Hell of Hunterdon 2017

[Mountain Bike Mike]

@pooriggy sucks about your flat, we were flying...

I have no excuse for leaving you for dead.. I suck...

It took us a while to catch back up with you after you @Chris26er dropped us on Wertzville.. 6er was pushing a crazy pace

 

[Steve Vai]

The Fat Bike Hater Posse in full effect.

 

[Steve Vai]

Bonus Secteur 9.5

 

[clarkenstein]

My day was rough but I needed it. I have barely rode bicycles this year due to a variety of reasons (most of them health issues) so I figured I would die at the top of Hollow and call my ride there.

Pat, Rick and I started off together in the last wave. I felt alright all things considered. I didn't get too deep into the ride when things went south.

I made it to Pine Hill. That thing blew me up and my knee went full spaz because of it. I could only climb with my left leg at that point because of the IT band pain I was getting. Not fun. So I went to the side of the road. The SAG wagon dude came up and we talked for a few minutes about me getting a ride back. I figured I wouldn't finish today, but a SAG ride was not what I pictured. He drove off and I turned around and stayed on course until I got to Ringoes. I was looking for a flatter route since climbing was not going well. I figure I could at least make it to the first rest stop and if the pain was still at the level it was, I would just take a ride from there.

I happened to bump into two other guys in Ringoes who were attempting to find their way back. One guy had broken his chain (he got it fixed) and wasn't feeling it and the other guy who was with him said he only wanted to do 50 miles anyway. Since I knew the roads back we teamed up. We took Wertzville back and climbed Lindbergh. My knee did not approve but I grinded it out.

So 49 miles in total for me. I'm honestly really happy with the result today. I was doubting I could do two climbs today but pulled off a few more and managed to limp my way back without taking a ride in a car. Today just means I have some ground to make back up in my fitness, and this was a good start to getting it back.

 

[wonderturtle]

Great event.

Beautiful scenery

 

[rick81721]

Great event.

Beautiful scenery

Great meeting you too and passing bye multiple times. Glad the worst of the rain held off

 

[rick81721]

I'm jealous. I wanted a @stb222 Selfie.

Same here. Once again Kev hid while we were looking for him!

 

[seanrunnette]

Magic: The Gathering (@StayHydrated for the win)

 

[Magic]

Now that I'm home, my first HOH was fun. I grabbed a bacon egg and cheese wrap and cold brew from DD's on my way over and arrived around 8am. I looked all over and couldn't find Kevin for a selfie. Sad face. I started out in wave 172 and tried to keep up with Mitch and Sean, but that only last so long. Luckily I spotted @Santapez and @StayHydrated at the second station around mile 40, so I rode out just about the rest of it with them. I cramped for almost the first time in my years biking on the longer climb around mile 70 and had to get off for a minute. Sucked down another delicious and free banana gel with some water and jumped back on to try to ride it out. I'm not sure what an average finish is for this, but it looks like I got in at around the 6hr mark. I was just glad I was able to ride the entire thing on my ~100 miles on a bike so far this year.

View attachment 49867 Magic: The Gathering (@StayHydrated for the win)

a.k.a. @hotsauce.

It was fun riding with you and @Mitch for 5 minutes. As I was pulling into the second station, you guys were just leaving again, lol. Good times.

u got lucky. Also how fast do u go downhill, look at your Garmin...and don't lie.

SUPER FAST. Also, vests are awesome. I overdressed in my base layer though so I was kind of screwed regardless.

 

[Steve Vai]

@seanrunnette

 

[clarkenstein]

Same here. Once again Kev hid while we were looking for him!

I finally got a chance to hang out with Kev. @Mountain Bike Mike and @stb222 came in when I was done slurping down a plate of food and trying out one of the beers. Nice to hang at the table with you guys.

 

[hotsauce]

a.k.a. @hotsauce.

Or a mini @hotsauce. I look so small from @seanrunnette airspace.

That ride was a lot harder than I thought. Especially the last 10-20 miles. I was definitely cold at times, screw all y'all who think under dressing is the right move!

 

[stb222]

Was
Hoping to see
@1sh0t1b33r, @rick81721, @seanrunnette, @Mitch and Fred at the start but 800 people is a lot of people to hide in. Glad to catch people
Along the way and @clarkenstein at the end. I almost traded HOH for Monkey Knife Fight this year and I am glad I didn't.

 

[Stef]

Thanks. I can't find most of the parts to my cross bike. I think I have 90% of a road bike laying around though. Any on the road adjustments can be fixed by the awesome SAG. First road ride of the year!

I always have the option of my 30+lb touring bike... 26x32 will work well on any hills...

I had this weird dream last night I didn't do HOH because I never set an alarm and @sarcaro sent me a text telling me I was a loser.

Why would I do that??

 

[Patrick]

I didn't take any before pics - was worried about the phone not making it the 9 hours it was going to take me to get through
this - more over in my babblings thread - later.

