Going Long and Hard.

[Clapper]

Incredible effort Jim, you're a bad man.

 

[Pearl]

kick ass son

 

[moose35]

great effort

 

[Mumonkan]

First off, we're proud of you.

Hey, it sucks that it happened... But it did.

Take aways;
* A potentially weak point in the setup has been identified... Now improvements can be made and contingency plans put in place.
* You've experienced, first hand, racing at elevation under incredibly taxing conditions, (dark, cold and under extreme duress) short of "life or death" probably the worst possible scenario.
* The effort far exceeded any simulated training ride you could have done in the same timeframe.
* Despite the intense desire to tuff it out, you remained rational enough to make the correct decision to pull the plug before causing severe injury and jeopardize the whole season.

Get some rest.... You've more than earned it.

this!

 

[bigW]

Wow, I can't even imagine the mental impact of a time consuming and not entirely fixed mechanical would have at the start of such a painfest.

Jim you are a monster, superb effort.

Warren

 

[Arwen's Mom]

* Despite the intense desire to tuff it out, you remained rational enough to make the correct decision to pull the plug before causing severe injury and jeopardize the whole season.

This is sooo good.

@jimvreeland good job! Very proud of you. Someone at work saw that news article about you and asked if I knew you. Glad you are ok, and will continue to keep you in our prayers.

 

[Paul H]

@jimvreeland you put yourself out there in conditions that most people would use to describe a living nightmare, and went further than most would drive through.

you fucking did the shit out of that shit.

This!

 

[rlb]

Not much that hasn't already been said, you made the best out of a shitty start and pushed through it. Not many people are capable of that. Glad to hear you're safe and well. On to the next one! We'll be here cheering for you.

 

[rocknrollgirl]

My first thoughts when I woke up this morning were:

1. Did I win the powerball? hey...you never know.
2. How is Jim doing.

Not necessarily in that order. We tracked you Friday into Saturday. Great job. We are always pulling for you! Safe travels home.

Ruth

 

[Steve Vai]

Thanks everyone, will write something later with the deets.

 

[Steve Vai]

Its a shitty way to end but i hope it doesn't discourage you. Of all the disciplines yoyou've done, this definitely seems like the best fit.
Think of how much better you'll approach the next race.

This is definitely my calling. I can take all of this to Alaska and be prepared. Or more prepared.

 

[Mitch]

Nice work son.

 

[walter]

Fuckin' A, man. Great job.

 

[stb222]

Tough break but impressive recovery. This stuff is so beyond what anyone also here is doing. Looking forward to the next.

 

[seanrunnette]

Hugely impressed by the prep and the execution. And very happy that you're still stoked. Chapeau on pulling the plug when you did, why you did. This ain't short-track. Looking forward to following your dot again soon.

 

[Steve Vai]

2nd Place just finished. 3rd is still 1-2 hours out.

 

[jackx]

2nd Place just finished. 3rd is still 1-2 hours out.

Holy crap. Not sure what time the race started on Friday for the 200 milers, but sounds like maybe 40 hours would have been a strong finishing position.

 

[Steve Vai]

5pm Friday night start. Andrew said after he pushed his bike to Yellowstone, he took a 2-hour nap at the aid station. Once the night hit the top of the course was fast until the sun came up again and the snowmobiles ripped everything up. By far the hardest race out there. I'll be back.

 

[qclabrat]

What was Neil's official time?

 

[pooriggy]

Sounds like the type of racing you really need experience in. That type of event in those conditions are so foreign to us NJ natives. I'm sure with every entry into events like these you will gain more knowledge and have a better shot at making your goals @jimvreeland . I'm Looking forward to seeing you compete in Alaska.