Big Wheel Racing

The Escalante Days XC race on August 14 had a great BWR showing with a field of 92 racers. Four BWR team members showed up for the Escalante Days XC race: Steve Reiter, Jeni Turgeon, Rebecca Barfoot, and Jeff Hemperley. Steve, Jeni, and Jeff raced in the expert single speed class with great results against some stiff competition. Rebecca raced in the geared expert class with some fierce competition as well!

The course is 35 miles in distance covering the majority of the Boggy Draw Trails System. Elevation gain was 2,340 feet per Jeff’s computer. Jeni was uncontested for the women’s single speed title and completed the 35 mile loop just over 3 hours. Steve took 3rd overall single speeder and 2nd in the 35-44 age group. Jeff was 2nd overall single speeder (58 seconds behind 1st) and 1st in age group 35-44 with a time of 2:07:58 with Steve just about 2 minutes behind him. Rebecca came in 3rd in her age group.

Great job BWR!!! Thanks, Jeff, for the photo (Jeff and Steve at the end of the race with some friends).

Many thanks to our sponsors who make all this fun happen for us:

Dr. James Slaman
Ergon
King Cage
White Brothers
Specialized
SRAM
High Desert Bicycles

The past few years a couple of races that got me into the endurance scene was the RMU or Rocky Mountain Ultra series. Local racer, race director and friend Thane Wright put together a group of races that met certain criteria that embraced his low key point of view and provided the most bang for the buck for racers and covering the Rocky Mountain states. This year have included Dawn to Dusk, Front Range 50, Breckenridge 100, Laramie Enduro and even in the past the 12 hours of Snowmass and Gunnison Growler. Each race granted funds to local non-profits and or unique organizations dedicating to serve those in need.  That covered New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. The last race of this year was the Laramie Enduro and I love that race. The trails and scenery are wonderful. Vedauwoo rock spires abound and remind me of my rock climbing days 20 years ago as I slowly pass them by on the bike. The volunteers are incredible. The racers are valiant in their individual efforts, but always chatty and full of positive energy.

 Four days before that race I chunked my rigid Surly KM SS into a section of soggy roots that sent me flying into a heap of boulders resting in a dark mucky pond-o-puddle. Sitting in the wetness, feeling the cold seep into my chamois, I twisted sideways and repeatedly wrenched each foot until they popped out of the tight pedals and could only think that “my hips hurt really bad” (Napolean Dynamite saying). Each side had immediate swelling and nice raspberries. Sweet, I love that realization that I just reduced my race readiness to stiff-and-sore.

 Once home I rallied and got into the shower to scrape and brush out wounds and inventory the damage. My secret to using “the brush” is Glenlivet on ice placed right on the shower shelf- pre-infusion helps also and post for that matter. The whiskey goes on the “inside” while the dedicated brush on the shower hook does hard fast circles on the outside. Once the mud had drained off my feet I noticed that my left foot still had color on it. I inspected and brushed with no change in the darkness of my left pinky toe. Further testing created nice clicking and a fair level of pain. Bad, bad, bad. Broken! My local doc laughed when he saw it. He actually saved me money on the visit because he said “no X-rays needed on this one” and then called in his PAs-in-training to text book this one. I obliged their poking and prodding.

Brads broken toe

 Pre-Race travel to Laramie Wyoming and prep was very calm and enjoyable. I went up with good friends Thane Wright, Richard Knapp, and Ezekiel Hersh. Race morning was also uneventful which is nice. No freak-outs. The bike was running well and I felt I could manage pain. That was what this effort would be all about.  I was only doing this race because I truly loved the event and could not wait one more year to be there. I did do something unusual. I entered as a Clydesdale. I am a big buffalo that thinks he can run with the deer gracefully. Granted the pain I was about to endure, I wanted to scale back the pressure on myself a bit. It backfired though because my buds laid the challenge down to win in that category- no exceptions. Crap.

 Cap-gun goes off and I rally the bike into the front. The pain meds have not reached full bore yet, but well enough to hammer and enjoy the fresh morning sprint. I tweaked my Specialized pro carbons to accommodate a toe twice its normal size. I had switched to these boots earlier this year and love the fit- especially at the 75 mile mark when the bottom of my feet decide to self-ignite. I also see how my knees and ankles align perfectly over the pedals. I love these shoes. I actually bought another pair (do not tell my wife that) and keep them fresh in the closet. I also got my Krieg saddle bag and had everything neat and tidy inside. The shape nestled right under the seat and my bibs slid cleanly past- saving my Pactimo shorts from excessive rub and fuzziness. The last recent weapon I have installed are the Ergon GP1s. I have been the hardcore-foam-grip-weight saving-cheap-bastard. My hands go numb, slip in wet conditions and acquire wrist ache for days after a marathon effort with foam. Now that I am older and slower, I take care of my body better, while not sacrificing any performance. Ergon makes endurance racing comfortable on the hands, wrist and shoulders. Recovery is so much faster for me and the Ergons are the key. They have been installed on every bike I own and also on Kathryn’s- thee wife. My kids get the leftover foamies.

