Day 4 and 5

Day 4 - We started our day right off of the ferry, and up the hill. It was the longest day of climbing in my life. We rode for 68km and at least 30k mof that was uphill. Needless to say, now Phil understands why I said that the last time I had done it with Kat there had been some walking.
I won't go into the boring details of the fatigue, and handing food over to my friend Janice who was bonking. I think there were many people bonking. Unfortunately for me, I think now going on 3 days of pushing mud had it's toll on me and I strained my knee and couldn't put any pressure on it. It was sending searing pains through my leg when I did, so i ended up using my other leg for most of the pushing.

Once again the downhill sections were lots of fun. We got in in 6 hours 45 min. My friend Cindy had had a mechanical and wasn't in in time to make her massage apt, so I kindly took it for her. I think it helped my knee some. Then it was a  rush to get the bikes cleaned, feed ourselves, wash ourselves and get ourselves to bed, to do it again the next day.

Day 5. - more climbing. I'm really starting to feel tired now. It was a shorter day, only 4 hours. Lots of climbing again, but we were rewarded with a great downhill to the ferry and a sunny day.
Phil and i found a river to soak our legs in while waiting for the ferry, a great recovery formula. I have to add, the other great part of finishing the race, or even getting to a well earned aid station, is that they have froot loops!!

The locals are friendly and so are the Sasquatch

I was impressed in both Campbell River and Powell River at the locals that came out to watch the start of the race, in the rain.

I give a shout out to all the volunteers in this race. in Campbell River alone it took 72 volunteers to organize the course.

"Slurp" - that's the sound of the Campbell River day. It was so muddy that it was a slog to get through. I love the trails in Campbell River, they are rooty and loamy. I was a bit nervous at the start of the day, as I had raced in the area before when it was wet and it was so slippery I was afraid I would hurt myself. Well, today I didn't have to worry. The mud filled in the gaps and made it slurpy rather than slippery.


Many racers on the trail were surprised by the Saquatch on the trail, but I was happy to see under the mask it was a friendly face of Brent Martin of Ryders Eyeware, giving riders a boost up the hill.

My race partner Phil was a Champion, pulling me up the hill at the start, and again at the end of the day into the headwind along the road into the finish. It was a long day, but good.


I found my favorite downhill ever in Powell River, Day 3. In this race, there are timed sections of downhill, like mini races in the race.

The race director was riding that day, and ended up dropping into the downhill right behind me for the fun DH. By the time I got to the downhill it had a few hundred riders ahead of me, so it was soft, and I was able to surf all the way down, or as the race director described it like swimming.

Day 1 BCBR Cumberland

I was a bit cheeky at the start. Our plan was to not go hard. First day of 7 days of racing; best to pace ourselves, but when I saw the opening, I couldn't resist.

We were standing on the sidewalk at the start line, waiting to work our way back to our 'time category' start area. Group 1 left and there was nothing between us and the start. Nothing stopping us from jumping in behind the pack, so I turned to Phil and said "Let's go."

Silly idea, hanging on to the back of the first pack I was immediately in my lactate zone (with a high heart rate) and stayed there for most of the day.

It was a great day of riding. I love riding Cumberland, and even more so now that I know the trails and what to expect. There was an uphill climb - worth it for the downhill. I try to ride the DH clean (meaning making it down without crashing or having to get off my bike  - riding smart.) At one point riding down a rock face an impatient guy took the good line to the right, but I managed to hold on to the middle line. When I finished the DH section a guy riding two riders back said to the "You're a wicked rider." He made my day, my week, maybe my year.

When the motorcyclist later followed my through a flat bumpy section, and I rode a bit smarter and a bit faster to try to not hold him up, he told me I was an awesome rider. I as on such a high after that. What a great race that people can compliment others. I feel it's because they are surprised a girl can ride the sections that I do. I know so many female riders that are better than myself, and inspire me. I only hope that I can pass some of this on to others as well.

and now for tomorrow. I have a feeling it's going to really hurt.

National champs

As athletes, there are so many reasons that can prevent us from racing, such as illness or injury. When we've done the preparation, the bike is in working order, the body is ready, it's really devastating to hear the words from the officials mouth that tell you you won't be on the start line that day.

As tempted as I was to go and mope, I knew that I should put it aside for the moment and support Simon as he raced in the men's race. Being on the side line allowed me to watch some amazing Canadian riders in action.

For the national championships, the women's start list seemed small to me. With a start line of 16 riders, only the best had shown up.

The women's race started at such a fast pace that a part of me wondered if I could have kept up. Catharine Pendrel took the lead effortlessly as the strong rider she is. Check out Catherine's blog for her story of the race.

The men's race might have been another story, with so many strong men in the field to challenge our world cup racer, Geoff Kabush. The leaders stayed close together until about lap 3 (if I remember right) when Geoff demonstrated what power is. He came through the start/finish area and I watched as he changed his position slightly and just turned the power on, and pulled away from everyone a pedal stroke at a time. It was amazing to watch.

