by mark scheetz

A couple of weeks ago I emailed my cousin, Alexandria, asking about her first national mountain bike race as a pro. She responded with, “The lyric "I don't belong here" from Radiohead's "Creep" kept going through my head during the XC.”

Yeah … that’s exactly what rang through my head as my chain flopped off for the second time on my first lap at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Vail Lake. On a whim I joined up with her Coed Pro/Am team “Velo Bellas and Mammoth Fellas”. I began to regret my commitment in the days prior and certainly now that it looked like I was about to let the team down with a poor first lap performance.

After each Cyclo-cross style ball crushing remount, I hammered hard to make up for the lost time. On the rough down hills I had to back off my charge and flow smoothly over the rocks in an attempt to keep the chain on the wheel. I dreaded the thought of further nurturing my inferiority complex with crappy lap times. After all, this is the team that bears the prestigious number 1 plate for winning overall last year. “… I don’t belong here” still ringing in my head.

Well … I was thrilled (and shocked) when I turned in an amazing 50:50 lap. This is the exact course where my BEST time 2 years ago was 57:59. It was nice to feel like I really belonged here and could contribute some good lap times for these ultra competitive freaks. BTW … “freaks” is a compliment in this context.

I could only imagine the exchange of words when Alex told them she was inviting her 45 year old cousin who only rides a rigid single speed. I know what I would have said, but I’m not as affable as these people.

In the days leading up to the race I transformed my rigid single speed into a squishy forked 3 speed. Using 15, 19 and 22 tooth cogs gave me a good range of gears but the ride still had that nice crushing single speed feel. The fork felt like pure luxury and I’ve decided that it’s a keeper for the rest of the race season. Friday night I made a last minute tire change and tubeless conversion. It was a little risky, but it paid off.

The crew was amazing. Within minutes of entering the team camp my bike was on a stand and donning a bash ring and front derailleur to keep the chain in place. Tom (the super fast guy) Mazaitis immediately gave me tips on what to do between laps. Eat, lay down with the legs straight up to clear the lactic, STAY OFF YOUR FEET. Tom was beating me by a couple of minutes each lap so I was more than willing to incorporate any of his advice. What ever food we needed was waiting for us as we finished each lap. There’s nothing like hot salty Cup-O-Noodles during the 2am to 5am morning freeze.

I was pretty concerned that I may have shot my wad on that first lap and wouldn’t be able to answer it for the next 21 hours. Wrong again! The second lap put me in the prestigious sub 50 minute club with a 49:34. As the night progressed my time slowed a bit due to my lousy night vision. My slowest lap was 57:37, still faster than my best from 2 years ago.

We completed 27 laps and took first place in class and 2nd place overall. Tom did two laps well under 50 minutes at 47:27 and 48:25. Those are phenomenal times. Alex entered the race owning the women’s record. She upped her old record by more than 2 minutes. It now stands at 53:59. Our other team member, Richard Price, is a sport class racer who not only did a 50 minute lap but turned in consistent expert times. Sandbagger!

I learned so much. The support crew is what really makes the team. Other 24 hour races I’ve done we were on our feet way too much between laps and busy with food prep, bike maintenance, drying cloths, tending the fire, charging batteries, hunting down tubes tools pumps etc. This crew also had great personalities and kept our spirits up all night (and day). I will always consider it honor to have been a part of this team and in the company of such excellence.