Ready for the Mud?

[sven]

We are closing in on ONE MONTH to go to the 24HOGG. I'm getting pretty stoked for the race, although I have to admit the potential for Mud Monsters seems to be increasing with each day of rain that we've been getting since the start of June. With that in mind here are a few things to make sure you pack for the race in case we do see Mud Monsters forming up in Pinkham Notch:

A gear brush to clean your drive train after each lap
Lube for your drivetrain
A pit crew member who will clean bikes after each lap
Clear lenses for your night time laps
Chamois cream t
If you've gott'em an extra pair of cycling shoes
Vaseline for your feet

Ok, that's my starting list- what else do you need to bring?

The hope is the course will dry out (but not all the way out- it's great when there is that perfect New England tack to the soil)- and I expect that with a month to go this wet weather will break at some point- but it's better to plan for it now! Anyway the summer race series starts tomorrow night (7/7) so we'll get you a Mud Monster update. Until then keep the wheels spinning and let's get some questions from the first timers posted so us old crusty racers can sound like we know something (or make fools of ourselves!).

cheers,

sven

[jjassvt]

Sven, et all at GG.

After participating in another event recently that, er, did not make the best use of resources considering the conditions, does GG have a contingency plan for feet of rain? Certain sections of the course drain very well, others see to hold onto it. Is there thinking to re-route the course, make shorter to avoid the mud sinks? I know that this will wear on the racers and the trails at GG.

Just thinking back to the backside of the course after last year, with this year being much higher in precipitation.

Tootles.

Jason

[sven]

Jason,

I rode Whiplash and Moose Alley on Tuesday night and both were in surprisingly good shape. There is a switchback on the blueberry field that is a mess right now, not sure if there is a possible re-route or if it can be bog-bridged. Haven't been up on the section behind Honeymoon or out on Outback, I'll take a look at those next week. I think if we see a "normal" weather pattern with some rain but also some sun I think we'll be in good shape. That being said let me see if I can get some more intel on any other sections.

By the way, took your advice on the wheel- have a White Industries hub with a WI SS freewheel coming from bikeman, can't wait!

cheers,

sven

[jjassvt]

I am really thinking about one section that really sucks, on the back side, after the double track washed out decent, turn right, mud bogging for about 300m. Then you hit some more carriage roads. Just thinking for a rider/racer perspective to have the course 100%or so rideable.

Just a thought.

Good job on the wheel choice.

j.

[sven]

I'm pretty sure Sham-Wow has come on as a sponsor- so they're just going to line that part of the course with a bit of German engineering and all the water will be soaked up. Now that would make for an impressive infomercial!

sven

[webmaster]

Jason,

I think I understand the particular section you're concerned about. I've never liked the way it ends up by the 24th hour either. We will be assessing a number of areas this week to determine if we change them from the start assuming it's not going to get drier this week, or plan to have changes we can make mid-stream, so to speak, during the event. Major problems with mid-stream changes since they will inevitably affect lap time. It'll be a real balancing act since we don't want to eliminate too much single track where much of the fun is but also most of the mud.

I can tell you that we have already eliminated the single track section uphill of and beyond the "Honeymoon Cottage" - same section that we could not use last year either.

Howie

[colinr]

I can tell you that we have already eliminated the single track section uphill of and beyond the "Honeymoon Cottage" - same section that we could not use last year either.

Howie

Howie, say it aint so! That's one of the best parts of the course!

This is looking like one of the driest weeks of the summer (heh, that's not saying much!), please take one last look at it Friday before cutting it!

Thanks,
Spoiled racer man

[webmaster]

Ah, but it is so, Colin. That section is out of the question being muddier than last year. However the good news is that we're leaving Wilding in, having "improved" several sections with corduroy which along with this mostly dry week has helped tremendously. The exit from Moose Alley now has a little bog bridge and some corduroy between the two large rocks. Sue hauled a ton (literally) of stone out into the deepest darkest mud holes on Whiplash and made nice improvements there. A new bog bridge and a short reroute has Blueberry Hill back to being civil. The weather forecasts look reasonable dry for the rest of the week - we're good to go!
Howie

[sven]

Howie- that's excellent! Kudo's to the trail crew up there, they keep on improving the course and really take rider feedback very seriously.

Exactly 48 hours until the cannon fires on Saturday!

sven