Riding Life's Challenges: Riding a Bull through the Black HIlls!

Tatanka 100

Beauty of the Black Hills (Roughneck Falls)- Saw this all weekend!!!

The theme of the race was “Ride the Bull” and it was definitely what it felt like if you have ever rode a bull before. I have not felt this spent after a race but one time in all my years of racing. Sturgis,SD was the setting for this great race. This race was one of my goal races going into the year because I love the riding out here in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Started the weekend out by making the trip out with my dad to Sturgis on Friday. The 660 mile drive pretty much all on I90 is actually a pretty easy drive and I have come to enjoy the scenery on the way out, especially once past the Missouri River in SD. One thing different from this race than others this year is that I would be staying in a hotel the night before. Thought that this may give better sleep but still awake most of the night as usual.

Morning of the race

Got up at 3:30 a.m. local time to get ready for the 5:00 a.m. start. Pretty much same central time zone starting time of 6 a.m. that all the races are but just never like seeing those numbers 3,2,1 in the hour slot!!! Got smoothly down and some bagels, and it was off to the race start at the local track. 2 mile trip down proved to be a pretty good warm up but was not nearly enough as I would find out at the start.

Start of the Race

Boys and Girls ready to "Ride the Bull"

Took the line again as now is customary on the front line and greeted the normal folks around including A.J. Linnell this time from Jackson Hole, WY. Gerry, Ryan H.,Dwayne, Peat, and some others included at the start. Time to go, and we were off with a police escort out of town on the local highway heading towards the actual race start on a gravel road. Thing here in South Dakota, when they decide to go up, as I have found out in the many races I have done out here, they go up!!! No fooling around with worrying about how steep it is!

The gravel started the day and we were booking up it. I was feeling as little nervous going up the gravel as I was at my max already as far as heart rate and it was only 2 miles into a 103 mile race!!! Keep going though as the local from Quarq in Spearfish put the pedal down even further. I was eyeing Gerry and A.J. as I knew that they would be the ones to watch this entire race. Well eyeing is all I was able to do because they were gone from my view not to far into the race. As we took the turn into the singletrack, a little bobble by Doug Andrews ahead of me over a cattle grate and I ended up having to dismount as well. Did so badly and stuck my foot into the grate and nearly broke my ankle in the process.

Well after holding up the whole race at this point. I settled into the singletrack, still trying to get my heart rate down. Opening 13 mile climb wasn’t going to let this happen. Able to keep the leader in sit until the singletrack got think and then it was pacing time. I was able to ride with Cheryl Sorenson for couple miles in the opening climbs as she was setting a good pace and making me settle down. After a while I got past and was off in search of Doug, Gerry and Peat. Got to Doug on a wicked downhill about 10 miles into the race as he was riding rigid. Come to find out he had been riding with A.J. and Gerry but the downhills were not treating him good. I was able to put in little attacks over the next 10 or so miles and opened up a gap.

The opening 20 miles were some of the toughest I have ridden so far in a NUE! They are also some of the most BEAUTIFUL!!! There was a couple times that I nearly was hitting trees because my eyes were wandering taking in the canyon walls, waterfalls, or vastness of peaks surrounding me. The opening 50 was all up and down the beauty never stopped.

Over the first 50 or so I was pretty much alone in the world as I had no body around me. I felt that I was putting a pretty good gap into Doug and holding 3rd place Singlespeed pretty secure. This first 50 was just punishing with some steep enough ascents that I was off walking wondering if I was going to be able to walk my bike up the hill let alone ride it. Of course with a steep ascent you get a awesome descent and these were great. The Black Hills gave a good mix of very rocky trails, open grass lands, and buffed out singletrack. You never knew what kind of descent you were going to get.

I knew that at mile 50 the trail was going to get a little easier and it couldn‘t have come soon enough. I was pretty gassed when I rolled into the Silver City check point 50 miles in. From here it was onto the dreaded Rail Trail section!! I was looking forward to this for the breather from climbing but NOT looking forward as I was running a pretty easy gear and was doomed to be spun out for the next 27 miles! Off I went and the opening section of this part of the race was great, more singletrack rail than anything, going over old walking bridges and riding right along the stream. Beauty once again!! about 6 miles into this the trail pointed right. I was confused because this was a wall and wondered where we were going. Forgot about the mandatory hike a bike!

