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Race: 24 Hours
of Adrenalin at Idyllwild, CA
Date: Sept 30 to Oct 1, 2000 Written by Chris Eatough |
. I participated in the solo category as an international competitor (my citizenship is British), which granted me immunity to the qualification criteria for American racers. It was my first solo 24 hour race, and I knew it would be tough, but it is difficult to imagine how it will feel until you actually do it.
I didn't have much strategy for the race. I don't think strategy comes into play much in this kind of event; it's more to do with survival of the physically fittest and mentally toughest. Good organization, team support, and equipment are also important. Mine proved to be top notch; in fact I won the race by a lap and a bit over 2nd place Nick Morin from Michigan and 3rd place John Stamstead from Ohio. My dad Mike, and my friend from Virginia, Jeremy Wimpey (who was also supporting Chris Scott) were my pit crew. They prepped my food, dialed my bikes, and kept my light batteries charged. Our pit area was like clockwork, and I never stopped for more than a few minutes, just enough time to put on a fresh Camelbak, throw a Powerbar and some gels into my pockets, and change my Nightrider light battery. As the race wore on, I would also make sure that I picked up some filling food to munch on as I rode out of the pits, usually a chunk of corned beef or baked potato. My dad would write me notes and tape them onto my stem to keep me updated on the standings, and also to entertain me during the lonely night laps. The minutes saved in the pits made a huge difference, and avoided extended stops kept my body from seizing up completely.
I had 2 bikes for the race; the Trek 9.9 hardtail that I race all season, and a Trek Fuel full suspension bike. Both rides were set up the same, with Rock Shox Sids, and Hayes Disk Brakes and Time pedals. The Fuel proved to be the perfect machine for the race, and I rode it for the majority of the laps. We set up the suspension plush, which saved my body from the beating everyone else was getting on the rutted, stutter bumped course. After several hours of hard racing, even small bumps can feel like sledgehammer blows, and the biggest hurdle for a solo 24 hour racer is body ache. Full suspension was definitely an advantage, and the Fuel was flawless.
Another advantage was the lights that I used in the race. The guys at Nightrider set me up with one of the new Predator lights. It's single beam was the brightest and clearest I have ever seen, and it lasts for 4 hours of continuous use, which meant I could confidently get several laps without switching batteries.
. It was great to see the Trek West Coast Team out there on the course, and even better to see them on the podium collecting their Norba National Champions jerseys. Congratulations to a great bunch.
Overall, the 24 Hour racing scene seems to be thriving. The atmosphere as well as the competition at the events is excellent, and I hope more people are able to experience them soon.
Special thanks to Zeal Optics Eyewear for helping me get to this race, and for supporting the Trek/VW Mountain Bike Racing Team throughout the year.