Family Album
Will in the
2006 24 Hours of Allamuchy Endurance Mountain Bike Race
Noon, August 26 through Noon, August 27
The event was held at a Boy Scout camp (Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation) near Hackettstown NJ. Most particpants set-up and stayed overnight on site starting Friday, August 25.
Will’s Spot in Campsite #12A
Will’s housemate, James, was a member on a different team.
Bob & James
Will emerging and preparing for the start.
Will was in a team of four young men. For those not familiar with this type of race, the team that completes the most laps in 24 hours wins. For tie-breaking, the fastest number of laps in 24 hours is used. Teams were grouped by the total of each team member’s age. They generally rotate around the team for each lap but the rule is that each team member need only complete one lap. In this meet there were solos, 2-person teams, 4-person teams, 5-person teams, corporate teams (6 or more) and tandem teams. There was only one tandem couple, so guess they only had to do one lap to win. Instead of passing a baton, it’s all down with microchips which each contestant has to wear on their right wrist. You can see the band on Will’s wrist in the pictures. They were required to have two lights from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. The course was wet. So wet in fact, that the race officials felt it prudent to cut out a very slippery bridge so that the lap was shortened from over 10 miles to about 9.5 miles.
While on a bike, contestants had to have helmet on and buckled, even when not racing.
James with his bike at the campsite.
Event organizer at the mandatory 1100 pre-race meeting giving last minute information.
Will in discussion with Bob before the start.
Pre-race poses (notice no mud).
Team captain Mike.
Gerilynn, important part of the support team.
Just after the start (1200). Will is in second row, second from right.
The people without helmets are standing inbetween the different waves of starts. Each major group had different start times spaced at one-minute intervals. (1200 4-person teams; 1201 2-person teams; 1202 5-person teams; 1203 Solos; 1204 Corporate and Tandem teams.) There were over 100 solos.
First rider coming in on first lap. Notice clock on top (50min, 32 seconds for lap).
First rider to go out on second lap (turn-around time 23 seconds)
Will just coming around the bush.
Will on the finish line: 1h 11m 35s
Mandatory dismount before entering the transition area.
Entering the path that leads to microchip swipe area.
Muddy but smiling. One lap finished.
Speaking with Will on 8/27, he completed 5 laps, two of them in the dark. Having been in second place for their age group most of night, the third team caught and passed them after daylight. The last couple of laps were in heavy rain. Other than cuts and bruises, no major damage.
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