Photo highlights from the BC Bike Race

Our Ryders Sponsor

Brent Martin was the real winner of the BC Bike Race. After starting Day 1 sick with the flu - or food poisoning. He completed the course, went home to bed and started Day 2 on his bike.....half way through Brent got the energy liquid that many of us tried to fake heatstroke symptoms in hope of getting hooked up.
Many IV's later he was back on his bike for Day 3.
By Day 4, so Kat and I were pleasantly surprised to see his smiling face on the start line...without a bike, taking photos. He decided to take a rest day.....but was back on the bike for day 6.

Lines from the BC Bike Race

"You know that tree back there....the one on the left?.................I hugged it.

"I'm on my 10th wind."

"I'm even panting going down hill" (Day 5)

"You know the funny thing..." (Funny was omitted from our allowed words by day 5)

"There's some sweet flowy single track coming up! You'll love it." (never mind the steep uphill beforehand)

Day 7

We were on a high today! I think adrenaline kicked in and we kept riding strong. The tons of hill climbing that today's stage involved didn't really bother us because it made for some great single track downhill.
The best and last stage of the day the photographer Dave Silver followed me down the trail and commented on how well I was riding and wished that he could shoot while riding behind me. I wished he could have too. Then he would have gotten a shot of the low tree limb before he ran into it with his helmet :)

Just before the last climb there were some stairs we had to climb up. There was a spectator standing at the top making comments at us for not riding up. I commented that I could do it if I was a trials rider before clueing in that it was my friend Ryan who had come to watch.

Day 6

I started with a smile on my face today and it didn't go away. I knew there would be some great single track DH and because of that I didn't mind the long climb up. I love the techinical single track. Today showed me that even though we are tired we are getting stronger. I now prefer to ride up steep hills that at the beginning of the week I would have got off to have walked up.

Kat has improved 100%. She's riding stuff she wouldn't have on day 1. I rode the trail Powerhouse Plunge clean today. That was a first for me.

Day 5 - Out of Fuel

I had no fuel in the tank today. I think the long day prior and not having a great sleep didn't help.
I was walking up a hill - think that gave it away to Kat that I was tired. She went ahead and I sat down on the side of the trail and took a moment. I ate my sharkies and decided which colour I like the best. I found my energy again and then Kat had her tired time in the humid hill climb.

At about noon I woke up on my bike ....just in time for the wicked down hill section right into Gibson's ferry.

Day 4 - A Feat

I think this was the longest day of my life. 4:30am wake up call, two ferry rides and a 7 hour bike run in the hot baking sun!
It took all my energy to get my bike fixed - thanks to Thomas, eat and get myself to bed!

Day 3

We got off course today due to course tampering. Some smart ass kids on ATV's were picking up the signs and ribbons and moving them. We knew as soon as we went up the gravel hill that we were off course. Luckily for us one of our support motor bikes came along, but he wanted us to wait until before sending us off down the right trial in case there was more tampering along the way. We were like a flock of 20 sheep all following the leader. We eventually went on our way, only to find more misplaced markers leading us to a road without a marshal...a sure sign we were not on the BC Bike race route. We eventually found our way...it just made for a longer day in the hot sun. Kat was quite frustrated too, as the screws in her cleats had fallen out so she didn't know whether she could free her foot when needed.



I gave Kat a challenge today, to do 3 things that scared her. She got up to 6 and a half. (That's what you get for calling number 7 before the top of the hill!)

Another rider named Jeff took a video of me while waiting for our teamates.

Day 2

Today I realized that it was not going to be a race, but a ride. I had to take my racer hat off and reset my goals for this adventure. I now understand what years of racing have taught me. There was a lot of congestion on the trail today and I realized that I aim to work my way around people on the trail.
Today we came across a guy who was sick on the side of the trail. His partner was way ahead, so Kat gave me the go to ride on ahead and let his partner know so I raced ahead to the first feed station. That was fun.

We started in Nanaimo this morning. The photos will give you an idea of how many people BC Bike Race had to organize on an off Ferries and to be on the start line and ready in time.

day 1 BC bike race

all body parts intact. today was a feat for  kat after getting stitches on the trail pipeline last week. iI was like a race horse chomping at the bit and she renedrenew me in pacing me for the next 6 days. the racer instinct in me was tempted to pwork my way around the funnel of people. iI loved the technical aspect of it today. Totally my cup of tea.

BC BIKE RACE

Well, the countdown is on. My race partner Kat is on the plane and we are getting ready for the most epic adventure in our lives so far.

A seven day mountain bike race.

We are racing it as a team. As we are sponsored by Ryders Eyewear, we are calling ourselves the Ryders Riders.

