TT Nerves of Steel

Gassed is what I heard in line waiting for the registration process to flow through. Made me think of the North Shore Festival madness xc marathon I did earlier this month. Was fearing for the worst I have to say. A Time Trial when I’m amongst the Pros at :30-second intervals. How squashed could that be when you get to the single track?
I made it through the registration process in two hours. Got lots of chatting in. Met a rider from Toronto and another from Oregon. Overheard one guy say he pre-rode the TT in 11 minutes. The whole 3.7 kms. The angst set in.
My mouth was dry after the road ride to the start. Chatting away to new folks in line, a few from California, another from Calgary. Uber fit to look at. Not me. Super happy that I got consistent training in, but not enough (under four months) or long enough. Coulda been at ‘er for a year and I’d probably be feeling better.
As I got closer to the ramp starts and the beeps became clear all I could think was get’er done and have fun. Smooth and steady.
As soon as I took off I felt my seat and gears were too low. Didn’t take long to get flashed by some guy who was just givin’er. If we were horses he’d be a Thoroughbred and I’d be the Shetland pony.
I tackled the climbs as best I could. Let some more guys by. Before I knew it there was the downhill. What a blast. I jammed on one log with my back break and had to bail. Note to oneself: she who hesitates is lost. Recovered fast though to pick it up again. Made a whole run on the bridge. First time ever. Cut to the cross road and my pal Meaghan yelled “Ride it, Jane!” So I did. Some steep rocky thing. In normal mode I probably would of jammed.
As I flowed on my bike was rattling as I pumped her down the rooty rocky windy trail. I rode hard to the finish with three words blurting outa my mouth at a time. “I DID it!” and “That was FUN!”
It’s only just beginning. The Prologue of Day 0 done. Seven days of BC Bike Race to go.
Livin’ like a pro!
For more information on the BC Bike Race go to www.bcbikerace.com

I Did the 'Dick'

Everyone looked so serious. Here I am thinking I’m one of them. Ha ha ha. Clearly I’m a wanna be.
I’ve never beaten myself up more in my life then I did today. Cross country mountain biking they call it. The marathon xc race in the BC Cup. I’m amongst Olympians in the beginning.
I recognized it to be a good day when I left my son’s buddy’s house on my way to the race and there on the front doorstep was a penny. “Pick it up and for the rest of the day you’ll have good luck….” I suppose. Then aren’t you meant to pass it on?
Anyway I took it as a good sign for the day. Put myself in a positive frame of mind. It was coolish outside but at least it wasn’t raining.
I kinda wished I hadn’t decided to do the Wild Rose Cleanse this week though. My carb loading consisted of rice cakes, almonds and an apple. Satisfied the gut in the beginning. I reflected on my son’s father’s comments when we had left the house (my son’s racing downhill tomorrow). “You’re not supposed to exercise when you’re on that though.”
I’m at the North Shore Bike Festival in Vancouver. Waiting for the race to start. I ask Olympian and BC Bike Race Marketing Director, Andreas Hestler for some advise. I tell him I’m nervous.
“Once you pedal out the nerves just relax and enjoy it,” he says. Something like that anyway.
I got a chuckle at the start when I stacked myself in the middle of the pack and some guy pegs me with an explanation that the Citizen Racers go at the back. How’d he know I wasn’t a Cycling BC licensed rider? Did I have 'C' on my forehead?
The organizer rounds up the tape markers in preparation for the start. This turned out to be the easiest part of the day. He whispered to all of us that it was a Lamond start (like I know what that is – NOT) and we’d be running that way. Sounds ridiculous I think to myself. Not a chance. No way. He’s kidding.

See the Flikr link for some race start and course action:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janevictoriaking/sets/72157624087889607/

Nope he wasn’t. The good thing when I did my sprint across the field to hoist my bike up and carry on was that there at the front of the pack was Andreas’ bike. Me thinks to myself maybe I could get ahead of the Olympian... hee hee…
Then the fun begins. I’d heard a few people talking about how everyone involved in the race has kept the course start a secret. Chuckle, chuckle. What for?
Sure enough we start by running, picking up our bikes and then riding the BMX track! WOOT WOOT!
After that the fun really begins.
I forget to unlock my lock-out at the first single track muddy, rooty, rocky climb. By the time I notice I’m glad. It’s the start of the downhill. No wonder I was sucking at climbing. My excuse and I’m sticking to it!
I really have been training. Riding anywhere from 9-13 hours a week. Clearly, not enough.
Some parts of the climbs I had to shake my head. They really ride up this? I was Queen of Hike-a-Bike at times!
I spent time adjusting my seat position, which was good. Took a few tumbles. Mostly jammin’ or slipping. Rode some stuff I didn’t think I could. Till about three quarters of the way and I had a funny feeling in my front wheel. Good thing I stopped to inspect. Quick release was released. Oops. Happy it was before all the downhill. And smiling cause it was after the infamous Severed Dick.
I had heard a lot about this ride. Extreme. Whatever. Just a few big drops is all. About the same as the rest of the course in my opinion.
It was all challenging.
I have to say though that I was extremely grateful for all the happy, encouraging and smiling volunteers along the way. Before the race started another Citizen rider claimed he was just going to be happy to finish the race. Didn’t matter where he placed, as long as he did it. I turned around to him with my arms in the air “Hey, I’m the tailgater!”
“You are, are you?” he replies. “Then you’re bear bait!”
Oh lovely I think to myself.
Unfortunately that resonated with me for the entire four hours and almost 38 minutes I took to ride the course. Yep, I finished alive and last. The tailgater. But not the bear bait!

Note: At an after party at Andreas' house I meet the person who won the race. He did it in one hour and 53 minutes (1:53). I claim the tailgater spot and he tells me the name for the person finishing last is Lantern Rouge