Hardcore 24, Naples, NY

Hardcore 24
Event: Hardcore 24 solo 24 hour race
Place: Ontario State Park, Naples, NY

After a less than stellar Summer Solstice 24 Hour race just a month ago, we took the lessons learned from that race and applied them to the Hardcore 24. We slept more the week before the race, we packed and did house chores during the week so that come Friday we had nothing house-related to do, we arrived at the race site early on Friday so that we could set-up the day before, and got to bed earlier than normal the night before the race. All of these things helped make sure we would start the race with us well rested and stress free.

Race morning we slept in, then finished setting up our pit area. Food was spread out on the table, all electronics and lights were plugged in, coolers were prepped, and our clothing for the next 24 hours was organized. The race didn't start until noon; we took the morning to relax some more and socialize with friends and other racers.  Friends and fellow solo racers from PA were set-up directly across from us; it was fun to have them there and to catch-up with them.  Before we knew it, race time arrived and we were ready to go.

Both Joël and I had the same goal for this race; to start conservatively and ride as consistenly as possible.  Heat and dehydration took their tool at the Summer Solstice, so we took extra measures to prevent those issues at this race.  We had sponges soaked in ice water and ice-filled cloth bags (we actually modified tube socks for this) to put in our shirts each lap. We also had a bucket filled with water and rags in which to wipe ourselves down with between laps. These ideas worked great, they were quick and easy to insitute between laps and really helped keep us cool.  As far for riding tactics, we both kept a closer eye on our effort and heart rate. We kept our max heart rate and effort lower as to stay in the aerobic zone longer.

Both of us rode the first part of the race separately.  Just after nightfall Joël lapped me and we decided to ride together for a bit. This then turned into riding together for the entire night portion of the race. It's always nice to have company during endurance races, but especially nice to have company during the night laps at a 24 hour race.  It is a really added bonus if you can ride with your significant other (assuming of course you like to ride with that person!).  Sure, we didn't always talk much, since by this point in the race we were like zombies on auto-pilot, but still nice to have someone else there.  We saw mice scurrying everywhere, huge centipedes and spiders, a doe with two little fawn, and the sun rise. Once the sun was up I was really starting to slow down and was starting to walk a bit, so I sent Joël on his way. I rode for only a short time more, ending around 9:30am with 18 laps, I had enough of a lead that I could stop well before the noon cut-off. Joël had to ride a little longer than I did to ensure he stayed in the lead, he stopped around 10:30 with 21 laps.

What a great race this is, we recommend it.  The seven mile course is primarily single track, with just enough technical sections to keep racers on their toes but to not be dangerous when tired.  There are climbs but nothing unrideable and nothing too long or sustained. The course is well marked and there are mile markers every mile that at night are lit with white sparkling lights. It's little things like that which bring about smiles after hours and hours of riding.  The race support is great, the timing guys were always cheering for us and helping by giving us splits and lap info every time we passed by.  Support by spectators and other racers was amazing also. Everytime passing through the pits people were cheering and offering motivation.  Neutral water was available to racers during the race and post-race vouchers for food from an on-site  food-truck were given to racers. Awards were large trophies, a choice of prize, and cash to overall winners. Thanks to all who helped with the race; it has a great vibe and a good course, what more can one want in a race?

So that's it, Hardcore 24 completed.  We both felt good about our races, enjoyed our time out there, our Liv and Giant bikes held up to the challenge of being beat-up for mile after mile, and we came away with the win.

-Jess and Joël

Michaux Curse of Dark Hollow, near Shippensburg, PA

Vovlo Michaux Endurance- Curse of Darkhollow
Event: Curse of the Dark Hollow 30 mile marathon race
Place: Michaux State Forest, near Shippensburg, PA

These are great races, what more can we stay about the Michaux Races.  This was the second race in the yearly Vovlo Michaux Endurance Series. Each race offers a 10, 20, and 30 mile option.  As you can guess, we always race the 30 mile race.  There is also an enduro category within the 20 and 30 mile race; which is a separate event to enter.

Michaux State Forest is known for it's rocks, and the race course is full of them.  Even the best racers (and I am writing this based on Joël's analysis of the course) still had to walk at a few places.  There is a good mix of single track with just enough double track and gravel roads for passing. Climbing at just over 1000 feet per 10 miles, there were some decent climbs within the race but nothing too terrible.  The course was well marked, aid stations sufficient, and the rhododendron were blooming which made for a beautiful scenery.

