We Did It. Allen Barbieri and I completed the ride on September 13 in 10 Hours 38 minutes (on bike time was about 9H 50M) finishing 34th and 35th of the 70+ riders in our age group that finished the race (about 90 started).
It’s all Allen’s fault. For years I’ve talked about doing LOTOJA but have never had anyone call my bluff until Allen did a few weeks ago. I had pretty much given up on the idea following my crash in late March that resulted in a broken collarbone and a few broken ribs and delayed my training program. However, the attraction of doing the ride in 2003 was quite strong because Kristin is in Logan at Utah State and John, Beth and Brian are in Provo and next year Beth and Kristin will have graduated, John could find a job outside of Utah and Brian could be anywhere in the world (his mission papers go in this week) so I thought it would be fun to do the race with so many of my family near by to watch me suffer.
As the deadline for early registration came and went August 1, I didn’t think I had put in the miles required so I was leaning toward not going but just as the August 19 deadline for registration approached Allen shamed me into signing up. I filled out the forms on the final day and dropped them off at Allen’s and told him that he could fax the entry forms in if he was going to do it. We were in.
Annie and I planned to drive to
afternoon then it was off to
While Allen I and were waiting to check in we recognized a young pro bike rider we first met at
Kevin and Bryson offered some great advice about the ride/race. Both are riding to win – Bryson in the Pro category and Kevin in Masters. They will ride for 8- 8.5 hours without touching their feet to the ground. Bryson suggested we follow their plan and not stop during the ride. Kevin offered tips on how to handle the cold weather
(40 F at start time). He even loaned me a pair of knee warmers to use in place of my full-length leg warmers. We agreed to meet at the Mangy Moose in
Allen and I then jumped on our bikes and did a short spin around
Our start time on Saturday morning was 7:20, Pack 6, Citizen age 45+, 50 minutes behind the Pro and CAT 1 and 2 riders. It was a cold ride through the west side of the valley to
The fun part of the race was now over. As we left
Together the four of us took off on the short descent and soon caught the same group who had been slowed by a crash. On the climb out of Mound Valley I was once again dropped like a musette bag while Allen once again held on and rode with the pack into Grace while I limped in with a couple of others who had been blown off the back.
Allen waited for a while in Grace but left just before I arrived (nature call just before town delayed my arrival) and headed to Soda Springs where the support crew had lunch waiting. He hooked up with a small group and arrived in Soda a few minutes ahead of me. I rolled through Grace, picked up some water then pulled a couple of girls and a couple of guys the 11 miles to Soda, the last 6 miles we had the wind at our back which was a great improvement over the previous mostly uphill 25 miles. The girls were waiting with my PBJ and cookies. I sat down for a few minutes and Kristin worked on my right calf – WHAT A LIFESAVER! Working with the WHS football team trainer her first year of high school paid off and I was in good shape for the rest of the race. Soda Springs was the toughest mental test of the race. I had been on my own or with weaker riders for the last 16 miles and I still had more than 100 miles to go. Allen had given up about 20-30 minutes in time by waiting for me instead of hanging with the Pack 7 group.
As we headed out of Soda we turned north and once again the wind was in our face and Allen and I were on our own or with one of two other riders we picked up along the way. Our support girls passed us and pulled over to cheer us on. We stopped (don’t tell the race officials) and Allen picked up some caffeine free gu – he was a little wired. While we were on the side of the road a group of riders in blue jerseys passed us by. We quickly pulled them in and started riding with them. They were a solid group of 6 from SLC and
strong.
We worked well with them riding in a single file pace line into the 3rd feed zone at Wayan, about 120 miles into the race. Allen and I pulled out of Wayan ahead of the ‘Blue Man Crew’ and started the final big climb up
We crossed into
At Alpine Junction we turned to the northwest back into
t the front but had to let the group go as once again we were in pain from drinking too much. We soon pulled back to the group. On the road into Irwin and
As we rolled into
Our stellar support crew of Kristin, Annie and Nanci along with John, Beth and Brian were waiting with cameras, cheers, water, Diet Coke and Krispy Kremes. We then jumped into the cars and drove over
Bryson told me he had finished 3rd in the Pro Category in a sprint finish (as it turns out the race was won by James Yorgason, a 35-44 Master rider, who started 10 minutes behind the pros). Kevin finished in the lead pack of 45+ Masters – also in a sprint finish - and finished 8th. The times this year were about 30 minutes slower than last year due to the wind.
My position following the race was “Been There Done That” with no real desire to try it again. But a quick recovery combined with a great weekend with family and friends in
I do not have a desire to ride again with only one teammate. I know I held Allen back but I would gladly have done the same for Allen if I had the legs and I know he was not eager to be out on the road alone either, even if it meant a 9 hour time. To ride again I want to find a team of 7-8 like ability riders who are willing to ride together and wait for the weakest rider (or bladder) in the group. I know Allen is ready to do it again. My son John is in for 04. Who will the other 4-5 riders be?
Sweet Sultan of Swing and DR Pepper Jersey!!
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