So I like volunteering for Epic Rides events, you get the swag, you get to ride the course and you go at your own pace (usually...read on). Everything one could want - but without paying for it. This is the second event that I've swept for them (Tour of the White Mountains 08).
Erik was doing the 25 proof again so he headed out about an hour before the 15 proofers did. Now, being an Epic Rides event, the 15 proof meant that we were really going like 18 miles. 18 proof just doesn't sound as fun.
I lined up in the back and chatted with a few people who swore they were going to be last. I laughed and let them know they certainly wouldn't be last as that was my job. The weather was kind of chilly and I had forgotten my knickers so I only had my mtn bike shorts. I figured I would get warmed up quickly. I did take a jacket which I started with, took off and then put back on later.
We headed out and within the first 2 miles I knew this was going to be a long day. There was a woman who was off her bike and walking - and we were still on the pavement!
We made it slowly onto the gravel road and then finally started heading up the climb to the singletrack. I found it was easier for me to just ride very slowly (in my granny gear - to go slow) and stop frequently to let her catch up. Or spend some time chatting with the medic sweep and then try to ride as slow as possible before I caught up to her again. As we rode I learned she had just started mtn biking about 6 months prior and had been a former swimmer. I believe she said she had qualified for the Olympics but as she put it, that was 20+ yrs ago.
We actually did ok on singletrack as she could descend fairly well. We finally got to the first radio check (who were quite worried!). Unfortunately, this also signaled the beginning of the horrible climb that is the 15-proof Whiskey. Again I kept the with the idea of making really slow, S's across the road. I would ride about .25-.5 mile out in front and then wait. I just couldn't possibly ride my bike to go as slow as she was walking and I had no interest in pushing my bike up that hill. Every time we would go around a corner the road just kept climbing. I swore it would never end. I'm not sure, personally, how I would have done at this race if I was racing; but sweeping I was feeling fairly good and while climbing at elevation was taking some effort I wasn't dying.
We finally got to the point where the 25's & 50's meet up with the 15's. From here it is more climbing up to the aid station. I finally arrived at the aid station and my charge arrived a few minutes later. The aid station is set near a top of a hill at a vista point. It horribly windy and I was afraid to get to close to the edge! I snacked on some pretzels and helped out the volunteers for a few minutes. I watched my sweepee head off to start what I thought was the downhill part of the trail. I gave her a good 20-30 mins head start in hopes that she would make it a ways before I caught her. I think I rode a couple miles before catching up to her - and most of it was downhill! We eventually came up to a loose, rocky jeep road that didn't look I wanted to ride down so we trotted down and got on our way. I was beginning to wonder, as people passed us, just how few people were behind us? We discovered that we still had more climbing in front of us before we could call it a good day on the bike.
I started to slow down after the aid station which actually helped me stay with my new friend a little better. We finally got back on some single track that had a couple little stream crossings and we were finally having a good time. We rejoiced when we hit the last section of trail before you get back to the road. Of course, this section of trail is really rocky (large rocks) and we both spent good chunks walking. When we hit the road, we chatted with the SAG guys for a couple minutes and found out that there was about 4 people total behind us. 4. From the 15, 25 AND 50 races. We set off on the pavement which was pretty much all downhill. We took so long that most of the cones had been taken down and we had to navigate traffic on our own. When we headed back into the residential section of town we realized we didn't know where the left turn was that took us back to the finish and we missed it which caused us to do a bit more climbing than originally planned. The medic sweep caught up to us and I got directions from him. We turned around and made a right and started heading back to the square.
We crossed the line 6:30 (ish) after we had set out that morning. For 15 (17ish) miles. Longest day ever. I did end up getting a thank you email from the lady I rode with. Erik finished before me. So far before me that he went back to camp, napped and then came back to town. Awesome. I rewarded myself with some fish & chips and a cold beer. :-)
Pictures: 2009 Whiskey Off-Road
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