Arrived in Sturgis on Friday afternoon to a precursor of what was to come this weekend, RAIN! More on that in a bit. Got inside, said hi to many old friends (A.J., Perry Jewett, Jim Meyer, and many more that I have gotten to know). Got the packet picked up, drop bags packed up and it was time to head to my traditional camping spot at the Spearfish Campground. There is no better place to stay when in the area as the grounds are amazing, stream perfect for sleeping, and overall accommodations worth the 20 dollars.
Race Day
Got to Sturgis and my hope was not made truth as it was raining pretty steady, or had just previous to my arrival. Tatanka 100 is tough course on it’s own. The climbs are often point A to point B in the straightest line possible, and if they are switchbacked they are still quite a pitch up. The terrain out here can be ripping fast trail to very technical rock sections and roots. Now all of this was going to be compounded by the rain ten fold!
Rain coming down steady, most the NUE faithful rolling a short warm up in the wet and cold, the long day was about to begin.
Race Time
I felt that when the gun went off, or we all decided we were going weather they were ready or not, the rain must have picked up. The roll out for this race is about 3-4 miles of gravel roads that lead us to the entrance of the Centennial Trail, where the first 50 miles of the race are run, at Alkali Trailhead. Was sitting in the front pack for the roll out through Sturgis at the back of the lead pack and made the turn with them onto the gravel climb up still there. Here is where my race went backwards instead of forward. The first acceleration on the climb left me struggling and watching them roll away.
My legs and body were already deciding how today was going to be run. I had punished them over the last 2 weeks with back to back 100 milers (BaileyHundo and Lumberjack) and it was time for my body to revolt against my wishes. Legs felt like cement, stomach not much better already. I was able to keep sight of the top two single speeds, A.J. and Drapp. After grinding my way up the gravel mostly by myself, I entered the single track from what I could make out with a minute gap between me and the SS leaders. Here is the beginning of the longest day I have spent on the bike, mentally and physically!
Trail Time
Well most of the time once we hit the trail, the smile comes out and I am in my happy place. Not to be today as the trail was not buff single track but rather a stream filled with a couple inches of tire sucking muck!! The trail immediately gave us an unbeknownst look into the next 6 hours!!! Originally all of us were hopping for possible sub 8 hour days, me a fast time than last years 8:55. Well I could tell by the opening section that I may have to be watching out for time cutoffs today. The trail was a slip and slide!!!
So nothing I could do but keep on pushing forward. I found out early that I was in for a lot of walking. As I started to ride, any uphill was compounded by the slime and traction was an issue. Over the next 25 miles to Dalton Lake, my mind was going negative as I thought I traveled further and further backwards on the clock to all the leaders. I would ride until I would spin out and then push the bike until I knew I could get back on and roll till I would slide out again. REPEAT For the next 3 hours!! The rain came down steady for this first 3 hours too! I got to Dalton Lake Aid a little defeated, but was boosted along the way by Perry Jewett’s Pedal Power excitement at the Elk Creek Aid!!!
The aid’s today for a welcome oasis today for me as normally I am in and out, spending as little time as possible. I needed the extra break today though!! Mentally, every aid for me was a goal towards the finish. I would count the miles and then the extra miles often as Aid’s are rarely at the mileage they are marked at. Dalton Creek for me was a major milestone as it took me 3 hours to accomplish the task of getting there. I knew that my goal time was out the window and doing the other calculation a sub 12 hour was in jeopardy. Again though I pushed on.
HIKING, HIKING, HIKING
After Dalton Lake is where the majority of the hiking started. Coming out of Dalton you go immediately up in tight switchback formation. Last year I was able to climb parts of this section taking minor walking break. This year I was bound to walk the entire stretch! About 20 minutes later I was at the top with very sore feet already. Press ON! Much of the same over and over until the Pilot Knob Aid. This Aid feel about 42 miles into the race and for me about 4:30 into the race. OUCH!! Getting here I noticed the Aid worker was taking our splits. Wondering what the damage was I checked the sheet to see what my gap was. For the first part of the race I felt as though I had to be more than 1 1/2 back as I was moving like molasses. Much to my surprise I found out I was a mere 40 minutes off of the OVERALL LEADER!! Mental boost!! 2nd SS was only about 20 minutes up! Time to see if I have anything. This section of the race was one of my favorite and least favorite sections last year and this year was no different.
