Last night I was the only rig in the parking lot. In the morning got about doing Bfast and clean up when rigs started poring in in preparation of the race. A guy came up to me and started a conversation. Turns out he was a ” builder” so to speak of these trails and working with land manager. He is manning an aid station out on the course.
I started out on the race course which started out long hill. A piece of it is known as Bitch Bitch. This piece was ridden in each direction. I encountered several young screamers on their short loop. First took me by surprise as I was expecting him to yield to me the uphill rider. He was hauling on the course. From then on I paid attention. The next rider made a mistake as he encountered me as I was out of the way. I was looking uphill on my route. I heard a soft thud then looked back to see the little guy face down in the grass wearing his bike. He was sort of wedged between the fork and front triangle. I gently removed his bike from him then he got up and pedaled on. Trails are a mix of ridden in, cow trails and real system trails.
At the first check point I learned that I was behind the course sweep who was pulling surveyor tape markings. I helped him by pulling down 2 stuffed pockets of ribbon. Pulling them off gave me rest breaks but interrupted my flow. However, I helped. At an intersection a racer was pedaling up. I asked if he was racing, yes he said. Therefore no ore pulling down tape. I rode his wheel for a ways until the trail routed onto a primitive road then I pedaled away from him.
He acted as both my rabbit and speed governor.
The trail builder was manning an aid station and I stopped to visit. I commented about cow trails which the course and legal trails use and how some places they were steeper than what is sustainable. He said that he (my term) cow whispered into letting the cows build the trail. Huh? He said it was done by placing salt blocks at points where they wanted the trail to be then the cows with their aversion to work created the easier way to the next block. Pretty ingenious, but with understanding of an animal their strength can be used for human gain.
I rode the Challenge course of 14 miles not adding on the 8 mile loop starting and returning to the aid station. My ride was 14.3 miles climbing 2093′ pedaling for 2 hrs 6 mins. Pretty good elevation gain. My brain accepts that it can not climb past a point of exertion which the body has defined from experience.
I walk more as age adds up. I bought my first mountain bike back in 1983 just as this sport was in its real early stage. I was 36 years old. Change.
Spent a second night at the TH. Camp ground is all but empty and the TH is empty but me.
Tomorrow I will drive to Spearfish, SD and ride some of the Dakota 50 course. Last of the big hills. Then to Sturgis. Big push across SD finding no rides. Perhaps into MN.
Friend Phil called telling me that Gonzo’s Hesitation Point Bike shop right outside of the Brown County Indiana park is closing his store. Change. I have been wearing non stop his labeled sweat hat since last visit 2 years ago. I was hoping to stop to buy a replacement.
This evening while sitting outside in the empty parking lot reading I heard a truck engine nearing. Guy pulled up alongside and said I remember you. He said Spearfish which triggered memory of our meeting back in 2009. can remember conversation about compressor refrigerators but not desirable women.