24 hours of Adrenaline Worlds Solo Championships 2008 Part One

As I lay sprawled on my hostel bed after the hardest ride of my life I was wondering if there is any part of me that did not hurt. The 24 Hours of Adrenalin was always going to be a real test. First I had to travel half way around the world to a country I had never been. Then get used to the time zone, altitude and riding with bears. Also had escaped a harsh mid north island winter for a balmy Canadian summer. All of these factors knocked me for six upon my arrival in Calgary two weeks out from race start. Fortunately my Ellsworth turned up in the oversized luggage area in near perfect condition and was ready to tear up the local tracks before I was.

After a couple of days of sleep and general laziness Megan turned up and we made for the mountains. Megan is the other person making the trip from NZ to take on the world. Unfortunately she was not so lucky with her bike and bag initially not making it past Sydney. However we drove to Banff and had a first look at the venue in Canmore on the way. The setting for the race and the general area was spectacular, beyond superlative.

The event was based at the Canmore Nordic centre, which serves as a cross country ski facility in the long Canadian winter. But in the summer, like other ski resorts in Canada, it turns its focus more towards mountain biking. In 1999 it played host to the first 24 Hours of Adrenaline World Solo Champs. So it was a historical return to where it all began on the side of one of the many enormous mountains that make up the Rocky Mountain range.

Even though the event was over a week away the course was loosely marked so riders could get a feel for what they were getting themselves in for. And we were in for a very hard time indeed. Sustained steep climbs dominated the mountainside course. There were a few sections of technical roots and rock garden that required some concentration and a fair bit of speed. But overall the lap was not technically challenging and would favour riders that were powerful climbers.

Somehow I managed to keep my nerves in check until the day before the race when I was flooded with a wave of anxiety. I knew that I could ride my bike for 24 hours and if things went well I could be in contention in my age group. I had hopes of giving the top 20 or even 10 a nudge. With 200 soloists this looked to be a tall order. The elite field was rumoured to be one of the best ever assembled. I was hesitant to say for sure how I would do. A few things were certain, it was going to be hard; I would be competing against riders with more experience, support, bikes and crew. And there was going to be a lot of pain happening.

On the afternoon before the race my support crew turned up. Marcello and Heidie had driven more than 20 hours from Oregon USA where they were on holiday, just to be there to support me. Like me, they too live in Rotorua near the internationally famous mountain biking Whakawerawera forest. Having people who knew me and what I’m like in these races at this the biggest race of my life was huge asset. Marcello was quick to take to my bike and set about race tuning it.

Finally after more than two years of build-up I was on the start line of the World 24 Hour Solo Championships. I was surrounded by famous names and the hot Canadian summer air. Like most 24 hour races we had an annoying run to our bikes. This one was a good 600 meters before starting the prologue lap down through and then back up from the town of Canmore. After much anticipation a simple count down from five set this massive event underway. Both Megan and I had low numbers and so were near the front of the bunch for the start, and were instantly swamped by the pack. I tried to stay clear to be in a good position for the opening prologue lap. At the same time I was holding back a little not to drive my heart rate too high too soon, there was a long time to go.

I entered the pits in a top twenty position and picked up my bike from Marcello and Heidie and headed off out of the pits for the first of many times. I was not too keen on the idea of a prologue lap as it was sure to be significant descent and climb, the Nordic centre stands well above the host town of Canmore. It turned out to be quite open and I did my best to draft behind the lead bunch that were setting a hot pace. We honed through the west side of the town giving the locals a spectacle before starting the ascent back up to the Nordic centre. I maintained my top 20ish position into the first real lap. But I was behind Andy Fellows in his outrageous helmet and bright Ay Up shirt. I had competed with Andy at the 24 hours of N-Duro earlier this year.

I knew as we headed out on official lap one that I was clearly ahead of the rest of the Under 25 field. Not wanting to go out too hard, I toned down my hill climbing and made for a steady pace. At this stage the track was dry as, and there was traction aplenty. So the route descents and rock gardens were a breeze. My Ellsworth seemed to have infinite speed in the rough sections and when I had room I was pedalling where others were dragging their brakes.

After a small battle for overall positions I came through the second feed zone and got a new bottle from Heidie and had a few words with Marcello and confirmed I was in the lead of the Under 25’s. But with less than an hour on the clock this meant nothing. I left the feed zone and entered the fastest section of the course. A flat out gravel track over bumps that served as jumps then a bridge followed by some fast dippers. As the race went on I enjoyed this section more and more and gained chunks of time.

This second loop after the secondary feed zone consisted mainly of undulating 4wd tracks. There was a lot of time to be made here if you could keep your momentum up and my big wheels made this easier. After this there was a nasty technical single track climb that later became purely a bike push session. Soon after this the course split and the solo riders went off on a 5km section whereas the team riders headed straight for the pit zone. This gave us solo riders a chance to get some peace and find a rhythm. However, this was one of the toughest sections of the lap; it was dominated by a demoralising climb that gradually became steeper towards the summit. And of course it also became steeper as the hours crept by. This was followed by a very fast 4wd decent interrupted by a techy rocky section.

I came through the first official lap still in the lead of Under 25’s. But soon after this, Joel Donney from Canberra was right up with me with his team mate Troy. We rode within the vicinity of each other for quite some time. However, I eventually settled into my own pace and he rode away. I knew my support crew would keep an eye on any lead he incurred. Passing for major position in 24 hour races is different from your average XC event. They are all about your limits and your race. Most of the time it is best to ignore what your competitors are up to and focus on how you feel and your pace. So I was happy to politely chat to Joel and his team mate about the track and weather. He made a comment, ‘Is it hilly enough for you?’ Clearly no one was going to have an easy time with 640 metres of vertical gain in a lap.

It was still a hot Canadian afternoon and I was struggling to get the fluids down. Thanks to Heidie and her magic potion I was able to stave off cramp. I was definitely not in my element in the heat of the Canadian summer sun as it slowly cooked me on every exposed section and climb. I had seen a forecast that suggested some precipitation in the afternoon or evening. Boy was I hanging out in hope for it to pour down.