Nice to get to shake @stb222's hand, and the rest of the cast. @rottin' , @Mountain Bike Mike, @David Taylor,
@Mitch, @pooriggy, @seanrunnette , @StayHydrated, @grilledcheeseking. Didn't see @bigW, but he was there.
Few others: Caroline from High Gear, Eric from Hilltop. John, Jim, Sten from watchung wheelmen. Daryl, and Nikki
from Paramount. I'm sure there were more. (Fred B, Mark G - don't think i've met you in person)

and these fellers - no picture of @clarkenstein

@Santapez didn't have any trouble with his alarm

@1sh0t1b33r - Starting this season's training

@WJF and @rick81721 enjoying the spoils!

@rick81721 donning the @stb222 approved jersey

@wonderturtle rocks steady!

 

[Patrick]

Did anyone see Selene? I know Kevin put in a big day, but when it is your job to ride your bike....

https://www.strava.com/activities/914540260

Oh, and thank you @jimvreeland - glad i didn't need you, or the men in the van, but it was good to know you were out there.

 

[Magic]

Did anyone see Selene?

I thought I saw her walking out of reg in the morning. Now it's confirmed. That's a ridiculous ride.

 

[Dave Taylor]

I didn't take any before pics - was worried about the phone not making it the 9 hours it was going to take me to get through
this - more over in my bablings thread - later.

Nice to get to shake @stb222's hand, and the rest of the cast. @rottin' , @Mountain Bike Mike, @David Taylor,
@Mitch, @pooriggy, @seanrunnette , @StayHydrated, @grilledcheeseking. Didn't see @bigW, but he was there.
Few others: Caroline from High Gear, Eric from Hilltop. John, Jim, Sten from watchung wheelmen. Daryl, and Nikki
from Paramount. I'm sure there were more. (Fred B, Mark G - don't think i've met you in person)

and these fellers - no picture of @clarkenstein

@Santapez didn't have any trouble with his alarm
View attachment 49876

@1sh0t1b33r - Starting this season's training
View attachment 49877

@WJF and @rick81721 enjoying the spoils!
View attachment 49878


@rick81721 donning the @stb222 approved jersey
View attachment 49879




@wonderturtle rocks steady!
View attachment 49880

Dat camelbak doh!

 

[Dave Taylor]

I didn't take any before pics - was worried about the phone not making it the 9 hours it was going to take me to get through
this - more over in my bablings thread - later.

Nice to get to shake @stb222's hand, and the rest of the cast. @rottin' , @Mountain Bike Mike, @David Taylor,
@Mitch, @pooriggy, @seanrunnette , @StayHydrated, @grilledcheeseking. Didn't see @bigW, but he was there.
Few others: Caroline from High Gear, Eric from Hilltop. John, Jim, Sten from watchung wheelmen. Daryl, and Nikki
from Paramount. I'm sure there were more. (Fred B, Mark G - don't think i've met you in person)

and these fellers - no picture of @clarkenstein

@Santapez didn't have any trouble with his alarm
View attachment 49876

@1sh0t1b33r - Starting this season's training
View attachment 49877

@WJF and @rick81721 enjoying the spoils!
View attachment 49878


@rick81721 donning the @stb222 approved jersey
View attachment 49879




@wonderturtle rocks steady!
View attachment 49880

Nice meeting you!

 

[Mitch]

Great day and great to see everyone from the board out there today. Except for a few front wavers I got to say hi to most of you..
Having around 5 different groups of friends out there today I was kinda up in the air about who I would ride with or at least start to ride with.. Being the only one on the SS since @1sh0t1b33r didn't bring his cross bike I had to pick a group or guys to start with. I chose Magic and Big Sean @seanrunnette , Good choice for myself maybe not for Sean.. We all started out in the last wave and things moved along pretty quickly and for the 1st 20 miles or so I think I was avg 18 to 20 mph and feeling good. After waiting for Magic at the 1st rest stop we took off again and basically for the next 50 miles Sean pulled me through at a clip that I would not have done without him. He runs an E bike and turns on the battery as soon as the road turns gravel and goes down. He just fly's through that shit like nothing and then waits for me to catch up at the end. I started to bonk a bit at mile 50 but he pulled me along the whole ride. Mile 70 before the last big climb I stopped for a pee break and the crew kept moving on. I hit the rest of the course solo and slowed down a bunch not having Big Sean pulling me but I finished in 5 hours on the dot so I was pleased. 5 hrs, 16.1 avg and I am alive. Great day.. Thanks again Sean for being kind enough to slow down your ride to keep me going, class move on your part. Great to see you all again too..
Here are some after shots because my phone was in waterproof bag all ride so no pictures during day. Only some of you may see these, I selected who.

The crew after with @seanrunnette , @YoBikeLady , Nellie, waters