(12 Hours of Temecula)/2

Sunrise over Temecula

During my morning spin to see the sunrise over the lake, I saw a new section of trail. mmmm, I knew that the course was being ridden in reverse from June’s race, but this was new..interesting.. time to check it out, no helmet, wearing jeans, blundies, and a camera in a timbuk2 bag. How long could it be, so close to the start/finish area..

I should’ve taken more pictures. This “little” out and back, was actually a substantial loop, with most of the hard climbing (Burning Calves). But the descent down the back side was fun all day long.

Matt and Jeni showed up and quickly the Big Wheel Racing pit started to take some order.

nine o’clock and we were ready to go. Well, Matt (in the yellow circle) was ready to go, I was sitting in the back (beyond the yellow arrow), renewing acquaintances, and allowing them to convince me that another shot before the race would be a good idea. Tequilla and anaerobic climbing do not mix.

The dust went to Matt’s head

While I just rode through, unwittingly pulling Trevor (unknowingly until he pulled alongside so that we could lament the climbing style of geared riders) through the entire first lap

Desperate measures were required to convince racers to walk through the start/finish area

The end of the laps was a very fast section, with lots of little (and some not so little) jumps. Matt getting his..

Matt railing through another turn (there really was some singletrack out there)

and that’s it for the pictures. I should’ve taken a camera for the 4 o’clock lap. The sun was getting low, the shadows and the reds of the sands were beyond description, especially the descent down the single track from the top of the Dam Climb, when the dark blue lake became the backdrop. It was difficult to pay attention to the trail (and this section required all of my attention).

It was an excellent day. Jeni and I had a good time (although I was too worked to ride the final night lap with her). We weren’t letting the race dynamics dictate our attitudes, we were out there to have a good time without any pressure, and if we could go fast while doing that, that was just a bonus. I spent a few laps trying to get under the 50 minute barrier, but it was just beyond me. I think that I had a 51, and a 52, but I couldn’t think of anywhere that I could cut any time, without a bigger gear or maybe bigger legs and lungs. Neither of which was an option.
Matt and Jeni left after the individual awards, so I had the pleasure of surprising Jeni the next morning at breakfast when I gave her the trophy for winning the series Not bad for one day of racing..

I just found this on  Mother Bliss’  blog. Joe and Rodd (and I can’t remember the guy in blues name). Team shots every lap, usually tequilla, but someone had a flask of some flavored (banana?) schnapps. and beer. I’ve run into them at a number of events this year, so they know that they can twist my arm to join in. They also know that I’m likely to have some Stanahans with me, and after two of those tequillas, I stuck to the stranahans.