It feels like sumer is starting to appear in the rear view mirror and cooler fall weather is just around the bend. I have actually had a couple opportunities to drive with the windows down lately. 

    After the Barn Burner Mountain Bike Race  in Flagstaff was cancelled in June, I didn't think I need to really bike for anything until the Sept. 25th Gilmore Adventure Race  in Prescott. But, then I met Kim, who had also done this race last year. So, a couple weeks before the race, we decided to race as a 2 person team, alternating 26 mile laps for the 104 mile race. I frantically started packing in the bike rides, trying to get in better shape, as I knew she was a strong rider. We agreed to just go have fun, do our best, and enjoy the high country and race with no other expectations on ourselves. We picked Dana up from school on Friday afternoon and headed straight for Flagstaff with a pickup truck loaded high with bikes and camping gear. We looked like the Joads leaving Oklahoma. As we got closer, Vickie and Butch were checking in with us to see when we would arrive, as we were hoping to camp near them. We lucked out and got a good spot right by their trailer, and just off the little single track so Dana could ride around too. We were barely out of the truck and Butch and Vickie had us sitting down for some of Butch's awesome pasta. I love his spicy pasta sauce. We set up the EZ Up we borrowed from Rick (thanks Rick) and our 2 tents, then walked over to register and get our race bags and numbers. A new twist this year was larger belt buckles for teams that finished under the 8 hour mark. I didnt think we had a chance at this, so there was no pressure added by that. After getting the bikes ready, visiting around the fire a while with the Swiss American Bike folks, we headed to bed. Hmmm, definitely starting to feel like fall in Flagstaff. By 1 am it was feeling like the dead of winter. Summer sleeping bags and light blankets may not have been the right choice. I piled the blankets over Dana, trying to save a corner for myself, but it was a cold night curled up in the fetal position trying to stay warm. By 5:30 I was ready to get up and moving. Another not so brilliant move, leaving my bike bag outside the tent. It was quite chilled and frosty, which makes for a good beer, but not so much when putting on bike shorts. As I readied my gear for the first lap, Kim and Dana went to Butch and Vickies trailer and made coffee, hot cocoa, and oatmeal. That was much better than using the Coleman stove on the tailgate.

    The first lap started with a Lemans start. Approximately a 1/4 mile run (more of a jog) to the bikes, then a half mile loop around the camping area to the bike course. I don't like to get too hot when I ride (unless it's Phoenix summer and 115) so I had half finger gloves and just arm warmers with a short sleeve jersey. I think it was mile 9 when I started feeling my fingers. The trail was very dry and dusty. Riding into the sunrise, my sunglasses coated with dust and glare, mixed with splotchy shadows across the road made for a ride of faith that I wouldn't hit an unseen object early in the race. At mile 10, Pooh Bear passed me on a long straight away. I jumped on his wheel and followed him to the first climb. He was on a single speed and riding the 104 miles solo, so when he got off to walk some of the steep parts, he gave me an assist up the hill with a push from behind, but then it wasn't long before he went around me again. The first climb was followed by a rocky and fast downhill section. I think I was saved once or twice by the rider directly in front of me, as he slowed down a couple times in spots I may have hit too fast. I made note of them for my second lap. Somewhere along the ride, I hit a top speed of 33.6 mph. I also know I hit 3.8 mph though, too. I think that was the second climb of the route, a long 3-4 mile hill with a couple really steep spots. I was very glad to get over that hill, and ride the last couple miles back to the start/finish area and pass the race off to Kim. I was completely covered in dirt and dust and felt like I had a chest full of it too. Kim had an excellent and impressive lap, and we were riding close to Butch and Vickie all day. My second lap was a few minutes slower, but better than I had hoped for, and Kim had another great lap, but had the misfortune of flatting just out of the start on her last lap which cost her some time. We finished up in 8 hours and 42 minutes though, which I thought was very satisfying. After showers and our complimentary beer, we walked over to get our small belt buckles, for being under the 10 hour mark, but over the 8 hour limit. As we gave our number, the gal handed us the large buckles. I said we didn't qualify for that, and she said yes, we did. The time had been changed to 9 hours for the 2 person teams. What a bonus. Now we just need some big leather belts to wear...We came back home Saturday night, not wanting to spend another night shivering in a too light sleeping bag. We had a great weekend, and what an awesome race this is. Congrats and thanks again to Butch and Vickie for the hospitality of a warm meal and trailer, and to Rick for the EZ Up and Karen for the pictures. Great job to Kim and Dana also, making it such a fun weekend.