TreeHugger
10-13-2008, 08:19 PM
Moab was awesome! Two words: windy and cold. We arrived Friday with something like 20-30 mile an hour winds kicking sand up and blowing it around everywhere. This did not let up until the wee hours on Sunday morning! And of course, it was cold. 30ish at night. So, how was it all? Well....
We arrive on Friday in a number of cars forming a little village of our own in the desert fields. This was actually the way it was all around, villages of teams setting up for the event, settling in and trying to tolerate the sand blowing all around. Saturday morning came and after loading up on carbs, proteins and coffee we began our preparations for the 24 hours ahead.
A quick rider meeting at 10:30 and finally the start. Tammy started for our team. They do a sprint start with everyone running down the field, around a pinyon pine tree and back, I suppose to spread people out. Off they went kicking up a good dusting in their wake. Tammy is a super strong rider and finished her first lap in 1:42. Camine took off next, then me, then Libba. We were all under 2 hours our first lap, all is well.
Then the night time came, the cold set in and questions of how to dress runs through out heads. Will our lights last? Will I get a flat in the dark? Are there mountain lions in the desert? (haha). I love riding at night. Peaceful, quiet, a little creepy at times... I had issues with what I was wearing and found myself over dressed for the long climb in the beginning, which made me very cold for the rest of the lap due to being sweaty, but I made it. I lost some time stopping and adjusting my clothing along the way. We all finished in about 2.5 hours at night, except for Tam who did 1:52 - and get this - with a regular back up LED camping headlamp - her other light died ONE MILE into her lap! She's a rock star!
ON my third lap, I was doing really well, time wise, then coming down one gnarly stretch of trail, a steep, rocky, loose descent, this guy passed me, totally out of control and crashed, HARD, right in front of me. Well, of course, I stopped and stayed with him til the EMTs got there. He was pretty messed up. Finally, I'm on my way. With adjusted time I finished my last lap in about 2 hours, same with Libba. Camine, had to bail on her third lap due to a knee injury.
Well, it was a great experience all in all, I had the best team you could ever imagine and a lot of fun. My husband and his teammate, (duo pro) came in 8th out of 18th (on single speeds) so they were pleased with their result, too.
We arrive on Friday in a number of cars forming a little village of our own in the desert fields. This was actually the way it was all around, villages of teams setting up for the event, settling in and trying to tolerate the sand blowing all around. Saturday morning came and after loading up on carbs, proteins and coffee we began our preparations for the 24 hours ahead.
A quick rider meeting at 10:30 and finally the start. Tammy started for our team. They do a sprint start with everyone running down the field, around a pinyon pine tree and back, I suppose to spread people out. Off they went kicking up a good dusting in their wake. Tammy is a super strong rider and finished her first lap in 1:42. Camine took off next, then me, then Libba. We were all under 2 hours our first lap, all is well.
Then the night time came, the cold set in and questions of how to dress runs through out heads. Will our lights last? Will I get a flat in the dark? Are there mountain lions in the desert? (haha). I love riding at night. Peaceful, quiet, a little creepy at times... I had issues with what I was wearing and found myself over dressed for the long climb in the beginning, which made me very cold for the rest of the lap due to being sweaty, but I made it. I lost some time stopping and adjusting my clothing along the way. We all finished in about 2.5 hours at night, except for Tam who did 1:52 - and get this - with a regular back up LED camping headlamp - her other light died ONE MILE into her lap! She's a rock star!
ON my third lap, I was doing really well, time wise, then coming down one gnarly stretch of trail, a steep, rocky, loose descent, this guy passed me, totally out of control and crashed, HARD, right in front of me. Well, of course, I stopped and stayed with him til the EMTs got there. He was pretty messed up. Finally, I'm on my way. With adjusted time I finished my last lap in about 2 hours, same with Libba. Camine, had to bail on her third lap due to a knee injury.
Well, it was a great experience all in all, I had the best team you could ever imagine and a lot of fun. My husband and his teammate, (duo pro) came in 8th out of 18th (on single speeds) so they were pleased with their result, too.