Allamuchy

1. Solo (I have no idea why...)
2. no comment...
3. only you can do that...

I have done 24 hour races 7 times as a member of a 4 or 5 person team. My "secret" is to take a shower after each lap, put on fresh bike clothes, eat something (whether you feel like it or not), put in some earplugs and try and sleep for a bit.

Showering and putting on clean clothes makes you feel human again, and earplugs help greatly with the sleeping. Dressing for the next lap before laying down means you dont have to wake up and stumble around looking for your stuff in the dark.

Any tips for doing it solo??

Same thing...I change socks & jersey every lap 😎 and shorts every other lap. 😎
 
I was just out rolling a bunch of the trails in Allamuchy and some towards the camp. They are all in spectacular shape. Now after the monsoon hits...that's another story 😛
 
sorry to chime in so late. i'll be doing it on a corp team this year (same as pixychick).

"it's too difficult"
i've been able to ride every section of the past 4 courses even when wet and during my lymes disease year. i am no superman. i got 17th in my sport age class as the last kittatiny race for crying out loud! the mooch requires patience and technical ability more than brute strength. i can see why some roadies had issues with this course!

"the rain"
the weather is something that none of us has control over and sadly, luck has not been on our sides for the past 4 years. the north side of allamuchy is a challenging park to ride in. that's why i like it. but that's just my opinon as a rider. rain and getting muddy is part of mountain biking. if the trails get wet and recieve damage they will be repaired so you can relax in that department.

"the course designers"
everyone has a right to his or her own opinion but I don't feel that it's right to put blame on the 24hrOA course designers for a difficult course or for a muddy course. they are experience riders and have more than a few endurance events under their belts to benchmark any event. it's funny that 5 years ago it did not rain and nobdy said anything about it being too difficult. i think norm mentioned that i rode the back side of 4 bump (2/3 of the way in), honestly, i just rode it at my pace and got through it. it was not that bad. i do remeber watching people riding so hard that they got to that section and just blew up! it's not a sprint race boys and girls!

Hardtale70- Bret, I've known you longer than practically anybody in this state. i found it surprising that you would say that the course designer "poorly picked" the course especially when in the same statement you mention that you pay "zero attention" to this event? if you pay no attention to this event how do you know what the course was or how would remember? remember, i'm also a local. i've lead many rides at the mooch and i openly admit that it's nearly impossible to make eveyone happy but surely someone with your tenure in the north side of allamuchy would be more supportive. also, what's this nonsense i hear of you riding your motorcycle in there? that's not a good idea my friend.

i ask my fellow mountain bikers to think of the 24hrsOA as more of a gathering of like minded people sharing their passion for an incredible sport and less of a race. it's meant to be fun, no?

Nelson
 
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Well, for this year, I've been holding out watching the weather. Since it looks like Fay will not make it up here I went ahead and signed up online. This is unfortunate for everyone else because this almost guarantees that it will rain! Probably right about 2:00am Sunday....
I heard they were going to give every one who signs up on the day a yellow number plate 😉😉😉😉, good thing you pulled the trigger on this.
 
Hardtale70- ... the course designer "poorly picked" the course especially when in the same statement you mention that you pay "zero attention" to this event? if you pay no attention to this event how do you know what the course was or how would remember? ... what's this nonsense i hear of you riding your motorcycle in there? that's not a good idea my friend.

i ask my fellow mountain bikers to think of the 24hrsOA as more of a gathering of like minded people sharing their passion for an incredible sport and less of a race. it's meant to be fun, no?

Nelson

Great comments Nelson. See ya at the race

Dawn
 
sorry to chime in so late. i'll be doing it on a corp team this year (same as pixychick).

"it's too difficult"
i've been able to ride every section of the past 4 courses even when wet and during my lymes disease year. i am no superman. i got 17th in my sport age class as the last kittatiny race for crying out loud! the mooch requires patience and technical ability more than brute strength. i can see why some roadies had issues with this course!

"the rain"
the weather is something that none of us has control over and sadly, luck has not been on our sides for the past 4 years. the north side of allamuchy is a challenging park to ride in. that's why i like it. but that's just my opinon as a rider. rain and getting muddy is part of mountain biking. if the trails get wet and recieve damage they will be repaired so you can relax in that department.

