What a crazy weekend of racing, with SB athletes traveling all over the place! While Shelly and I made the trek to Bend, Oregon for the High Cascade 100, Chris Marsiguerra, Travis, OJS and UHB made the trip to Pacific Union College for the Howell Mtn. Challenge under what I understand to be mild temps and primo trail conditions. Nice! Bri was flying back from a business trip in Chicago and would be using the weekend for some of that "recovery" training...

As for Bend, I can basically sum it up by simply saying: 100 miles. 80+ miles of single track that NEVER got old, despite how much I drooled on myself (quite a bit of that actually). There was more dust than I have seen at some National Hare and Hounds and enough beautiful scenery to make it all worthwhile. In the end Shelly finished her first hunert miler in what was no easy feat. In comparing times to the Tahoe 100 from last year, they averaged about 1+ hour longer - no doubt due to the slower speeds found when riding endlessly weaving singletrack and in the soft Bend sand/silt that comprised much of the course.

While it would be fun to share that I ate poorly, was waaaaay too aggressive on the first 8+ mile downhill flowing single track, and fogged my contacts over with dust all leading to me wishing for a sag wagon at miles 68-78 I was able to come back with shocking strength for the last 20 miles after a few cokes and some saline solution. That's how these races seem to go though, more ups and downs than a gravity dropper seat post at Downieville. It's a pretty interesting human experiment to put your body through...maybe it's just better to get the details from someone else stupid enough to do it though! A few fun pictures from Bend...

The trail system right out of the hotel was amazing! Fun, technical rocks and this place called THE LAIR - a fully legit, mini DH trail section all built in the forest - LEGALLY! Sweet!

Santa Cruz Bikes Rip THE LAIR UP...CHECK IT...

Small in Stature...HUGE in Courage!

Looks like all that riding with the Super D champ paid off!

The 29 inch Tall Boy was the absolute perfect tool for 100 miles of Bend Trail!

2007 - As multi-time World Solo Champion Jeff Linder rolled into the pits at about 2:45am, grabbed a bite to eat and promptly jumped back on his bike for more pedaling I looked at Bri and said "There is no way I could ever do a 24 hour race, solo, team, or support!"

2010 - Fast forward. A phone call from perennial good guy Oliver Souza resulted in the following conversation (more or less):
OJS: "Brian, wanna do a 24 hour race at Boggs in a few weeks?"
BB: Stupid and amazingly quick response: "Sure, just tell me when and where. I will be there."

The rest as they say is history. How does one sum up a 24 hour race? Well, coincidentally enough, I could simply say "scroll down" as the jist of the Downieville review aptly applies in this case as well. However, there is also a perverse level of insanity that must accompany said toughness. In the back of my mind, perhaps I thought this whole 24 hour thing was a joke, but sure enough the weekend appeared (all 100+ degree temperatures of it!) and things got underway. With a wordy and enduring D-ville recap still lingering, let's roll the photo expose here after a brief introduction:

Dan Nelson of Nelson Titanium Products: The Instigator - all of this was his bright idea.
Oliver Souza of Concept Works: The Entertainer - Professional comedic talents
Uphill Bill also of Concept Works: One Fast Docent - unmatched holeshot artist
Brian Butler of SBRacing.org: Some guy who swore he would NEVER do a 24hr...
Brianne Spiersch of SBRacing.org: Den mother to this band of misfits
Clark Kent Butler: Distraction to everyone, occasional knuckle biter

Our Team Leader looking calm, cool and collected. And why not? He sent Uphill Bill out for the start and true to form the dashing docent ripped off a fast start and handed the bike over with a big lead! Later he would test and exceed the traction capabilities of the course and rip a good bit of skin off. He soildered on unphased.

If this isn't a race face then I don't know what is! Ollie demonstrates the intensity that should be found on every racers face no matter what! At this point, spirits match the temperature - HIGH!

Here the details reveal the time: No dirt on jersey, glasses or faces. EARLY in the event.

Need a titanium custom built bike? NTP has got you covered! Suspension, stiffies, little wheels, bigger wheels, he will build whatever it is your heart desires!

Uphill Bill all smiles during the night. Note, still covered in sweat as the heat barely subsided. Bills laps were equally hot as he never wavered with strong, consistent laps around a course that had a fun factor off the charts! Rocks, single track, flow, everything a quality course should offer!

Believe it or not, this is also Uphill Bill (bright light!) coming through the banner to send Brian off into the darkness woefully under-equipped with 180 lumen's. This would be remedied for the next lap...Fortunately, the Tall Boy 29 inchers handeled what he couldn't see yet still ran over.

After racing through the night, we stand around contemplating the final hours in a sleep deprived state. Confusion sets in easily and frequently at this point...

This is how you start each lap - WFO! Ollie demonstrates perfect form.

Bill finishes up what would ultimately be our final lap (background) as Dan is there to welcome him in. Ollie says: "Come on Butler, how hard could one more be?"

Band of brothers. Dan, Ollie, Brian, Bill. 24 hours in the books. Thank goodness!

Our hard riding produced a finish with more laps than anyone else in attendance. I think that means we win. Along the way, the Santa Cruz Tall Boy rolled out the fastest lap of the race, too. Hmmm, seems like team NTP/SBRacing.org/Concept Works didn't have too shabby a weekend!

My favorite bike and my favorite dog sum up 24 hours of racing. Done.