The start of the section from Pilot to Silver City is great! The trail conditions here were not bad at all today as the ground seemed to hold the water well and traction was good. The trail is also classic single track, fast and flowy, with punchy climbs that flowed nicely with trail. I was moving nicely over this and knew that one of these turns though was going to lead me to one of the hike a bikes from hell on course! Low and behold around a corner the trail points left and I look up a washed out trail straight up the mountain!! OUCH! Hike again for 20 minutes or so and finally begin to steep, fun, downhills into Silver City. Arriving in Silver City was a boost this year as I hear the echo of PEDAL POWER chant!!! Perry know’s how to get me riding faster with those simple words, THANK YOU PERRY!
Silver City was another accomplishment for the day. Another time check tells me I had cut off about 10 minutes into the gap to Drapp. Time to get to it on the MICK. Lubed the chain, got new bottles and food, sunglasses cleaned. Off for 26 miles of monotony!
Mickelson Trail
The MIck for most riders isn’t that bad of a section. Click up and find a gear that works nicely and ride it out. For a single speed rider this section is a mental game as we are stuck spinning what we got, and for the most part it is not a high enough gear. My gear of 34 x20 this year was the same as last year and I knew it was going to be a tough push as it was great for climbing but not for the 2% grade of the Mickelson.
Before we got to the MIckelson though, we must climb the notoriously steep hike a bike up and over a nearly sheer rocky, rutted, stream filled uphill!! This year knowing it was coming was a little bit of a help as I was mentally prepared for it. Climbing up and over to the Mickelson wasn’t as bad as last year for me as I knew what to expect. Onto the Mick and let the mind games begin!!
The Mickelson this year for me was 26 miles of alone time as the whole race had been so far!! Spin, Spin, Stand, Spin, Spin, SIGH! The only thing that kept me pushing on was the fact that I never quit a race, my bike must be unridable to not finish a race!! So on and on I went, monotony being broken for about 1/2 a mile when the eventual Master’s winner would pass me, offering me a pull and eventually just riding away from me. I had nothing to keep up with him!
Right before the known to me fast downhill section of the rail to trail, the sky’s deciding they didn’t give us enough of hell and rain fell again. This was one of the worst things that could happen as I had nothing but arm warmers now and the downhill meant speeds around 20 mph. for 5 miles!! COLD, COLD, COLD!! Again ride on!
Englewood Aid to the End…..
Got to Englewood, shivering from head to toe. On the downhill to this Aid I was shivering so bad that I would look down at times to see my front wheel shaking back and forth at top speed from my shaking body! Trying to get some cookies in my hand was a challenge but once again got what I needed to keep the body happy and off I went in search of the finish. The final section of the race is all on dirt, fire roads. These are different than normal fire roads though as they are ATV trails that are rutted and mud bogged to the point of basically wide open, multi lane singletrack. Over the next 25+ miles it was much of the same for me. Pace myself up the longer climbs, run the steep ones, and ride the downhills with reckless abandonment avoiding the huge mud and water pits that were everywhere the whole race. I was able to put a good clip together through this section and watched with amazement as the miles clicked by and it was looking like I might be able to pull of a sub 11 hour day! More stoke to the fire!
With this new fire I was able to push even when the body told me NO! Up and Down I kept looking for that last down hill. 10:30 hit and I had about 7 miles to go. PUSH, PUSH,PUSH!! I was now riding without a sense of danger as I just rode as fast and hard as I could. Finally the final long downhill was in front of me!! This was one of the most dangerous sections for me as I was going as fast as I could and the road was torn to shreds. I would point my bike downhill and ride what was given me hoping not to flat. Finally STURGIS was in front of me. Yes! 10:45 and only the town of Sturgis to get through. Got to the drainage ditch 10:50. YES I am going to make it. Well not so fast. Riding the drainage this year was a little sketchy. As I went around the first corner in the drainage, disaster nearly struck as my back wheel hit the water filled ditch and slid straight sideways on some moss!! I am going to end my race with only 2 miles left! NO
As luck would have it I was able to ride out of the slide and made a note to take all corners on the banked outside wall instead of the inside corner. Finally the final pallet bridge in front of me it was out of the drainage and the most beautiful sight of Woodle Field in front of me. Cross the line and day was complete!
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