8 Hours @ Boggs
Ooops, falling behind here...
Early morning was cold and damp as the riders started heading to the start. Over the next 8 hours Jessica, Jeff and their friend Michael would cycle a 9+ mile loop again and again while the crew posse - Dana, Gessica and I - bounced back and forth between the feed zone and the RV carting a rainbow-colored assortment of Accelerades, PB&Js, Clif Blocks, turkey sandwiches, water bottles, lube and rags. Anything a rider could want during a cold, wet, muddy day that eventually yielded a brief bit of snow and hail.
It was a challenge to stay warm - again, speaking for the crew, of course - and I spent most of the day in my giant SFOCC swim jacket eating leftover feed zone goodies until I felt sick.
Jeff and Jessica breezed through the first 3 laps with good humor, sharing a few precious minutes to get off the bike, engage the crew, stretch, refuel, say thanks and dash off. We worked madly to move quickly and provide whatever was requested - like a pit crew at the Indy 500, 3 bodies hovering and watering and lubing and cleaning and encouraging and shouting and sending them on their way. Jeff continued to move through quickly without much delay while Jessica started to do some stretching in between, calculating how many more times she'd see us before it was done. Just 3, then 2 then one more pit stop and it would be done. All of them looked strong and determined and required little prodding to get started again.
I can't speak to what it felt like to be out there riding the same course again and again but the reports we heard from nearby riders included muddy, steep, technical, hilly. From the crew point of view doing crew-type things? Muddy, cold, inspiring, tiring.
Highlights of the day included jamming purple Peeps into the handlebars of Jeff and Jessica's bikes, seeing "Sexual Camel" bike kits, rocking tiaras at the final lap (the good kind not that party store shiz), and seeing Jessica win her FIRST mtn bike race ever. Not to be left out, Jeff and Michael did very well, too.
Best feeling: waking up in the freezing cold and knowing you're not racing.
April has been a HUGE month for rain and snow. For skiers, yahoo! For mountain bikers, ya...boo.
A few weekends ago, heading out of San Francisco in rain showers I made my way north to Boggs Mountain for my first 8-hour mountain biking event. To be clear, I was crewing, not racing, but hey, a first is a first.
Arriving to find snow on the ground, and muddy conditions, I took the lead from Dana and styled out the back of my car with a few blankets, a sleeping bag and pillow, and spent my first night backside in the Subaru. Deluxe! Score one for practicality and two for never being too old to think sleeping in the back of your station wagon is cool. It's part of what makes a Subaru a Subaru!
Early morning was cold and damp as the riders started heading to the start. Over the next 8 hours Jessica, Jeff and their friend Michael would cycle a 9+ mile loop again and again while the crew posse - Dana, Gessica and I - bounced back and forth between the feed zone and the RV carting a rainbow-colored assortment of Accelerades, PB&Js, Clif Blocks, turkey sandwiches, water bottles, lube and rags. Anything a rider could want during a cold, wet, muddy day that eventually yielded a brief bit of snow and hail.It was a challenge to stay warm - again, speaking for the crew, of course - and I spent most of the day in my giant SFOCC swim jacket eating leftover feed zone goodies until I felt sick. Jeff and Jessica breezed through the first 3 laps with good humor, sharing a few precious minutes to get off the bike, engage the crew, stretch, refuel, say thanks and dash off. We worked madly to move quickly and provide whatever was requested - like a pit crew at the Indy 500, 3 bodies hovering and watering and lubing and cleaning and encouraging and shouting and sending them on their way. Jeff continued to move through quickly without much delay while Jessica started to do some stretching in between, calculating how many more times she'd see us before it was done. Just 3, then 2 then one more pit stop and it would be done. All of them looked strong and determined and required little prodding to get started again.I can't speak to what it felt like to be out there riding the same course again and again but the reports we heard from nearby riders included muddy, steep, technical, hilly. From the crew point of view doing crew-type things? Muddy, cold, inspiring, tiring. Highlights of the day included jamming purple Peeps into the handlebars of Jeff and Jessica's bikes, seeing "Sexual Camel" bike kits, rocking tiaras at the final lap (the good kind not that party store shiz), and seeing Jessica win her FIRST mtn bike race ever. Not to be left out, Jeff and Michael did very well, too.
Best feeling: waking up in the freezing cold and knowing you're not racing. Big congrats to my mountain biking friends who've been training diligently and relentlessly these past many months. And a shout out to my co-crew girl Dana who kept things lively and entertaining over the duration of a long day.
Comments
A HUGE thanks to you and Dana for taking a day out to serve my every need and keep me going throughout those loooong 8 hours.
There was definitely motivation in knowing that you two were back at the transition area to distract me from the dizzying loops around the course.
While its fun to support each other at each of our respective races, I hope to race together again one day soon! Boo Ya!