24 Hours of Moab / USA Cycling National Championships submitted by Brad Grohusky
Logistics and planning paid off well. I try to live by the SIX Ps of life: Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. It readily works for me as I am a detail guy. With the kids shuffled to the grandparents in Moab for the weekend, Kathryn and I had a nice relaxing prep time and just enjoying the desert together. Solo row was full of talent and friends everywhere crept out to say hearty hellos. It just felt good.
Andrew Carney ready for the Lemans Run
I met Donna James and then spotted the Carney family – relaxed and ready. They have done this before. My bike had a few tweaks that friends were glad to do for me. Again, it just felt good. I had just built up the Surly Karate Monkey. Heavy and rugged, I knew I would fail before it. Sentimentally speaking, it had carried me through my first Cyclocross season as a CAT4 and a 6thplace finish in BCR in 2007. Guys initially giggled at my contraption; in the end they dreaded the indestructible KM with flatbars and disc brakes. I since moved up to CAT3 and a “real” cyclocross bike. They are faster in CAT3 and I struggle, but it only makes you a better rider. The KM morphed from Cross to SS in about 4 hours and became my NEW race bike once again.
Brad and the famous support crew - KATHRYN !
I just turned 43 in Sept and I wanted something new and different. I am an aging dog that can learn new tricks very quickly. Learning just feels good. Trying a SingleSpeed seemed the obvious choice for me. Matt had drooled SS spittle on me all summer and I had caught a little of the sickness. I also was frustrated with gears this season. I worked through numerous rattles and skips and bumps. The VaporTrail 125 was the first race without a drivetrain mechanical- but then throw in a nicely sliced sidewall and poof. The legs cooled down during bike rehab enough to plummet me into pain cave 101 for a while. I wanted a mechanically free, quiet torture test. The SS fit my demands.
Strategies were discussed about how to handle the Lemans start as a solo rider. My advice is to run hard enough to be in the top quarter. That gives you plenty of room and distance from the gumbies (until lap 2 when one smashed into me trying to pass- remember to say “passing on your left”. I lost much skin, but now adorned with hundreds of stickers- I was morphing into the desert being sooner than later.
The first 6 laps were butter- enjoyably tasty. The 32 to 20 ratio was treating me very well. That also signals the approaching 100 mile mark were bodies waver as the mind begins to ponder and think- turn it off! And it gets much cooler on the backside stretch so layering is important. My gut seemed happy. I was trying out Nuun for the first time and water went down easy- exactly 1 bottle per hour. I am impressed and will continue to ingest Nuun for big long rides to keep plain water sparkly and palatable.
For the rest of the race all I can say is: move forward at your pace and good things always happen. I had no expectations, but a plug-and-chug strategy works in these kinds of events. My lap times were markedly consistent. Where I need to improve is obviously my pit time transition. I like to hang out and chit-chat with folks and before I know it 30 minutes has come and gone. That will be a goal of mine for next year. I wore one kit the entire race and changed socks three times. Nice to empty the shoes of the red sand buildup. Fresh socks are better than a fresh chamois any day. Happy feet pedal faster. A sore ass is just a sore ass. I just may have set the tone for the 2011 season riding that SS, just maybe. It will be hard to beat that podium performance. Later, Brad
