1999 Toyota 24 Hours of Canaan
Team grannygear.com

Lap-by-Lap Updates

Look everybody, Dondo was inspired to write a song.

Dave: Lap 12. 1:39
I wish I could spell that Porky Pig line, 'cuz that's all folks. The 1999 Toyota 24 Hours of Canaan is wrapping up as riders celebrate a day and night of some of the hardest work and best comraderie they'll ever experience.

As for my last lap, it was great (like the rest). Such great spirit on the big climb just to get up it. Everybody I passed or got passed we riders shared congrats and support. As Team Trek East Coast Factory blew by me like a freight train (and I swear all four of them were out for the final lap), they yelled "Congrats, great job." So cool.

I gotta send some love to Jay DeJesus for building my Eastern Woods Research bike. It's the smoothest thing I've ever ridden. A guy offered me his soul for it after my lap. I declined. The bike's got 10 times more soul. Get back in the biz, hoss. You're missed.

And now for my final thanks...to my folks for ever being into bikes in the first place. This was great.

Now, where's that burrito tent...........

Selene: Lap 11. 1:46.
After weeping at 4:00 in the morning that I absolutely couldn't go out for another lap, I sucked it up and pulled my final leg. The morning was pure joy. Sun coming up. Everyone a little on the sleepy side. A slight cool breeze to keep you from baking on the uphills. I actually had a little torque left in my legs. Feels better to be finished than I can ever say.

RESURRECTION
The kids survived the night with only a slight fumble between Selene and Dave. Nobody expected her to rip through the dark as fast as she did. The bad news is she found the only quagmire on the entire course. I finally had to visit the pressure washer to defugulate her bike enough to tune it up for one more lap. No major bike casualties so far. Can't say the same for my kids. Several bad cases of the thousand yard stare going on. Even when you're not racing, you're racing this thing. It's always out there on the perimeter of your consciousness. You can't escape the energy. Not even when you're sleeping. Me? I'm okay. Just the odd infected alloy splinter in my index finger, but I've got nine others so who cares? I miss my wife and kids, but I'll see them tonight. It's just another epic adventure nearly in the bag for me--another weekend/lifetime of experiences that I'll never forget.

Brian: Lap 8. 2:00 on the dot
Riding from 1:30 until 3:30 is not an easy task. I think I left me brain out there somewhere.

The course is still really fast, and the lights I had were great. As the night wears on, people get funny and do funny things. One guy roared past me on a downhill screaming, "I will not crash!!!"

I had nothing left at the end. My legs were okay, but my body in general started to shut down. I lost control a few times on the last descent, which made life interesting. Of course, I couldn't help but let it fly seeing as how the little purple men were chasing me.

I need sleep.

Dave: Lap 7.1:59ish (gotta keep it under 2 hours)
Almost the same report as the last one I had. Just darker and slower. What a course.

I'm declaring "Rider of the Weekend" honors to the woman on team 103 (who also happen to have my vote for best name...Ill Tempered Mutant Sea Bass) who rode the 11:30-1:30 stretch too. It's pretty cool to see all the pros haul, but she was carrying me the first 5 miles. Up every hill, floating through all the techno-descents. AND...she did it on a full rigid steel machine (with brakes that squeeled like my dog's chew toys). She dropped me after the campgrounds, and apparently felt the burn up the monster climb because I caught up to her there. But I told her to log on and check this out...because she cleared things I saw many "studs" bail. And she out climbed 'em too.

Oh, and if you are reading this right now...you've got a hole in your shorts. I meant to tell you that, but I never had the breath.

I'm off to post some results, maybe a couple of photos, and get some shut-eye. Gotta come up with all the strength I have to either talk Selene into another lap or take another one myself (just guess which is going to happen).
- Q

Selene: Lap 6. 1:49 (I think).
Okay. I cheated on this entry. Before even attempting to type, I went back to the bunkhouse, ate, showered, ate, ate, and ate. Now I can type somewhat coherently. Started my lap at 10, the climbs were easier because it was cooler than it was at noon. But the air was so dusty it was tough to see even with both beams shining. Also, there's water in places there wasn't before even though it didn't rain. Dew I guess. The downhill was MUCH slicker because of this new-found water. Did not make it all the way down without a wipeout or two. The pro guys here are just phenominal...they buzz by you like you're standing still. The parties in the campgrounds are in full swing. Disco balls in the trees. Music. I feel like I just stepped through the looking glass....now I'm going to bed. Please guys...don't make me go out there again. Dad, if you're out there, e-mail Dave and tell him not to make me ride another lap. Thanks. xxx Selene

Dave: Lap 5.1:42
Ya know, I feel like I'm cheating. For my first 24 Hours of Canaan lap I wore just a jersey and shorts on a very dry sunset lap. It's like a little slice of heaven up there. Make that a big slice.

