Breck Epic: Stage 1
Only the hearty souls were camping.
10 tents, max.
What could possibly be wrong with camping in Breckenridge?
Cold.
Cold as fuck and then some.
To survive the night I zipped my feet and lowers into the sleeping bag, wore the infamous ‘Dicky don’t have‘ Swiftwick EWR wool and wrapped the Misfit Psycles hoodie around my neck and face (price is subject to increase with the discovery of said dual purpose).
Not enough detail?
Trips to the lavatory would not respect the meteorological conditionings…as such I took liberties with my 5 gallon water jug.
I can proudly say that I consumed 1.5L of water and expelled half a jug.
Saturation.
Victory.
0700 came late, sleep was (despite the obvious) ample.
My Magura Louise issues continued, post prologue I noted that the front lever was unresponsive at 12,500′.
Air.
So much of it in places it shouldn’t be and none of it in my lungs.
On the urging of Tomi and Dicky I took a stab at Shimano’s (free) neutral support.
While without a proper Magura bleed kit or Magura Blood, he was confident that a ghetto gravity bleed (while messy) would work.
True enough. Brilliant job.
Given the day that would be, a life, rather face saver.
Stage one started with a police escort through town and to the base of the first climb.
Unfortunately for me, I was tapped out by the escort…the brutality would continue.
Note: ‘Brutality’ in no way shape or form denotes the quality of trails or vistas…acclimation still eludes me.
With the start of the first climb I dropped back.
Dropped hard.
It wasn’t until 1 mile out of Aid #1 that my lungs could feed my legs and the riding started.
Better late then never.
The views did not disappoint, this photo stinks.
Trails were narrow, off camber and steep…as you might expect drive side (uphill) pedal strike resulted in multiple climaxes.
At this point, things got better.
They couldn’t get worse.
So good following Aid #2 that I passed someone.
Smoked them on this brief blacktop interlude.
He wasn’t racing.
I’m still 10 of 11.
Coming out of the Brecken’burbs was some pretty snarly climbing.
Victory!
At this point I was able to reel in a few straglers and finish stronger then dead.
No cramping.
No mechanicals.
No nothing.
Lots of photos…Life is good.
READ DICKY PRIME TIME AT BIKE.
Note: Dicky articles are published LATE…read about today, tomorrow and so on.
RESULTS FOR YOU SADDISTS, YES THAT’S ME WAY DOWN THERE.
Note: Actually I can’t find results…good luck to you.
July 6th, 2009 at 19:23
I’m no expert racer. Far from it, really. But wouldn’t you fare a bit better if you left the camera in your tent? I mean, the pictures are nice and all, but doesn’t it slow you down a bit, having to 1. get the camera out 2. turn said device on 3.take picture 4. turn camera off 5. put camera away?
You could be in ninth place if you just used 1000 words every time you were tempted to snap a photo. I’m only trying to help. BTW, those look like some lovely trails. Too bad they had to put them way up there with no oxygen to be found.
July 7th, 2009 at 08:51
Lee, I was just about to say… what happened to the Transrockies motto of F*@# the Scenery?…
Hmm…
It appears that Parker would rather smell the flowers this season… LOL…. they are some nice photographs Mr. Peter not sure I would round enough lady balls to ride off camber stuff like that… just sayin.
July 7th, 2009 at 13:56
suck it up princess ! i just RAN 146km with 5050m elevation in 25 hours. you can do it!!
xo