Whiskey 50 new scars and good times

by Travis Hosman on May 23rd, 2007

First off let me say what A great event this was, and I would recommend it for any faithful mountain bike masochist, looking for some good physical and mental anguish. On to the ride.

We started up some nasty climbs out of Prescott up to 8500feet. I started fighting through all of the jo jo road racers who blew themselves up at the start but couldn’t hang in the single track. after about 6 miles of this came 15 inch water breaks about ten feet apart for about 2 miles. Apparently the aborted child project of some misguided trail project, which now became 2 miles of hell for all who sought to cross. After A brief wreckless descent into A canyon and past the first aid station. I started feeling my oats ripping down the double track to skull valley toping out around 40 mph in places. Upon taking A corner A little wide I got into some gravel, the front tire washed out and I had an instant yard sale. Unwitting victims of the yard sale were A crankbrothers tool, my calf, and my right butt cheek “see pics”. I just got back on that horse and rode, all the way down and starting back up spruce mountain.

The mountain; what expletives are conjured up in your mind when A 200lb man is required to ride with A bunch of horse jockeys up hill at altitude. I’m pretty sure I ran through the swearing vernacular four maybe five times in my head before reaching the top and starting my descent. When I topped out I could see Prescott way down the mountain and really wasn’t sure if I could make it. so I just tucked in and put the hammer down as hard as I could. the whole time thinking “if I wasn’t completely wasted I would love this descent”. Half way down was one last sadistic climb, not steep but seemingly impossible after 42 miles, and strewn with baby head rocks waiting to topple you at just the wrong move. Past the last climb, and down through A fast rocky creek bed I hit the road. Sweet relief knowing the finish cant be for than 4 miles, I push it as hard as I can knowing relief is close. At the finish it looks like I finished dead last it seemed like loads of riders hanging around, all I can think about is Coke and salt and viniger chips.

Later checking the results It turns out I got 27th for the 50mile, not to shabby for A 200lb Alligator wrestler from Oklahoma.