Both Joël and I were looking forward to a day of racing.  We felt good, finally recovered from the 24 hour race.  We love rocky and technical courses; and those are what we ride well. Many other fast people showed up, so we had our work cut out for us.  We both rode well; I know I pushed my limits multiple times.  And we both had fun out there, enjoying the course and enjoying the ride.  Joël was 6th in the open men and I was 1st open female.

Post race food for racers included burgers or sandwiches and fries.  Overall winners received cash and prizes; enduro winners and the 10 and 20 mile winners received prizes.  The race director is enthusiastic and the atmosphere at all of the Michaux races is one of fun and friends. What great races!

-Jess and Joël

6 Hours of Power, Ellicottville, NY

6 Hours of Power
Place: Holiday Valley Ski Resort, Ellicottville, NY
Event: 6 Hours of Power 6 hour race

6 Hours of Power (6HOP) is a race we have always been intrigued about.  Joël and I have always heard good things about it and decided to make the journey to New York for the race. We decided to make a weekend trip out of the race; the Ellicottville area touts a artisan shopping area and many eateries so we figured it would make for a good mini-break weekend trip.

Visiting the town of Ellicottville definitely was worth the extra time.  Many small eateries and cafes, a winery and brewery, and eccletic shops. It was a relaxing town to walk around in, do some window shopping, and enjoy some of the local food and beverages.  Camping was available at the race site, so it was an easy decision as to where to stay for the night.  We picked a level spot for the van, filled food and water bowls for Cliff, and settled in for the night.

Race morning we made breakfast, set-up our pit spot, walked Cliff and were then ready to race.  This was a lap race; so a pit area was needed to to place bottles and nutrition. There were a few places along the course where water was being handed out but no actual aid-stations supplying food or bike support. This is the way lap races work, racers go around and around passing their pit multiple times during the day.

The course, which was different than what it had been other years due to a new race director, utilized the ski slopes at the resort.  Thus, it pretty much went up the mountain, wove across the top, then back down the mountain.  It started with a gravel climb and then a small amount of single track to the top, a few miles of twisty and rooty single track along the top, then then new flow trail to the bottom.  The flow trail is in the process of being built, so unfortunately it was not much of a flow trail.  It was still rough and bumpy, and not all of the corners were bermed. Thus, not too much speed could be gotten, too bad.  Course marking was a bit lacking, both Joël and I took wrong turns at one point (which is unusual for us).

Just two weeks after a 24 hour race, Joël and I thought we were well recovered.  But, it seems that we were not.  I just couldn't get going, the race turned into a six hour training race.  Joël had a great first few hours, but then just ran out of energy. Despite feeling a little "blah", we both still put in enough effort for good race results.  I was 2nd overall female and 1st in my age group. Joël was 4th overall male and 2nd in his age group.

The trip to Ellicottville made for a nice weekend away. The race was well run, fun, and had good prizes.  A huge meal of pasta and salad was available to all competitors post race.  However, the course was a little disappointing. The new course did not live up to what we had heard about this race; it was unrewarding and lackluster.  A race that we would still recommend to others and it was great to experience the race and surrounding town, but not one we would rave about.

-Jess and Joël

Summer Solstice 24 Hour Race, Bolton, ON, Canada

Summer Solstice 24 Hour Race
By Chico Racing
Bolton, ON, Canada
June 24-24, 2016


First off, an explanation of what a 24 hour race is.  As the name implies, the race takes part over 24 hours.  Riders can do the race as an individual, commonly called "solo" or as a team of anywhere from two to ten people depending on the race format.  The course is a lap format, laps usually taking anywhere from one to two hours. Winner is the person/team who completes the most laps in the 24 hour period.  At a designated spot along the course, riders/teams can set up a "pit spot", usually a tent and vehicle where they can keep all their supplies for the race.  These pit areas typically have an electric hook-up so that people can charge their riding lights and have other electrical equipment they want. This is where food (Honey Stinger nutrition products, granola bars, bananas, chips, pretzels, PB&J sandwiches, cookies), drinks (water, Gatoraid, CarboPro, soda, chicken broth), and any other supplies are kept and accessed during the race.

