Fair Hill Classic
Just gonna start this one right at the beginning of the race. The Trailspinners had done something a little different from some of the other races we have been too. Bob was gonna start before me at 845am, then I would head out at 1030am. Since the babysitter was at the beach, we brought both kids with us as a cheering section. Bob was going to ride the course then come back and watch the kids while I raced. Right after setting up, Mike Nardelli showed up and got his singlespeed ready to go. Bob and Mike warmed up together, then rode down to the starting line. The enduro riders consisting of Mark Lentz, Gary Johnson and Ludek Kolesa had already started out and were on the course racing already. Mike was sent out first, flying off the start, leading his class out the long open stretch, the disappearing around a turn. Two minutes later Bob's class started out. Bob pushed off, letting most of his class get the lead out the straight stretch, then followed them around the turn.
As Bob's class entered the singletrack, Bob started to open up, again this was his type of weather, hot/humid with sun burning over top. Bob started to catch the others as they seemed to lose alot of steam in the first small uphill. Bob really opened up and caught up with the leaders in his class, staying in the big gears, grinding out the small hill climbs, gliding through the tight turns, and tearing up the small downhills. Bob caught up the the leader of his class who was currently in first place as they approached Mike. This rider kept looking back looking back at Bob, shaking his head, like he was in disbelief that Bob was still right behind him. Bob noticed that the leader was slowing down on some of the hillclimbs, so he decided to stay behind him, that he would pass him with two miles left in the race in an attempt to win his class.
Mike was slogging away on his singlespeed, climbing like a mountain goat, outclimbing other riders with geared bikes. The leader that Bob was following from GT Bicycles got around Mike, who also kept pace with him. Keeping the leader in sight, Bob and Mike talked about the race, this time with the leader looking back as he sweated out this climb atthese two riders were laughing and talking on an uphill. Mike noticed that the leader started to pull away and told Bob to just go ahead and pass and stay with him. Bob did as he was instructed and caught back up with the leader, who looked back and just shook his head. At mile eleven, Bob passed Ludek Kolesa who cheered each other on as the rode next to each other. Each of the team members were within a mile of each other as they started on a downhill at mile twelve. As Bob started downhill, Mike was able to make up ground and was behind Bob as he started to slow down. Bob yelled "D@% it, a flat" and the leader looked back at Bob and said "Yes, about time" and rode away. Bob flipped his bike to change the flat as Mike slowed to see if everything was ok. Bob was good so Mike rode away with Bob yelling to catch the leader. Bob was trying to get his tire off when Ludek rode passed and offered assistance. Bob refused and Ludek rode on; Bob then realized that his tire prys were sitting on the tailgat of the truck.
Bob forced the tire off, ripped the tube out, reinserted it, then CO2ed the tire back up. Bob was off back in the race, flying on the downhill, again passing riders with the plan to catch the leader. Bob passed Ludek again and was making good time passing alot of the riders that passed him. Bob noticed that Mike was climbing a small hill in front of him and knew that the leader was not far ahead of him. Bob started to sprint again when he heard a bang that sounded like a gunshot. Bob's bike immediately went into a skid and he noticed that the rear tire was blown clear off the rim. Bob jumped off, watched Mike ride over the hill and out of sight as Ludek rode up and again offered assistance. With the tube hanging off the rim, the sidewall of his tire had a hole blown clear through it, Bob picked up the bike and started to run out. Bob ran out to mile 16, with alot of other riders overtaking him, he knew he was out of the running. Besides he had to get back and watch the kids so I could ride, there was still time. By the time that Bob made it to the next water station, he was offered another tube which he took and changed his tire.
A volunteer just trying to help out, grabbed his CO2 cartridge to get it ready and accidently released it, wasting his last cartridge. Bob was able to get a bike pump and sat down to pump his tire up with the tire between his legs. Another rider rode up to Bob as he was using this handpump and said "Man your excited to see water!!" Bob just looked at him and carefully reattached his tire. Bob started to ride back out at 10:30, thinking that I could at least bump down to the Novice riders. With two miles left, Bob started up a longer uphill next to Route 272. Bob noticed that there were several younger riders that he was navigating around as well guys from the beginners class. As Bob crested the hill he noticed that a man was standing with a younger kid next to the trail. Bob yelled over the see if they were ok, when the guy yelled back "I don't know". Not getting the answer that he we usually get, Bob slowed down and ask again. This time the kid said "I just want my dad" then fell to the ground.