What can be said about Downieville that hasn’t already been put to paper? The exposed climb is grueling and relentless to all but a few (Carl Decker, how do you do it?). The traverse to Baby Heads always seems to sap any energy that you may have been holding in reserves – if you were lucky enough to make it over Packer Saddle with more than a dry mouth, empty legs and much will to live that is. While Baby Heads may have been reduced to Baby Pebbles in recent years, that in no way detracts from the overall brutality awaiting as Pauley’s Creek and the rest of the descent offer plenty of diabolical challenges to test even the best mountain bikers mettle – and in an oxygen deprived, energy depleted state where fighting off cramps is priority #1, it means negotiating these treacherous obstacles with any semblance of speed is a test of focus and perseverance beyond the scope of most. The final pedal into town along the tight-wire that is First Divide saps out any mental stamina sloshing around the bottom of the tank. And for those still fortunate enough to have legs, there is a final paved sprint to the finish that coincidentally finishes off the will of any survivors refusing to wave the white flag.

To be sure, Downieville is not for the faint of heart. Those that accept the challenge comprise a breed of mountain bike rider that borders on the outskirts of the typical pedal jockey’s radar. An event where not simply a richly endowed lunger’ can prevail without the need for serious mountain bike riding talent. Nor, can a talent rich, yet fitness short pilot expect to reach Packer Saddle in a respectable time and still put said skills to use in a deliriously cross-eyed state for the descent.

Like few other events, Downieville’s pre-requisites are clear and concise: Be tough. Fitness-shmitness. Riders train for months leading up to the event only to cramp beyond repair. Can you forge ahead through the pain? Be tough. Rocks, roots, and all manner of trail hazards pose disaster at every corner. Crashes, flats and mechanicals can wreak havoc on even the most carefully laid plans. Are you gonna just give up if that happens? NO! Be tough. Dehydration, dust clouded trails, riders in your way and speeding up from behind – the mental anguish builds to crescendo! Are you gonna relent, cave in, break? HELL NO! BE TOUGH! Do you think these jagged mountains comprised of sharp rocks, freezing streams and scorching heat will accept anything less than your absolute best effort? Do they care if you whine, bitch and moan? They will pummel you to pieces worse than 38 year old Tour come back. Be tough or suffer the consequences…

This year may have been what you wanted. Maybe it wasn’t – but you pushed through and survived until the end. At Downieville, that is what counts. Finishing. Giving your best. Being tough. You now have 360 days to toughen up for next year. Once again embarking on the challenges set forth to see if your personal best is good enough. When the taxed breathing sears your lungs, when the sweat pours off your body like Pauley’s Creek, when your muscles stiffen and scream in pain remember just one thing: Be Tough.

Or maybe have fun? Nah! Suffer!!!

Hello Faithful Followers!

We decided that we should mention how awesome our team did at our local CCCX Series before Downieville takes over this weekend. Oh yeah, check out Scott Mosher's pictures! As per usual, he get some awesome shots!

Great Job Team!! Here are the overall finishes we had as the most awesome local team:

For the Men:

1^st Place Steve Kelley, Expert Single Speed
1^st Place Brian Butler, Expert Men 19-34
3^rd Place Brett Butler, Expert Men 19-34
4^th Place Travis Sluder, Expert Men 35-44
8^th Place Jack Schluckbier, Sport Men 35-44
1^st Place Kris Kowdrey, Beginner Men 35-44

For the Women:

1^st Place Michele Wilcox, Beginner Women 19+
2^nd Place Shelly Monroe, Expert Women
1^st Place Brianne Spiersch, Sport Women 19-34 

Our team is really doing a great job this year with supporting the local races as well as the state races. Here are a few overall standings for some of the other series our racers are competing in:

4^th Place Chris Marsiguerra, Expert Men 40-44 Kenda Cup West Series
1^st Place Brian Butler, Expert Men 19-34 Team Big Foot Series

State Championships Skyline, Napa CA

1^st Place Shelly Monroe, Expert Women
3^rd Place Chris Marsiguerra, Expert Men 40-49
9^th Place Travis Sluder, Expert Men 40-49
1^st Place Brian Butler, Expert Men 30-39

 
Brian and Brett on the Podium, 1st & 3rd Series Winners

Ready, Set, Catch!! Bri actually caught them too!

Bri, Sport Series Winner!!

Check out the new shades. The sun never sets on the cool!

While I'm sure everyone is expecting another one of my fabulously mind numbing recaps of the fast and furious final round of CCCX, I actually split town right after the race in order to have some high mountain fun. So it will have to wait. Instead, how about some pictuers of my happy place. Can I have another serving please? 90+ temps, hammered legs and great spirits! Near the top of the false summit? Looking good...

We pedaled along and ended up coming into town on the downhill course since we heard that the trail was mostly passable. But nobody mentioned big piles of rocks strewn about!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better we stumbled upon the infamous "Water Fall" obstacle...it was quite a site, covered in so much water it took a minute to actually distinguish a somewhat rideable line!

Not only were the trails second to none, but so to was the company. Brett hung tough through all of my antics and Stan made a solo day trip (die hard!) to come and check out the scene, too! I accused him of cheating by bringing his Santa Cruz Nomad which was dialed in perfectly for the terrain, but I was reminded that we were actually the ones showing up with knives to a gun fight! Fortunately for me, my 29 inch blade is more than capable and the smiles were broad as we ripped and shredded and even a tried our hands at a bit of snow plowing enroute to some serious fun in the high mountain sun! Stan gave up the goods and shared some key information that will hopefully come in handy on future visits to the fabled mountain...I can't wait! Neither can my snow plow...