 The race runs smoothly for the first 45 miles of the 70ish parade. At that point the pain meds wear off and I ain’t got anymore to chew on. Now I think about managing how I  press the left foot down. I consciously drive on the big toe more to relieve the pinky. It is really hard to do. Suck it up- suck it up. I begin to zone out dwelling on pain. I must be getting close, but I do not notice how much I am slowing down. A gal catches back up with me again that I had been riding with and she hollers to get-a-going (thanks Jill!). I sort of awaken from this stupor and rally out the last 10 miles in searing agony. I am trying to pedal with the right leg more, but get unlucky as the last few miles are rooty and downhill. I rattle over bumps and am forced to  equal out my pedal stance. I try to bank corners in each direction by using my right leg only. Too risky- I have got to suck it up and use both feet. I finally get to the line and, yep, did not let my good friends down.

July 31 marked the date for the first ever Mega Friggin Sneffels Loop race. With ominous clouds in the sky, only 5 were brave enough to attempt this race. Two were BWR members Jeff Hemperley and Matt Turgeon.

Heavy rain eventually stopped all but three from finishing the race. Kudos go out to Jeff Hemperley and Doug Byerly for finishing!

With the wet weather, there’s no other sponsor to thank more than Showers Pass! Those jackets save you in the wet weather. Matt was exceptionally thankful that he’d taken his Showers Pass Elite 2.0 jacket with him for this one.

24 hours in Spokane
June 1, 2010 by scarkinsmel
So I was supposed to go 24 hours solo, but I decided that solo would not be fun, solo would not be a successful effort and I was feeling like I didn’t want to ride 24 hours alone. I did a team effort, and I am really happy with that decision. I can walk today, I can ride today, and I am feeling like a normal (for me) person.

How did the race go? Well in a word (after a nine other words) great.

Want more? Okay, I know you don’t but here goes. I rode a total of 4 laps of the course, all 4 were around pretty fast, well fast for me. The course was 15 miles (just about and for the purpose of this post it was at least 15 miles) with just a hair under 1000 feet of climbing so not really steep, and just long enough to make the rider tired. The biggest climb is called “take me higher” and is purported to be a five minute climb, but if it took more than a couple of minutes I would be surprised. It did kick up pretty hard at the end, but otherwise was very ridable. The next bit of notable trail was “Devils Up” and I have never ridden it entirely in any race, I have done it in practice on several occasions, but never racing….why? Well I think it is because the trail up the small climb is a false flat and I am spinning away at a very high RPM. I get almost to the top and either loose traction or pick the wrong line, so I hop off and run. Yeah, run, I don’t like that and it I go back next year I will have that stupid climb figured out (by loosing 20 pounds off my fat self). The only other bit of trail of real importance was “Devils Down” which after living in Italy (it should be called hugeboulderalloverthetrailaly) the Devils Down was easy as pie, just pick a line and pass the three or four guys scared out of their minds on a rocky section of trail. I tried to pick the hardest fastest line and I know a couple of people I was riding with at the time tried to follow my line and didn’t much care for it. Hey, I wanted the fastest straightest line not the smoothest line. I was successful, I think.

The rest of the trail was fun fast an just a bit rocky so I was really fun and fast. I really enjoyed the course this time. Normally I leave thinking Spokane’s Riverside Park trails are the worst things I have ever ridden turns out not to be true.

60 miles and 4000 feet of climbing and one happy me. Next time if I ride on a team I will have a geared bike (I say that now) and see if I can ride under hour laps. Everything I did was just a bit over one hour. Oh well, next year.

What have I forgotten? Yeah, that’s right, my team mates. I had six of the best guys to ride with doing the race with me. I would choose to ride with these guys even if we weren’t on a team trying to win a race, and the two volunteers. Our efforts would have been totally wasted were it not for the two wonderful women who did what we didn’t want to do. I owe them both dinner and beer or wine (whatever they prefer). Thanks to all my friends that I rode with and a special thanks to the volunteers.

(oh we took second, doing 22 laps together, had one flat one broken spoke. the result is not important to me, just the fun I had. except for blueberries, but that is a different story)

Iron Hill 100k write up

A day like some others, The Iron Hill 100k
July 12, 2010 by scarkinsmel
I rode 62ish miles on a marked race course, I didn’t get hurt, I had a burger and I am pretty sure I had fun.

