Chester asked me to do this race with his friends soon after we met. The race was on Valentine's Day. For 24 hours: Chester, Meghan, Jenna, Brent, Mike and I would switch off riding the 17 mile loop through Choya and other Cactus friends. I had an early introduction to the Choya. As Chester and I set up camp on Thursday afternoon I was skipping back and forth and discovered I had three oval sections of some spikey plant free-loading on my leg. Then I realized those spikes were embedded DEEPLY into my calf, side of knee and quadriceps. OUCH! Chester had to get the pliers out to yank the Choya out of my leg. While he was helping me doff the Choya he explained that they were called, "Jumping Choya," because people swear they jump off the main plant and onto unsuspecting bodies. Apparently I didn't believe him because I had to test the theory three more times before finally agreeing to steer clear of the Choya. I gave every Choya at least a 5 foot birth for the rest of the weekend.
After mastering the Choya, Meghan, Mike and Jenna arrived and we pre-rode the course. The course was a mixture of dirt roads, holding the immediate pleasure of climbing the "Bitches" within the second mile of the course, windy single track, sandy patches, rocks, and mucho, mucho cacti beckoning riders off course. Though the course is predominantly flat, we are surrounded by mountains leaving no shortage of scenery and distraction from tired and sore muscles.
The race started Saturday morning at noon. We would ride until noon on Sunday. The professionals and some courageous and endurance dynamos would ride this course solo, lap after lap, for 24 hours. I was lucky enough to get the first lap. They staged us .5 mile from our bikes. The gun went off and arms, legs, cycling shoes, cleats were everywhere churning dust and headed for our steeds full speed. The tension and excitement alone wore me out after the first 1/4 mile. I wondered how I ever ran more than 1 in a row! Finally I got to my bike and started pedaling. My first lap of the three I would do was my fastest. I would get progressively slower throughout the night and finally- again so lucky, would be out on the course to watch the sun rise and feel renewed enough to finish my last lap smiling ear to ear.
Chester raced two night laps and finally, after no sleep bested his time in the morning with a lap less than 1 hour and 17 minutes. Brent also improved his time from last year as I suspect Jenna did as well. Meghan braved the rocky shortcut along with Brent and Chester while Jenna and I chose to ride the long way around leaving the rocky downhill section for next year...right Jenna?
I have so much more to write but after putting the books away for four days it's time to pick them back up again. I had an amazing time. I can't wait to explore mountain biking and go on more adventures with Chester and hopefully his friends. Next adventure: Mountain Bike Oregon in July! Come join us!!!
ps... I heart my Titus Racer X thank you Cyclepath- Josh, Bill, Michael and Cody!!!!! :) Oh yeah, and pumpkin and marlo.
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