24 Hours at Big Bear Intro

Greetings everyone. I was recently chosen to be a participant/correspondent for YourMTB.com at the 24 Hours of Big Bear. This is my second Big Bear race having been in it last year and placing 2nd with my team, Axel Folly and the Mullets. No, I am not a professional MTB racer. The reason we placed second was there were only 2 teams in our division. I just don't tell alot of people that when I invoke my bragging rights. In reality, my team and I are in a 24 hour ride, everyone else is in a 24 hour race. We do not have delusions of grandeur. We know our limitations, yield the trail to faster riders and enjoy our time with the mountain bike tribe.

This year we are racing under a new name yet to be determined. Also, we are in a different bracket losing some team members to an expert team and picking up some who have never raced before. Also, this year we are co-ed. One of my buddies has talked his college sophomore daughter into racing with us.

I got into this at the age of 30 (I am now 42). I have raced in a few WVMBA races and last year's Big Bear. It all started when I attended a continuing education class at Snowshoe for attorneys. The 24 Hours at Snowshoe was that weekend and I rode the course before the race just to see what it was like. IT WAS GREAT! I wrecked several times but had a blast with all of the other riders in the woods. The next day, I watched the start, stayed near the start/finish line and even climbed the hill at 11:00 p.m. to cheer the racers on. A racer went past, dismounted and said to us, "Sorry guys. I gotta work on Monday." (By the way, it really is a small world. I told that story last year and that racer was on the team that was in the campsite next to us.)

It took a few years to talk my buddies into this, but last year, we fielded a team. On I-68 between Morgantown and Bruceton Mills, my buddy turned to me and said, "If this sucks, I will be on you like a rat on a Cheeto. If it is great, I will sing your praises." He is back this year. His daughter is racing with us too. I guess it went OK last year.

I gotta run now. I will post next about last year's race and our training leading up to this year. See you guys soon!

Bob Leslie