The Summer Solstice race is in the Albion Hills Park in Bolton, Ontario, Canada. It is advertised as the largest 24 hour race in North America, this year having 2200 people riding.  Many of these are team riders, but the solo fields were quite large also, 60 some solo riders. Along with the 24 hour race there is a large expo, kids and family races, live music, and food vendors.  It's quite the event- people and things going on everywhere!  The course is twisty and turny, with a few short, steep climbs. There are minimal rocks and technical features.  Lack of rain this year made the course super sandy and loose, and the dust was out of control.  It is a course that is suitable for even beginners to be out there riding.  Camping/pit areas are all along the course, with an area specifically for solo riders that is out of the way in a darker, quieter area of the park.  We were happy with the pit area; we were right along the course and had friendly solo racers and their family across from us.

Now, on the race.  Can one really plan a 24 hour race?  A lot can happen in 24 hours both with one's body, their bike, the course and weather conditions. Proper planning is key...but even with the best planning things can still go awry. Neither Joël nor I had the race we planned. Due to various locations of road construction the drive up took longer than expected; thus we arrived late and didn't get to sleep until later than we planned the night before the race.  Lack of sleep going into a 24 hour race is not a good idea.  Race day arrived and it was hot, temps in the 90s. Grabbing a bottle per lap (about one hour per lap), drinking at aid stations, pouring water over ourselves, and cold towels to wipe down with between laps were still not enough to ward off dehydration and overheating. Our calorie intake was good, effort (measured by heart rate) was where we wanted it, but the heat was just overwhelming.

By the time darkness arrived we were at least cooling off but already feeling exhausted.  After a few night laps in I had enough, I was riding off the trail and couldn't focus- I needed a nap.  At the previous 24 hour race neither Joël nor I slept, and we had planned not to at this one. But sometimes plans need to be altered.  I stuffed my face with food and drank cup after cup of chicken broth (kept warm in a crock pot, yup, we bring a crock pot to 24 hour races) hoping all of the calories, fluids, and sodium would sink in while I slept. Changing into a fresh set of clothes but putting everything on- my helmet, shoes, etc- I climbed into the van, wrapped myself in a blanket and crawled into the van. Why keep everything on?  So that when I wake up later I can just jump out of the van and go. Mentally it's easier to get going if ready.

About 30 to 45 minutes into my lap Joël arrived.  He woke me up and I felt somewhat refreshed to start again. However, Joël was now feeling sub par.  We decided to ride a lap together. Joël was now looking how I felt earlier, disorientated and needed a break. As we arrived back at the pit he decided it was time for a break.  Doing the same thing I did earlier it was nap time for Joël.  After a few laps on our own we met up again at the tent just after daybreak. Both of us were mentally and physically spent, more so than at this point in the previous 24 hour race we did. Joël was currently in third and I was in second so we knew we had to keep riding despite not wanting to at all.  We decided to ride together. DUO!  This way we would have company and someone else to motivate us.  We stayed together for the remaining few laps.  Having each other made the ride go so much better; someone to talk to, someone to help motivate, and someone who felt just as crappy as the other person.  We rode slowly, walked often, and around 10:30am called it quits. Yes, we stopped early, we both should have done more laps, but we just couldn't go any longer. This worked fine for me, I was able to hold on to second but unfortunately Joël lost a few places and ended up sixth.

And now what happens post race?  Well, two tired, exhausted people clean up their pit area.  Then each of us devoured a huge burger and fries.  Showers were located on site which was nice to clean up after racing; all that dust made dirty conditions.  Staying awake for awards was tough, Joël had to wake me up multiple times while we were waiting.

Then for the drive. Ha, driving home doesn't happen. Our reward to ourselves is a hotel; a big comfy bed, air conditioning set to cold, dinner at a local buffet, and TV time are our reward. As comfy as the van is no sleeping in the van and cooking on the camp stove post 24 hour race, we want to be spoiled. And did I forget to mention we work full time jobs? So it's back to work on Tuesday (race ended Sunday afternoon) as if nothing abnormal happened over the weekend.

So not all things go as planned. We both definitely felt our races were not what we had planned, expected, nor wanted.  During the drive home we talked about what to do different next time to improve the outcome. So when will the next 24 hour race be? Who knows, we need some time to recover and then it will be decided.

