The weekend past saw one of the calandar highlights, namely the Oak Valley 24 hour endurance race. Set at what is arguably one of the best suited courses for such an event, the turnout was once again spectacular. The event is run in 3 formats, namely: Solo, 4 rider competition teams and 5 to 8 rider social teams. From the outset the emphasys was on enjoying the experience rather than a focus on the racers in the event. At the prize giving it gave me some satisfaction when one of the overall team winners mumbled that the social team winners got nicer prizes than them.
The start was a Le Mans style affair with riders having to do a 100m sprint and mount their bikes to start the event. At this point you could clearly see who had any racing intentions and who was there for fun. About 10% actually made a sprinting effort and the rest of us took a leisurly stroll and started off with an even more leisurely first lap. Some even opted to push their bikes to the Limebar and continue where they left off just before 12.
It was hot! Hitting 37Deg C at some places. The lap took us straight up to the Black section next to the split between the red and green routes (for those who know Oak Valley. For the rest: It meant climbing 210m in about 6km). We rode the black section next the dam in the pine forests and continued going up, with the single track (some that was cut especially for the event) to the base of Groenlandberg. From there it was a free-fall to the finish with Oak Valley's legendary sweeping singletracks that was conveniently spaced to allow enough room for the race snakes to pass.
After the first lap I wisely decided to wait for it to cool down a bit as there was another 23 hours and 10 minutes of riding time left. It is when you are off the bike that you can really take in the atmosphere and take the time to get to know some of the riders and their families. By this time the camp site was filled up nicely.
By 4pm I decided to take the course on for a few laps before suppertime. At 5:30m I came into our camp and was treated to a lovely beef wrap made by my faithful support crew. After supper I fitted my lights and got my night riding gear set up. The next lap started just before sunset and I decided to take my Canon SLR Camera with me for the next lap to try and get a few sunset shots. Sunset culminated with my arival at the dam and resulted in a few awesome shots with riders in the background as the sun was setting. With the lights on the riding was simply amazing. It is difficult to try to explain riding a mountainbike in the dark to the uninitiated that have not yet experienced this. Particularly when you are alone in places on the course. The tired legs are forgotten and your only focus is on the beam of light ahead of you. Your other senses picks up things that you would not pick up in the day. Hearing, smell and even taste seems to be enhanced when your eyes are limited to a 2m beam and less than 1second to react to any unexpected obstacle or deviation in the trail from previous laps. This is when you truly feel alive.
After some great night riding and a shower I tried to get a few hours sleep in. It was a challenge with riders coming and going throughout the night. Bike lights being switched on and off, riders and support crew maintaining their equipment for the laps to follow and a camp site that never quite settles down.
At 4am I started my early morning riding and was greeted with a lovely sunrise at about 6am while out on the trail. I decided to clock a few laps before the day started to heat up again and finished my run in time for a bacon and egg fry-up.
After breakfast I prepped my bike and gear for one final lap and we broke camp. The final lap commenced at 11:15am to ensure that I finish a few minutes after 12pm to be able to qualify for my medal.
You get all types of loonies at these events, but the whackiest of the bunch are the single speed solo riders who clock lap after lap after lap with only one gear (and some with no suspension at all). These are followed closely by the solo riders with gears. I am still undecided whether these are whackier that the riders who do one or 2 laps only and drinks for the other 22 hours straight and then take the last lap in that state. Throw in the 3 hour event riders on the last lap and it’s a total zoo on a course that's taken a beating over the 24 hours preceding this last lap.
You pass the guys and girls that’s been at it with no break where all you can see is the red eyes from the dust and the white teeth when they smile for one last time as you pass them. Well done to everyone who completed this event whether you did 2 laps or 30. We certainly need more events like these where pro's and weekend warriors mix it up throughout the weekend and where the emphasys is on the experience, rather than the results at the end.
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