29 June 2009 | Race Reports
BC Bike Race: Day 2
Whew! I’m already exhausted and it’s only Day 2… Today’s stage was pretty long ~70k, and a lot of it was singletrack. Tough singletrack too, the kind where you are constantly going over logs, up short steep pitches, between trees that look like they are going to clip yous bars, through tight twisty turns and over bridges. About 2.5 hours in, I was starting to get really tired, tired of paying attention, and I had this thought that I felt really guilty about. I thought “I wish there was a smooth, downhill fire road.” There I was, riding amazing singletrack, and that was what I thought.
And then, magically, there was! Miles of downhill fire road, and I was finally able to take a little breather while Ryan pulled into the headwind. He was such a good sport- pulling the whole time- because it seemed like every direction we turned there was a headwind. I am still trying to figure out the pacing and where I can rest, because the pace is really up to me. I want to push myself hard, but I don’t want to overdo it and have some spectacular implosion on the days to come. We’ll see how it goes.
I did remember to unlock my rear shock today- there were some bumpy trails and I was thoroughly appreciating my full-suspension bike! I also got a taste of how important it is to be constantly eating and drinking- something that’s not exactly easy with so much singletrack. I think I started eating and drinking a little late, but I was able to save it and bring myself back from the edge of the bonk…
I am really enjoying this race, and we are certainly getting spoiled: we have an RV, Waldek here doing massage and making up coffee in the morning (and heckling us too), Zeph here to work on bikes, and Zeph’s girlfriend Sarah is also here. She has been super helpful- going grocery shopping, making us delicious food right after the race (pan-fried garlic potatoes, whole wheat pasta with pesto and broccoli and arugala salad with tomatoes was waiting for us in the RV when we finished today- it was perfect) and just helping things run smoothly in general. And we are getting to ride some of the best trails in the world! So we are truly spoiled here, and I’m taking full advantage!
I’m pooped, my legs are tired, my arms are tired, my back is tired, heck, my BRAIN is tired. I’m looking forward to relaxing with my book (I’m reading “Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why” by Laurence Gonzales, and it is really, really good) and getting some good sleep tonight. I’m going to need it- for Stage 3, when I once again try to affix myself to Ryan’s rear wheel for as long as possible.