2006 24 Hours of Big Bear
Recap & Photo Gallery

The 2006 24 Hours of Big Bear was awesome. Lots of Athens Bicycle Mountain Bike Team members participated, either by racing on teams or by supporting racers.

Here's the short version of what happened: The Shenandoah Mountain Touring Chicks (featuring shop team members Meredith Erlewine and Elizabeth Boyle) won the women's expert class. The Finger Pullers (featuring shop team members Mac Stricklen, Kelly Shaw, Marco Deshaies and Aaron Burk, and special guest Jeremy Krohn) placed 10th in the open class. Check out the results on the Granny Gear site.

If you'd like the long version of what happened to the SMT Chicks, click here for a race report by Meredith. Click here for a Finger Pullers report by Mac. Check out SMT Chicks team captain Kerry Combs' blog for more pics and race reporting. And here are even more photos, taken by gun show camp-mate Tom Miller.

Thanks to all of the sponsors of the SMT Chicks: Chris Scott and Shenandoah Mountain Touring, Dansko, Independent Fabrication, Belmont Wheelworks (Mass.), Gettysburg Bicycle & Fitness (Pa.) and Athens Bicycle.

This gallery includes photos by Mike Boyes, Michelle Maguire and Rich Willy. Thanks, guys, for snapping these! (Click on the thumbnails for larger photos.)

The van all loaded up.	The van's repair annex.	Captain Kerry in the camp kitchen.

Churtle enjoys a Perrier on the camp glider.	Friday night campfire.	Jacob Gettier and Cheryl Sornson.

Pete takes the secret weapon to the transition tent.	Joey and Aaron Beck.	Attempting a team photo.

Take two.	The Shenandoah Mountain Touring Chicks, pre-race.	Team mechanic Joseph von Bloseph.

Elizabeth heads to the transition area.	Buck Keich and Mike Carpenter get ready to start the race.	Kelly Shaw, pre-race.

Aaron "Tornado" Burk.	Churtle le Turtle catches some rays.	Aaron Beck knows it's a gun show.

Steve Schwarz -- eventual Men's Solo winner with 15 laps!	Buck and Ellie	Mike pumps it up.

Elizabeth warms up for her first lap.	Get ready ...	... Go!

Joey tunes Churtle's ride.	Elizabeth hits the dirt.	Mike

Mike	Jacob	Elizabeth

Benji Klimas	Mike	Mike

Tiffany Kenny	Secret Weapon	Churtle gets ready for her lap #1

Me applying suncreen	Kerry brought her awesome changing hut	Me getting ready for my first lap

Churtle waits for Elizabeth	Marco rolls in	Elizabeth runs it in -- three flats and a broken derailleur on her first lap

Elizabeth chills out	Churtle, ripping out a 1:15 lap!	Jacob flies by

Strategy meeting	More strategy	Waiting to go for my first lap

Atira Parker and Michelle Maguire	Marco Deshaies	Ellie digs a hole to China -- this is about how aggressive Mike looked when he decided to make up lost time

Aaron plays around on Pete's Rig	Joey gets rid of Elizabeth's light tires	Mac rolls by

Relaxing after my first lap	Churtle, ready for her second lap	Rich brought foam things to stretch on

Joey and Kerry	Jeremy Krohn with a lot of macaroni salad	Kelly's like, "Toad, keep your distance with that stuff."

Mike enlists Craig Watson and Joey to help cut more firewood	Aaron mugs	Me warming up for my first night lap

Jacob broke his frame!	Kerry and Joey do some early morning strategizing	Buck stretches

Churtle chats with Joey while she warms up	Elizabeth rolls in	The baton pass

Pete gets greenie ready for her last lap	Aaron keeps me company while I warm up	Churtle flies in

I grab the baton from Churtle	She puts it in my pack	And I'm off for my last lap

Elizabeth recovers from her last lap	Aaron and Pete watch for Kerry	Joey, Atira and I watch for Kerry

Buck pauses during his last lap to chat with Mike	A ramp appeared during the last lap of the race	Kerry hauls the mail to the finish ...

... cementing the win for the Shenandoah Mountain Touring Chicks	High fives!	Joey leads us back to camp.

Toad rests and snacks	Kerry and Churtle, post-race	Buck's happy

Dixie Fixie and Single Chump, 1st place duo pro	Relaxing	Better Living Thru Chemistry, 2nd place duo pro

Duo pro podium	Joey	Elizabeth and Rich

Kerry is happy!	SMT Chicks	Joey sleeps in the van on the way home

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