Sorry for the late post on the 600k race in the Hill Country. Life has been a little crazy the past weeks. Sorry for the long report. A lot happened during the race.
600K Hill Country Race
As part of our Hellweek activities ,Ray Torrey ,Peggy & myself volunteered to crew for John Schlitter during the 600K race. None of us had crewed before, so to say this was going to be a learning experience was understatement.
Friday 13th, the four of us(John in the Bacchetta van, Ray in his Lexus ,& Peggy & I in our Edge)headed down to the outskirts of San Antonio(to have the B-van & John's bike's inspected by RAAM officials)from the DFW area.
We headed out about 9:00am in a steady ,cold rain. The persisted all the way to Helotes(start of the 600K race). It was truly a raw,ugly day. We arrived in Helotes at approx. 4:00pm. We attended a crew meeting with some of the other riders & crew which was presented by the race director George Thomas(also the race director for race across Oregon).
The RAAM officials & George gave us a status update of the route, some "wash out" sections due to the previous days rain. A quick synopsis of the route ,broken down from time station#1 to the finish.
We finished up the meeting and headed back to our B & B we reserved in Fredericksburg for hellweek(some 60 miles to the Northwest of the start). We had a quick snooze in the B & B & were up & headed back to the start the next morning by 6:00am. Race time was 8:00am.
We arrived at the start & had somewhat relaxing time at a small "tri" shop in Helotes. Nothing was said,but the mode of all was different(race time). As race time approached ,John took a few a mintues to himself in the van ,the headed to the starting line ,with 10 other determined cyclsits(1 other Bacchetta rider-Kent Polk from Central Texas area).
The first 4.5 miles was a neutral start. John took a tube & CO2 cartridge(just in case) as we drove to a pull-off at 15.2 miles to begin leapfrog support. We arrived at the pull-off & were quickly joined by all other support vehicles. We waited for approx. 20 minutes & then we saw John quickly pedaling up the first climb-in the lead.
Ray & I were switching driving duties during the leapfrog stage of the race, Peggy was in charge of nutrition/hydration. As John approached ,we stood next to the road with water bottles in hand(held from the top of the bottle) & began to jog along at a moderate pace. The first hand off of hydration was to be water only(John was carrying 2 separate water bottles-1 plain water & 1 bottle of heed). As I handed off the bottle to John ,John asked if the bottle was plain water. Slight mistake ,I didn't ask & didn't know. I shrugged(not knowing) & handed it off. He tasted the bottle(which was mixed with Heed)& the bottle was tossed back to the crew(along with the spare tube & CO2 cartridge). That slight error would not happen again.
We quickly gathered the objects & headed out in the man to continue our leapfrog support. We didn't see any riders behind John. He made his move. He hit the competition early & hard.
We arrived at time station #1 in Medina ,some 42+ miles from the start(at 10:15am). I called the time in ,despite a RAAM official at the time station saying he documented John's name/number at 10:14am. I ain't taking any chances. I called the race director as prescribed at the time station for documentation.
Now for the brutal section of the course-Medina to Leaky(pronounced "Lakey"). Climbs like the "condors nest" ,the "elevator shaft" ,etc... We continue to leap frog(Ray & I taking turns driving to keep fresh). As John would make the slow ,brutal climbs ,the three of us would jump out of the van & run/walk along side of him to offer drink/food support. At one point ,John called to me & said "smile" . He was right ,I just needed to relax & do our job.
During the crew meeting the day before, the support vehicles were asked to pull off the road & have the drivers side tires 4-5' from the payment edge white line. It had significantly the day/night before ,there were some soft shoulders. Before the RAAM vehicle past us ,a RAAM official mentioned to us that weren't far enough off the road. You got to be kiddin' me. I had the van up against a rock ledge as it was(in the mud, I'm going to need a 4 wheel drive). I forgot to mention that this section had descents. I think John hit 54 mph during some the descents. It was fun to watch from the van.
From now on ,we looked for gravel/loose rock pull offs & pull off into the pull offs by doing a 3 point turn(pulling completely off the road,& backing in the turn off). The RAAM officials seem to like this move.
During the early hand offs of leapfrogging ,Peggy could not get the powered door to open/close. That left Ray & I to do must of the early hand offs. We finally figured out the van had to be in "park" for the powered door to open/close. Once we finally figured this out, Peggy was back to participating in hand offs again ,which prompted John to say to Peggy "I thought you were asleep in the van." During one of the early climbs ,John had asked for a bike swap. We leapfrog John ,& take the 2nd CA 2.0 off the carrier & John makes a bike change. <1 mile later,back to original CA 2.0(aka the mule).
