6WC: Losing to Win

Ray Dybowski once gave me the following advice. It has single handedly been some of the most sound advice anyone could ever give me when it comes to racing a bicycle. These are words that are easily said than done when amidst a race moment of frustration and self-doubt. However, equipped with my lessons of the past I was able to heed these words on April 3rd, 2010 in Wilkesboro, NC at the second annual 6 hours of Warrior Creek.

Don't quit: I've had a number of good finishes in races that seemed to be completely out of my control. They go down in my journal as epic. You keep picking up the cards that are dealt to you, play them, sometimes they turn into the winning hand. Sometimes you have to hang in long enough for the race to come to your level, if you don't quit you will be happy when it does, maybe even epic!

I must say that the BMCC is officially off to something great with this race. In only its second year, the 6 hours of Warrior Creek has sold out, even necessitating the promoters to open 75 extra spots this year. The elite open category alone this year boasted 104 participants!

Wilkesboro is a beautiful community in the foothills of North Carolina located amongst a network of several solid trail systems. Warrior Creek’s trails are fast and furious filled with high burms and a few challenging rock gardens. After pre-riding the course the Friday prior to the race I categorized it as “Helltrack on crack”.

The morning of the race was a beautiful 65 degrees which was a pleasant treat after the cold winter in Michigan. As I sat at the line I looked back and marveled at the sea of 375 riders extending back behind me. The start of the race was ballistic to say the least. In an effort to string the field out, the promoters designed the first lap to have a few miles of hilly road terrain which catered to my road skills. I was pleased to enter the holeshot into the trail sitting second wheel behind Eddie Odea of the Ergon Team. I held his wheel for that entire lap until we finally whittled the 375 rider field down to 4 riders.

During the first few miles of the second lap our group turned to three riders, one of which was Aaron Oakes who was the returning race champion of 2009. I knew I was with the group to be in but we were all attacking each other just a bit more than I desired at that time. Remembering the lessons of the tortoise and the hare I started to think about dropping back and settling into my own rhythm. Just as that thought passed, I found myself hitting the ground hard. The two remaining riders took off before I had time to pick myself back up. Fortunately, I was able to settle into a rhythm after this and maintain my third place position.

On lap four I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had reeled Aaron Oakes back in. As I passed him he did not put up much of a fight to stay on my wheel. I later found out that he had pulled out of the race on that lap. I was now sitting in second and was comfortable and happy with my positioning.



I knew the race was going to be won with six laps and that most likely they would be completed in sub-6 hour fashion. As I rolled out on my sixth lap, I was right on schedule to finish in sub-6 hours. Angela had informed me that starting the lap I was a mere minute off the first place rider Nathan Wyatt. As I rolled that lap I begin to hit a wall in the first few miles. However, after taking in a GU, I was able to regain composure and I could feel my speed pick up. I was gaining hope that there was still a good chance I could win the race in epic form.

There are few things worse than the dreaded sound of a bike tire instantly fizzing to flat during a bike race. The tool that was once ripping you around the course in synergistic harmony is quickly reduced to nothing more than a 23lb weight. Unfortunately with a mere 5 miles to go in the race I had to experience this sound. I was devastated; everything was going according to plan. As I unsuccessfully struggled to get my tire to reseal, I watched the dreaded third placed rider, Andy Applegate ride by me.

There are points in a race in which your confidence can go to self doubt within a virtual instant, this was one of them. I thought for sure I had lost my podium spot. I knew there was a road crossing up ahead and I pondered simply throwing in the towel and DNFing. However, from past experience I knew that the result of knowing I quit a race when I could have finished would not be worth the mental torment that would ensue afterward. After much mental dispute, I pulled out my extra tube and CO2 and got to work. It’s amazing how the simple act of changing a tire during a stressful race situation can make you struggle and wrestle with it so much more than usual. I finally managed to get the new tube in after spilling Stan’s No Tubes all over me. As I went to fill up the tire I noticed that my tube didn’t have a valve core in it. At this point I reevaluated once again quitting.

Sometimes you just have to beg, borrow, or steal to get what you want…in this instance I choose the first. I sat on the side of the trail and begged each passing rider atop a 29er if they had a tube I could borrow. Eventually, a very gracious single speed rider passed me a tube. I quickly changed and was on my way. However, I only had enough CO2 left to fill about 10 PSI in my tire which resulted in a slow last five miles whenever the trail turned or came upon some rock gardens.

Eventually I passed the line, 13 minutes off of first, but somehow managed to hold onto my third place position. Andy Applegate who had overtaken me during my mechanical was a mere 3 minutes off of first. I couldn’t help but fixate on the “what ifs”. As I rolled through; I had tears of frustration in my eyes.


After I deescalated and had some time to ponder my achievement I became increasingly satisfied with my result. I could have easily quit when things didn’t go my way and lost a podium spot. I remembered Ray’s quote and ended the day with the feeling that I had done something epic.


If putting on a well-organized, well attended great race with a great course was not enough for the BMCC, they hosted a great after party in which I was able to meet many 29er Crew members I had only previously read about. Two of which were Brent Lester and Tommy Rodgers who Angela and I had ended up staying with that evening in a beautiful mountain top cabin, with a view that as Brent described it “didn’t suck” courtesy of the generosity of one of Brent’s clients. The evening consisted of many celebratory Oat Sodas as well as some great conversations circling around the two-wheeled passion we all shared. The next day we arose and went for a 2 hour hike to top off the weekend. I really look forward to having the chance to hang out with these guys in the future…Perhaps ICEMAN guys?...That is an invite to all.

Check out the race footage HERE