The Gooseberry 100k started on top of Gooseberry Mesa, weird I know, and somehow during the ride we ended up at this lookout many miles away. The finish, by the way, is back on top of that mesa. I was feeling like I was in a little over my head at this point.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. A lot of us camped out on the deck the night before and I’m pretty sure only 3 people got any sleep, the snoring crowd. Note to self, next year there will be a snoring yurt and a non-snoring yurt.
Ever see an Ambien hangover and can you guess who will be banished to the snoring yurt next year?
We did it right this year starting the 100k with a loop around Gooseberry, there is no way I would want to do that loop after 55 miles and climbing up the scenic byway from Rockville.
The junction of the Rim and JEM trail would would prove too tempting for 3 of our group as someone had pre-determined that they would need to bail and left a car 1 mile down the trail, stocked with icy cold drinks no less. I submit to that someone that they would have made it all the way. However, this is about the point that the ride turned from fun pedaling into epic suffering.
After about 6 miles of pavement from Virgin to Rockville there was a little treat waiting for everyone, a nearly 3000 foot climb from river valley back to the top of the mesa and the finish at the windmill. All by itself it’s no fun yet somehow satisfying but after being on the bike for nearly 6 hours in 100+ degrees it was downright demoralizing.
We didn’t really keep track of finishing times but Dave Harris was first back to camp followed by Kris and KC Holley, Kenny Jones and then myself with Adam Lisonbee being the last finisher.
Satisfying to have finished and happy to find some shade. I’m thinking same time same place next year, the Saturday after Interbike. BTW, Who invited all the bald men?
bald pasty men you mean.
Good report. I salute you all!
Why is Adam’s front shock bottomed out?
Dug, a valiant attempt to erase the farmer tan but isn’t it a bit late in the season for that?
Because that is a very, very steep descent that I am riding down. And also, it needs some air.
Good times indeed.
i’m bummed I missed it this year.
I have some snoring teammates and Rich and Sten came up with a good idea. They wear those industrial earplugs. They don’t even hear the wake up call or an alarm. Could be a bad thing. It is my goal to camp on the Yurt floor one day.
God made a few perfect heads and the rest he covered up with hair.
I may have missed out on what looks to have been a splendid time but so did you!
As a matter of fact, all of you missed out on sitting behind a black computer with 4 excel spreadsheets open for 10hrs per day.
Now who missed out! HOLLA!
How is it that you all seemed to have stayed so clean while mountain biking? Or did you just managed to photoshop out all the dirt? I can’t even stay that clean on a road bike.