By Keith Eckstein, Trails Director for the Warrior's Society
Photos by Lynn Acosta
The wake up call came at 4:00 AM, the ensuing sounds of morning routines
beginning fractured the night's stillness beyond recall. A bit of
foreshadowing in the choice of the word 'fractured', but more on that
later...
At least the group of us who crashed inside the rec building at O'Neill had
a toasty warm night's rest. The price for this privilege was to help our
Queen of the Breakfast, Patty Taylor (McLaughlin) set up the food and drink
for the late registration. Many hands make light work and in just a few
minutes the cofee was brewed, baked goods diplayed, OJ presented and the
Registration table readied.
Next task was the loading of bike and riders, trucks for the former and
school buses for the latter. Still in inky darkness as we headed up Live
Oak Canyon road, I saw many faces from past VQ's. Seated next to me was
Derek from Big Bear, and he and I caught each other up on our lives. By the
time we pulled into the starting line full daylight was upon us.
Typical weather, about mid-forties. It was quite a scene and I always feel
glad and proud to be a pert of it. Many of the best that our sport has to
offer were there, and I feel honored to be among them. We finally were let
off about 6:40 and what a relief to get the thing underway.
The unexpected muddy condition of the Black Star road in the canyon bottom
slowed the pace and sucked more energy out of the riders than usual. I was
feeling not too badly by Beek's and the Main Divide. The trip across the
spine of the Santa Ana's was pretty uneventful, encountering many of my
friends along the way: Darn Maxwell and his daughter Lacey at the Golf Ball
near Beek's, Jady Enomoto, Steve Timm, Calvin Mulder on a fixed gear (he
slowed down long enough for a minute of conversation before motoring away).
The Silverado Motorway was a welcome sight, it was here that I saw Barbara
Dodge on her attempt at the Counting Coup. I almost ate it one the second
rocky section near the top, but by the grace of God pulled out of the rut
unscathed. I can say that I passed Rudy (another guy on a fixed gear).
Never mind that he was on the side of the trail fixing a flat tire!
The bottom of the Motorway, another welcome sight. Was reassured to find
that the blood sugar at this point was right in range at 150. I downed a
banana, some cytomax, a Clif Bar and some water, then back on the bike for
the 16-mile climb to the top of Santiago Peak.
Mike Caffrey and I pedaled together up Maple Springs for a long time. Mike
has his own story to tell, but the gist of it is that he sheared off his
chainring bolts and (get this), zip tied his chainrings together to get down
the Motorway! Some good soul at the aid station actually gave Mike the
chainrings from his own bike, enabling Mike to continue his Quest. Are
mountain bikers great people or what? Well, about the time we hit the
spring for which the road is named, Miike inexorably pulled away. Another
buddy of mine Steve Nudge pulled in alongside and we yakked like women all
the way up to the top of the mountain. On the way, we passed Derek, which
would happen several times that day.
Just before the turn off to the Upper Holy Jim, I pinch flatted on the back
tire. During the tube change about 10 riders came by. My former team mate
from last year's 24-Hour Temecula race Melissa Fletcher joined Steve and I
as we pulled in to the Upper HOLY JIM trail. What a joy that downhill!! I
really hit my rhythm and the flow of the trail was almost better than sex.
Remember the bit of foreshadowing in the beginning of this story? On the
lower switchbacks, within sight of the support staff at the bottom of the
trail, is a tree stump protruding from the mountain. Keith's right hand
smacked that thing right square on the pinkie knuckle and sent him tumbling
down the hill. Great entertainment for all the support staff. At the time
I felt no pain, so I picked myself back up and rode down to the aid station.
Tom Sherman complimented my form, chastised me for cutting a switchback,
and inquired if I was good to go. God Bless Tom! I didn't know it then,
but that knuckle was broken.
All I could see was the downhill on HOLY JIM and so off I went. We had a
bit of a traffic jamb in the beginning, but the gentleman was kind enough to
accommodate two of us, myself and a young woman in letting us by. Of
course, being a gentleman myself, I deferred to the lady and her full
suspension rig, when she asked could I get out of the way. She was tearing
it up in great style, but I managed to stay with her (which surprised me).
But her lack of knowledge of the trail showed when she plowed right past the
first switchback. As I went by her I inquired how many times she'd been on
this trail. "This is my first time!" came back the reply. Evidently the
switchbacks gave her some pause, as I lost sight of her from that point.
She made it to the aid station about ten minutes after I did.
The time was 12:10 so I was in good shape for the 1:00 PM cut off time at
the bottom of West Horsethief. Blood sugar check again, 90. Not too bad.
More cytomax, banana and a Clif Bar. A glass of water and off for the last
push. I was still feeling pretty good, especially for all the lack of
preparation due to all the rainy weekends we've had this year. In years
past I've walked almost half the Trabuco Creek section, but I managed to
ride the majority of it this time. Steve Nudge waiting for at the bottom of
West Horsethief. I was very surprised to hear from the support staff there
that I had made the cut off by one minute!
The 2-mile hike up WT was grinding, but putting one foot in front of the
other will get you to anywhere. After passing Derek again on the walk up,
he passed me right back at the aid station. "It's all gravy from here", I
thought, as I started out again. But it was not to be. Just 1/8-mile from
the top of Trabuco, my chain breaks. Well, there goes my shot of finishing
in under 8 hours (my original goal). But, I have a chain tool and spare
links, so no problem. Oh wait, I have only links for 8-speed drive train!
No singlespeed links to be found! As Hans would say, "Idiot!" I was
contemplating going sans chain and coasting, skateboard-kicking my way out.
Yet another good soul stopped to help, telling me that Erik Williams was
just around the corner and he may have a spare singlespeed link or two. God
Bless Erik!
So now, drivetrain in place, let's enjoy the Trabuco singletrack! But this
was not to be, either. The quick release on the rear wheel was living up to
it's name. Every 20 or 30 pedal strokes, the thing would slip and the rear
tire would slam into the chain stay. I cranked the thing so tight I had to
use my wrench as a pry bar to release it. Yet, it would not hold the wheel
in the frame. From top of Trabuco to the finish line I stopped no fewer
than 15 times due to this issue. So I can officially claim DFL for 2005.
As Dave would say, I had the most fun, as I was out there the longest.
finis,
-Keith "Keeps His Word" Eckstein
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