Bob immediately jumped from his bike and ran over the the kid. Bob started to question the guy (Andy?) who Bob thought was the kids father. Andy said he was not the father, but was racing also when he rode up and the kid was just standing in the middle of the trail looking around. Andy moved the kid over when Bob rode up on them and he fell. Andy dumped his only water over the kids head, but the kid was still out. Bob reached for a pulse in the kids wrist and could not find one!! Bob instructed Andy to stop someone and let them know to get and ambulance back there now and got ready to start CPR. Thankfully Bob remembered to do a sternum rub on the kid, and he sat up. (Bob forgot to check the kids Corodtid Artery and not the wrist when doing phsysical activity) Relieved both Andy and Bob gave over what gels/food/water over to the kid who was not sweating and very confused. The kid was unable to tell Bob his name or age, but did tell Andy that the sides of his eyes were going black and that he did not feel good. Bob knowing that the child was about to pass out again, propped him up with leg and dumped more water over him. The kid started to throw up some of the gels so Bob again tried to get a pulse from him. Armed with just a stopwatch (never use) Bob got a reading of 140 beats which is high for as long as they were rested for. Knowing that this was signs of a heatstroke, Bob told Andy to knock the next rider from his bike to get their attention to get help. Andy then remembered that he had his cellphone in his camelbak and called a friend at the finish line. This friend answered as Bob gave Andy instructions/information about the kids condition. Then a third rider, a great guy with an prothestetic left arm, ripped his camelbak off of his back and pulled a shamy cloth out that was on ice. Bob immediately placed in on the kids head and neck and layed him back on his leg. This brought the kid back a little to tell the trio his name and age, but not who his father was or his address. With approximately 45 minutes since he arrived, Bob started to worry about kidney failure and told Andy that they might be carrying the kid out to Route 272.
Race volunteers arrived soon after in four wheel drives and four wheelers. A Captain from the Cecil County Fire Department immediately started into aid from the information that Bob was able to relay over the phone. They got the pulse down to about 90 and tried to get some fluids into the kids right arm. The blood vessels were so constricted that the Captain missed on each attempt. It was then decided to go through the kids left wrist, which took and he was able to get some fluids in him. After a bit more stable, Bob and one of the race organizers (Jim?) loaded the kid in the back of an SUV with the Captain sitting with him. Now that the kid was in other hands, Andy sat down to take stock in what had just happen and Bob got him back on the bike telling him that God wanted him to be there for that child. They both started to ride out and Andy said that he was just gonna stop at the next water station and that Bob just ride without him.
Bob knowing that the race was gone, had some fun with the rest of the trail. He noticed that the cameraman/girl was sitting up at the edge of the woods just prior to the finish line. As Bob made his way past them, he made faces which made them laugh. Bob crossed the finish line, dead last and rode straight up to Christian on the team. Bob told him quickly what had happened and Christian pointed to the ambulance that was parked next to the registration building. As Bob started towards the ambulance, Mike ran up and ask what happen. Bob quickly told him in passing what happened. Bob is so sorry to Christian and Mike, he was not ignoring them!!
Bob crawled in the back of the ambulance where the Captain was still working on the child and said "Here's the cop that helped you" The kid looked at Bob, extended his hand thenclosed his eyes. Bob shook his hand then left the ambulance as it started to the hospital. The Captain looked at Bob and said "That was a close one"
Several people were there as Bob walked out, clapping telling Bob to just go get a prize off the table, there is no way they can ever repay him. Bob told them about Andy and the other stranger that helped too. Bob refused to take anything from the table and was embarressed of the attention given to him. Bob rode up to me, to my relief, because after his accident on the road bike, I thought the ambulance was coming in for him. Bob not wanting to draw anymore attention, had me give the number plates back as he packed up the truck to leave. Several of the members of the Fairhillbillies MTB Club heard what happened and gave Bob a t-shirt, that he reluctanly accepted. (They would not take No for an answer) Then we pulled away so nobody would make a big deal over anything.
Through all of this, there is no possible way I am mad at not being able to race. (Though I was during the race)I am extremely glad that it was not Bob that was in trouble, due to the heat, but I am extremely proud of his actions and how humble he really is.
Carisa
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