D. Herbold - onespeeder.com

7:20 am & Fourteen dollars later, Juan and self-glaze-eye pulled out of the Verde Valley McDonalds drive through the proud owners of three egg McMuffins, and three deep fried hash brown fat-pucks only to B-line it to Prescott for the Whiskey so I could suffer for 50 miles, while Juan would have his own revelations in the 25 proof. The 2008 running of this, one of my favorite races did not disappoint. With premium temps and absolutely primo riding, large guns were in attendance such as Floyd Landis, and the guys who kicked his ass in the 50 Proof. This of course only meant more pain for the rest of the clown show in attendance and truth to the nail, it was a vary painful, very fast 50 mile off-road race. Jay Henry posted the win with a 3 hour 20 minute run for an average speed close to 15mph.

That is fast.

At 9am the field rolled out after a chummy pre-race gathering at the start. Not more than three miles in & before the initial singletrack, the field was already split into three or four groups. After managing to bridge to the front group on the heals of Snake, my logic brought me down from the “want to win” ledge and just then, I voluntarily tailed off what was now the second group to select a gap in the field that would allow me undisturbed open single track climbing for a while.

It was sweet.

I sat somewhere in the top twenty after the initial split. My legs were recovering from the onslaught of rolling, gnarled climbs and I was able to maintain a good attitude through it all. I didn’t accept Team Hobo’s offer of a swig of Whiskey before the downhill. I didn’t see anyone. I just did my own thing. After the nutty descent off the top to aid station 1/3, the turn down to Skull Valley was met with mixed spring winds and speeds over 40mph in places. With a half mile to go to the bottom, I saw the lead group of Henry, Mortensen & Landis already on the ascent back to Whiskey Row. The show was beginning for them. With focus, I spent the next hour hucking my carcass over 12 miles and 3000+ feet of elevation to make it back over the top. Even though I’ve raced with Chad Hummer in the past, this years Whiskey was the first time he stayed within my reach, so we paced each other over the top. I appreciated the help as I could feel The Crack coming on. I also knew that he and I were in top 20 positions and I wanted to keep it that way. I shamlessly sat on his wheel for the pavement into the finish.

The temps were good for climbing, and the flies, not yet born, so the wall did not inflame insanity. It was tolerable for the most. But the climb was as formidable still, as even with the charming weather, the pain seems relentless and the pace, tedious & meager. I maintained through peaceful minded silent tempo while scoring some passes… and I still lost time to the talent in front. I’ll assume that as the lead group climbed out from Skull Valley, Henry & Mortensen - teamates on Tokyo Joes - must have played Landis the hard roll as he ended up finishing 3rd, a full ten minutes back on Henry who took the win. Keep in mind that at the bottom of the climb, as I past them on the way down, there wasn’t a inch between wheels among the three of them. It was game on. I bet it hurt, and to say anything about Landis, is to say that he is a marked man at the least & everyone who can toe a line next to him at the start, will do what they can to knock him down by the finish, never mind the record books. Last time I raced Landis was in 1996 in Las Vegas when he was just being discovered. Now, 12 Years later he’s probably just a guy that wants to ride bikes, but he’ll only be a doper, no matter what, from here on out.

Rubelt rounded out the top 5 & I don’t know who got 4th. Regardless, he’s self proclaimed to be Fat & Slow so that aint bad. At least you bested the Dreamy Hair Farm. Good job on the placement.

The full reults are posted here.

Todd Sadow, the mastermind behind The Whiskey & the 24 Hours of the Old Pueblo, nailed a perfect show yet again. Now in it’s 5th (or so) running, the whiskey holds true to the ideas that spawned the original MTB craze of the late 90’s. With its medium distance over a legit course, it’s a classic in its own right and proves to be a challenge to all who enter… even despised Tour de France Champions.

4:30pm & fourteen dollars later, Juan and I were now the proud owners of two Quizno’s subs and some soda. We cracked the caddy windows & slipped town before the post ride party begain… an event in it’s own right. Things are different now & on that, we knew we couldn’t enjoy it like years past. Eyes glazed, we headed back up the hill bullshitting still, and remembering what it was like when we stayed. The race hurt bad & I told Juan after the race, all I wanted to do was go home and hang with the kid. I was still in post race shock feeling vomits & rasped all the way to the front door of my house. I stepped inside.

I slowly closed the door.