So the race went like this, I went as fast as I could, most of the time and then walked way too freaking much up the hills. It wasn’t a especially good climbing day for myself, and in my own defense, most days aren’t especially good climbing days, but Sunday was pretty bad. I just couldn’t get the legs, lungs and heart all together. It seemed as if when the legs felt good the lungs just weren’t ready to work, and that led to way high feeling heart rates. I am not sure what was up, but nothing really worked well together.

The course itself was really fun, in hindsight. As is the case with every race I do, and it could be me, but the “best single track” is alway at the end of the course. What they should save for the end is the smoothest, fastest and least hilliest section of trail, but no, it is always hard, evil and straight up and down part. I would have to admit it is likely because I am nearing death and just wanted to get off the bike. Whatever, the trail was fun, if a bit rocky, which is something I have to get used to.

Other than the last few miles, it was, all in all, a pretty good ride. The trails are pretty fast and fun, and in all seriousness worth a trip just to ride for a weekend. If you get a chance go to Damascus VA and ride, it is worth the time.

I am doing nothing but eating today, tomorrow back on a bike for a couple of hours and then something else, what, I don’t know right now, I am sure I have something planned, I am not sure what.

I have a couple of pictures from the ride, and will post them shortly…. they are all uphill and when I took them I was suffering, so if they are blurry so be it. Later person who looks at this. Well, it is only me who looks at this, so later me

Link to race.

http://www.mtntouring.com/mountain/htm/iron-mountain-100k/race-info.htm

Off we go, like ants to a picnic.
Up we go and it wasn’t just me walking.
It never seemed to stop!
One of the few parts that wasn’t single track

The Breckenridge 100 mountain bike race was held on July 17. BWR had an excellent showing with Matt Turgeon, Mark Thompson, Brad Grohusky, Andrew Carney, Steve Reiter, and Stephen Carney there for the race.

The guys had great results! Mark took first place singlespeed and Matt took 5th place. Steve came in 9th in his category, Andrew came in 5th and Stephen came in 8th in their category, and Brad came in 10th in his category.

Following are some photos taken from Warriors Cycling. Many thanks for these!

Thanks again to our sponsors who keep us rolling on the trails!

Ergon
High Desert Bicycles
King Cages
SRAM
White Brothers
Moots
Maxxis
Specialized
Sock Guy

July 3 kicked off the first year for the Durango Dirty Century race. Three of the 16 racers were BWR team members: Matt Turgeon, Jeff Hemperley, and Steve Reiter.

Seven of the 16 racers managed to finish the full race, and two did the “Plan B” route. The finishing location was Durango Brewing Company, where beer and chicken sandwiches really hit the spot. Steve came in 3rd place overall, Matt 4th overall, 2nd place singlespeed, and Jeff came in 6th overall, 3rd place singlespeed. Awesome work by BWR!

Many thanks to some of our sponsors who continually support BWR racing efforts!

White Brothers
Moots
Sock Guy
High Desert
Specialized

BWR “Enchanted Dream Team” Camp - Photo by David Halliburton

BWR had a great showing at the the 1st anual  24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest: A Race to SolveCFS on June 19th/20th. In total we had 11 BWR’s racing, volunteering or both. This event was a benifit to increase awareness and raise money for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to be donated to www.solveCFS.org. The event succeeded at both, with 235 racers making up 97 teams, and  total fund raising of over $20,000. This is just amazing for the first year. Here is the break down of the BWR’s that participated:

- Claudia Goodell - 24HITEF Staff (Public Relations)
- Donna James - 24HITEF Staff  (Volunteer Coordinator)
- Amy Crotty - 24HITEF medical volunteer
- Lenny Goodell - 1st in 4-person SS
                             1st over all with 19 laps and volunteer.
- Jeff Hemperly - 1st in 4-person SS
                             1st over all with 19 laps and
                             voluneetered a generator.
- Jen Albright - 1st in duo SS with 7 laps and volunteer.
- Rebecca Barfoot - 3rd in female solo with 10 laps.
- Lyn Albright - 6th in 5 person with 14 laps and volunteer.
- Aaron Johnson - 9th in 5-person (family team) with 13 laps.
- Dominic Garcia -  10th in 5 person with 13 laps and volunteer.
- John Mazzola - 15th in male solo with 7 laps

As you can see, BWR had a huge presence at this event and was instrmental in making it such a succsess.

We would also like to thank all our BWR sponsors who generously contributed to 24HITEF:

- High Desert Bicycles
- Specialized
- Santa Fe Brewing Company
- Ergon
- Hammer Nutrition

Here are some of the many picture taken at the event. Many more can be found at the 24HITEF links page. If you look at Wildcat Studios, the BWR team numbers are 418 (Lenny & Jeff), 219 (Jen), 104 (Rebecca), 507 (Lyn), 505 (Aaron), 509 (Dom) and 140 (John). There are serval links for Wildcat so, click on Home and search for the other 24HITEF albums.

