NEWS
Hendershot First at 24 Hours of Summer Solstice.
4th July 2007
Ontario
Mark Hendershot (Santa Cruz Syndicate) put up another win at North America's largest 24 hour race, 24 Hours of Summer Solstice, at Albion Hills, Ontario on June 23. Hendershot dominated the 57 solo racers, lapping the field by 11 p.m. and cruising to victory 12 hours later. Canadian racer Matt Klymson (Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnnys) hung tough to finish 2nd overall. Another 2200 racers competed in team events.
The 17km course was typical of Midwestern terrain; single track and cross country ski trails winding through thickly forested hills. "It's a power course", remarked Hendershot, "mostly short climbs, twisty, nothing too rocky or rooty. Pretty dusty though. The course was challenging enough to be fun, but nothing dangerous."
Racers started in a mass start on their bikes, rather than with the typical Le Mans run. When the gun went off they made a furious dash up a 500m hill to get a good position going into the single track. "The start was pretty aggressive, but overall, folks were very considerate to me and the other solos." Hendershot churned out 52 minute laps until dark, and then settled in to a 65 minute night time pace. The night was a short one, summer solstice and all. Mark only had his lights on for 8 hours. Sunday morning brought another warm, sunny day. Mark rode until 11 a.m., and t hen sa t along the course cheering on racers with a cold beer.
"Summer Solstice is truly a mountain bike festival. There were riders of all ages and abilities. One guy did four laps on a recumbent. And a 10 year old kid knocked off a couple of laps. I was lucky enough to see the kid's race as I rode through the transition area on Saturday afternoon. There were 202 kids in the race! I had so much fun cheering them on. This event really captures the spirit of mountain biking."
The Albion Hills campground was overflowing with racers, support crews, kids, and spectators. Campsites were strung with party lights and filled with music. Promoter Andrew Ruppel (chicoracing.com) went all out to provide a great weekend with a BBQ, beer tent, and band featuring a guitarist with golf tees impaling his ear lobes, and whose first song was "Hockey Night in Canada". A huge inflatable movie screen featured clips of fellow Syndicate riders Steve Peat and Kirt Voreis. Late Sunday morning a special on the race course, Chico's Mud Bog, was opened. A 6 inch log traversed the 20 foot long pit of goo. Racers who made it got a brown t-shirt. Those who didn't ended up with a really slimy brown shirt. How can you beat that for fun?