Vermont 50

[francis]

I had done the race in 2001 and 2002 and was psyched to try it again. Having had a string of flat tires and mechanical difficulties this season, I was hoping to redeem myself.

I drove up Saturday with Glenn and we met his brother Tim and picked up our registration packets at the resort. Next it was back to the Best Budget Inn in Claremont. Here are a couple of shots (sorry I forgot the flash) or our room.





Apparently there was a car race in the area that weekend. Some guys a few doors down were drinking beers talking/arguing about race cars. I didn't think they needed to get up at 4:45 the next morning for their race. Anyway here's some pics of their two cars.




It was pretty cold and dark when we got there. Here's Glen in his car:


Besides Glenn and Tim, I didn't see anyone else from the team before the start. It was hard to find people with 700 racers. Glenn, Tim, and I were started in the first wave at 6:15. There was a big pack that was cruising pretty fast on the dirt roads. Everything went well at the beginning, the three of us were together and riding pretty steadily. I brought enough food, and had planned to skip as many aid stations as possible, possibly only stopping for water. Tim would often get there a little ahead of me and I would cruise by and just spin until they caught up. That worked pretty good for me, as I only stopped once to refill my water bottle.

The first half had hardly any single track. It was either climbing or bombing down the hill. The second half got nicer. We got mixed up with a big group on some singletrack with a lot of switchbacks. Having a big group probably slowed us down a bit, but I think resting was good for up. Next we hit a big downhill section, with some random guy ahead of us, followed by Glenn, me, and then Tim. He was going pretty fast, a little slower than we would have liked, but fast enough that it would have been crazy to try to pass him.

We finally hit the seventh aid station at mile 39 at about 3 hours and 50 minutes into the race. I wanted to take off all my warm clothes, but they wouldn't accept them, so I just rode through. Glen and Tim were with me for a while, but then I noticed they had dropped back. It was hard work from there on, but I felt that I had the energy. Lots more hills, both up and down. I was getting cramps in the insides of my thighs on one of the long climbs, but luckily they didn't slow me down and soon went away. The big downhill around mile 45 took a lot out of me. It was very fast and bumpy and my back was hurting by the end.

I passed the final aid station at about 4 hours and 40 minutes. Only 3.7 miles to go, but it seemed like 3 were up hill. I was getting pretty tired and all of a sudden it seemed like 20 people were passing me and they were going real fast. It turns out a college race was going on and they were using part of the course. Finally we get to the final descent, coming down Mt. Ascutney. In 2002 I crashed really hard. It almost happened again, but I managed to stay upright.

I finished in just under 5 hours and 15 minutes. I was very happy with my result and glad I finally had a race without any problems. I could barely move after the race, but I'm feeling a lot better now.

Here's a couple more pics:


Keith at the finish


Barry after the 50K run

[DaveMc]

I signed up for the VT50 with no idea what to expect.  I had heard about climbs that were impossible, massive crowds pushing their bikes, hard to get into the event,....  I waited by my computer back in April and was able to secure a spot.  Well I guess I have to race it.  Hmmm.

Saturday I drove up by myself, registered, looked around and saw a few people I knew from NSNEMBA.  Went back to my car, watched a DVD, drank plenty of fluids, and drifted off to sleep until some a-holes parks right next to my car and slams his door into my car.  So much space and this guy...

Sunday I look around and see no one I know but its still dark.  I lined up with the 400 other sport riders.  The experts are off and we wait, then the next group of experts, then finally we go.  I am sitting in the pack around 30th going down the road.  I am very comfortable but wonder what is to come.  We hit the first up and now I am sitting in around 15th.  We go into the first two track climb and there are people all over the place pushing, I continue to ride, making it to the top and probably well in the top 10 now.  On the downhill section I start hearing some rattling and clanging.  Ugggh what is going on, we hit the road again and I look down to see my water bottle cages clinging to the frame.  I get the CB all in one tool, handy for all the tools but none are easy to use.  I stay calm and tighten all 4 screws.  Finally back on the bike but saw so many people stream by.  45 miles to go, so I need to stay calm.

