426rider
Well-Known Member
I went and had a great time. It was my first time and here is my experience.
At arrival saturday evening trying to find a spot to set up camp was a little confusing but it didn't take to long. We were camped out by the kids track and there were bikes haulin balls up and down the camping lanes. Some quads ridin around. Many without spark arrestors. So we realized that the rules were not being enforced too well.(5pmh in camp area, No quad riding allowed, spark arrestor required, ect.) The line for sign-ups was pretty long and we were disapointed we had to wait so long since we preregistered. After about 5 minutes someone was telling people that preregistration packets can be picked up in a different area. In and out in less than 2 minutes. I will definitely preregister again.
Sunday morning I woke up early (6am) so I had plenty of time to get ready. People were already finding their pit area so I threw my stuff in my truck and headed to get a decent pit. Went back to camp to do my final bike check before the race. Headed up to the riders meeting early that was supposed to start at 8:30. At 8:30 someone on the microphone said "remember to show up at the riders meeting in your gear, on your bike ready to start." I ran back to camp to get my gear on and my bike and back I go. Riders meeting almost over. So we ride out to the start, its a bit crazy with soo many bikes but exitement is flowin. I get my stick to prop up my bike find my spot inline and go 100' back, take my nerves pee and while waiting for the horns to blow for the start I see a bunch o people running for their bikes already- no Horn yet. So I take off.
The start was nuts. Sage brush everywhere, rocks everywhere, 1000+ bikes everywhere. About a mile and a half in first bottle neck. 10 minutes maybe waiting to go down a single track hill. Ride for 5 min, another bottleneck about 10 min again waiting to go up a single track hill. Ride for about 15 min. last bottleneck 45 minutes waiting to go over a small hole with rock and people falling into the river along side the trail. After that I was in the clear.
Somewhere about the 8-10 mile mark I kicked a rock with my left foot that was behind spme sagebrush going about 25-30 mph. Almost tossed me off the bike. Turns out I broke my small toe in 3 places and possibly my big toe. I continue on. Really gettin into the groove now. I see people down every so often. Checkpoint workers were great at keepin us rollin. The course was fun and marked well. Medic quads and track sweepers are doin their job at findin the injured and broken down bikes. I pass one guy on a stretcher, no one workin on him anymore. I later find out he passed away from apparent cardiac arrest. Say a prayer in my head and hit the throttle. The course was fun, lots of little up and down hill areas, more whoops than I expected but not completely whooped out. Lots o rocks but I was told there were lots so I was ready for it. It was a little more technical than I expected and not as much wide open as I thought it would be. Lots of 2nd and 3rd gear for me.About 3/4 of the way in the first loop I realize that I didn't save enough energy for the last bit of my loop. I had to slow because I was too tired to keep going fast safely. I keep goin like this till I see the pits then its throttle on. Roll into the pits pass my teamate the numbers and checkpoint tag. Refill the bike. Let him know of some of the dangers and to pace himself good and he takes off. A couple hours later we get a finish. He got a flat somewhere before the last checkpoint but finished on it.
All in all I was very happy I did it. I will most likely do it again.
Stumpjumpers did a great job with the course. Rules enforcement and the start could use some work but I don't know how it could be handled better without a mass of security. Sani cans should have been cleaned out each day. They were over full.
Great experience, thanks Stumjumpers.
Thats one pretty foot there:redneck:
At arrival saturday evening trying to find a spot to set up camp was a little confusing but it didn't take to long. We were camped out by the kids track and there were bikes haulin balls up and down the camping lanes. Some quads ridin around. Many without spark arrestors. So we realized that the rules were not being enforced too well.(5pmh in camp area, No quad riding allowed, spark arrestor required, ect.) The line for sign-ups was pretty long and we were disapointed we had to wait so long since we preregistered. After about 5 minutes someone was telling people that preregistration packets can be picked up in a different area. In and out in less than 2 minutes. I will definitely preregister again.
Sunday morning I woke up early (6am) so I had plenty of time to get ready. People were already finding their pit area so I threw my stuff in my truck and headed to get a decent pit. Went back to camp to do my final bike check before the race. Headed up to the riders meeting early that was supposed to start at 8:30. At 8:30 someone on the microphone said "remember to show up at the riders meeting in your gear, on your bike ready to start." I ran back to camp to get my gear on and my bike and back I go. Riders meeting almost over. So we ride out to the start, its a bit crazy with soo many bikes but exitement is flowin. I get my stick to prop up my bike find my spot inline and go 100' back, take my nerves pee and while waiting for the horns to blow for the start I see a bunch o people running for their bikes already- no Horn yet. So I take off.
The start was nuts. Sage brush everywhere, rocks everywhere, 1000+ bikes everywhere. About a mile and a half in first bottle neck. 10 minutes maybe waiting to go down a single track hill. Ride for 5 min, another bottleneck about 10 min again waiting to go up a single track hill. Ride for about 15 min. last bottleneck 45 minutes waiting to go over a small hole with rock and people falling into the river along side the trail. After that I was in the clear.
Somewhere about the 8-10 mile mark I kicked a rock with my left foot that was behind spme sagebrush going about 25-30 mph. Almost tossed me off the bike. Turns out I broke my small toe in 3 places and possibly my big toe. I continue on. Really gettin into the groove now. I see people down every so often. Checkpoint workers were great at keepin us rollin. The course was fun and marked well. Medic quads and track sweepers are doin their job at findin the injured and broken down bikes. I pass one guy on a stretcher, no one workin on him anymore. I later find out he passed away from apparent cardiac arrest. Say a prayer in my head and hit the throttle. The course was fun, lots of little up and down hill areas, more whoops than I expected but not completely whooped out. Lots o rocks but I was told there were lots so I was ready for it. It was a little more technical than I expected and not as much wide open as I thought it would be. Lots of 2nd and 3rd gear for me.About 3/4 of the way in the first loop I realize that I didn't save enough energy for the last bit of my loop. I had to slow because I was too tired to keep going fast safely. I keep goin like this till I see the pits then its throttle on. Roll into the pits pass my teamate the numbers and checkpoint tag. Refill the bike. Let him know of some of the dangers and to pace himself good and he takes off. A couple hours later we get a finish. He got a flat somewhere before the last checkpoint but finished on it.
All in all I was very happy I did it. I will most likely do it again.
Stumpjumpers did a great job with the course. Rules enforcement and the start could use some work but I don't know how it could be handled better without a mass of security. Sani cans should have been cleaned out each day. They were over full.
Great experience, thanks Stumjumpers.
Thats one pretty foot there:redneck:
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