Monday, October 17, 2011

2011 ZUNI 50/100

PETER AND SHEEP VERGING ON VIRAL, BOB DODGES
A BULLET & DIRK INSTIGATES POACHING EPIDEMIC
By Bob
The Zuni 50/100: the long shadows and crisp air of fall in New Mexico and a gathering of the New Mexico endurance racing community. A report:
1.     THE BEST – HANDS DOWN!  Through the efforts of the remarkable Gallup Trails 2010 directors and volunteers, the Zuni 50/100 has become – hands down – the premier endurance race in New Mexico.  No other race on the endurance series is even remotely close.  Aside from the great course and the fresh fall weather, the Zuni 50/100 features a huge free meal, a bike swap, a home brew contest and live bands.  And beyond that, the race provides a sense of community for New Mexico endurance racing.  No wonder the race has been designated the New Mexico endurance championship and is the only race in the endurance series that has to close registration to stay under the Forest Service permit limit.
2.     FAST TIMES ON LONGER COURSE.   The Zuni 50/100 course has, in years past, really only been a 43/86 +/- mile race.  This year about five miles per lap were added by going down Berma Trial after finishing Quasimodo and climbing back up on Stuck Truck Trail.  In spite of the longer 48/96 +/- mile course, there were a record 8 finishers (all male) on the long course – including 5 single speeders.  The top male finisher was pro rider Cameron Brenneman who put in some amazing times:  4:15 for the first lap and 9:01 for the full long course.  Krista Park, another top pro, was the first female finisher at 4:43 for the short course. 
3.     PAUL REELS BOB IN.  Five Rez Dogs rode the 50 mile course this year.  Bob Rosebrough started out early with the idea that he and Paul Barry would meet toward the end of the course and finish up together.  It’s a good thing Bob got a big head start, because Paul torched the first two thirds of the course.  Paul caught Bob on the brutal Tampico Springs climb and they rode in together as planned.  Brian Leddy (who came away with the best deals of the evening at the bike swap) and Jack Hawley (who was seen cruising around on a fat tire unicycle before the race) started out together and also finished the 50 course as did Paul DeWitt (who spearheaded the home brew contest).   Paul B. finished a few minutes over 5 hours after easing up on the last third of the course and Bob, Brian, Jack and Paul D. all finished at just over 6 hours. 
4.     DIRK INSTIGATES A POACHING EPIDEMIC.   We need to have a talk about Dirk Hollebeek.  Not only does he seem intent on luring some naïve, innocent Rez Dogs to the dark side of road biking, but it also appears that Dirk started an epidemic of poaching with his abhorrent behavior at the Screamer.  Greg Cavanaugh, Doug Evilsizor, Chuck Van Drunen and Alan Philips – all previously law abiding citizens (Okay, well . . . maybe not Chuck) - each showed up at the race venue and took off on rides without having registered.    I’m thinking that this guy Dirk isn’t going to let up until every Rez Dog has shaved legs and a chip-on-the-shoulder roadie attitude. 
5.     BOB DODGES A BULLET.  After flirting with the idea of getting a 34-compartment-Gallup-flea-market-camelback like Chuck, Bob apparently came to his senses.  He rode Saturday with a new, shiny REI camelback.  Whew . . . that was perilously close to disaster.  There is simply no one but Chuck who has the panache to pull off the flea market camelback thing.    Bob clearly doesn’t have the huevos to do it and every man needs to know his limitations. 
6.     PETER AND THE BREADSPRINGS LOOP SHEEP VERGING ON VIRAL.  If you recall, back in July we told you – in the race report on the Leadville Silver Rush 50 – that the story of Peter and his arch nemesis was destined to spread beyond Gallup.  A couple of minutes after Bob finished on Saturday, a single speed racer from Colorado Springs told Bob that another Colorado Springs cyclist had forwarded him the link to the Rez Dog blog report on the backyard pursuit races and Peter’s clash with the foam board version of the Breadsprings Sheep.  Combine this with the fact that our Rez Dog Racing blog is now a featured link on the popular Back of the Pack Racing blog and it’s clear that the story of Peter and his arch nemesis is on the verge of going viral. It’s just too good to keep under wraps.   The only thing Rez Dog Racing is missing right now is a Go Pro video camera.  The video of the South African rider getting creamed by an antelope has 8 million You Tube hits and even made network news.  If we had captured Peter T-boning the Bread Springs loop sheep on a Go Pro video, he would already be an international icon today. 
A CONCLUDING QUESTION:  Paul was expecting Chuck to show up by 9:30 to ride the 50 course, but when Chuck didn’t show, eventually Paul started without him.  Did Night Guy finally write a pre-race check that was too big for Morning Guy to cover?  Just asking. 








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