YouTube video of the race https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZl3fWXroX4&feature=youtu.be

-Jess and Joël

Rothrock Trail Mix, Boalsburg, PA

Rothrock Trail Mix
Boalsburg, PA
June 11, 2016

Probably one of our favorite races ever!

Just one week after Transy-sylvania Mountain Bike Epic (TSE) Joël and I returned to the trails of Rothrock State Forest for the Rothrock Trail Mix, put on by Happy Valley Biking. This is by far one of our favorite races. The course is awesome, the post race food tasty, post race beers thirst quenching, and good awards all make this race worth the journey.

The van had recently undergone some renovations and changes to the sleeping area, so we excited to try it out.  The changes were planned to give a larger sleeping platform, added storage room, and a more comfortable traveling area for Cliff.  After spending the night in the van in an unmentioned parking area, we cooked breakfast on the camp stove and felt ready for a day of racing.

This race includes many of our favorite trails; my favorite trail ever Tussey Mountain is part of the race.  The course is primarily single track, which we enjoy, the more rocky single tract the better. Unfortunately this year John Wert, a notoriously difficult section of trail, was not in the race due to road construction on the gravel road leading up to it.  The race director put in a valiant effort to find a way around the construction; but nothing could be done, the course just had to follow the road. Now, don't let this fool you, I forgot until I was on this section of road that this alternative route is not joke. The road climb is tough!

This race was a first for me, I lead from start to finish.  With a neutral roll-out for the start I decided to start near the front. Looking around I saw no other women. Where were they? As I wove my way up the first section of single track up Green Shoot I could hear another women back behind me so I knew someone was there but how close or how far I didn't know. So from there on out I just rode my own race. Pushing hard and riding clean, I just kept pedaling along at a good pace. And this plan worked.  I finished first woman, almost 30 minutes ahead of the second place female.  Joël had some stomach issues in the beginning which put him mid-pack at the start, but once he worked through the problem he was able to work his way back through racers to finish in the top ten.

Post race libations included whoopie pies, sloppy joes, watermelon, chips, and keg after keg of Straub beer. What a great way to reward one's self after a hard day of racing.  Thanks to all the race sponsors and Happy Valley Biking for putting on a great race.

-Jess and Joël

Cranky Monkey 6 Hours of Rosaryville

Cranky Monkey- 6 Hours of Rosaryville
Rosaryville, MD
June 19, 2016


This was our first experience with any SCORE/Cranky Monkey races.  Joël and I had always heard good things about this race series, so on a last minute whim seeing we had an open weekend we decided to head down to Maryland for this race.

No camping was allowed in the state park where the race was happening, so after making dinner on the camp stove at a local park we decided our accommodations for the night would be to park in a local grocery store parking lot.  Not a bad choice; quiet and dark enough to sleep well but we had an interesting neighbor; a one-armed man in a wheel chair.  After chatting with him for a bit while out walking Cliff Joël learned that this man lived in a tent behind the trees next to the parking lot. Mental note to self- don't pee behind the trees next to the parking lot (which was where I had planned to use as my pee spot for the middle of the night pee.)

Race morning we headed over to Rosaryville State Park to get our gear set-up for the race. Being that this was a lap race there was a neutral feed-zone area for racers to keep gear and where team racers would switch out riders. Joël and I were each racing as solo riders, we used this area to put up a table to set out bottles and food for the race.  We figured each lap would take about an hour, so we could go by the table every 60 minutes and grab what we needed.


The course was about 11 miles of twisty, turny, smooth single track. When we arrived at the race, a fellow racer said to us "I am surprised to see the two of you here, this course is not the usual type for the two of you, there are no rocks". And he was right, but it's good to do something different every now and then.  The "outer loop" as it's known to locals was very fast and flowy. The "inner loop" was a bit more technical, there were numerous log-overs, some bridges, and tight turns. Overall the course was a bit boring, but it was a well maintained course that was well marked and had some interesting moments.

The best part of the race was the aid station volunteers. They were happy, friendly, and super helpful. One was giving splits to Joël and I about how far behind the other racers were; what a help this is during a race. Thank you for that!

After 6+ hours on the bike, I ended the day first overall female and Joël second open male.  Post race festivities included unlimited pizza and beer.  Being that both of us were on the podium, we also walked away with beer.

-Jess and Joël