Adam's Report from Night Train

Night Train
So, here we are Team VPC and Team Deltec (dirt bike divisions), immersed in the Mountain Bike scene. Man, it's like a night and day difference from the USCF (road) scene. Anyway, this time we headed deeper into the western edges of WNC to Fontana Village, about a half hour past Tsali. Here's the skinny from the promoters web site:
The Night Train uses a Le-Mans style start. Starting racers must have their bikes in the area specified during the rider's meeting. The racers must run to their bikes from the designated starting line (editor's note: which ended up only being a lap around the stage shown in the fourth picture below). The race starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 10:00 PM. A team's final placing will be determined by the number of laps completed and the order of finish. For example, a team that has completed 20 laps, with a finish time of 10:34 PM would beat a team that completed 20 laps with a time of 10:40 PM. A team with 21 laps completed and a finish time of 11:00 PM would beat them both.

Night Train

The Night Train was a cool race this year. New promoters did a good job. There were live bands, some good riders, and Fontana was actually in good shape!! The course was set up for a 9.2 mile loop with 2700 ft of climbing per lap (ouch).

Our team was Adam, Billy, Jim, and me. We were entering the 4 person open class. Bio-Wheels and Sycamore Cycles were there as well, and we knew we would have our work cut out.

We stayed in 2nd pretty much all day, behind Sycamore (and Wes's record laps), and held our position well. Our laps stayed consistent and we ended up about 15 min ahead of 3rd, but still a lap out of first. We had no major mechanicals, and we all held up well. We had some good support from Keith at I-9 and Jacob McGahee with neutral support from Liberty.

It was our 3rd 12 hour race and the 3rd podium for Velosports!! Thanks to the promoters and to our sponsors. Check out the pics. (Lindsay added the blurbs!)

Night Train

Keith and Stella

Praying Mantis on the team truck





Jim having his pasta.."this is not really good food, but its so good!"

Night Train

Smile!

So sweet:)

Jim on the massage table

Jacob taking a small break





Kyleys turn

Night Train

Jim having a drink

Owen and Jack






Billy not so sure about this

Jim in a serious conversation

Fine tuning

Night Train

Jacob

OJ


Jimothy

Adam

Night Train

Night Train

Kyleys birdie

Billy anxiously awaiting his lap

Kyley with her dirty belly button from a ride over the handle bars

Jims matching socks ...bless him!

Night Train

My HOT husband

Husband and wifage


Billy after his fist lap...so tired!

Keith working on the "dirty bird"

Night Train

Owen looking at who's in the lead

Adam and Owen talking about how his lap went

Adam and Billy bonding




Owen rounding the corner

Jacob eating some grub

Night Train

Owens dirty legs

The whitey tighty team








OJ after his last lap


Adam interviewing OJ about how his lap went!

Night Train

OJ and Adam conversing before Adam heads out for the final lap.

Wes in red.


Adam pouring the rest of his morning coffee into his coke for the final lap.




Our Set Up







The boys in the whitey tighties

Night Train

Jim after his night lap.. talking it over with OJ

Night Train

Jim finishing his night lap.

Keith is chillin.

I think Adam is glad to be done.