"the course designers"
everyone has a right to his or her own opinion but I don't feel that it's right to put blame on the 24hrOA course designers for a difficult course or for a muddy course. they are experience riders and have more than a few endurance events under their belts to benchmark any event. it's funny that 5 years ago it did not rain and nobdy said anything about it being too difficult. i think norm mentioned that i rode the back side of 4 bump (2/3 of the way in), honestly, i just rode it at my pace and got through it. it was not that bad. i do remeber watching people riding so hard that they got to that section and just blew up! it's not a sprint race boys and girls!

Hardtale70- Bret, I've known you longer than practically anybody in this state. i found it surprising that you would say that the course designer "poorly picked" the course especially when in the same statement you mention that you pay "zero attention" to this event? if you pay no attention to this event how do you know what the course was or how would remember? remember, i'm also a local. i've lead many rides at the mooch and i openly admit that it's nearly impossible to make eveyone happy but surely someone with your tenure in the north side of allamuchy would be more supportive. also, what's this nonsense i hear of you riding your motorcycle in there? that's not a good idea my friend.

i ask my fellow mountain bikers to think of the 24hrsOA as more of a gathering of like minded people sharing their passion for an incredible sport and less of a race. it's meant to be fun, no?

Nelson

Good post Nelson. I think it's safe to say that no matter what, someone is going to complain. You're certainly right about pacing, especially for me. Last year I went out way too fast even though I told myself for a week I wasn't going to do that. I even considered not starting with everyone else. I don't have the mental discipline to race a solo Mooch, which is one reason I'm not doing it this year.

Hope everyone enjoys it this year. Part of me still wants to jump in last minute but I just don't think it's going to happen.
 
Thanks for the reminder to have "phun", Phat! Good stuff.🙂

I'm fighting lyme right now, so not letting down the team, riding my bike on some of NJ's best trails and having fun is my main interest. Plus I am passing a milestone this weekend 😉, but enough of that already. Looking forward to the weekend!

... and, if you noticed, I did not even mention the weather.
 
Everyone forgets the best part. Lugging all of your crap 2 miles from your car on friday and then right back to the car on Sunday. They have GOT to figure out a better way.

Find a firend who lives near by, Bring a chair a cooler of food and hang out with your team till beddy by. They go stomp your muddy butt into there house and clog up there shower, wake them up at 4am on your way out and WIN WIN WIN. That's my plan this year.
 
Find a firend who lives near by, Bring a chair a cooler of food and hang out with your team till beddy by. They go stomp your muddy butt into there house and clog up there shower, wake them up at 4am on your way out and WIN WIN WIN. That's my plan this year.
The only flaw I see in your plan is the part about sleeping 😉
 
It’s always great to hear comments on the course. Keep in mind the crew that sets up the course has been doing this for years and have participated in lots of races (24hr ands your typical roundey-round races); it is not a roadey course...it a mountain bike course; the weather cant be controlled; and last years course was 100% rideable, just maybe not by 100% of the racers. Funny thing about last years course...it had been used in the past and got positve reviews all around, go figure.

That being said, I am sure that the comments on this years course will be that it is too easy! But hey, if you don’t agree with the course lay out there is always next year.

Allamuchy is not for the timid, it's is an advance place for advanced riders. Yes, you can design a course that makes this place seem easier but, that is more challenging then allowing the the land to be what it is "Hard". Just ask yourself "do you want to be board out of your mind for and hour in the dark, Or be racing a giant thunder cloud over bridges, rock gardens fast swtichbacks and rock rollers". if the answer is no then stay in your warm bed all weekend, We have a real bike race to attend.
 
My Buddy...

Tell him I said hello, and give him a big kiss for me.

Whats all this talk about rain??? It never rains in Allamuchy!!!
 
oh man...2 more hours and im out of work and going to the campsite...cant wait

if anyone hasnt left yet, try and avoid rt 80, there was a BAAAD accident with 2 busses at mile 32, horrible horrible traffic...check the traffic reports but try and take an alternate route
 
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