24 Hours of Nine Mile

I went to the best all-night bike party on the planet over the weekend.

It also happened to be 24 hour Nationals, for the third year in a row. This is my third year going, too. The first year I raced a 12 hour solo, and I had such a great time at the event I went back this year and last even though I wasn't able to race it. It's been exciting to cheer on friends and watch them do well in one of the most demanding events around. I didn't feel like I could miss it this year, with my wanting to support friends and with it being nats. When nationals of the sport you love are so relatively close to home, how can you not go?

My power keeps going out due to the big storm, which is slowing down my progress on this post quite a bit! I got absolutely soaked tonight while out riding - I guess I should really be doing laundry, stuffing my wet shoes with newspaper, and cleaning my bike....but here goes.

I got there late in the day, so I didn't get daytime racing action shots. I would have liked to be there for the LeMans start, but I had too much other stuff to do. I kept checking the results on my phone on the way up to see how friends were doing, so I sorta knew the basics of who was where. It made the drive more tolerable. I kept seeing "back building" in first place in the men's solo results, which really confused me. I thought it was a mistake, first because of the odd name, then later, not to have "Trek/VW" in first place. "back building" turned out to be someone named Josh Tostado, who I had not heard of before. I kept expecting that this "back building" person, whoever they were, would blow up and fade away. That did not happen, according to the results.


The World Bicycle Relief team had one of the best pit spots. Things were hopping when I got there, with Chris and Brad both in the pit at the same time. They were both riding very well - I think they were within a place or two of each other when I first got there. They are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and well-organized pit crew! Kim and crew were phenomenal. Such caring and encouragement, even when things got tough. Congrats to both Chris and Brad for riding your hearts out and doing so well!



Some more solo tents near the WBR tent. This area is near where the start line is for the WORS race many of us do every year.


I don't remember which tent this was on, but it must have been Dana's Bacon Riders team? They got second in the women's 4 person 12 hour event. I didn't know pigs could rappel, I thought you had to have opposable thumbs for that? There were a couple of piggies on that tent, nice touch.


Gabi, Dana and James. Gabi has been making cycling themed t-shirts to sell. She brought them to the race. Dana was on the Bacon team for the 12 hour. James is looking forward to cross season.


The waiting area where team members waited for their teammate to come in so they could start their lap. You can see Don from WORS there waiting for his turn to ride.


Rachael (in BKB stars) waiting to go out on the course. It is the middle of the night, or almost, by this point. Rachael, Holly K., MurphyKate, and Megan were on a 4 woman championship category team. Congrats to them on their strong race, they had some of the toughest competition around.


Holly resting and staying warm until her next lap. It got really chilly (50's) as it got later. Alot of people weren't expecting it and didn't have warm clothing with them. Anyone selling sweatshirts probably did well.


And here is Holly again, looking bright-eyed and ready to go in the waiting area. It was really late by this time.


Blinkie Man was on Team Twinkie, I think? If he indeed was, would that make him Blinkie Twinkie Man? When this fellow's teammate came in from his lap, Blinkie man stood there not moving, shell-shocked, instead of heading out for his lap right away. I think all those blinkies blinking must cause some kind of short-circuit. There were just as many on the front of the vest as the back!! I guess you had to see it to get the full impact.


(this is a work in progress, more to come!!! now I gotta really get some sleep.)

24 hours of Bike Love. I hear they only started out with two!! They must have multiplied over the weekend. (just kidding) Isn't that a happy sight, all those bikes in the woods?...... a picture like that reminds me of how much I love mountain bikes AND 24/9....