I arrived in Middleville, MI at the Thornapple-Kellogg High School around 5:30pm. From 5:30pm to 9pm, you can pick-up your rider packet. The high school grounds were filled with tents, cars and lots of folks, when I arrived. Some were out riding their bikes. On my packet, they had my name as Jon, not sure how that happened. I hope the final results will have my correct name.
After picking up my packet, I drove to my hotel, about 14 miles away, in Grand Rapids. It was a Super 8 (located at 4855 28th Street SE), the price was right, but I won’t be staying there again. There's a Hilton across the street, I might try that next time.
Saturday
Thornapple-Kellogg High School (click photo to enlarge)
Around 7:30am (click photo to enlarge)
I got to the high school around 6am. The start time was 8am, so I had time to kill. Though, by getting there early, I was able to get a good parking spot. Which is important, you want to be near the control area, so you can get back to your car, and refuel or whatever.
I saw Jon Batek (he’s from Batavia, IL and I know him from the Brevets I do each year, out of Delavan, WI), I talked to him for a bit, then I took some photos. After that I got my bike ready. One thing I liked about the high school grounds, is you could put your bike anywhere, and no one is going to bother it.
Just before the start
Jon taking his helmet off at the start (click photo to enlarge)
Jon at the start (click photo to enlarge)
The start, looking back (click photo to enlarge)
At around 7:45am, I was at the start, right near the start line. Jon was there too. They have a public address system to announce the start. They also use it during the day to play music and to talk about the riders.
At 8am, we were off. The pace car took off, and right behind it were two recumbents going about 30mph. One recumbent rider, when he rides RAAM, always wins it. Behind the recumbents was the main field of at least 500 riders. Though, on the Challenge website (http://www.n24hc.org/event.html), it states 1,500, but that number also includes crew members.
The pace car will stay in front of the lead group (or fastest riders) for the whole first loop, which is 121.6 miles. At about mile three, I couldn’t hold the pace, since it takes me along time to warm up. But, I soon found a group of riders to hang with. The first 10 miles, the police have all the roads blocked off, so the cyclists can just fly. Also, you ride through some small town, and the local folks come out to cheer you on. Just like the Tour de Tucson, very cool. Before rolling through the small town, I was riding with around 25 guys. We were the B group, meaning there were riders in front of us, but we couldn’t see them. The A group contained the elite riders, and folks like Jon. One of Jon’s goals this year was to hang with the A group – and he did. There were also riders behind us (the bulk of the participants), but I couldn’t tell how far back they were.
Soon, before I knew it, the group hit the first checkpoint, at mile 34.4 mile. All the crews were there to hand food/water bottles to the riders. Since I didn’t have crew, I just got my control card punched (which is pinned to your jersey back) and continued on with the guys. We were only there for about 30 seconds. Back on the road, we were flying, even with the hills and headwinds. Not everyone in our group was pulling, but I was, and maybe too much. But, one guy said to me, “hey, 114” that was my number, “was that you upfront pulling?, nice work! So, that made my day.
At the 62 mile mark, our group was averaging 21.6 mph. When we reached the next checkpoint at mile 71.5, everyone took a longer break. That gave me enough time to fill up my water bottles. After getting my card punched, we were off again, after about five minutes. On our way to the next checkpoint, our group started to fall apart a bit. One guy flatted, some started to fall off the back. About five miles out from the last checkpoint before heading back to the main control area at the high school, I fell off the back. It was really on purpose, since if I stayed with the group, what was left of it, I was going to be really fried.
When I arrived at the 96.2 mile checkpoint, my bike computer was showing 100 miles. Not sure why it was more, than what was posted. At the first checkpoint, my bike computer was dead on. Anyway, my computer is one I trust, and we crossed the 100 mile mark in 4:55 hours. I was really happy with that. At the 96.2 mile checkpoint, I got my card punched, and then ate some fruit, took a couple of Endurolytes. The sun was out, and it was pretty hot. While taking a break, I saw one of the guys from our group, he was from Indiana. (I should note, this 24-hour Challenge attracts riders from all over the world, and from many states, and not just from the Midwest. Plus, you’ll find RAAM and Brevet riders there, racers too.)
