6hr Challenge for a Cowbell

Cowbell 12hr Challenge held at the new whitewater center in Charlotte NC. WOW this place looks like a lot of fun for a non cycling weekend. If not throw in ten+ miles of sweet singletrack and make it the total package weekend. The trail system was impressive. Many section of challenging trail, most of the trail was in the shade. In June this is a huge +, all in all a must do race.

I decided on the 6 hour event this weekend for several reasons. One was a 12hr race in June sucks, next lack of fitness and then I wanted to test myself on the single speed for 6 hours. With ORAMM coming up in a months time I needed to decide on one gear or 27.

Luckily I recieved a friendly call from Damon on going up to Charlotte. Finally a trip with a teammate. This can really pump you up - I probably talked Damon's ear off. The morning went as smooth as could be. I felt calm about this whole event my gear selection and my chances on a good finish.


Lap 1 - Fast maybe too fast. Settled into a quick start spinning out the 34x21 gear.
Felt great through the technical sections and the climbs seemed managable.

Lap 2 - The quick pace catches up to me around mile 6 of the lap. Not 100% sure if it was the heat or the effort.

Lap 3 - Pace drops off some ten minutes to the previous 2 laps. Issuses with the gi system. A much needed unscheduled pit stop.

Lap 4 - System settled down and getting back into the race. Pace now coming back into the desired :65 minute window.

Lap 5 - Mantaining the pace of the previous lap. The cut-off time was 3pm and due to laps 2&3 I would not make the deadline. There would be no 6th lap, just happy to have made it through the race. Somehow managed a 4th place.

What's that Sound

It Sounds like a Cowbell! Trying to prepare myself for this race. At first it was going to be a 12hr single speed effort. Due to work and related projects that have kept me from quality saddle time. It's been reduced to the 6hr challenge for me. After 12hr(7:25) of Tsali, I made a promise to myself don't inflict unneccesary punishment on myself until proper training has been achieved. Yet to get anything over 3.5 hrs on the saddle this should be a good call.

Making steps this weekend with a season record - 3 training days in a row. Friday afternoon dodging traffic on my hybird. Saturday group road ride, fast at times and steady tempo the rest of the time. Sunday a very wet mtb ride at Harbison. All in all 7hrs of riding a weekly high. I must be on a roll. Other training includes ample amounts of surveying hours in the field. Last two weeks I've been outside working all day. This heat tolerence could help, I'll keep that in the mental bank.