1st 12 hour coming up this weekend

[Andrea]

Well, I got my MTB a little more than 2 weeks ago, and, even though I exploded the rear derailleur on its 1 week birthday and wasn't able to ride it again until yesterday, I entered the Dirt, Sweat, and Gears 12 hour anyway.

I've got the base from road training, but my tech skills will be what slows me down. Oh yeah, and, since my bike was out of commission while the trails were reasonably dry and now we're in a monsoon weather pattern, I haven't ridden at night yet, either. So my plan is to rely on smart pacing, eating, and innate tenacity. It's a 10 mile loop, so I figure the worst that could happen is that I get tired and stop. I think I'll be aight, though.

I love trial by fire

[SheFly]

Good luck! And don't worry about the night riding - I ride better at night when I can't see the trails .

It's a long race, so pacing will be key for you. Don't go all out the first time around - learn where you can pick up speed and where you need to slow some. And watch out for those derailleur eating sticks!

Waiting for the report!

SheFly

[kacie tri-ing]

Good luck! Can't wait to hear about it! Seems like your legs have recovered from your long run! Enjoy!

[pinkbikes]

Way to go! Have a wonderful time today/tonight! (Hmm - I guess that's tomorrow your time?)

I like how your 12hours starts at 9am so it is mostly light and some dark. All the 12hours I've done seem to be 12hours of darkness! They run from Dusk til Dawn!

Eat up the night riding - it is great. You only see what you need to and sometimes that can actually be very liberating because you don't see what scares you in daylight!

Go well!

[crazycanuck]

Andrea..are you doing this solo? If so wow!

Good luck kiddo & have fun

[surgtech1956]

Good luck

[redrhodie]

I wonder how it went?

[Andrea]

It was more of a bike-pushing race than a bike-riding race. I ended up 2nd place, though.

Quick summary (more detail/photos @ my blog):
Downpour for about 30 minutes @ the start. I actually felt really good despite the rain. At some point, the rain stopped & the sun came out. wet mud turned into a dense paste that magnetized itself to anything & everything that it came into contact with. Pushed my bike for the last mile of the 1st lap and about 7 miles of the 2nd lap before bailing out and going back to the pit for a bike change- I got my BF's road bike, changed shoes and returned to the course where I'd left off and walked the remaining 3 miles of my with it on my shoulder.

Someone later told me that they tried to weigh their bike, but the scale only went to 99 pounds and gave them an error message. I totally believe it- I'm pretty strong, and I could barely pick my bike up one wheel at a time to get it over logs & up hills

[redrhodie]

I just looked at your blog, so I know that muddy thing in that pic above is your bike, and your bf gave you his road bike to ride. Now that's true love! You better do a good job cleaning it for him!

Great report, as usual!

[Andrea]

Well, I didn't ride it at all until the last 25 meters or so. I just needed a bike to carry on course so that it would count as a lap

The rain washed the incidental mud off on the way home!

[indysteel]

Wow; that's some mud. Having just spent a very hiking on some pretty muddy trails in Tennessee, I'm amazed you were able to ride at all! Good job!