Onto time station #2-Leaky(mile 79.4). I forget the time John arrived. We continued our leap frog support. No issues(at least for the crew). We keep going onto Time station #3, Rock Springs(129.7 miles).I called John's time in as he passes the the time station(under the watchful eye of the RAAM officials). During the crew meeting,it was suggested that this would be a good place to re-fuel the vehicle,use the facilities ,& grab some caffeine,etc...I fuel the vehicle ,Peggy goes to get the Starbucks, & Ray would stay with the vehicle. I use the facilities & return to the vehicle. No Ray. The van is locked. Ray was caring the extra set of keys in a jacket which we see in the LOCKED van.
Peggy & I frantically run into the Valero gas station & interrupt Ray in the bathroom..."Ray ,I hoped to God you have the spare keys with you!" Ray calmly turns,smiles & says "Yes." That's Ray in a nutshell.
Crisis avoided. It's been 10 minutes & John's on the road without support. We catch up to John about 3/4 miles down the road,still flying along. Now onto time station #4-Junction(178.1 miles). After we called into the time stations, the race director would give up updates on the competition. After the 1st time station ,John's lead was 8 minutes,then it was 14 minutes ,then 24 minutes, then 42 minutes. We relayed the good news to John.
Junction is the half way point for this race(not quit a full 600K, but John was calculating the full 600k distance ,not this abbreviated distance). As John made a quick bathroom break, I held his bike & said "we're halfway & you're smokin' everyone." He looked a me with a puzzled look and said with a quizzical expression and said "we're not halway.". Yes John, the route book(aka the bible) says "You are halfway." I don't thin he believed me.
Off to Llano. Shortly after Junction ,we make a quick stop. John asks us to start the follow support now. Dusk is starting to set in. We turn on the van's flashers & we're required to have a second set of flasher's. John has a set of magnetic flasher mounted above the van's rear hatch door. Ray & I hop out & mount/turn on the flashers. No big deal. Wait, on the flasher lights does not stay lit. John wait a few minutes & says "I'm going to head down the road. Try & figure out the problem.". He heads down the road. We quickly determine the issue is a set of bad batteries. BUT, we are the extra batteries. We search the van ,we can't find them anywhere. I had taken a camera with me & a spare set of "AA" batteries(just in case). Enough of looking, we have a rider on the course with no support. We change the batteries and catch up to John. Now were following. No more leap frog support.
All food/drink is handed off to John from the van by Ray. I have the easy job, I drive. Peggy is documenting the food, making the PB &J's, preparing the waters ,& Boost. We arrive in Llano, time station #5(mile 254.9). We drive thru the town square. By this point ,Ray is navigating & communicating to John via loud speaker(right turn ,keep straight ,left turn,etc....).
It's full on dark now. We drive thru Llano & at some point,John points to the side of the road. Quick stop. In the process,an unknown SUV stops ahead of us. The driver comes back to us & the guy REEKS of BOOZE. Nice. We get ride of the guy & head down the road toward Fredericksburg.
Time station #6(Frdericksburg). Same drill, we call in the time. John is still in the lead & looking good(easy for me to say).
Frdericksburg to Boerne(pronounced "Bernie"). This part of the route was amazing. I'm not sure what time it was,but this section is strewn with rollers. John is flying through this section & I'm right on his wheel,30-40 mph. Now it gets fun. I have never seen so many deer(and jack rabbits) in my life. We're so rural ,I turn on my brights to help light up the road. The deer are darting back & forth across the road. Several come what seems arms length of John. No slowing him down. He's unfazed.
The deer are constant. Usually hoping the fences along the road. The next time station in Boerne(#7),mile 340.3. It's tricky. There a series of quick right/left turns. The rider/crew are tired. Very easy to miss the turn for the finish. We almost miss our turn, but Ray catches the turn in frenzied moment of panic.
Now,onto to Helotes. However,there are a series of 3 nasty climbs. Not horrible(easy for me to say),but brutal nonetheless(especially after the earlier climbs of the day). Keep going John. We're close now.
We come into Helotes & the race director is waiting for us at the finish line & snaps a picture of John crossing the finish line. All three crew jump out of the van & congratulate John(relieved we didn't do anything to cost John the race). What a rush! John did it. 20 hours,59 minutes & 25,000 feet of climbing. 357.7 miles.
AND as John is receiving congratulations ,we fill a few sprinkles. John gets his picture taken & we get the bike on the carrier. John climbs into the van ,onto his bunk. We all head back to the B & B in Fredericksburg, EXHAUSTED.
In the process of driving back to Fredericksburg via I-10, I take a sharp turn & John practically flies off the bunk & mumbles "are we home yet?" We all say "no."
Words like intense,exhilarating,thrilling,unbelievable,amazing,fun...you get the idea. Thanks John for being patient with your virgin crew. 1st place a course record. Not a bad day at the office. His closest competition finished some 2+ hours behind.
I have some race photos I can share.
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1091.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1095.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1097.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1099.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1100.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1103.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1109.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1110.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1112.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1113.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1114.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1115.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1116.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1118.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1119.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1121.jpg http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww51/strada177/IMG_1122.jpg
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Hiil Country 600k race report (Read 2960 times)