I gotta thank Laird, Elizabeth, Suzanne, Jean (sp?), Dan, Ted, Tony, and everybody else who has anything to do with this incredible event. You've made it easy for us to work and ride this. Your business is fun. And your stock must be rising.

Time to eat, shower and stretch. I'm taking another lap after Selene who's out now (and probably trying to beat this time...despite the fact she posted a 1:45 which included a 1/2 mile run. You GO girl!).
- Q

INTO THE BLACK
People are starting to get that “I can’t believe we’re still racing look.” Oh, baby. You ain’t seen nothing yet. Now we enter the twilight zone where bike gremlins rule and lights go dead at bad moments. So far so good for our troops. No major snafus in terms of equipment, but the night is creeping in. Makes a man just a little edgy. Women, too.

JT: Lap 4: 2:30
2.5 hours Slowest of the team. Atta boy, Luther. Well, it wasn't as bad as being at a Jordan Knight concert, but it wasn't as sweet as riding down to the video store and checking out Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3. I'm glad I did it, and I am sort of looking forward to the night lap. Thanks to the interactivity of the web, you folks at home can join in a virtual lap with me. First, eat a bunch of donuts. Then, put on some tight lycra shorts and a helmet. Then hit your thighs with a ball-peen hammer for two or three hours while the rest of your family cheers for you to break your head open. Now you're ready to sign up for next year's event. See ya there!

Greg: Lap3. 1:50ish
Greg's lap #1 grueling, scary and extremely satisfying. 1 mile in I was wondering what the hell I was doing here and it only got worse. No not really! The experience was awesome! Today I am a mountain biker!!!! Just under 2 hours not bad for a rookie. Now my Canaan cherry has been smashed and it feels great. Hi mom and Nik. -G-love out.

Brian: Lap 2. 1:45-50, I think.
Ka-Chunk. I didn't ask what my lap time was. Don't really care. This course rules. You can fly on all of it. I had a couple of minor mechanicals that stopped me hither and yon, but not for long. The downhills are screamers. I haven't had to ride with my seat in my stomach for a long, long time.

Before I went out, I heard that the first people through were in in like an hour. That's nuts. People are flying. I think some of the Trek guys went by in the big ring -- on the ass-busting climb.

ROTATE THIS
Our first rider is in, but I'm already through my first rotation of maintenance and repair. The dry course this year makes my job pretty easy. Not like the spoogefest of last year. Selene managed to trash her frame number already and I'm out scrounging for zip-ties and a paper plate to make her another one. We team mechanics must adapt, improvise and overcome. It's T plus three hours now and the casualties are just starting to roll in now. This race beats up bikes and riders without discrimination. It's an equal opportunity foe.

Selene: Lap 1. 1:45.
Hard. Hard. Incoherent. Must eat. Must shower. Fingers don't work. First lap had lots of bottleneck in the beginning. But the field has begun to thin out....a 4 mile a**-burning climb in the midday sun will do that. Heard team Trek is pulled a sub-hour first lap. They are borg. Course is fast, though. Was in the big ring for many miles...until the 4 mile climb that is. RODE THE ENTIRE DOWNHILL!!! Was so tired I forgot where I was supposed to be scared. All from me for now. ~S
P.S. Running 1/2 mile uphill BEFORE the ride started in a dust storm of other mad cows stinks...I sure hope my loving brother is checking in.

HEARTS OF DARKNESS
My name is Dondo. This is my sixth tour of duty at 24 Hours of Canaan--five as a team "wrench" and one as a sick puppy participant. I'm here with a handful of "cherries"--fresh-faced youngsters who've never faced the rigors of 24 hour mountain bike relay racing. Yeah, I'm here to keep their bikes up and running, but I'm also the guy who's been here and done this. I know how to replace a shattered fork in the dark with the wind howling up my pantlegs, but I also know how to look for the harbingers of disaster. I sleep with one eye open, just so we don't wake up Sunday morning with the entire team snug in their bunks as the race goes on without them. It's a game of wits worn thin by fatigue--a sure-fire recipe for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And in this race, it's a victory just to finish.

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