It's always an adventure. Or Kamas to Evanston

It seems like everything with The Bull Elk is adventure, something always happens. Last week it was the epic ride up Bench Creek complete with a mud swamp and multiple stream crossings, some of which where un-ridable

I should have expected nothing less from the Kamas to Evanston race.

We decided to do citizen since The Bull Elk didn’t have a license and we didn’t want to do the full stage race. After picking up my registration packet and prodding The Bull Elk to get moving we were reading to start our warm up, 15 minutes before the start of the race. Knowing how jittery things are in a citizen peloton we elected to line up at the front. The race started and the two of us from Cole Sport found ourselves 2 and three as the race started up the highway. I soon became disappointed in our leader as he apparently was just decided that after 2 blocks pulling wasn’t much fun. As the main peloton started passing us I pushed my way into the group and settled into the pace.

As the group started to fall apart both the Bull Elk and I were surprised at the quick pace by the time we had reached the fee station the pack had already split into the two distinct groups. About 30 minutes into the race I noticed the guy I had been following had started to fall of the back. I looked back and noticed that the Bull Elk had also been dropped. Not knowing what happened to him I decided I couldn’t afford to get stranded so early in the race and picked up the pace hoping to catch the group on a climb. As I started toward the pack I picked up a few other guys that got tossed off the back and we where able to work our way back to the main pack. Fortunately about 20 minutes later the Bull Elk rejoined us.

It was at this point things started to go south. As we started our climb toward Provo Falls I found myself at the back of the pack taking a quick drink in anticipation of the brutal climb ahead. I then decided to stand-up, stretch the legs and see if I could see anyone else behind us. As I twisted my upper body around I heard the sound of metal grinding and my crank started to seize up. I was horrified. Was my race was suddenly over? I managed to shift down and start pedaling again but whenever I tried to use my top two cogs my drive train would seize up. At this point I was about 30 feet behind the group. I was considering turning around and going back to Kamas. One problem, the Bull Elk had the house key which is where my car keys were. Mortified I decided I had to bridge back up to the group and started a mad dash to catch them. I finally caught the pack as they were getting ready to start the climb past Provo Falls. I explained to The Bull Elk what was going on and he gave me the house key. At this point we are climbing up to Bald Mountain and the drive train is actually holding together. I’ll at least climb up to the top of Bald Mountain so the day isn’t a complete waste.

As I rounded the top of the climb I started the descent with a couple of other riders. It was at this point I remembered my mechanical problems but stopping at 35 mph and turning around didn’t seem like a good option so I decided to press on. Other riders continued to push past me as I could only go so fast with my smallest cog being a 14. Eventually the road started to climb toward Evanston and I was able to settle into a pace. As I passed through the last feed zone I came up and a couple of guys and we started to work together. It made things much easier then trying to do the 40 miles solo. As we approached the last set of hills before Evanston I was cruising along taking a pull when something hit my in the stomach. I looked down and brushed off what appeared to be a horse fly. I turned around and the guy behind me said “I think that was a wasp” Great! Soon the itching started which I was able to ignore because my left leg began to cramp. I knew I should have grabbed water instead of sports drink at the last feed zone. I slowed down let the guys go and proceeded to gear down and try to spin out the cramp. Soon another guy caught me and I told him I was cramping up so he went on by. Then another guy caught me but I was starting to feel good so I asked him if he wanted to bridge up to the first guy. After two pulls I looked back and I had dropped the guy. Surprised, I noticed I was getting close to Evanston. I decided to make a move to the first guy and see if I could catch him. I was able to catch him at the base of the last climb. I decided that since I only had a 14 on the top end a sprint wouldn’t work. As we crested the top climb I saw the cones and the 1km sign. I knew that this was my chance and I attacked. As I took off I noticed no response. Unsure of what it meant I pushed a hard pace and finished in around 4:12. Not to bad for a riding a 7 speed with a 14-25.

I felt good and The Bull Elk was surprised I finished the race. My legs weren’t overly tired and I’m hoping that if I can continue doing some long rides I should be ready for LOTJA in September.

Yesterday I torn into the drive train. Looks like the beating my bike has been taking in Butterfield canyon left my rear cassette loose. I pulled off the rear wheel and as I removed the skewers the cassette came off. I haven't seen a cassette come loose like that but I'll have to make sure I put that on my pre-race bike check.