Chainbuster Racing
November 17-18, 2018
Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers, Georgia
Joël 1st overall solo male, Jess 1st overall solo female
Video- just click on to play
How did Joël and I come up with the idea of doing this event? It began with the discussion "let's do a 24 hour race in the Southeast U.S. in October or November; it's cold in Pennsylvania that time of year, it certainly will be warm and sunny if we go south" is what both Joël and I were thinking when we searched for races. We did some internet searching and solicited advice from others about good races in the Southeast and decided upon entering the Chainbuster Racing 24 Hours of Conyers. We picked a great race but we were totally wrong about the weather.
As Joël, Clifford, and I all packed into the van and departed from home two days prior to the race to begin our drive, a winter storm hit the Northeast. The first few hours of driving were slippery and slow going. Not the best way to start a long journey, let alone start the travels for a race. The first highway rest stop we came to, which is usually about a two hour drive, took us about four hours to get to. As we moved farther south the snow turned to rain and the road conditions improved. We didn't make it as far as we planned the first day, but a restful night in a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot had us ready to go the next morning. We arrived at the race venue the day before the race with ample time to set-up our pit area, register, and relax. All in all, a drive that should have taken 12 hours took 17. But hey, to put a positive spin on it, Joël and I won the award for the longest drive and were given race-sponsored shorts and jersey.
This was the first time both Joël and I raced this event; in fact the first time racing at this location and in an event put on by Chainbuster Racing. We had ridden the trails at Conyers many years ago when traveling through Georgia on our way to Florida so we had some idea what to expect when it came to the course and terrain but racing at this venue and with this group of competitors was an unknown to us. Who do we look out for? Who are the local favorites? What can we expect from our fellow racers? All things to take into consideration when competing in an unknown event. Because of this, both Joël and I decided to take the approach of start slow and conservative, get a feeling of the course, the pace, and who we will be racing. So at the start, we lined up close to the back of the pack and just decided to feel things out as the race went on. Hey, it's 24 hours of racing, there is a lot of time to ride so starting slow is not always a bad thing.
So that's how the beginning hours of the race went. It was a beautiful afternoon for the first few laps, around 60 degrees and sunny- shorts and jersey weather. I rode my first lap with a very friendly and talkative local rider who helped me dial in a good pace and helped the time fly by. He and his teammates became my own personal cheering section throughout the entire race- thanks guys! Great weather, fun course, friendly fellow racers, nutrition and hydration were on point; everything was smiley and happy until the night laps hit.
Once it got dark the temperatures dropped. They dropped quickly and significantly to below freezing. OK, this may not seem like a big deal, Joël and I ride in sub-freezing temperatures all the time. But it's different in an event like this. Your body is already taxed and burning calories at an alarming rate, it's tough to thermoregulate. You are sweaty and muddy, which doesn't help with staying warm but you can't keep changing, that's just not practical, so you just add layer after layer to keep heat in. Sometimes you are walking, sometimes riding, sometimes climbing or sometimes coasting downhill; so your heart rate goes up and down; which means hot and sweaty one minute and cold and shivering the next minute. Each lap you stop for a few minutes at the pit area to refuel; just standing around for a few minutes gets really freaking cold.
So how did we deal with this coldness. Number one: suck it up. It's a race, a 24 hour race; things are going to be bad at times, there will be deep and dark places one's mind and body goes. There may be tears, there may be cursing, but one just needs to push through these moments. Put on more layers and keep pedaling. Number two: our changing tent. The tent is meant primarily to be used to change clothing during the race, but with the addition of our little propane heater it became a way to warm up. Sitting next to the heater while changing kits was a moment of warmth during the cold night laps. One person aptly named it "the pain tent", which it certainly was. Number three: our pit area neighbors. The two guys next to us, who were very friendly and helpful the entire event, had a campfire during the night. Both Joël and I spent some time between laps standing next to the fire to keep warm. Friendly conversation with our neighbors also helped lift our spirits. Number four: the van. Around four in the morning each of us hit our breaking point. We were cold, the course was getting icy and slippery, and practically no one else was riding. The zero degree sleeping bags in the van and a warm and cuddly Clifford were calling to us. So yes, we admit it, we each took a nap for a lap. We were far enough ahead of our competition that taking a break to get warm and revive for a bit was worth it. Sleeping is not the ideal situation in a 24 hour race but sometimes it is just the best thing to do.
And when the alarm went off and we woke from our naps the sun was coming up and it was time to ride again. So back on the bikes we went. The last few morning laps to seal the win were slow and painful, by this point it was just about turning the pedals and getting in the miles. Joël finished first overall male and myself first overall female. Custom made awards and cash were awesome prizes to celebrate all those hours on the bike.
Despite the weather this event was top notch and we would recommend it to others. Chainbuster Racing puts on a great event; well organized and one can tell they are truly there for the racers. Great race perks like custom race swag and custom awards. The course at Conyers was perfect for a 24 hour race; just enough going on to keep riders on their toes and not bored but not enough to be overbearing when it became dark and riders were exhausted. This is an event both Joël and I would recommend to others and anything by Chainbuster Racing is worth attending.And of course thank you for Saucon Valley Bikes and Liv Cycling for the support during not only this race but the entire year.
For more reading, check out the Liv Cycling race report: https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/news/nankman-takes-home-the-win-at-her-first-24-hours-of-conyers/23465
- video by Joël
- photos by us and Wingfoot Photos
- words by Jess