Hike A Bike from HELL!!

Scenes like this along the Mick
were the only thing keeping me going strong!

This Hike A Bike puts all others to shame. You are pretty much climbing straight up over granite slabs, with nothing to hold onto other than trying to drag your bike with you. Reason for the hike a bike was were needed to get over what felt like a mountain to the other side where the rest of the rail trail was. Well I got up this after some swearing and rolled down to the MIckelson Trail where I would come to hate myself for the next 20 miles!! Brett Huering from Team Noah, doing his first 100 mile would find this hike to be a little harder as he decided to pull my turtle move from Boone and land upside down in a 6 ft. hole filled with rocks on the steep part of the hike!! He’s ok and finished is first hundo though!!

Well onto the MIckelson by myself. I tapped out a fairly good rhythm trying to hold around 14 going down the trail. Did very well for about 12 miles doing this but the monotony finally started to add up as I was all alone, gradually up hill, into a head wind. Finally I looked back to see 3 riders coming up quick. I saw the short riding style of Cheryl, another guy who I never caught his name, and oh no DOUG!! Oh well someone to ride with at least. They caught me and the pain was about to begin. They were moving and I was in a bad place. I hooked onto the back of this train and held on for dear life many time over the next 14 miles wondering if I was going to die. I yoyo’d a few times always working my way back on. I felt bad because I wasn’t able to take many pulls because I was so spun out on the trail and the pace always dropped once I took the lead.

Well we finished the Mickelson together and made it to the last drop bag site at Englewood. From here I knew that we were going to go back to climbing and descending all the way into Sturgis. Right out of the aid the other 3 got a gap up a hill as I was just setting a pace to finish. I was running low on gas and didn’t want to loss it all!! I was able to keep them in sight seeing them on the longer doubletrack climbs that were common in this part of the race. The first 50 of the race was the singletrack and second 50 was doubletrack. I was figuring Doug had me as he was riding strong even with the tough gear he was running. Came around a corner at about 85 in and who do I see but Doug on the side of the trail fixing a flat. Checked if he needed anything and once he said no I was off like a bat out of hell!!! This was my chance and I needed to go as hard as I could.

You would think after my debacle at Lumberjack 2 weeks ago I would take the downhills a little easier but no. I was flying down the hills, launching over rocks, ruts and just trying not to flat or fly into the woods. Every climb was dreaded in this section as my head wanted to fly up them but my legs had nothing left. Every climb I also was hoping to see the Sturgis white letters on the hill and know it was all downhill to the finish. Well after suffering over the next 17 miles of rutty, rocky, and often loose trails I finally saw the sign and knew I needed to ramp it up and put everything down. Going down the last downhill my race almost was ruined as I took a corner to see a 4x4 coming straight at me. Luckily I got over just enough and got around and it was smooth sailing into the town. The race finished in awesome style taking us down into the flood control area and allowing us to fly through town with no worries of cars or crossings.

The Finish

The finish line in sight I pushed it a little as I was able to reach my goal of under 9 hours and finished in 8:55 on the day. Wondered if I would do this as much of the race was spent around a 10 mph average but long open trail and screaming downhills at the end proved enough to get that average up. I will for sure be back to this race as I have already asked for a lifetime pass!!! The Black HIlls have beauty I have yet to see anywhere I have ridden!! A.J. proved the man to beat today as he took the top single and 2nd overall, Gerry was 2 spots back in 4th and Cheryl kicked my butt and took one spot ahead of me. Never complain about a woman beating you if they are wicked strong riders. Congrats to them!!

Peat (6th) and Dwayne (5th) pushing the opening miles!

Overall I finished in 3rd Singlespeed and 11th Overall. Team Noah Foundation once again proved we are a Team of top notch riders with Dwayne finish 5th Singlespeed and Peat finishing 6th Singlespeed right with him!!! Brett finish his first 100 miler in 10:10 which is wicked respectable and Adam finished his first 100 in sub 12 hours which on this course is a feat all in it’s own. Mad props to those two and Dwayne and Peat because this was one tough race!!! Well I have wasted enough of your time reading this!! July is off for me and my next race is right back out here for the Black Hills Back 40. That’s all!! OUT!