I feel ready for it. I've done the preparation and am feeling good. I may not say this three days into the race, or even two. This event is not so much about being a race to us, but to see how our bodies handle the physical challenge of riding hard on technical trails for 7 days. It will be about keeping the bike and bodies in one piece!

I did 135km ride this past weekend around Okanagan lake, organized by Gary Horsting. My ride was just shy of the planned route, American Century ride (100miles) due to a sore knee from riding a bike loaned to me by the Olympia cycle for the weekend. Last year I came back exhausted from doing it. This year I felt good. It's neat to feel fit.

Kat's been sick, so once she arrives, the week ahead will be about resting and eating. While I was over in New Zealand in April she was doing 100km days back to back, so I have no doubt she has the fitness to pull through this race. Matching my technical skills with my incredibly fit partner, I think we will be a good match for the race.

First Ride of the season

Well, it was the first ride of the season for some, the first for others into the double digits, and of course for one lucky one who had the privilege of riding in NZ this past month, it was the first ride to Salmon Arm this year. One of us girls may have gained a few pounds over the winter, and while we were thrilled she could join us we were even more surprised when she lead the last hill with an extra 20lbs!

It was a good day out with the girls on bikes, and we all managed the loop from Armstrong to Salmon Arm and back with smiles on our faces, especially when we hit the cafe afterwards to eat some goodies!

the start

da girls

water break

the top of the hill!

it seems there were a few bare belly's today - very cute Kira

Ski Patrol

When I moved back to Canada, I said to myself, "Some really good mountain bikers come from Canada, and they live in Quebec where there is lots of snow, so what do they DO for the winter?"

That is when I decided to learn to cross country ski, to keep training throughout the winter, and still be outdoors. I found it to be hard work.

This year, I took on ski patrol, at Silver Star (downhill) and at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. It was the first year offering patrol at SLNC and it was an enjoyable experience, spending a day on the hill, either skiing or chatting with members in the lodge.

My Bike Racing Season

Well, I've had a good season of racing. After surgery in December, this summer I planned to stay in BC and focus on getting stronger on my bike and just enjoy racing. I started out the year in joining my friend Silping in the Salty Dog 6 hr Endruo.


Then it was on to Merritt to Race the Ranch with the added 4km to the loop it made for a long, but fun race, where many participants were cut off after the first lap because they had a time restriction, but hadn't allowed extra time for the extra 4km. I ended up running out of food, not having planned on being out for so long.

I did the Test of Metal for the second time. The first time was in 2004 when I started out bike racing. I remember putting so much preparation into it the first time. I went to the clinic beforehand on how to ride it, and was really nervous about it. This year, I decided on the Thursday night, that, yeah, I'd like to do it again. I had a ride down there.

I beat my 2004 time by an hour! (If only I could take an hour off for next year, I would be flying.) I really enjoyed it. I wasn't too concerned how hard I went out this year. I just wanted focus on eating enough and feeling good throughout the race, which I accomplished fairly well. I even gave some food away to a girl that looked like she needed some glucose fast, if she was to make it to the end of the race. Next year I would focus on getting out ahead, to beat the crowd to the funnel affect that always happens.

Kamloops Nationals was the hottest race I have done (compared to Canmore last year.)
We started out in 40+degrees at 2pm. My motto was the tortoise and the hair. I would just keep going at my pace, and I watched girls falter out and break down in tears as they dropped out of the race, overheated and under-glucosed. I had Cory, my photographer and feeder hand me a bottle every half a lap to drink and pour over my raisined body, between taking photos. There was a sandy uphill section where the sand was too loose to ride. Running in it, I felt like I was competing in the Indian test of walking on coals.

I was happy to have finished 8th at this race. Getting top ten in a Canada Cup is a feat. Now I have enough points to race a world cup.... now I just have to get fast enough.

Salty Dog Win

Silping and I raced the Salty Dog on Sunday, May 4th. I hadn't been on the course before so learned it on my first lap, which came sooner than expected.
We had a plan. Sil would do two laps, then I would. About halfway through the time I thought it would take her to do the first lap, I decided that perhaps I should get my gear on and be ready....just in case. Maybe I jinxed it. As other riders were coming through, I suspected something was wrong.

Silping had chain problems and had to run most of the first lap. As she came through, she yelled, "Julie, can you go?" So just like that I was off, to learn how much hill climbing there was. It felt like 3/4 of the lap was hill b/c the downhill was technical (my favorite), then fast and fun.

I had great supporters for the day.... the team photographer, Cory, and two kiwi friends, Jo and Ej, who's tree planting experience had been delayed, so they got to come and spectate.

We managed to pull off the win.
our prize.... an apple pie.
we took it to the BBQ to share with the second place winners, our friends Marta and Melissa.

The day of the planned BFH brunch

Friday

Saturday (Ride and Brunch...maybe not)