Enchanted Dream Team on 1st place podium - Photo by Donna James

Rebecca Barfoot on the 3rd place podium - Photo by Donna James

Lenny passing  Chili with timing device to Jeff between laps
- Photo by Laura Kyriakis

Rebecca finishing a lap - Photo by David Halliburton

John finishing a lap - Photo by David Halliburton

Another great year for Big Wheel Racing! This year Lenny Goodell, Jeff Hemperley, and Jeni Turgeon all raced solo. Lenny and Jeff were on single speeds and Jeni raced geared. All brought in some excellent results! Jeff hit the podium with 4th place and 7 laps. Lenny barely missed the podium at 6th place with 7 laps.

Lenny getting ready to head out for another lap

Jeni hit the podium with 5th place and 6 laps.

Jeni coming into the pit

There are some great photos from the race from Wildcat Studios here. To view, Jeff’s number is 56, Lenny’s number is 49, and Jeni’s number is 117.

We were all decked out and ready to roll thanks to our awesome team sponsors. They’ve been with us for years and are always there to make our races happen the right way.

High Desert Bicycles
SRAM
Specialized
White Brothers
Ergon
Dr. James Slaman
Sock Guy
Maxxis

It was the first race of the season for team member Jeni Turgeon. A cloudy, cold, rainy day that cleared up just for the race. Perfect! Jeni got 2nd place singlespeed, expert class for the day.

Thanks to some of our great sponsors for keeping us rolling at the races:

Dr. James Slaman
High Desert Bicycles
Ergon
White Brothers
Specialized

Six members of Big Wheel Racing participated in the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo race on February 12th & 13th. The weather this year was the best it has been in a few years and the course was in great shape and very fast.

Dominic Garcia and his team took fourth place with 20 laps in the 4 person single speed category. Nice Job!

Honorable mentions go out to:

• Lenny Goodell
    - 9^th Solo SS Male with 11 laps
•  Jeff Hemperley 
    - 13^th Solo SS Male with 10 laps
• Jen Albright, Lynn Alter, and Donna James
    - 8^th in 4 Person Women Open with 9 laps with only 3 riders

Full race restults are at: http://64.119.44.58/liveresults/results/index.html  

Here is a link to a very cool video of the race.
http://www.vimeo.com/9612350
You can barely see Jeff & Lenny running on right side at the race start and Jen is in one of the helmet cam shots.

Some more cool photos of the race:
http://edemtbs.blogspot.com/2010/02/race_21.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40482534@N00/sets/72157623408842993/

Lenny and Nate  went out to enjoy the fresh snow in the Sandia Foothills for 3-4 hours. Snow was heavy and wet so made for some great resistance training. Lowered air pressure in the tires to sub 20lbs and traction was great. Only in the upper section did snow get over 4″ making it very had to climb, but once we got to the top and started descending, if was excellent. The Specialized Captian Aramdillio 2.2 tires from High Desert Bicycles worked great in snow.

 Nate finishing a short climb.

 Nate on the north end of the foot hills trail

 No clue what Lenny is so happy about!!

Lenny playing in the snow!

Here is a short video of Lenny descending a rocky section in the snow.

SSWC was hosted in Durango, CO this year! Big Wheel Racers Lenny, Jen, Matt, and Jeni represented for a 21 mile, 3627 foot of elevation climbing race on the singlespeeds. What a blast! It was amazing to see so many cyclists lined up in downtown Durango, many in full costume.

The finish line was just as packed as the starting line as fans cheered on the racers coming through both at the half way point and the finish.

The race festivities ended at Ska Brewing Company where there was a basketball game between New Zealand and Italy to determine the SSWC 2010 location. New Zealand won the game. We’ll see if BWR represents in New Zealand next year!!

Our fabulous local bike shop sponsor High Desert Bicycles opened a second store in Northeast Albuquerque last week, which is a Specialized Concept store.  At the V.I.P. Grand Opening event, BWR presented to HDB a framed BWR jersey with a plaque engraved as follows:  Thank you for sponsoring and supporting Big Wheel Racing. 

The store opening was complete with beer, snacks and cake, and was well represented by Specialized and other bike industry representatives, as well as a guest appearance by Professional Mountain Biker Ned Overend.  The event brought in hundreds of cycling enthusiasts who quickly nabbed the free High Desert Bicycles T-Shirts and water bottles, and a couple of lucky individuals even won Globe bicycles.

In addition to the Friday evening shop opening, the weekend provided two group rides sponsored by High Desert Bicycles.   Saturday’s road ride drew approximately fifty riders, while Sunday’s mountain bike ride led by Ned Overend brought about thirty or more. 

The Grand opening was quite a success! Business continues at High Desert Bicycles 909 36th Pl. in Rio Rancho, and the new shop is in full swing at: 8110 Louisiana NE Albuquerque.