- JJ, Dan, and I didn’t have preferred starts, so as the case with Chemq Fat Tire, you need to place your bike at the line at least three hours prior to the start, or so we thought.  JJ and I are up at 6:00, and head to the start town of Naugnee.  Asked the town cop getting coffee at the convenience store were the start was, and he pointed us in the direction. Low and behold it was the school that CT talked about with the “start” banner across the road.  But no one was around, I mean not a soul.  So JJ and I head out to find a café for breakfast, nothing, but the town does have three laundry mats.  All of a sudden, we see another “start” banner across a road.  Come to find out that this was the start of the 48 miler, and the school start was the 24 miler start.  JJ and I laughed as with our luck, we would have put the bikes at the 24 miler, and left.  Whew. 

- JJ became good buddies with some racers parked by us, and he became fond with one of the chicks.  Her racing attire consisted of full length pink fish net leg stockings under her bike shorts, and a pink thong over her bike shorts.  Her arms were also draped in the stockings.  Yes, hot, very hot.  JJ had a shot of Jager with them, and headed to the start. 

- Start time was 9:45, so we all got a warm up in (brought extra bikes), and got to the line just in time for the start.  The Dice boys were lined up right behind us, so I had to give a once over on my bike since they are know for sabotaging it.  Lined up besides us on their tandem were Lance and his wife, who puts on the Colesburg gravel race. 

- JJ asked since it was neutral start on the pavement, how mellow would it be?  I said that there is not such thing as a controlled start, so get ready for hell.  I was right on, I carefully looked down at the speedo, and we were going just under 30 mph.   

- We were warned to be ready for a very dusty race, since the UP hadn’t had rain for a month.  Dusty was an understatement.  As soon as we hit the dirt, you couldn’t see anything, it was a dust bowl.  Finally the front markers left my eyesight, I could finally see.

 - Sandy had a flat within the first 3 miles, which all but put her out of a podium spot.  This was a bummer for her, since she has unreal form right now:  won the IA games mtn race, and has been hammering the boys on the group rides.

- CT was up with the 2^nd lead group, hit a paved section, and this guy just comes flying around him.  It was pro Doug Swanson, who won the elite race last year at IC Jingle Cross, who took a wrong turn along with the Eppen’s.  Cully grabbed his wheel and held on for as long as he could, but then had to settle in.

- The race was at least 50% beach (very, very sandy) because of the dry weather.  Talk about putting the hurt on your legs.  As the race went on, you either cried and/or laughed when you saw it coming.  Otherwise the course was mostly double track, some single, and a couple paved sections.

 - There were four hike a bike sections, and all were brutal.  Two short/steep back to back sections in ankle deep sand, and a loose rocky climb that was 400 yds long.  There were about 15 guys on it when I approached it, and not one even had a slight jog going up it, everyone was walking. 

- The course was also hard on you, and equipment.  JJ and Jami left some skin on the trail to show off their efforts.  Saw tons of flats, thanks to Mullet Man for the advice of keeping our tire pressure high, even though he and Kim had a flat, which put them out of the top five. 

- The race support was awesome, with five spots to get hand-ups of sports drink, water, gels, and such.  They have a contest and trophy that the racers vote on for the best support spot.  So there were ladies dressed up as angels, trumpet players, and even a toga party.  Hammer got a beer hand up, and when Bruce had to DNF due to a ripped side wall, he sat and drank Jack Daniels/lemonade with some locals.  Gilp’s vote was the last support group, a lady ran along side of her with a banana while she finished the water already handed up to her, and told Gilp to take her time, she was there for her, and then handed up the banana.  I got a big cheer from a group as I did a “bicep” pose…… I still got it.

- All the racers at the end were quite the sight………dirt from head to toe.  Cully was stoked with his finish, I sprinted trying to pass the guy ahead of me, which didn’t happen.  Had to make Dan and Darcy smile, Gilp came across just gleaming stating how much fun she had.  JJ just threw his bike down, but was fine once he got a beer. 

- The best post race fuel = Fat Tire Beer & deer sausage.  Can’t beat the salty deer meat after having more than five gels’ during the race.

 - Some showered, others just sat around filthy while we hit the post race fuel.  I was totally buzzing, hitting the micro-brews heavy on an empty stomach, and still had to ride back to the hotel.  Thank goodness for the Ragbrai training.  Once we got back to the hotel, Gilp wanted to ride some more sand, so she hit the kid’s playground sand, and crashed immediately.  I guess that extra 20 ft. of sand was just too much, or was it the booze?

- 600 racers took part in the 48 miler, with another 900 in the other races. Went to the awards ceremony that night, since we had three people on the podium, four counting the Eppen’s, who won the tandem race.  Gilp won the 45+, Jami 3^rd in 30-35, and Cully was in the top 20 overall.  Darcy just missed the podium, and was 4^th. 

- Women overall results:  Jami 14^th, Darcy 16^th, Gilp 17^th, Sandy 23^rd.  Yes, the Skin chick’s rock.  I would put them up against all comers: they are the absolute best racers, tambourine playing, dancing, fun loving, and HOT chicks around.  I am just glad they let us hang out with them.

 - Men overall results:  Cully 14^th, Toddy 49^th, Dan 81^st, JJ 312th.

- Hit a few downtown drinking establishments, and closed the night out drinking by the hotel pool.  The black velvet/lemonades were going down smooth in the hotel cups, plus JJ poured free refills.

- The drive home was loooong, but we did stop in Green Bay to have lunch with my cousin Pete and his lovely wife Allison.  Pete is always entertaining with his bullshit.  Once we got home and unloaded the rig, JJ insisted that we pop a few Fat Tires to re-cap the weekend.  We all agreed……….. fun times had by all, and a race that pushed everyone to their limits.  LOSE YOURSELF TO FIND YOURSELF! 

Cheers, Toddy