The process: Bike in stand, wire brush chain, wipe chain with rag, lube chain, spin wheel to work in lube, clean fork stanchions with rag, wipe excess lube from chain, remove bike from stand. NEXT!!!I would do this little "dance" 78 times from noon Saturday to noon Sunday while helping out some lads racing the Coolest 24 Hour race in Cool Ca. See pics here.
After several attempts at 24 hour races, I've come to the realization that those things just aren't for me. Something about climbing out of a warm, soft sleeping bag at 3:30 AM to ride yet another lap just doesn't work for me. 100 mile mountain bike races, xc races, cyclocross.... it's all good... but not 24 hour events. However, in the environment of good people in camp, cold beer in coolers and no pressure to ride in the wee hours... I've come around a little bit for the craziness that is 24 hour racing.
I decided to take on this little "task" of doing mechanical support for a team (4 people) and four solo riders (aka: sicko's) to help out friends and really put my mobile bike repair service to the test (more on that later).
The way I see it, the race is only part of the weekend. The real "experience" comes from all the other stuff associated with the race. Hanging out with old friends, making new ones, seeing people suffer, seeing people charge, checking out a new town, delerium on the drive home.... it's all part of the experience. This weekend would be no different.
I could go on and on about standing in front of the bike stand at who knows what time in the morning, chain lube in hand, sleep deprived, wobling in small circles like the town drunk, wondering what I just did 10 seconds ago.... but it wouldn't do justice. It's something you just have to see and do for yourself. Hopefully you will. Or maybe you just have!
Hats off to everyone in camp at the race. Twas a pleasure meeting new folks and seeing people push themselves. Extra special kudo's to Ryan Fowler for not only doing 19 laps, but also going out to get per lap donations for the fight against cancer!!
2 comments:
Dude, what, no mention of the original (functioning), rear suspension bike. That's right the Proflex, with the help of the Genesis rear air shock, the World Cup frame design still leaves todays designs in the dust. They were the first to think about anti-bob, Dig-in technolgy, and pivot location.
The network of mobile bicycle mechanics http://www.cyclefix.net
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