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FRIDAY, Nov 7th
All packed up and ready to leave Oklahoma CIty heading to Bartlesville, Oklahoma which is about 2 1/2 hours Northeast of OKC. Left around noon and headed up I-35 in a caravan with my brother in law following, both towing 17' Casitas campers. Just so happens a windstorm would be sweeping across the plains, towing the campers was about as much fun as paddling a sailboat against a hurricane. Arrived around 3PM or so and got our camp sites. Parked the Casitas and unloaded the bikes since we didn't have much dayligh left - we decided to go take a look at the course since it was our first time there. Left the campers hooked to the trucks and rode the bikes to the trail. Our first impression of the trail was that we were on the wrong loop. Jagged, loose, rock all over the place with numerous uphills and some water crossings. The first mile or more was almost all uphill climbing on that rocky terrain, much of which was un-rideable (at least for me). When we got to the 3 mile point (about half way) the sun was starting to set and a decision had to be made to push forward or go back. Since it was about the same distance either way, we decided to go on. Since we were not equiped with lights, it wasn't long before we were searching for the trail markers by moonlight. We finished up the loop, still in disbelief that this was the course, but we would be able to check it out better on Saturday. We headed back to the campers and set up our sites. The projected low for the night was to be about 34 degrees so the first item on my list was to get the camper heated up........Unfortunately, my casita's heater decided it did not want to work! After trying to get the heater to fire off for about an hour, i decided to give up on it and eat some dinner. After eating, i threw a pan with some water on the stove, opened the vent on the camper, and steamed up the inside of the camper enough to teke the chill off. Since the family was to come up on Saturday, i had an arsenal of sleeping bags and blankets. I layered the bed of the camper with blankets, put on my Underarmor, wool pants, and ski hat, took a shot of Nyqil, and crashed out under the rest of the blankets.
SATURDAY, Nov 8th
Woke up in the 34 degree refrigerated camper and immediately lit the stove with the water to heat things up a little. Cooked up some breakfast and started to unload the rest of the camping gear for the family. Checked over the bikes and decided to go check out the course again while it was light out. Since the pre-ride had been marked, we figured we would get to see the "actual" race course instead of the "supposed" course from the day before. We had high hopes as we headed into the start of the trail convinced that the rocky mile "hike a bike" area would not be included in our course. Then the next thing you know we are at the base of that hill again, dismouting the bikes and walking them upward until we could ride for a little bit, dismount again, walk, ride, dismount, walk, ride.....ect, ect, ect....We were able to pick up the pace this afternoon but were still wondering about the course even though it was marked. The race was to be 2 loops aound the "red" course which equates to just over 12 miles. We finished up the pre-ride and contacted the family who was on the way up to make sure they picked up a space heater for the Icebox on wheels. We rode back to the camp and finished setting up. At about 3PM my wife, children, sister, and neice showed up (with a heater). We checked over the bikes and my wife and sister wanted to check out the course. We rode back to the trailhead and started to take them through the loop so they could see it (this time we had lights mounted). At about 2 1/2 miles in, i stopped and waited for my sister and brother in law to catch up, my wife went on ahead and i waited to ensure there were no problems. After a little while they showed up and everything was fine so i took off to try and catch up to my wife, again, the sun was starting to set so i wanted to catch up since i was more familiar with the trail now. At about 3 1/2 miles i blew my rear tire on one of those dreaded rocks, luckily i was at the escape point which allowed me about a 1/4 mile walk back to the trailhead. Since my wife had already gone ahead and my brother in law and sister were trailing, i walked back to the trailhead to wait there. About 30-45 minutes later my sister and brother in law showed up who also opted to take the escape trail out. Since it was now dark we all waited to see the headlight of my wife. After another 30-45 minutes, she appeared at the trailhead, however, her light had died! We all headed back to the campers for some dinner and relaxation still undecided about the race and not sure about the condition of my rear tire (UST with no replacement on hand). The camper, on the other hand, did have heat this night which was a good thing with temperatures dropping to 31 degrees.
SUNDAY, Nov 9th
Slept better this night with the heat....Woke up to find out the "local" BOBCAT had gone through our trashbag outside and made a mess. Cleaned up the mess and packed up the campsite after another wonderful breakfast. packed things up and my brother in law had already put air in my tire and it was holding. Since my brother in law was not comfortable with the rocks, and my sister and wife really did not have a good pre-ride, they decided to back out of the race. I made my decision to go for it 15 minutes before racetime which was to be at 1PM. I did a quick registration, and lined up with the bikers (who were already staged). Race time hit and i was off. Started the dismount, walk, ride, dismount, walk, ride cycle again and felt as though i was having a pretty good ride. Finished the first lap in about 55 minutes. Started the second lap an really picked up the pace! I was blowing away my first lap time and i knew it! At about 9 miles, it felt like i had bent my left pedal, contiinued riding hard and at about 9 1/2 miles i had the opportunity to look down at my bent pedal only to find out that my left crank arm was on the verge of falling off. Stopped the bike and hand tightened the crank arm bolt, pulled out my handy-dandy hex key set to tighten it up and discovered that my hex set fell shy of the crank arm size by about 2 sizes. Wedged my 2 size too small hex key into the bolt and tightened as good as i could. Figured i would continue to push forward until another rider came along who might have the right size tool. First set of 2 riders appeared about 1/2 mile later when i had stopped to tighten it again, one of them checked his bag and discovered he had left his miltitool at his truck, the other didn't have one either. The 2 of them went on ahead of me as i nursed the bike as fast as i could (stopping about every 1/2 mile to hand tighten again). Third rider came by and did not have one either, same with the fourth. What would have been an awsome lap had turned into a frustrating ride. Finished up the course crossing the line at about 2 hours and 3 minutes (or so) putting me in 6th place. Tightened up the crank bolt again and rode back to the camper for the long ride home. Overall, had a great time and learned some valuable lessons! 1) bring more hex keys on the trail. 2) bring co2 on the trail and most importantly 3) bring a backup heat source to the campsite in cold weather :)
MONDAY, Nov 10th
Woke up after returning home the night before, looked over the bike for any appearant damages, counted my blessings when i discovered my rear tire flat again!
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