Monday, August 25, 2014

2014 Tahoe Sierra 100: Off the Couch and Into the Fire


After a week of pounding beers in the sun at sea level I figured I was ready for endurance mountain bike racing. Newb, Xteric, and I debated who was most under-trained. B debated if he was more likely to win the open SS or the age grouped category.
Mile Zero.
My shock was sluggish in the just above freezing morning air. After a stirring speech about how roadies go to Leadville, but all the hard mountain bikers were here, we started.
Mile 10
Noob got a flat.
Mile 22
Noob got a flat.
Mile 56
Xteric plummeted into the canyon. He landed about thirty feet below the trail and his bike was another twenty feet below him.
Mile 69
My legs started cramping.
Mile 73
Noob Noobed.
Mile 83
I crawled off the course and begged for a ride to the finish line.
Mile 100
Xteric and B learned that their shuttle driver had been taken to the hospital. Fortunately, a friend agreed (for a small sum) to give them a lift up to Soda Springs. I called Mrs. Nocar for a ride. She dropped me off at Marshall, where I got to explain, again, how I suck at riding bikes and needed medical attention. Two liters of intravenous fluid later I was home.

By all accounts, the day was totally awesome.













38 comments:

  1. I thought I saw some FT3 jerseys in the photos! Thanks for coming out an playing! Nice review and conclusion ;-)

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    1. Someone has a google alert on anything with "Tahoe Sierra 100" and they found the hardest group in hood.

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  2. Noob if you ran Maxxis instead of Schwalbe you wouldn't have had those problems.

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    1. Ironic that NewB flatted and not NoCar. If I recall, NewB is at least tubless - or was at the start. Maybe he can find a good technition

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    2. If I rode an Anthem with maxxis tires, I wouldn't have been there.

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    3. My guess is that he is implying only Buttons rides an Anthem with maxxis tires, so if Newb were to ride that bike/tire combination he would suddenly become Buttons and would thus be too busy playing with all of his new firearms to attend the TS100.

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    4. Nocar got it. I've been looking into possible reasons for so many flats. Will produce a write up when I have more.

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  3. Thanks for the post NoCar - amazing work gents. Is Xterric conducting secret training of is he just the baddest ass off-the-coucher ever! Did B win any categories, can I get some fiinsh/pull out times. Did NewB, finish or does "Noobed" mean he pulled out? Where?

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    1. Noob: verb. To speed away from a pack ride and then make a wrong turn, usually down a long, steep road.

      I saw Noob after I was long dropped by the pack because my cramped legs forced me to walk so much. He was hell bent and shredding.
      Noob doesn't pull out, that's why his training has suffered.

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    2. That is quite halarious. Well put.

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    3. Noob, please excuse my suggestion that you "pulled out". Glad to hear that in spite of your tire selection and route selection you still crush

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  4. I'm a strong maybe for tonight. Still firming up family schedules. I'll either be riding or doing a roll up. More later. Are any of the 4 hard men riding?

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  5. I was getting worried that 100 miles wasn't going to be enough, so I added 10 miles and 1,200 extra feet of climbing. So I long rode the race, and with 8 flats finished at 8:57. Got my medal. I'm trying to make it tonight, but will depend on the misses schedule. Will declare my "in-ness" closer to the witching hour.

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    1. Can I get a clarification on # of flats. How does one overcome 8.

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    2. That's wayyy off course, 8 flats or not

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    3. Upon closer examination, I rode an extra 6 miles and 800 feet of climbing. There's always next year...

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    4. It it makes you feel any better I rode an extra 1.1 miles and 531 feet of climbing on my wussy San Jose road ride. The total stats on that one had 50 miles and 6,000 feet. But I am just trying to make myself feel just somewhat as awesome as you dudes.

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  6. Strong work gents. Was this a thirteen hour ride?
    I will be working at the Barnes house in Polly so no car pool on the run up but can take riders home.
    What's the count?
    In

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  7. I clearly register the fewest tacos on the FT3 hardness scale. I already promised my doctor and my wife that I wouldn't ride tonight. I'll be happy to survive the pedal up the hill. My legs are up for riding, and I would love to take advantage of raced-tuned handling, but I still feel a terrible dread when I start sweating.

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  8. In. 3, 4 or 5.

    Solid ride gents. Hat's off to you all. I was honing the altitude diving skills or I would have been there, right...

    Maybe I'll just promote myself to FT3 videographer so I can hang out with you guys. Going to bring the new GoPro 3+ tonight to get familiar with it.

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  9. Late to the party here, I hope we can make the 100 happen next year, tell Jim Northey not to plan it on my Anniversary! I guess my solo road ride and in-the-dark return trip up and down Mt. Hamilton while visiting San Jose last Wednesday night for work pales in comparison to the badassery of the FT3ers who took on this 100. Especially given the fact that "Roadies go to Leadville." Nice, work all, wish I could have been there. I would have loved to attempt to Newb with Newb.

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  10. Nice work cappy. I noticed you read (and then commented) all the way down. Late or note. I'm in.
    I think that is Four-sure.

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    1. I also sent those pictures taken by "The Wolf" to each respective rider, but who is keeping tally?

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    2. Is the "Wolf" Andy Olmstead? Better question, why wasn't Andy racing? Fast Dude. UL

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  11. That photo update cracked me up.

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  12. Out tonight unfortunately. Too bad as I suspect the pace tonight might be more to my suiting after the epic. UL

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  13. In, will meet those at mosquito who are there.

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    1. One of the funniest call and response in FT3 history. I'm out and potentially until Christmas. May be working Tuesday nights again :(

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  14. A trip down memory lane:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIgt2wSn1N4&feature=youtu.be

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