Three years ago, Kenny and I agreed to sign up for the Mohican 100 and complete the 100k distance. We knew very little about what to expect and knew even less on how to prepare for that amount of time on a mountain bike. With the help of a friend, Zac, we both managed to drag our cramping, tired, dirty carcasses across the finish line about 8.5 hrs after starting to collect our pint glass! We swore we’d never do it again… Then the following year we agreed to complete the 100 mile distance! We never said we were smart, but we are stubborn!
Mohican 100k - 2012 before KSD started and they started dressing the same, however, they did wear the same headband...it didn't help
So fast forward to early 2015, Kenny and I agree to sign up for the 100k again now that we think we know how to train and prepare for this type of event. No big deal, 6-7 hours on a mountain bike and a great time is sure to be had!! Around March during a group ride with Jim, he mentions he had thought about doing the 100k this year. Well that was all Kenny and I needed to persuade him into entering! I could only imagine how many of Jim’s famous one liners we could hear during a day on the trail. It would certainly be a welcomed relief in some of the dark hours when you just want to give up!
A couple of weeks before the race, Jim is trying to back out and tell us he doesn’t want us to ride with him because he doesn’t want to slow us down… Secretly, Kenny and I were glad he was coming along (though we never mentioned it to each other, we’re trained to be tough and look forward to stupid ideas) because it would keep us from killing each other trying to push too hard. Plus, we wanted to make sure that his long, hard ride would be as good as possible. With a lot of cajoling, Jim finally agreed and signed up!!!
The day finally arrives! Around 6:30AM nearly all of the participating KSD’ers group up and take the 1 mile ride to the starting line. Jim is instantly goofing around pulling wheelies and such, which I can’t miss an opportunity to show off and promptly join him! Though I did tell him if I saw him doing that on the trail I was going to increase the pace because I took that as a sign of too much left over energy. With the necessary stop at the porta-john to shed excess weight we make our way to the mass of bikers already lined up. Once settled, Jim pulled out a GPS that looks like it was from 1994. In the process of mocking him, I hear Kenny start cursing at his Garmin which only had 1% battery remaining… And as everyone knows, if it’s not on Strava, it never happened! Then we’re off!
If you haven’t seen a 700+ person mass start, go find it on youtube! Chaos is the only word I can use to describe it. Halfway down Main St. Jim and I bump bars, but stay upright. Near miss #1… About halfway up the big climb at the start a lead group is starting to form ahead of us and Kenny tries to bridge the gap. I then take a turn only to look behind me to find him and Jim both slowing down, what gives!! Oh well, with 30 miles of singletrack ahead it’s not worth burning any more matches.
A couple of weeks before the race, Jim is trying to back out and tell us he doesn’t want us to ride with him because he doesn’t want to slow us down… Secretly, Kenny and I were glad he was coming along (though we never mentioned it to each other, we’re trained to be tough and look forward to stupid ideas) because it would keep us from killing each other trying to push too hard. Plus, we wanted to make sure that his long, hard ride would be as good as possible. With a lot of cajoling, Jim finally agreed and signed up!!!
The day finally arrives! Around 6:30AM nearly all of the participating KSD’ers group up and take the 1 mile ride to the starting line. Jim is instantly goofing around pulling wheelies and such, which I can’t miss an opportunity to show off and promptly join him! Though I did tell him if I saw him doing that on the trail I was going to increase the pace because I took that as a sign of too much left over energy. With the necessary stop at the porta-john to shed excess weight we make our way to the mass of bikers already lined up. Once settled, Jim pulled out a GPS that looks like it was from 1994. In the process of mocking him, I hear Kenny start cursing at his Garmin which only had 1% battery remaining… And as everyone knows, if it’s not on Strava, it never happened! Then we’re off!
If you haven’t seen a 700+ person mass start, go find it on youtube! Chaos is the only word I can use to describe it. Halfway down Main St. Jim and I bump bars, but stay upright. Near miss #1… About halfway up the big climb at the start a lead group is starting to form ahead of us and Kenny tries to bridge the gap. I then take a turn only to look behind me to find him and Jim both slowing down, what gives!! Oh well, with 30 miles of singletrack ahead it’s not worth burning any more matches.
The entire way thru singletrack, I’m shouting at them what time it is and when to eat since Kenny’s Garmin is dead and Jim’s dinosaur is too big to fit on his handlebars! At the double track at mile 8 I try to go around Jim to pass a few other riders we were tailing and hit his bars again! Near miss #2… The three of us make it to the 1st aid station within a couple of minutes of each other. Prior to the start, we planned to only wait long enough to group back up, but before I know it Kenny is off BS’ing with someone and Jim has his gloves off and is scavenging food and water. When I finally get everyone gathered up, Kenny and I take off and realize Jim is still standing there with food hanging out of his mouth and no gloves on!! Oh well, just makes for good pictures and stories later. After that stop, Jim kept hearing us talk about the 1st big climb… When we finally reached the big hike-a-bike at the end of the State Forest loop, I thought Jim was going to burst! Now he realized why we kept mentioning it!
After we caught our breath at the top, we started making our way down the horse trail to the water bars. About halfway down, the rider in front of me drifted from end to the other on one of the water bars without dabbing! I was immediately impressed and told him he got a 6 for distance and 10 for style!! He asked why it wasn’t an 11, but I was too busy trying not to wreck on the same water bar to answer. Don’t know who you are, but dude you have some skill to ride that out and my hat is off to you!
