24 hour race....you do what? Thoughts and musings about how to get through a 24 hour mountain bike race


"24 hour race, you do what?" questions and musings about 24 hour racing

There are so many race reports on this blog. Do you really need to hear about another individual race? Another 24 hour race  has just come and gone. There were great moments and dark moments, as in every 24 hour race. In the end, Joël and I each topped the podium.  But something different in lieu of a race report.  I thought I would write about the EXPERIENCE of a 24 hour race.

This racing style seems to be something Joël and I excel at.  So far, I have been on the podium at every 24 hour race we have done; Joël has been on the podium almost every time.  We aren't super fast but we are fast enough and we can ride forever. We have a van set-up to accommodate weekends away and sleeping where ever we need. Our dog, Clifford, is the perfect traveling companion that can go anywhere and everywhere with us. So in a nutshell all these attributes are perfect for us to compete in 24 hour races.

When people ask us what we are doing/what we did for the weekend and we say a 24 hour mountain bike race strange looks often follow, especially on the faces non-cyclists.  Usually after that many questions come about. The more I ponder over these questions that seem like the norm to Joël and I the more I realize the idea of this style of racing is foreign to many people.  I thought I would write about many of these questions; giving thoughts, insights, and answers to the questions we often get.

How does the course work?
24 hour races are lap races.  A lap is typically 8 to 16 miles depending on the race; taking the average racer 60 to 120 minutes.  The winner is the person who completes the most laps in 24 hours.  Being that these are mountain bike races; the course is usually a mix of single and double track.  It's never too technical; that would be dangerous as riders get sleepy.

How do you eat/drink/get supplies?

We have a "pit area". Think Nascar.  We set-up a pop-up tent, tables, a changing tent, and the van right along the course. We have a generator to give electric and have lighting for at night. Food, water bottles, bike supplies, and extra clothing are all strategically placed. Check out the timelapse video, just click on it to play.

What do you eat?
We listen to our bodies. Our pit set-up has TONS of food and drink.  One never knows what they are going to be hungry for and what our stomachs can handle.  We have learned what we like and what works for us and have a big buffet spread out.  Sports nutrition items include Honey Stinger chews, bars, and waffles; gels, Clif shot blocks, and Endurolytes.  Regular food things are bananas, Pringles, pretzels, PB&J sandwiches, gummy candies, peanut M&Ms, cookies, and crackers.  Hydration consists of Gatorade, Carbo-Pro, Cokes, water, and Boost drinks.  24 bottles (one for each hour) are pre-filled and kept in coolers so that we can just grab and go.  Our favorite thing and special item is warm chicken broth kept in a crock-pot. Nothing better in the middle of the night than a warm cup of broth.

Do you sleep?
Ideally no. The goal is to not sleep. There have been races where we haven't slept. Then there have been some where we felt like crap and slept for a few hours in the middle of the night.  We always strive to not sleep but sometimes one just needs to listen to their body. A quick nap sometimes makes the world of difference and does not affect finish time too much.

Do you really ride for 24 hours?
Essentially yes.  There is a some stopping every lap at the pit area to eat, exchange bottles, maybe change clothing. At 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo in 2017 my official finish time was just about 25 hours and according to my Garmin my ride time was well over 23 hours.

What about your bike? What if something breaks?
First off, we have complete confidence in Liv and Giant Bikes that they can take the beating we put upon them. I ride a Liv Pique Advanced and Joël a Giant XTC Advanced +.  We feel the quality and workmanship of these bikes keeps them working well.  In addition, through the help of Saucon Valley Bikes our bikes stay in good working order. Some racers will have spare bikes or at least spare wheels.  We don't have any of that, we just make sure our bikes are cared for well, parts are replaced regularly, and we take care of any issues prior to race day.

How do you feel the next day?
Tired. Sore.  Hungry. Really, really, really hungry. Accomplished if we did well, disappointed if things didn't go as planned.  We try not to eat sweets or junk food often, but the day after a 24 hour race is usually filled with cake, cookies, and chips.

How do you see at night?
A light on the helmet and accessory light on the handlebars.  Helmet light of choice is the Lupine Piko with 1200 lumens of light.  It's lightweight, gives a ton of light, easily adjustable, and has numerous battery choices. Handlebar light is usually something smaller, 600 to 800 lumen, and is just there for emergency use.  We also do fun things like colored spoke likes and blinky lights on our helmets.

What does Clifford do while you race?
Cliff stays in the van.  We have a way to keep the back and side doors open for him; using mesh and a wire dog guard to keep him from escaping. We have reflective sun-shades to block all the windows along with a fan going.  Add the awning on the van and pop-up tent partially over the van and it stays nice and cool.  Cliff has our entire bed to lay on and ample room to move around. We each take a turn to stop and let him out during the race.  If it's a race where Cliff can't go or really shouldn't (too hot or too busy) then he stays with his grandma.

