The story of this race starts with a simple fact – Amy races Enduros, Jamie races Endurance...only a few letters difference but with drastically different race constructs. Amy had scheduled to pre-ride an upcoming 5-stage Enduro course on Sunday and figured it would be cool to link up with new fellow teammate Jamie, perhaps even for a chill Saturday ride, as she passed through. Before she knew it, Amy found herself part of a female duo that was to race the 6 Hours of Brady's in Beaver Falls, PA, affectionately coined The Beast! Endurance racers can be very persuasive.
The Beast was a multi-lap event with the objective of completing as many laps as possible in 6 hours. The course was approximately 8 miles of mostly single track with long climbs, steep and rocky downhills, log crossings, loose off-camber switch-backs, and rock gardens. Both riders had switched tires to a more aggressive tread on their Lust Advanced rigs. And good thing, as conditions degraded over the course of race day from sunny to drizzle to downpour equalling muddy slick trails – Laps 5 and 6 were a downright mudbath. Mother nature did offer some amazing delights throughout The Beast which included intermittent ground cover of blossoming wildflowers – white trillium, spring beauties, violets, etc.
Jamie and Amy gelled well as a team, as both went at a quick pace with smooth transitions. They were in a strong 2nd place throughout the race and, in hopes of making a play for 1st, the duo decided to have Jamie – the stronger endurance rider - take a back-to-back lap in enough time for Amy to get out for the final lap in time for the additional lap allowance. The strategy was sound but the conditions proved daunting and as such Jamie took on the majority of The Beast mud.
The Beast was a challenge in both terrain and riding experience but the well organized race and equally well marked course made it a fun and enjoyable event. In the end, Jamie and Amy gladly stepped up onto the podium in 2nd place having conquered The Beast.
