Calvins Challenge 2007
Posted by: Adam Fuson @ 2007.05.14.2210

Two months ago Bob Schoettinger asked me to join him on his tandem again for Calvin's 12-hour Challenge. Bob said he wanted to break his previous tandem record (242 M-M & 249 M-F), but I told him I wanted to break the overall record (264). We agreed and I was committed. To help in breaking the record I enlisted the help of all the UC boys, and began borrowing tandems from whomever would lend them. In the end we prepared 4 tandem teams for the challenge.

During the first 51-mile lap Bob and I set a blistering pace averaging nearly 25 mph. During the following laps Ty Provosty and Nathan Bremer did the bulk of the work with help from Dale Eads to keep the pace high. At the half way point of 6 hours we had ridden over 140 miles and were setting a course record speed. Unfortunately, at this point Bob and I were really paying for all the work we had done and were unable to stay with the front group. Later we would learn this was because Nieport had attacked on the climbs leading into the 153-mile checkpoint. As Bob and I have trouble climbing as quickly on the tandem as on single bikes and we were already compromised, we were dropped fairly quickly. Nieport kept the gas on and was able to drop Ty's tandem as well. No one was able to stay with Nieport as he burned energy out to the 178-mile checkpoint, where he was caught by the leaders.

The leaders were together again as they finished 204 miles and started the 7-mile loops. Ty stopped for a restroom break as Bob's tandem came through the checkpoint and we slipped ahead of him. When we were passed by Nieport he was starting his second lap with the leaders. Seven laps later Bob and I finished our last lap for 253 miles, setting a new tandem record. We thought Ty was ahead and still on the course, but when he crossed the line we learned he had just tied us a few minutes slower. Consequently we shared first place in the tandem division. Second place went to Bob Rich and Shaun Thobe's tandem team, who had issues with a seatpost, a flat and Shaun's achilles tendons were hurting so they had stopped at hour eleven. Even with all their problems they had managed to ride 210 miles. Bremer and Aaron Hoffman also had some problems with the lock ring on their rear wheel and only rode 100 miles - the 1st lap and the 3rd lap. Their fresh legs were useful to the group for the third lap and I was happy to see them rejoin the group after their mechanical.

Nieport, who had worked most of the day with the tandems and spent a great deal of energy in his attack, was too weak to stay with the leaders in the last few laps. He managed to set a new age group record (20-24 years 260 miles), but he was not able to stay with the leaders who set a new overall record of 267 miles. Despite some disappointments the day was an overall success, as several new records were set by the UC group.

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