11 Hours and 8 Minutes

What can you do in 11 hours and 8 minutes?

I rode 101 miles, with about 13,000 feet of climbing, and it took me 11 hours and 8 minutes. My goal was 10 hours. At 10 hours I was still riding the Dyke trail, with Kebler Pass rising between me and the Brick Oven in Crested Butte. After a short reassessment, my goal became 11 hours. After surviving Kebler Pass (thanks Jefe), it was all downhill into town, but the approaching stormfront surprised me with a strong headwind that actually required me to pedal, which was the only time during the day that I wanted a taller gear.

The day started fine.. I wasn’t quite chipper (didn;t have time for coffee), but I was ready to ride..

in contrast to the end of the day when I couldn;t quite figure out what to do with a beer

The ride (I can’t call my effort a race) started well, 80 (ish) riders, 68 of them soloist, headed south to Brush creek and then up Strand Hill. So far so good, but the pain started soon after when we began the climb up Deer Creek Trail. Can you say steep? I can. over and over, while hiking with my bike on my shoulder. During the descent, I had to take a time-out to pay respect for the section of trail that broke Jay’s rib back in 03…

After Deer Creek, Gothic road across Gothic pass and back into town. Be carefull not to go too fast through Mt Crested Butte (they give out $70 tickets to cyclists), refuel and head out on lap 2. Ken and I started the second lap at 10:30. Not an ostentatious start. Lap Alp Duex had us climbing up Slate River road, and taking the switchback climbs over to Washington Gulch Road..

The switchbacks were steep. I walked some more.

At the top of the switchbacks, we turned onto trail 403. The top of 403 is steep. I walked some more. and took a few pictures.

Climbing 403 was followed by descending 403. A few hikers were warning everyone that there had been a number of crashes on this descent already. So caution was called upon. The descent was steep, and a little rooty/rocky, but it wasn’t too bad. It was actually pretty fun, until my arms got tired of braking (next year, bring disk brakes), and then it was tougher, but not too long. The bottom was actually more difficult because of the waist-high, trail-obscuring, skunk cabbage. After 403 we climbed up Gothic Road, past Emerald Lake, which looked so inviting, and cool, to the 401 TH. I had regained enough of my legs to actually climb most of 401 without resorting to hiking. and then, an Crested Butte classic, the exposed descent of 401. Always a highlight. It was so good, that I coudn;t force myself to jump off at 401 1/4 (Rusteler Gulch) where the official course rejoined Gothic Road to get back into town. I tagged along with a few other guys (not racers) to finish the lower section of 401 finishing up in Gothic. It is so good. So hard to spend all that effort climbing, just to jump back onto a dirt road when there is Singletrack as an alternative..Gothic – Gothic Road- Gothic Pass- Mount Crested Butte- Keiselmobile – Brick Oven.

I arrived back at the Brick Oven at 3. 4.5 hour lap. ouch. After signing in with the newlyweds, I was ready to head out with new riding partner Fred W (on a karate monkey, alas with gears), when I felt a cold sensation on the back of my leg.. Looking down, I saw Porter, licking away. At the end of his leash was Carrie, excited that I was finished with a reasonable time (actually it would’ve been an excellent time, as only Dave Wiens and one other rider had finished at this point), but she was crestfallen when I told her that I was just heading out on the final loop. A long road climb to Lake Irwin, and the Dyke trailhead. I was stoked to be riding with Fred, and nearly fell off my bike when he told me that had ridden his bike from Moab for this event.

I thought that i was a glutton. We worked well together, alternating pulls into the headwind (of course) until we got close to Lake Irwin, and the rolling terrain made it difficult for us to stay together. But, I would see him again. Dyke trail was great (despite an exhausted body and a broken spoke, which thankfully was my only mechanical of the day) and I had enough legs to ride most of the climbs (except for the steep, technical climb near the end, which is where Fred rolled past me for the final time). Which brings us back to the beginning, when I was wondering if I could get over Kebler pass and make it back to CB. Eventually I made it, but I had my doubts.

Next year, when I return to shoot for 9.5 hours, I’ll still be ssing, but I’ll use a smaller gear and I’ll bring a front shock. In all, a great day (the rain held off a couple more hours), and a lot of great rides..back to back to back to back…

Things to do in Crested Butte when you’re not racing…

edit: ooohhhhh.. official results are in and it only took me 10 hours and 50 minutes!!! not that it really matters 9of course it does) but I finished 25th overall (4th sser) out of 38 finishers and 66 starters (male solos)… mucho room for improvement next year…. cracking on Kebler pass was a big deal, afterwards I realized that I hadn’t eaten any gels during that loop, just 3 bottles of gatorade, I should’ve known better..