Long Flowy FUN!

“Please don’t make me stand up yet,” went through my head
as I sat under the Shimano tent waiting to be herded down to the Langdale ferry. I spent over five hours in the saddle today. It was truly Epic. Epic course, epic that I did it!
Got a chuckle this morning at breakfast when one of the Epic riders commented he was thinking maybe he’d move down to Challenge today. Problem was both of us were doing the same course. A knotty 45 kilometers of the gnarly Sunshine Coast. Vertical gain 5300 feet.
Happy Canada Day!
The clouds opened up before race start. I’d dawned my raincoat. At the last minute I thought I’d put in my Hot Shot toe warmers. It was cold. Worked great till we got to the creek crossing. No choice. Feet got wet.
I have to say, reflecting now, I enjoyed today’s course more then yesterday’s. Even with the increased vertical. The length though had me banging on the wall. I kept ‘er going. Kept thinking what my pal, Catherine had Facebooked me with last night, “One kilometer at a time, you’ll peel it off before you know it.”
I was also grateful for the two Aid Stations. Enough time to fuel up on bananas and top up water and off we go. At the second Aid Station, Rod the Course Designer assured us only two more kilometers of climbing and then it was all downhill.
You had to be on to do this course. Thankfully I felt better then I did yesterday as far as focus. Gassed, yes definitely. But somehow always in control.
Until the downhill ditch dig. Don’t know what I did but I ended up on my shoulder, bike along with me. Race plate scrunched. I got up, no major damage and thought, man I gotta get this done.
Pretty pleased I managed this amount of “K” on Day 5. Can’t believe we’re already heading into Day 6.
As I sat down at dinner talking up the day I got the racer’s thirst on. Please don’t make me stand up yet, rang in my head again. Young Paramedic and pal, Megan Thompson sensed my need. Energetically volunteering to stand up for me and get more water.
What a day. I have to say. What a day. Day 6 here we come.

Digging Deep

The BC Bike Race Challenge course leader's jersey holders: Kelli Sherbinin and Darren Butler (both from Vancouver). For all the deets on BC Bike Race go to www.bcbikerace.com


Today was tough. Legs are steel. I’m in the groove. But to be frank, the course was a grunt. Lots of climbing, but with sweet single track.
We awoke to pinkish skies in Powell River. The usual scurry to hit the baggage truck and the lovely forest trail walk up to the Powell River Arena for breaky. Sat with a bunch from Calgary this morning. Lots of them guys made it out for the BC Bike Race.
It’s bus time now to the Saltery Bay ferry. Us Challengers get loaded together. This is cool. I sit beside Chris from Fort McMurry. He’s dropped down from Epic to Challenge.
“I’m so glad they have the Challenge,” he says, “The Epic was too long and too hard.”
He wasn’t the only one. The option, available for the first time this year, allows you to keep riding if you’re feeling the Epic isn’t working for you.
Day 0 Racer Briefing words of Marketing Director and Olympian, Andreas Hestler ring in my head. Nurse your body and your bike.
Once on the Sunshine Coast we head past Halfmoon Bay to our start line. We’re told it’s a hill climb.
That it was. Then some switchbacky super burmy cut single track. Epic, but we’re Challengers. No matter. Climbing was climbing. Legs felt tired to start off. Got in the mode. Glad I took the other half of the bagel and banana with me. Bonk bonk!
I wasn’t feeling on till I got past the two hours. Had to stop and take pictures along the way. Spectacular views. Waterfalls, lakes, mountains, the works. As soon as I have enough time I'll upgrade my Flikr account so I can post all my daily pics.
It truly was another Ultimate Single Track Experience.
Thank you BC Bike Race. Hump day done. Three more days to groove!



I'm with him!