Black Hills Gold

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It’s always hard to compose your thoughts after a weekend of complete sensory overload. Especially when you’ve been looking forward to that weekend for a year. Labor day weekend means one thing, the Dakota Five-O. Perry and crew put on one of the sweetest events of the year and should be on everyones calendar.

The Midwest Cycling short bus hit the road Friday morning with only a quarter of the Nebraska crew on board.  Nine hours later we rolled into Spearfish to find the TMCO boys at the city campground.  The keg was tapped and we set up camp for the weekend.  Every couple hours another vehicle would arrive.Saturday’s preride took us out to check station #1 where we scouted out the next 12 miles of trail.  Temps were high and dry, it was going to be a cooker.

The 7:30 AM start time came quickly as Smokey the bear arm dropped us into a 50 mile ribbon of singletrack, cow track and fire road.  The early pace was hot as the 270+ starters spread out.  Four miles of gravel road climbing led to 4 miles of singletrack climbing.  Ryan Horkey and last years winner, Joe Meiser, blew by our group while I kept myself tucked out of the wind.

Entering the singletrack I found myself in the top 25 with the leaders just out of sight.  EB was on my wheel and it wasn’t long before Nate had closed his early gap as the Nebraska train began picking up speed.  By the top of the climb we had reeled in JP and Mr.T was in sight.  Through checkpoint 1 and the Nebraska train was 5 strong running 22nd-26th with Sir Wilhelm still hanging in the front group.

By the Iron Creek drainage the steep climbing began and my 36×21 had me saying goodbye to the NE train.  I eventually picked up Joe who was having an off day as we cruised the ridge to checkpoint 2, 22 miles gone.

A quick stop to refill the bottles and a dollar, dollar bill prime from Zito and I was reenergized and ripping the descents reeling in riders.  The descending skills were significantly more honed than the climbing skills and the embalance had me heading the wrong direction on the time sheet.

The race, ride, tour format had turned from race to ride for me by mile 37, and as I rolled into the bacon station at mile 38, Perry handed me a PBR and a strip of bacon.  As I sat on my top tube enjoying my beer I few folks rolled through the fifth unofficial aid station.  One of those being Roxzanne Abbott who would go on to crush her old course record by something to the tune of 12 minutes.  I jumped back on the Ferrous just in front of Gene-O and headed for home.  Almost eight miles of descending takes you back in and I take no greater pleasure than passing guys with gears not only on singletrack but fireroad too.

I rolled into the Spearfish City Park in 12th place SS, around 45th overall, only 6 minutes slower than last year, 4:46.  Pretty good considering I spent at least 5 minutes at the bacon station. Best part was getting the raffle call up and scored one of the 2008 mugs.  The results were stacked pretty heavy with NE riders, Roxz won the women’s, Tony took 3rd in 29 and under, Nate and Jesse took 7th and 8th in 30-39 with Mr.T just outside the top ten.  Eric and I in 9th and 12th in SS.  Too many others to list, the NE turnout was huge.  Only 51 1/2 weeks ’til we ride the black hills again.