French Creek 6 Hour Enduro: 4.22.06

Took the day off from work Friday to pack my stuff, do some last minute prepping to the bikes and drive out to French Creek State Park. I left noon Friday and made it to the camp site in about 3.5 hours. Checked in and started setting up the E. for camping mode. That took about 5 minutes.

I spent my time listening to iPodious, doing some reading, eating dinner and napping. The weather forecast was for some rain, but none yet other than a few sprinkles and that was fine by me.

Went to bed around 8. At 10 I woke up to some light rain. At 11 p.m. I woke to heavy rain. The rain would not stop until arrived back in White Oak on Saturday night.

Woke up Saturday a.m. around 6:30, chamoised up and headed to the race staging area to register, set up my pit supplies and get the El Santo ready for the coming 6 hours.

A group of what looked to be 20-25 Endurance racers set off at 8:00 a.m. for the what would truly be an epic 6 hours on the bike. Rain, wind, and cold temps hovering in the high 30s and 40s.

The course was a nine mile loop that started on a paved park road, headed though a couple dirt paths that lead to a muddy hike-a-bike climb up to the start of the single track.

The single track consisted of rocks, roots, rock gardens and mostly middle ring climbs. The first lap I was surprised how well the trails were draining dispite the constant rain. This would change througout the day as multiple laps from the endurance class, beginners, sport and expert/elite classes would hammer the trails into a soggy river of mud, rock and roots. Dry this course would have been great.

I was feeling pretty good even with the cold rain and my plan was just to keep hammering laps out at my pace, try to push when the trails or roads would allow and only stop to check in, and if needed grab a gel or bottle.

Coming up the paved park path to the check in early in the race. Photo by: Dennis Smith

My descision to use my 4" travel Salsa El Santo proved to be the right one. The Fox 100RLT and Manitou Swinger 3-Way were eating up the rock gardens. I had a couple dabs here and there but this was my first time on the rocks since last year's 24 Hour Champion Challenge. I was shocked (no pun intended) at the times that I would lose my line in a rock gardens but just keep pedeling and the Fox and Mantiou would come to my rescue. I ran the Fox at 80 psi and the Swinger at 120 main chamber/125 SPV.

The mud and rain just kept getting worse. By the time the Experts started, I found many of the climbs unrideable or slow going.

Approaching the staging area just as the experts where getting organized. The the group parted and I heard many shouts of encouragement from the racers in including one Fat Marc. Thanks! Photo by Dennis Smith.

I was able to check in and get out in front of the Experts but once they caught me I did my best to let them by or walk the climbs so they could make it up. They have a LOT tougher race if you ask me. Two laps to get it done, heart rates pegged. Plus it's not often you see a group of 140lb. guys floating over rocks and mud. I can make up my time later.

As I started walking one hill I saw the familiar red, white and black colors of Bikeman.com and expert racer Josh West. So I let out a GO BIKEMAN! As he climbed we exchanged hellos. I would see Josh again later as I was again walking a hill letting the experts pass. I commented to him that "I do actually RIDE my bike sometimes!" Tried to catch him post race, but out of team kits, everybody looks the same!

By the end of my 4th lap I was really losing brake power. My pads were going. Shit! Thanfully not much speed was had through the muddy down hills. I contemplated switching to the Dos Niner but figured one bike is already jacked up from the mud, jsut go with it for another lap or so.

As the end of lap 5 approached I knew I had plenty of time (about 13 minutes) to get out for #6. The question was did I need to. What place was I even in? So I spied Fernando, an old 24 Hour teammate of mine. He checked the standings and it looked like I was gonna end up around 5th, even if I went out.

5TH!!!! I thought. How much freaking faster do I need to be to place. Eeessh. But I had fun, it was some good training, etc., etc., But it IS a race with the goal to win, or get on the box. So a little dejected and freezing cold I waited till 2 p.m. on the nose and crossed the line, seemingly in 4th or 5th, BUT...

Fernando (as he done just minutes before with his wife sending her for an un-needed last lap) had misread the score sheet and I actually finished 3rd. On the box. Sweet!

The bad part was this: Since I didn't think I did that well I was was just hanging out at the awards, bundled up in my coat etc., not a thread of Bikeman.com clothing on. So when they called 4th place I politely clapped, then they called third... ME?! I was so shocked I actually asked the woman if she got it right. She did. Felt bad I didn't have any kit on to give my bad ass sponor their due props. Sorry!

The second place kat did it on a kermit green Niner single speed. And first place went to Mid-Atlantic/East Coast endurance pro Rob Lichtenwalner.

I got some eBayable booty (Set of Kenda Tubless Tires), M.A.S.S. medal and 31 sweet M.A.S.S. Enduro Series points. I thanked the dude for the tires, told him I apprecated it and he tossed me a C-Word (Cannondale) t-shirt too. Nice.

Equipment rundown: Nutrition was pretty on. Heed in my pack. 3 scoops of Hammer Perpetuem in my bottles and two flasks of Hamemr Gel. Anotherr gel flask and bladder would have been needed for one more lap.

Except for my pads wearing down to metal and a slight shifting problem on lap 5 in the muck the El Santo worked great and my new 2.1 Panaracer Cinders hooked up on everything but 1 or two tight mud slick corners. I was shocked. In all honesty the tread pattern doesn't look that different from the Fire Pros (which don't work well in PA mud for me) but the Cinders shed the mud and grip the wet rocks and roots just fine for me. Nice improvment. Thanks Panaracer!

So that's the report. Now lets Photo Blog!


Another shot later in the race. Even muddier. Is that possible???


The drive home was 3:45 of this! Yikes!


Then I almost ran out of freaking gas!


6 hours of drinking out of THIS. I'm on "Colon Blow" watch.


6 hours of wearng these. I'm on "Anal Parasite" watch. FYI that chamois is white. NOW you know how the blog got its title. Or was it from the water bottle photo? Hmmmm.

Time to rest up, recover, get the bike back in shape by ordering some freaking disc pads, and start focussing on the 12 Hours of Lodi Farms in two weeks.

Later.