The first 30 miles seem like 90% road with single track/narrow fireroad inbetween.  I am motoring along staying within myself and passing people here and there.  Although everyone I am passing has an orange number plate (expert), still in hunt for the white number plates (sport) that I let get by.  I pass people in bunches on all the steep climb sections and get big cheers from all as they push and I ride.  The last 20 miles made this race, some virgin single track, some twisty, and a bit techinical.  I especially liked the section climbing to the house with people sitting on the deck.  Vermont is a special place, amazing how many people just sat in their yards cheering us on.  The last three miles were tough, I felt like I was being left for dead, finally made it to the ski slope downhill, almost crashed with 200 yards to go, and finished in 5:26. 

[Keith]

I went into this hoping to maybe beat last years time of 6:37 but knowing my lack of riding this summer and the horrid cramps I had in the Hampshire 100k could mean slower time. The first 25 went by seemingly fast and I felt good but not pushing too hard. I saw Michelle and then a bit later Junco but never saw Eugune of our crowd of four campers. After mile 30 when it stated to have singletrack the riding got more fun. A few times I got with some other riders whom bombed down hills but mostly I got behind crowds and it wasn't worth causing a crash to try passing. The cold shower at the end made it complete. I was only 13 minutes slower than last year (6:50). I did  enjoy the course remembering a few of the fun spots. I also had a loose water bottle cage and the bottle kept the top screw from dropping on the trail. I was glad to see faces I knew at the end and even saw a guy Michelle and I rode with in Alaska in July. He said he didn't have a fast race and blamed too much road riding and rusty mtn bike skills. I kept just below leg cramping for the last 10 miles or so and finished without feeling like the Hampshire 100K made me feel. 

[francis]

Another update: I feel like crap today. I could barely sleep last night because of too much caffeine and on top of that I got some gastro intestinal bug, maybe because my system was weak after the race. My muscles aren't too sore though, just the back of my neck from holding a tuck on those downhills.

Results are here

[Tom]

Great job everyone ! Hope to see you guys on Tom's Epic Ride of Attrition at the KTs Saturday.

[littlebyke]

We'll here it is Tuesday and I'm finally out of bed. Kidding! I got up for a few hours yesterday. Sunday, the alarm clock woke me up at 04:30am and then I had this "why did I sign up for this again attitude". This being my fourth time riding this course (I can never say I was racing it) I knew not to over dress despite the cold start. The weather was perfect and I ended up being perfectly dressed. So a few miles into the race after packs of riders past by me I got rid of my bad attitude and just enjoyed riding my bike on a beautiful day. I was happy just to be riding on a wonderful course unlike the aweful NH100. All the hills sucked but at least nearly everything could be done on wheels not bihiking. And I could just go along at my own pace and still have plenty of company with me. You see, after the misery of the NH100 and then another recent death march with under prepared nourishment, the VT50 for me was going to be easy. Surprisingly, I reached the 30 miles in a little over 3 hours. I was actually passing people along the way. At aid station 39 I caught up with Junko whom I started the race with but she was soon out of sight in the first mile. My legs were a bit crampy and so was hers so we agreed to keep each other company to the finish. She'd lead up the hills and I'd lead down and thru the singletrack. At the last aid station I couldn't get off the bike so I kept going at a slow pace so Junko could catch back up. She did and those last 3 miles UPHILL were so miserable that I thought I wouldn't make it. We finally got to the ski slope and let gravity take us to the finish line with the crowd cheering thinking were racing each other. Junko beat me by a tire nob width. So with not much riding this year I ended up with the best finish time ever at 7hr40min. I think I can blame some of that on the dry trails and NO RAIN for once but I'm pretty sure my pace was faster than other years anyways. Thanks TG for the DM training!

[jdvailco]

Congrats all.  That is some faaaaast ride times for 50 miles of climbing.  I will make sure to toast you guys with the honorable beer of Team Blesso Consulting...which beer is that Francis?