12 Hours of Rocks and Roots at 12 Hours of Port Jervis

 

12 Hours of Rocks and Roots at 12 Hours of Port Jervis

Event: 12 Hours of Port Jervis

What: 12 hour mountain bike race

Organizer: StarCrawf Promotions vis Dejay Birtch

Where: Port Jervis Watershed Park, Port Jervis, New York

When: May 4, 2024

Rock rock rock rock root root root drop rock rock rock rock rock root root root root root root root rock rock rock rock rock rock rock rock…OK, you get the point. These are the beauteous features of the Elks-Bronx Trail system but also the beat your body to hell features of riding these trails for 12 hours.  As one fellow racer said post race “I feel like I have no spine, it has been broken into pieces” but yet at the same time these statements are said with a smile and with enjoyment and with a feeling of awesomeness and accomplishment for pedaling there in the solo event.

12 Hours of Port Jervis is more than just a race. It is a party in the woods for the weekend.  The event is centered in the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis campground.  Riders, teams or solo riders, can reserve a camp ground spot for the duration of the event. The start/finish arch denoting the beginning and end of each lap along with part of the course were located throughout the campground which made for prime rider interactions and access to camps spots.  Solo riders have a reserved area called “solo alley” directly on the course where they can park or as I did can also find an open spot in the camp ground course side to set-up their pit for the race.  Bringing all the riders together in one central location truly makes for a festival feeling for the weekend.  Before, during, and after the race people were gathered around campfires, grills were going, people were partying and having fun.  Both spectators and fellow riders were cheering and heckling on those on course and were also there to support and help riders when needed.  I was offered beer and pizza numerous times during my ride!

Food and beverages were available to riders for pretty much the duration of the event.  Breakfast of waffles, fruit, and coffee.  Beer and snacks during the day and evening.  Pizza and beer at the end of the event.  A band played during the day and into the evening.

I’ve been to so many races were riders just show up, ride, and go home. There is no interaction between riders, spectators, etc. This event is so different.  People are overall just having a good time.  They are cheering each other on. They are supporting each other. They are offering help and assistance to each other. They are motivating each other. It was so refreshing to be riding and racing somewhere with a fun and supportive atmosphere. Sure, the course beat the shit out of my body but I had a good time while it was happening!

As for my personal race I earned the third overall solo women podium spot.  The women’s field was stacked with some really fast women.  I decided last minute to do this race so I was neither physically nor mentally prepared as I should have been; I was using it as a training race and was just hoping for a good effort and a good day on the bike.  I put in the best effort I could for the day and earned a podium spot amongst some speedy ladies so I am happy with that!

If you are looking for a challenging ride that will make your body hurt but also give you an extreme sense of accomplishment and bad-assness then this event is for you as a solo rider.

If you are looking to party and have a good time with fellow friends and riders and ride hard but also chill and hangout then this event is for you as a team rider.

If you are looking for a festival type event and want to ride some awesome trails while meeting new friends, drinking beer, and camping in the forest then this event is for you as any category rider.

If you get this far reading and are wondering about the rhino in the helmet photo...that is the object that team riders needed to hand from rider to rider to switch racers and had to be shown to the lap counters in the timing tent on completion of each lap.  Like a baton in relay races swapped from runner to runner, the baton was the squeaky rhino.  Riders on course had to have it on them at all times.  Thus, I had a rhino in my helmet at all times.

-words by Jess 

-photos by Joël and race supplied photographers

-fun times by Dejay and StarCrawf Promotions