granny gearing the course till I generate enough wind to power southern Ontario... but I'm preparing a lot differently.

First of all, I've dropped down from 32/18 to 32/21. After the test ride last night I found the bike to be a bit more agile as I can put more power to the back, but a lot less speed. I'm going to go test out Hardwood this weekend to see if the gearing is right, if its too easy, then its perfect. I'm going to try to get 3 laps in just to make sure I have the flow and terrain right.

I took the Kona out with the new gearing last night for some intervals. The hill I usually use for intervals was actually taken slower then normal, but with a lot less perceived exertion once I hit the top. Once done there, recovery was extremely fast. This may be a fitness thing, but also mental. Also I noticed that my legs took FOREVER to warm up yesterday, that sucked, as they felt burnt before I even got to the first hill.

A little more air in the tires, and a small adjustment to steering and I think the bike is ready to go. Apart from the SS creaking that almost all SS's have, I have the bike tuned in to me, and I REALLY like it.

Secondly... I'm really trying to pay attention to food and fuel for this race. I drank a crapload of Eload and Endurolyte infused water at the 24H. It really worked well. After my second lap I had dinner and let that settle. I don't believe I'll have the option to do that at the 8H so I'll probably bring bananas with me and Perpetuem blocks/drink so I can down those after each lap. Cliff bars are good pre and post race. During the race they started to back up on me causing some nastyness, that and they take time to eat.

I like gatorade, but I find Eload is actually better for events. I've bought my last bit of Gatorade a while back. I'll bring Eload with me for sure.

I'm going to try to drink 1 bottle of Eload / Water per lap, and try to consume at least 200 calories of food per lap. You can't do 1:1 for calorie loss to gain during intense work so I'm going to try to keep as much as I can in me while I race to make sure bonking just never happens.

Thirdly.. I'll have support crew there this time to remind me to drink and to check my times for me. All I have to do is focus on keeping the cranks turning and the rubber side down. Also a bit of family encouragement never hurt.

Goals for me are as follows.

1. At least 8 laps. That's 80km of riding. If I manage to have time for a 9th, I'll try for it, but 8 laps is my signal that I can get off the bike and die out.

2. To prevent calf cramps as much as possible. My legs tend to crank out high volumes of torque to get myself up hills. What I didn't plan on was my calves doing so much work. This has lead to some serious calf cramping in the last 8H race I did as part of a team. The fact I ran rigid as well didn't help with body fatigue.

3. To bike as hard and as long as I can at my own pace and really feel like I left nothing out there.

4. To not come in dead last.

We'll see how these go. Preride is this saturday so I'll probably have more to squawk about when I'm done checking out what its going to be about.