Finally onto the smooth road and eventually to Buck Haven, right on target at just over 4 hrs. This time, it was me who was delaying the show. I realized my glasses were muddy from the horse trails and headed over to grab a paper towel. On the way back to my bike I dropped my glove. When I turned around to pick it up, I’m nearly met head on by a rider coming in. Good thing he is paying attention! Near miss #9… As we head out, Jim has a huge chunk of watermelon in his mouth. I immediately start laughing, which causes him to laugh and start choking. Near miss #10… A few more huge gravel road climbs and we reach Mohican Wilderness. Normally, Jim and I go wild on technical, long, rocky downhills like that, but after a minute I’m all alone. I think to myself “Jim must really be tired to not be enjoying this!” I manage to ride the whole wilderness trail until the large hike-a-bike at the top (unless you are a beast like the 2 guys Kenny and I watched ride the entire hill!!)
Aid station 3, at last! I’m not feeling great at this point. I know I can finish, but I’m ready to be sitting on something that’s not a slab of carbon bouncing down a trail. Kenny leaves early and tells me he will be back in a few. Jim is looking slightly better that death. I offer him some food, but he says no more will go down. I make sure we are both topped with water and we head down the road. Literally 200 feet after the aid station, Jim is pulling off to use the restroom. He looks at me and asks how I’m feeling. I can tell he is at his low point. Everyone has one on a ride like that. I tell him there’s only 2 big hills left and that I feel like crap, but know we can do it. 2 minutes later, Kenny is pedaling back towards us with a PBR in hand. I’m pretty sure Jim instantly vurps and he knows not to offer me a drink!! Still don’t know how he came up with it. Maybe he just stole it from a cooler or someone felt bad enough and gave it up? No one will ever know?!
Finally onto the smooth road and eventually to Buck Haven, right on target at just over 4 hrs. This time, it was me who was delaying the show. I realized my glasses were muddy from the horse trails and headed over to grab a paper towel. On the way back to my bike I dropped my glove. When I turned around to pick it up, I’m nearly met head on by a rider coming in. Good thing he is paying attention! Near miss #9… As we head out, Jim has a huge chunk of watermelon in his mouth. I immediately start laughing, which causes him to laugh and start choking. Near miss #10… A few more huge gravel road climbs and we reach Mohican Wilderness. Normally, Jim and I go wild on technical, long, rocky downhills like that, but after a minute I’m all alone. I think to myself “Jim must really be tired to not be enjoying this!” I manage to ride the whole wilderness trail until the large hike-a-bike at the top (unless you are a beast like the 2 guys Kenny and I watched ride the entire hill!!)
Aid station 3, at last! I’m not feeling great at this point. I know I can finish, but I’m ready to be sitting on something that’s not a slab of carbon bouncing down a trail. Kenny leaves early and tells me he will be back in a few. Jim is looking slightly better that death. I offer him some food, but he says no more will go down. I make sure we are both topped with water and we head down the road. Literally 200 feet after the aid station, Jim is pulling off to use the restroom. He looks at me and asks how I’m feeling. I can tell he is at his low point. Everyone has one on a ride like that. I tell him there’s only 2 big hills left and that I feel like crap, but know we can do it. 2 minutes later, Kenny is pedaling back towards us with a PBR in hand. I’m pretty sure Jim instantly vurps and he knows not to offer me a drink!! Still don’t know how he came up with it. Maybe he just stole it from a cooler or someone felt bad enough and gave it up? No one will ever know?!
We make it back to Mohican and all of a sudden Jim is all smiles and wheelies! Literally practicing wheelies for crossing the finish line. After making it back to Mohican Adventures, I am leading down a loose gravel road. Jim is on my back tire and Kenny is yelling something. I suddenly see the arrow to the left and lock up both brakes. I know I’m not making the corner and try to think about my options. Remember, I’m 7 hours on a bike, thinking is not a strong suit at this point, so I point it to the ditch and close my eyes! Next thing you know, Jim is following me into the ditch. Near miss #19… A few minutes later Jim clips his handlebars on the iron bridge but saves it. Near miss #20…
At last we are on the road leading to the finish line. I turn around to see the 100 mile runner up pass us like we are standing still and bump Jim’s bars again! Near miss #21… We all cross the finish line doing a wheelie, except for Kenny because he is lacking of that skill, and promptly get yelled at by the people scoring that they can’t see our numbers!! Keepin’ it classy as usual!
Thanks to all the support from the people cheering on the side, other KSD’ers volunteering and all of the overly helpful and friendly aid station volunteers!!! This is what makes this such a great event. Can’t wait to do it again next year! Great ride Jim, I hope Kenny and I helped make it a truly memorable day and that you’ll join us next year to make more great stories and jokes!
At last we are on the road leading to the finish line. I turn around to see the 100 mile runner up pass us like we are standing still and bump Jim’s bars again! Near miss #21… We all cross the finish line doing a wheelie, except for Kenny because he is lacking of that skill, and promptly get yelled at by the people scoring that they can’t see our numbers!! Keepin’ it classy as usual!
Thanks to all the support from the people cheering on the side, other KSD’ers volunteering and all of the overly helpful and friendly aid station volunteers!!! This is what makes this such a great event. Can’t wait to do it again next year! Great ride Jim, I hope Kenny and I helped make it a truly memorable day and that you’ll join us next year to make more great stories and jokes!
RSS Feed
