18 Hours - Scouts Honor

Mark you calendars for November 5 & 6 - the new date for the 2011 version of the 18 Hours Scouts Honor. The fun will be once everyone realizes that weekend is when Daylight Savings Time ends and Eastern Standard Time returns. That means we all gain an hour - but does that mean you ride an hour less - or an hour more? Guess you'll just have to ride it to find out for sure!!

Sorry I wasn't able to get back for a last report on race day but I was running on fumes by then and looking at a daunting task of clean up...but it was worth it. Everyone looked as though they had a great time and no major injuries until 1 minute left in the race (finger injury - see if you can't that off for a while longer next year!!).
I wanted to thank all you racers because without you this race wouldn't be the fun that it was to run. I really enjoyed talking with everyone I did and hearing your ideas for next year and I only regret that I wasn't able to talk with everyone!
Below are the final results (and I will say again that I am very impressed with everyone's riding as the course this year was very tough, considering the slippery roots that you have to wrestle to keep the bike vertical, the soft new sections that just sap your energy and the heat/humidity that just doesn't end):
18hours2010final%20results.pdf

Check out these race videos!

18 Hour Scouts Honor from Richmond ASR on Vimeo.

Unicyclist Races at 18 Hour Scouts Honor from Richmond ASR on Vimeo.

Thanks again and I'll be looking forward to seeing everyone in 2011!
Swannee

...doesn't matter, there are riders still racing a very tough course and going hard. Right now, it looks like Danelle Grant and Shawn Tivendale are leading the solo open riders but with Anet Lamberson running only 8 minutes behind Danelle and Joe Fish 25 minutes behind Shawn - we have a long time to go before the fat lady sings. Results below are as of 4:00 a.m. STAY TUNED:
18hoursMS.pdf

It is now 2:37 a.m. and riders are still on the course...having fun, but working hard.
I finished my lap at about 11:30 and I can say the conditions this year are probably the worst I've seen in at least 4 years. The course is damp...not so much wet but the dampness makes the roots - which are many and diverse in size and direction - very inconsistent in approach. I went out for as hard a ride as I could get as I knew I could probably get only one lap in but it quickly grabbed my attention when a root I didn't see essentially threw me to the ground then laughed out loud!
I couldn't help but think I'm doing ONE lap, and these racers were trying to get in as many as they could. These riders have my greatest respect with these conditions. This trail is one of the most fun trails I've ridden, but like all good ... the dark side is ever present.

Below is the link to the 10:00 p.m. time update (we missed the 1:00 a.m. update since I was out on the course):
18hoursMS.pdf

I'm going to try to upload the first time results as of 7:00 p.m. It will be in pdf so it may be a long file but probably smallish. Here goes...
18hours.pdf

Race Director, Billy Moffet is "lining them up"!
We'll be sending Cycles Ed off to lead the start peleton for the prologue in ten minutes.
Weather conditions aren't bad - warm but overcast with low's predicted in the low 70's.
Stay tune; I'll be updating periodically with news but racing updates will come every three hours!

Tim Dunkum, ASR Youth Programs Manager, just started the kids race. They'll race about 2 miles to the finish where every kid wins...and schwag is part of the package!

The 7th annual 18 Hours Scouts Honor registration is in process.
Riders are coming in to pick up their packets, socks, glasses and schwag tickets. One of these lucky riders will win an Osprey Talon 10 Mountain Biking hydration pack donated by BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN SPORTS.
We would also like to thank all of our sponsors for supporting the team, the event and the sport.
Please be sure to keep these businesses in mind when searching for new products and services!

More to come...

138 mountain bikers (including one brave unicyclist -see the 2nd video below!) are on course and on the clock. They've got an entire 18 hours to see how many laps they can get or, just how long they can stay awake!
We'll see what happens in the course of the night...and morning as the riders traverse the woods here at the Heart of Virginia Scout Reservation.
Cycles Ed has promise many surprises to keep the riders entertained as they ride through the woods in the deep, dark night. I believe the local skunks may have a say in it as well!

18 Hour Scouts Honor from Richmond ASR on Vimeo.

Unicyclist Races at 18 Hour Scouts Honor from Richmond ASR on Vimeo.

On Line Registration Closes at Midnight - 8/15/2010

There will be race-day registration but the price will increase.....so get it together at sign up now!!!