How do you train for an event like this?
Just ride bikes.  An event like this is 70% mental and only 30% physical.  As part of our regular training for other races we will do a few 6 to 8 hour rides early on in the year to build endurance. But that's it, no other specific training other than the regular racing and training we do.  Sure, we do intervals, hill repeats, and technique training but this is just regular training for all the racing we do; not specifically for 24 hour racing.  On average, we ride 12 to 15 hours a week.  We do make sure to do a few night rides in the weeks leading up to a race to remind ourselves what it is like to ride at night and get our lights adjusted properly.


How do you keep going, don't you get tired?
I sing songs to myself.  I talk to my bike.  Joël listens to music on his I-Pod.  We talk to other racers.  Look at the surrounds. At night weird things happen; creatures come out, shadows look weird, the forest becomes an interesting place (which can be cool and scary at the same time).  Many people say the sunrise rejuvenates them. I don't really feel that way. Sure, it's pretty but it just reminds me how much more I need to ride.  For me, I most look forward to the beginning of the night laps just because everything changes so much; it becomes an enchanted forest.  Most races do something interesting at night to help keep riders going; Christmas-style lights, aliens in trees, a "whiskey tree" all make for variety to keep things interesting.  In every race there are times when things suck, times of "why am I doing this", maybe even tears.  But there are just as many (or more) smiles, times when it's fun, and moments of accomplishment- that's why we do this crazy stuff.

What about going to the bathroom and other gastrointestinal issues?
The forest makes for great pee breaks.  If a real toilet is needed, races typically have a port-o-john or real bathrooms somewhere along the course.  As far as other gastrointestinal issues, 24 hours is a long time, odd food items are being consumed, and the stress and strain of racing can do weird things to the gut. That is what Immodium and Pepto are for.


What do you wear? How about chafing?
As for chafing, lots and lots of chamois lube.  We also have lidocaine gel to use if we get a saddle sore.  As for clothing, typical bike clothing- bibs, jersey, etc.  Good clothing makes all the difference; yes, expensive cycling shorts really are worth it. My current favorite is the Liv Signature bibs.  Both Joël and I change at least once; one time is usually half-way through and we will change again if it's terrible weather (wet and/or muddy chamois are not any fun). There is just something so refreshing about putting on clean clothing.  We try to change as little as possible; it's strange how tough it is to get undressed and dressed when you are tired and in a rush.  One thing that we use that has helped immensely is a changing tent. It looks similar to an outhouse. We set it up next to our pit area and can hang our clothing in it for easy changing when needed.  Other helpful items- a good pair of glasses and comfy gloves are a must.


What about staying cool and hydrated when it's hot?
First rule when it's hot- take it easy when it's hot.  Both Joël and I learned the hard way about overheating and dehydration- they are a sure way to ruin a race.  In the coolers where we keep our bottles we have sponges and rags soaking that we can wipe off with to help stay cool. Our favorite is ice socks.  We fill a few big tube socks with ice and stick them in our jerseys. The ice takes about half a lap to melt, this really helps to keep cool.

How about the weather?
All sorts of weather can happen during a 24 hour period.  Joël and I have raced 24 hour races in everything from hot and sunny 90+ degrees to raining and almost freezing temperatures.  We are racing, so not matter what the weather throws at us we are going to keep riding. We pack accordingly and bring the proper clothing for whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Remember as stated earlier, 70% mental, terrible weather is when the mental game comes into play the most.

So have I answered all your questions? Yes, it seems crazy to ride a bike for 24 hours.  But, as odd as this sounds, we like it. It's a challenge, it's an accomplishment. We test our bodies and minds to see what they can do and push them farther than the last time.  It's a way to motivate ourselves to go further and faster and hopefully motivate others along the way. We get to see new places and make new friends.  In the words of Liv Cycling, it's "How We Liv".

- Jess (with occasional input from Joël)

Links to posts about some of the 24 hour races we have done. Hardcore 2015 has a great race video.
Hardcore 24 2015
Hardcore 24 2016
18 Hours Scouts Honor
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo 










Allegheny National Forest- Jake's Rocks and Rocky Gap, PA

Allegheny National Forest (ANF)
Where: North central/western Pennsylvania
When: July 2017

No racing for us at this location, this was strictly a riding vacation weekend. We have heard about this location from many people for many years, and have always been interested in getting there to ride and finally did.  And we were not disappointed. What an amazing location for anyone who is interested  in outdoor activities. Camping, hiking, kayaking, boating, horseback riding, and cycling were all activities we saw people doing there during the weekend.

Being that ANF is a  national forest, camping is pretty much allowed anywhere. But being that we had never been here before and didn't know the lay of the land we opted to get a site at the ANF Dewdrop Campground for the weekend. It was a nice campground.  Spacious spots well separated from other sites, friendly camp hosts, and conveniently located a few miles from one of the areas we were planning on riding.  The only odd thing about this camp sites was the showers.  To get hot water in the showers one had to push a button outside of the shower stall. Once the button was pushed you had 2 to 3 minutes of hot water. That was it, so shower fast. The campgrounds weren't bad but next time we head out to that area we plan to just set-up camp in the national forest.



