What to Expect on Race Day During a 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race
It's around 11am, about an hour to go until the start (most 24 hour races start at noon). By now breakfast and coffee are consumed. The pit area; typically under a Saucon Valley Bikes pop-up tent next to the van; where all the race nutrition, hydration, gear and clothing is stored; is set up and ready to go. Bike tires have been pumped, chain lubed, and race number affixed to handle bars. Now it's time to put one's feet up, relax in a chair, and think "I'm excited about the challenge and looking forward to pushing myself but really, why the heck did I sign up for this? I'm going to be riding my bike for the next 24 hours? Why?" Many things will happen to a riders mind and body over the next 24 hours, I am here to enlighten you about what to expect.
The start and first few hours
Don't be tempted to go fast! My goal for the first portion of the race is to get into am aerobic, decent paced rhythm. Get to know the course. Talk to other racers and get to know who else is out there, it's nice to make friends now so that in the middle of the night you have people to talk to. Keep consistent with hydration, calorie intake, and if it is hot work on keeping cool. I once had a very successful fellow 24 hour racer tell me "the first lap should be your slowest". I admit, I don't ride quite that slow but my advice is don't get caught up in the chaos of racing, don't feel you need to get the holeshot into the single track, it's OK to have to wait at times. You can easily loose a race by going to hard in the first few hours. Ride at a honest pace, enjoy the course, eat and drink, make friends.Dusk and nightfall
This is my favorite part of the race, usually about eight or so hours into the race. At this point, I am starting to feel it, my legs and body are getting tired. Typically my stomach is still fine, no digestion issues and I am eating and drinking as usual. This means a bottle every hour rotating Gatorade/CarboPro mix and water for hydration and a mix of Honey Stinger chews, bars, and waffles as food. When it's time to put the lights on I take a "personal refresher" break to help give my body and mind some motivation. I change my kit; a fresh chamois and fresh Chamois Butt'r along with a non-sweaty sports bra and baselayer going into the night laps just feels so good. I also take care of anything else that is bothering me; maybe there are some blisters starting that need attention, a toe rubbing inside of my shoe, a squeaky chain on my bike. Now is the time I take care of those things so I can do everything in one stop and start the night laps feeling refreshed. Being its getting dark, time to put on my light, a Lupine Piko helmet mount (battery pack in my back pocket). I use the battery pack that last 4 hours, it's light weight and only requires switching a few times during the night (I have two batteries). But as I alluded to, this is my favorite part of the race. After doing all the above, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. As night falls the course changes and the forest comes alive. Creatures start to come out, the shadows make for interesting sights, and it just completely changes my entire perspective of the race. To me, this is the magical and mystical part of the race.Midnight
Time to reflect, regroup, and hopefully recharge for when things get tough in a few hours. Right around 12 hours is when things get a little funny but I am still feeling decent, so it's time to think ahead and do what is needed to prevent problems later. This is when I often add in some extra calories. In addition to the "chewable" food I always eat as mentioned above, I will also drink a Boost protein drink or some chicken broth with each stop at the pit. I think about what may be happening soon; if my back is starting to hurt a little I take some Ibuprofen before it really starts to hurt. If I am starting to feel a little chafing I add some extra Chamois Butt'r before things really start hurting. If I hear a little creaking in my chain I add extra chain lube. My Pique Advanced is always such a consistent ride; rarely does it need maintenance during a race. This is the half way point so it's time to make sure things will all work fine and go smoothly for the second half.The witching hours, around 2 to 4am
This is when things get tough for me. The course is usually empty by now, many people are sleeping. I get really tired right about now. Riding in a straight line is tough, being on the trail can be dangerous. I have fallen asleep while riding at this time. Hallucinations are common. Things are really starting to hurt. This is when things are either going to fall apart or I'm going to persevere. I'm honest, there have been a few times when I have opted to sleep at this point. I made the call because maybe it was too dangerous to ride, maybe it was too cold to ride, or maybe my back hurt too much; but I opted the best for me was to sleep for a few hours. Obviously I try not to do that but sometimes it is a necessity. If I opt to keep going these are the slow laps. It's all about just pedaling and keeping the forward momentum. I continue to add in extra calories at each pit stop by eating food and also drinking broth and boosts. Liquid hydration is easier to digest right now. I make sure to switch out my Lupine Light battery to a fresh, fully charged one. The goal during these hours is to just keep going. Sometimes that involves quite a bit of walking, but hey, it's still forward momentum. One nice thing about these late hours is this is the point in the race where Joël and I meet up. He is a little faster, has been ahead of me, and is now lapping me. Since things are slowing down and forward momentum is all that matters we usually start riding together. It is so nice to have company during these night laps. We talk, give each other motivation, and make sure we are still riding safe. Depending on how the race is going, meaning do we have time to wait for each other and not have to rush, we will often ride together from now until the end.
Daybreak
Ah, finally a sign that the end is near. Many people that do 24 hour racing say the sunrise is like a re-birth to them, then feel energized and new. I don't. I just feel that the sunrise is a reminder that I still have six more hours to go. Sorry to be such a downer about it. Usually by this time one or many of the following are happening: hands are so numb holding the bars hurts, legs are so sore and tired can barely pedal. bottom of feet hurt and are hot, chafing is occurring somewhere, stomach issues including nausea, back spasms happening. By now there has usually been tears (sometime of frustration and pain, sometime of joy). All sounds like a great time, right? OK, but all that being said, it is refreshing to know the end is in sight. The lights can come off. It starts to warm up. More people are on the course. From here on out it's auto pilot. No matter what just keep going. Sure, everything hurts but just keep going. But it is only a few hours to go. Just keep pedaling and get through it.Finish
Yipee, it's almost done. Depending on the race the last lap has to be complete by 24 hours or the last lap needs to be started by 24 hours. Note of wisdom, know which it is. One year at 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo I did not know you had to cross the finish line after the 24 hour lap to have your time count. I crossed the line just before noon and thought I was done; nope, I had to go out for another lap. Which at that point meant another two hours out there. I literally cried. I didn't want to ride more, but I had no choice if I wanted to have a finish time. I would have planned things different if I had know that was the rule. But no matter what, it's over. Just get through those last few laps strong and know that soon you can sleep. And the key to a strong finish...if Joël have ridden most of the race together we always cross the finish line with a kiss. It's then time to clean up the pit area, attend podiums/awards, and then get some much needed sleep.- words by Jess
- photos by Jess and Joël, Spotograf Mike Briggs