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Tim Corning
Ouch. This was one very difficult race.
The biggest problems that I had were with my bike. Right at the
starting line my chain fell off. There were a few hills in the
first couple of miles that I was having trouble shifting on and had
to stop to adjust the chain. Finally after stopping for the fourth
of fifth time what ever I did "fixed" the shifting and chain falling
off problem. Which was nice. I was able to get into a rythum and
start passing some people. Also by this time I was approaching the
14 mile check point where I knew that my lovely wife and son where
waiting to cheer me on.
After going through this check point I decided that it was time to
enjoy a fine cliff bar and a clif shot. I also began a climb up a
fire road that was not that difficult but long. I don't even know
how long it was but it absolulty killed my legs. Between mile 15
and 30 I had to stop several times to deal with my legs and more
than once I figured that I would not be able to go on. One rider
passed me every single time that I had to stop to streach and he
finally gave me some enduralytes. These hit the spot for the next
few miles.
I am not going to mention the rain or any trail description. I am
sick of riding my bike in the rain.
After I received the enduralytes I started having trouble with my
bike again. Good thing too, I don't know what I would have done
with two problems at the same time. As some of you know, I have
been having trouble with my bushings, causing the rear wheel to rub
against the chain stay. This was all worked out before the race.
So when I started having the same problem I figured that I needed to
tighten the bushings. When that didn't work I was lost. I still
had about 12 miles to go and my back wheel was now rubbing
contiuously so I ended up walking much of the rest of the course.
Only when I go home did I realize that all the spokes were loose on
the rear wheel and that I had worn a hole in the chain stay. I also
broke my water bottle cage for good measure.
I finished, and inspite of trying to talk my self into dropping out
for much of the second half of the race I kept on going. Even after
I rode off the course and down a long hill that I had to ride (walk)
back up I still finished. No matter how much my legs hurt, and a
few times I had to stop for 5 to 10 minutes to streach and rub them
so they would stop cramping, I tried to keep moving no matter what.
1 298 Timothy M. Corning MA Peabody 298 9:23:54
Congrats to Nathan, Roz, Jason, Bill and Andy for riding and Brad
for running.
Maybe I will do it next year.
Roz Puelo
I really thought Tim, Nathan and I had paid our dues at the 24 Hours of Great Glen, but oh no, clearly, we've really done something wrong to piss Mother Nature off.
You know it's a bad ride when a.) the runners are going downhill faster than the riders and b.) walking your bike become infinitely more dangerous than riding your bike.
Ironically, the warmest part of the race was the start. I had to strip layers before I even started to ride, and I had to add as I rode. Not the VT50 I remember........
The first 20 miles, I was on pace for an 8hour ride (my goal was to beat my last VT50 at 8:10). Eleven hours and 30 minutes later, I crossed the finish line.
I felt great during the first 20 miles. I felt so great that I actually couldn't believe that I had already ridden 20 miles. Once I had arrived at the 4th pit stop, the falling rain made me feel like I was in a cold shower. Suddenly, those next 30 miles became my own personal hell. Someone on the Rage list said that the trails were like soup. I preferred to think of them like soft serve chocolate ice cream.....I needed something to make me smile.
One plus, I got to use my helmet for the first time! And it worked!!! On a downhill around mile 30, I flew off my bike headfirst into a downed tree. I was dazed and confused more than usual for a little while, and if I had seen Christine at the pit stop, I would have DNF'ed. Thankfully, she had already left, so I had to push ahead.
I ended up third in my class (because almost everyone else dropped out!) and sore all over. My bike is trashed....all the new brake work I put on my bike before the race? Done.....like they'd been there for years. They stopped working at mile 37.5.
Will I ever do this again?? Hell yeah..........who's in for next year??
Roz.
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