After skipping the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo last year in 2015 I decided to give it another go. I was successful back at that race with a 4th place podium spot and the goal again was a podium spot. It was to be my 11th year at this event and 10th time solo. My best finish has been 2nd place. The competition is tough at this annual event. The big guns come out to play.
Results for all categories here: http://liveresults.epicrides.com/24results/default.aspx?event=2016
I'll get right down to the stats: 4th place Solo Single Speeder. 15 laps, 245 miles. 18,000 feet of elevation gain. Yep, that is one ass beating of a good time in 24 hours. My moving time was over 22 hours within that 24 hour period. The race started Saturday at noon and ended Sunday at noon. Well, I stopped at 11.44 and waited to noon to check in. The rules are you have to finish after 12 noon or you will receive a DNF. Stoopid.
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| Podium....On the box! |
I arrived at the race venue Wednesday late afternoon to secure a sweet spot on the course as this is crucial for us solo racers. This way there is no dicking around to get off course to your pit to resupply, etc. Judd from Back of the Pack Racing had gotten there a bit earlier to stake out some real estate for his clan of hooligans and kindly for me as well. Thank you fellow freak Judd.
I set up camp and chilled out for a couple days getting all the preparations done for the 24 hours. Paul Adams came down withe fellow team racer Ashley Carelock who was going to race solo as well. Paul agreed to come crew for me. Having a crew member while racing solo is so key. Two years ago when I placed 4th I was literally a one man wrecking crew; racing and resupplying myself each lap. Paul rocked th epit taking care of me with resupply each lap, hot food and overall positive energy for me to keep the wheels on the bus moving. Paul did his job as the pit crew and I had to do my job as the racer dude. We both succeeded at each respective position. The goal was a podium spot.
As race day neared with Paul and Ashley arriving at the camp the temperatures in the desert slowly rose. It was going to be a rough afternoon once the shotgun blast sounded off on Saturday at noon. The key to racing in the heat is just to slow it down a bit....easy to say. After all it is a 24 hour race
Once the race started and we made the mad dash to our bikes running in stiff ass bike shoes down a dirt road roughly a half mile the primary goal was not to get caught up in a silly crash with another bike racer. It's like the running of the bulls but much more stoopid. LOL!!! Paul was holding our bikes for us which makes it much easier. I grabbed my bike and headed out on course. I told myself to just take it easy and get to the night laps. After a couple laps I settled in trying to maintain a good pace but not overdue it in the heat. I was running two bottles these first few laps.....one water and one electrolytes (Carbo Rocket). I was taking Carbo lytes as well in between laps at the pit.
Just before dark I came in putting on my helmet with the lights already on it. I use Ay Up lights for these 24 hour races. My batteries on the helmet and the handlebars last 12 hours. No need to mess with batteries during the night thus reducing any stress of recharging or switching out batteries. Paul was making me hot food for most of my night laps......Lean pockets, bean and cheese burritos, Mac and Cheese, Breakfast sandwich and Ravioli. I was also drinking a protein drink in between laps with some Coke once in a while. Other than that no other caffeine was needed. Too much caffeine can jack you up. It got me through. I had only a few Hammer Gels through out the race.I was also eating some turkey sticks and licorice out on the course. I never once felt nauseated or really tanked. I got tired around 3am but fought off the sleep demons. I had to get to the light and I would be rejuvenated.
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| 3am......I said to Paul "its rough out there" |
Once the sun rose I was a happy camper. I was bouncing around in the standing from 4th to 7th. After a morning lap or so I was back in 5th. I told myself to keep it going and get lap 15. Based on my lap times and time remaining in the race this was going to be a realization of 15 maybe 16 laps if needed. In the end 15 laps was money and a 16th lap was not needed or would not have done any good to catch 2nd or 3rd place. I was solid. Fuck I was happy when I checked in and found out I was in 4th. Time to drink some beer and stand on the podium box. It's all about being on the box.
A big thank you to Paul Adams for the super pit crew job. Definitely top pit bitch. Thank you to Kokopelli Bike and Board for all of the support. You guys all rock. And of course to my wife Laura for letting me ride my bike all I want to chase the demons out of my head.
The Kokopelli 29er titanium bike rocked. I had just put a new fork on which made it plush for the 24 hours. I ran a 32x20 gearing.....my go to gearing for these events.
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The pit
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| Paul and Ashley rocking the new shirts. |
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| Tony and Brian rocking the Freako kits. |
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| On the box. |
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| Charging on Sunday morning. |
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| Ashley rocking her 4th place |
My lap times:
Lap NumberRider
Lap Finish Time
Duration
Home Town
1
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 1:12:37 PM
01:12:37
Prescott, AZ
2
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 2:33:46 PM
01:21:09
Prescott, AZ
3
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 4:00:33 PM
01:26:46
Prescott, AZ
4
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 5:29:48 PM
01:29:15
Prescott, AZ
5
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 7:04:07 PM
01:34:19
Prescott, AZ
6
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 8:39:16 PM
01:35:08
Prescott, AZ
7
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 10:15:51 PM
01:36:35
Prescott, AZ
8
Jeff Hemperley
2/13/2016 11:52:43 PM
01:36:52
Prescott, AZ
9
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 1:34:41 AM
01:41:57
Prescott, AZ
10
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 3:26:14 AM
01:51:32
Prescott, AZ
11
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 5:29:47 AM
02:03:33
Prescott, AZ
12
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 7:18:16 AM
01:48:29
Prescott, AZ
13
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 8:52:26 AM
01:34:09
Prescott, AZ
14
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 10:25:01 AM
01:32:34
Prescott, AZ
15
Jeff Hemperley
2/14/2016 12:01:12 PM
01:36:11
Prescott, AZ