If I remember correctly, the guy from Indiana - his name was Keegan Greene. Anyway, the two us rode back to the high school. The final leg of the 121.6 mile loop had some hills, and mostly a headwind. We took turns pulling, but I did more, since he looked tried. Plus, he said he can’t handle headwinds. When you arrive back at the high school, you get your card punched, and they remove the first loop strip. I went to my car to get more food, and after about 20 minutes, Keegan and I took off for Loop 2. Since this was Keegan’s third 24-hour ride, he knew the way to the second loop. That was a help, since it wasn’t too clear. Before you even get halfway into the second loop, which is 23.7 miles long, you have a checkpoint. I got my card punched, and told Keegan I needed to go alone. I wasn’t feeling great, and I needed to ride at my own pace. The 23.7 mile loop eventually connects to the 121.6 loop, and you ride the same roads back to the high school. As I connected with the 121.6 loop, I saw riders just coming back from the 121.6 loop or I should say, they were just finishing the last leg of the 121.6 mile loop.
After finishing one 23.7 mile loop, I got some more water, and headed out for another loop. (I saw Jon on my second 23.7 mile loop. He ended up doing five laps.) You’re required to do one loop, if you want to ride Loop 3, also known as the night loop. When I got back, after doing two 23.7 laps, I still wasn’t feeling great. I think most of my issues were due to the heat. Anyway, I asked a guy at the main control area, when you can start riding Loop 3. He told me 7:15pm. So, what to do? I still had time to ride more 23.7 loops, but Keegan told me you can really rack up the miles on Loop 3, since it’s mostly flat. So, I decided to take a break.
They were serving Sloppy Joe’s inside the school cafeteria, so I had some real food, which helped. Next, I went outside and sat down on one of the benches. While resting Allison Alonzo walked up. I know Allison from my bike club, back in Naperville, IL. We talked for a bit. She was headed in to take a shower, before heading out for the night loop. If I had taken a shower, I wasn’t getting back on the bike. Allison was going for 200 miles this year.
At 7:15pm, I hit Loop 3. The wind had died down a bit, but it was still there, and the sun was still out too. Before heading out, I put on my lights, including my helmet light, so I could see better, but also, so I could read my bike computer.
Click here to see a Flash diagram of Loop 3
After riding the night loop 18 times, I called it day, at 4:30am. In hindsight, I should have pushed myself more, and rode until 8am, when the event ends. I wasn't tired, though my ass was hurting. Unlike a Brevet, this event makes it easy to quit. Next year, knowing what I know now, I'm good for 360, maybe 400.
I can highly recommend this event. They do a fantastic job, and the night ride is very safe. They have police stopping traffic (which isn’t much, if any), so you can just blow threw the intersections/turns. Finally, this event is all about personal best. Lots of folks come out and never ride all night, or for that matter, they don’t even finish the first loop. And that’s okay. I think the reason this ride has a good turnout, is that it's really well organized and it's very safe. And that is always an appeal, to all riders, despite your experience.
Highlights:
Hanging with the B group from the mass start, and pulling. Plus, crossing the 100 mile mark, under five hours.
Riding at night, and seeing all the taillights, as well as the headlights heading back out. (I ran my lights from around 9pm until 4:30am. I also ran the helmet light at full power. The one on the handle bars, I would dial down, when the road was smooth, and back up to the control area. My lights are made by Dinotte, their LI - Endurance Series.)
I slept in my car after I turned in my card. The sun was just coming up (as I was heading back to my hotel), and there were many riders still on 7.5 mile loop. I was stopped by security, so some of riders could blow threw the intersection, like I did earlier. But, what was truly amazing, was I got to see the A group go by, or what was left of it. There were seven riders, the guy in front still had on his arrow helmet, and he had a full disc rear wheel. They crossed the intersection at around 24/26mph (WOW). Not sure where the guy was in that group, but he always wins, with 502 miles for the 24 hours.
No mechanicals or flats. But, I take good care of my bike.
Stats:
Official Miles: 304
CPU Miles: 313.46
Overall Average Speed: 17.3
Hours on the Bike: 18:06:22
Crew: None (A crew would help, but now that I have done this event, you really don’t need a crew. Maybe it’s the Brevet rider inside of me.)
Learn more about the National 24-hour Challenge at:
http://www.n24hc.org/index.html
