Ok so there are already some really good stories about us 29er Crew riders on the site so heres something that came up in my inbox and I thought it would be fitting to share. A local Ohio racer and a friend of mine shares his adventure of completing his first 100 mile race with our Local rep Bob Myers. Sadly both Bob & I were just getting in our cars to leave the Mohican 100 as we saw Mark roll across the finish line. The following lines are from Marks e-mail to Bob…..remember this is why some of us ride….

Boss, I did it! I did it!  I finished the 100 miles! They decided to close aid station #4 at 4:30pm. I got there at 5:36pm, mile 73. They took my number plate and said it would be dark and I was too late. I said “I worked too hard for this and I am not stopping!” They said aid station 5 would be gone (which is where I had a light in my drop bag). At mile 90, I was tearing down a road at 25+ mph, tears in my eyes! I told myself  “Take my number! Take my aid station! ” YOU  WILL NOT STOP ME!” I got to the state park and they were gone! 7:42pm. I used the water I had left and powered on, fueled by adrenaline and anger (for them being gone before dark) I made it in at 8:40pm, 13.5 hours in the saddle, and not yet dark. That was the greatest personal achievement of my life. I never played any sport in school, I was never an athlete.  Most everyone was cleaned up and at the award ceremonies when I walked in. I wore my muddy Trek clothes with pride with the days worth of hard riding I put them through! A bunch of cleaned up racers I never seen before congratulated me on my finish. I said out loud “TAKE MY NUMBER AT #4, TAKE AID STATION 5 FROM ME, I WILL FINISH! I WILL NOT BE STOPPED!”  I am a factory worker, not a pro bike racer. To say the least, That finish was a huge thrill in my life which I will cherish forever. The EX is a great ride! I locked it out on the roads and opened up to full travel down through the Wilderness. I enjoyed the bike all day! It was also the only 08 model I saw as well, much less a green one. The bike got a lot of looks especially at the finish. I came out of the lodge and people were looking at it, even in the dark!  Thank you so much for everything you do/done for me. It feels great to be part of team, not just a guy that bought a bike and likes to ride. Now back to the OMBC.

Mohican 100 finisher, Mark Shellhamer

 Congrats to Mark and I’m really sorry I wasn’t there to shake your hand buddy.

Stork

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