An Epic on Oak Mountain

The final race of the 2011 MTB Endurance series was held at Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, Alabama.

Josh Fix, Bill Riddle, and Mitch Mercer began their journey on Friday to seek new levels and epic status. Notable absences were Steve Longtoe Julian and Dave Oracle Muse. We made our way through Montgomery with ease due to the new blue dot technology offered by Josh...epic directions.

Once arriving at the hotel, we had cookies on a foyer platter...epic. Bill set the temp in the room to acclimate us to race conditions....epic. We got our proper rest, even though the night before the race is not as important as the night before the night (Dave Muse). The breakfast buffet offered unlimited fruit (note Bill was tempted), eggs,meat,waffles,oatmeal...shall I say....epic.

We arrived at the race site with the focus of Ninja warriors. Slapped all equipment into place and the three of us set out on the pre-ride....warnings from care-bear and sneaky about the "rocks" had us wondering about the validity of their chants of fear after a 3 to 4 mile jaunt up the trail. Back to the tent for last adjustments and line up for the start. We were joined by Chip Battle for his first race of the season on a first generation full suspension bike...now that was epic. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 and we are off. A loop on a service road up the hill to a dive in point where Josh hit the trail in first place and never relinquished the lead, Bill followed closely behind sneaky, then I was positioned just ahead of the conga line. A crash about 3 miles in caused a separation between me and the others, I walked by this carnage and started to crank away toward the others. I found myself climbing up a slow incline full of cantaloupe sized rocks and another "stopping" call from ahead....an edifice of stones in the shape of a waterfall...blood rock...epic....everyone walked this. Then to the top and a descent on a new section, shall I call the gauntlet of rock-dom!! Ten clusters of death defying rocks, boulders along a stretch for the next mile..switchbacks laden with craggy granite, rock corridors between trees, and rock logs .... Very epic! Escaping the rock quarry allowed us to fly down a woop de do section that was a big chain ring dream. This section was so fast that riders were losing control and two paid the price with broken arms! I had a slight bump with the earth as I hugged the side of the trail and my pedal snagged the uphill side, spun me around and sent me into a somersaulting move that after two full revolutions, I ended sitting upright with my bike 10 feet away, pine straw jammed in my helmet, a rock souvenir wedged in the side of my cap. My drafting friend said "Dude, that was beautiful, oh by the way, you ok?". Epic. The trail did in fact warrant the cautions from care-bear and sneaky.

9 mile lap....Josh circled this rock infested trail 7 times. 1st place expert.
Bill finished with 4 laps. 2nd place clydesdale.
Me 4 laps. 5th place beginner.

Series results:
Bill 2nd place Clydesdale
Mitch 3rd place beginner....I rode an epic....it was epic

Note Josh ran a 13.1 trail race sunday at oak mountain...finished 3rd. He received an award for weekend warrior for his accomplishments....Epic!

PHOTOS TO COME!