Our first riding adventure was a Jake's Rocks, an IMBA trail system that is quite new and still being worked on. Currently there is about 10 miles of trails, but the plan us to have 40 miles by the time it's complete. Most of the trails are machine built, think Allegrippis or Nockamixon, but are not quite as smooth and flowy. Sure, they have that aspect, but there are still rock gardens and technical features. Both Joël and I agree our favorite trail was Three Sisters, a short side-trail.  It was much more single track than the others and wove around and through these huge rocks, pretty awesome. The vegetation and scenery during the riding was quite different than anything we have seen before. The forest was very open between the trees and was filled with ferns. It was like a green, storybook wonderland. It was quite beautiful.  Jake's Overlook, a rock cropping with a great view of the lake, is accessible from the trails and parking area.  We stopped there for some photos.  To get in the miles we wanted, we rode every trail both directions and rode too and from Dewdrop Campground. We met other riders along the trail but not so many of them to be annoying. Everyone was friendly and happy to be out there.  The milage at Jake's Rocks is a little short but it's a fun and beautiful place to ride.  Definitely recommended. Great job to everyone working on this place, you have something good going there.




The other riding adventure for the weekend was the Rocky Gap ATV trail.  It is set-up like a figure eight with the parking lot in the middle. The trails are designated one-way.  Since this is a multi-use trail system primarily used by ATVS and motos, we got started early in the morning to avoid too much traffic. This worked quite well, we only encountered a few motos and one ATV, they were all super friendly and happy to be out and sharing the trail.  This trail system was geared toward OHVs, it is all double track with chunky and rocky trail.  Lots of recent rain made for numerous large mud puddles. The riding was good; we enjoyed the trails and it was a good day of training.  The most noteworthy part of these trails was the oil drilling.  Old oil drilling equipment was everywhere.  We couldn't tell if it was so old that it was no longer being used or just not being used at this moment. A neat piece of history of the area to see while riding.

This trip to ANF was not only about the riding. We visited the Kinzua Bridge, an old train viaduct that was destroyed by a tornado that is now turned into a state park. A portion of the old bridge has been turned into a walkway complete with part that has a glass floor.  A distillery and winery were also visited.

What a great weekend of cycling, camping, and sightseeing.  ANF we will be back.

- Jess and Joël













6 Hours at Woodstock, Woodstock, MD

6 Hours at Woodstock
Where: Woodstock, MD
When: June 25, 2017
Event: 6 hour marathon/endurance race

Joël 1st single speed, Jess 1st open women

This was our first time racing 6 Hours at Woodstock (6 HAW).  Located in Patapsco State Park, we were looking forward to riding the trails there. We have only ever ridden in Patapsco once before, during a race, we enjoyed it and were interested in going back for more.  Our racing buddy Jen is one of the main organizers behind 6 HAW, so it was great to help support her and her sponsor Joe's Bike Shop.

Accommodations the night before the race was camping in Patapsco State Park campground.  A decent place to stay, nothing noteworthy, just your typical state park. It was about a 20 to 30 minute drive from the campground to the race start location.

Race morning we set-up the van as usual, making sure it was cool and roomy for Cliff for the day. Our pit location for the race was simple, no tent or anything, just a small card table with race nutrition on it and a cooler to keep our bottles cool. We set-up our stuff between tents of teams that were racing; they offered the spot and offered to help us during the day, which was quite a nice offer. One interesting part about all of this- parking and the pit area was on an old landfill.  Nice way to re-use the space.

The course was a 10 mile loop; a pretty fast loop that had a little bit of everything.  It was mostly smooth trail but there were some rocky sections, a few log overs, a creek crossing, and lots of short steep ups and downs. A few times the trails went along a creek, which was beautiful to look at and later in the day kids were swimming in it which was fun to watch (and a little envious also because that looked much cooler and less painful than what I was doing).  Interesting sights along the trail included an old car that had a plastic skeleton in it, crossing under the interstate overpass, and this picturesque old quarry with an abandoned boat in it. Overall it was a fun course that tested even the best racers but was inviting enough for beginners. It was a good pick for an endurance event.

It was an uneventful race for me. I felt good the entire time, pushed just the right a amount, and had no mechanicals. Joël's body did fine but he did have one equipment problem- a broken shoe. A mid-race stop at the van for some tape to fix it was needed.

Being that this was a six hour lap race, the goal was to complete as many laps as possible in six hours.  There were both solo and team divisions.  Joël and I each put in six laps, good enough for each of us to win our division.  We were rewarded with tasty post race food and beer and prize money to put in our pockets for the way home.

All in all a great event. All aspects of it were well done. We definitely plan to be back.

-Jess and Joël