On Friday June 25th some of the team headed up to Albion Hills Conservation Area of the annual 24 Hour of Summer Solstice. Two Wheel Express entered a team into the 6-10 person category. We had 7 people on our team being Simon, Jamie, Danielle, Corey, Duane, Samantha and Nathan. Along with our many loyal fans!
Arriving the day before the race started, most of us went out for a ride on the 17 km lap. After getting back from our rides, we settled down for the evening with supper and then sitting around the camp fire that kept going all weekend, courtesy of Nathan. We set up 4 tents, our team trailer and 3 Kenda tents up in our little camp site to accommodate to our total of 14 people.
Although Saturday’s forecast was calling for rain, when we all woke up there wasn’t any rain. All of us were hoping that the rain would hold off for the weekend and there wouldn’t be a replay of last years 12 hour race, cut short due to the mud. Unfortunately, the rain came, and the start of the race was delayed from 12 pm to start at 2 pm.
When it was about time to start the race, the rain had finally stopped and held off for the rest of the weekend. Everyone gathered around to watch the huge start of all the racers go off at once. Simon started for the Two Wheel Express team, pulling a solid lap, on the course that was not too muddy and kept getting better with each lap! Jamie followed Simon, pulling another fast lap, easily putting the team into first place. Danielle went next, followed by Duane and Corey. Finally after waiting quite a while Samantha and Nathan got their turn to do their laps, and after everyone on the team got a lap in, the first place position was still held.
After Simon went out for his second lap, the night laps started. Danielle and Samantha successfully completed their first night laps ever, and had a good time! The fog of the night making the night laps a little more difficult to see with our lights and all the roots a little more slippery, the added a little more danger and caution to the night laps.
The next morning, as 12 pm kept creeping closer and closer, our riders were getting more and more tired, due to a combination of hard racing and lack of sleep. Everyone on the team completed 3 laps with the exception of Simon, Jamie and Corey who completed 4. In total, Two Wheel Express completed 24 laps in the 22 hours that the race ran, and finished in first place. Way to go team!
Next race is Buckwallow, O-Cup #5!
By Samantha Wagler
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