Race pics

Day 6 and 7 BCBR final update

Day 6 and 7. Day 6 was in Squamish, where Carrie and I spent 4 days before the race riding in the rain sussing out the trails which the race follows. After a good day in the saddle the previous day, I decided that is the day I could go out and hammer and leave nothing to shape on the course, in hope to gain some lost time from the previous wrong turns. We had a plan that I was going to ride with a hydration pack and all my food for the day, so I would start a little heavier than most the front pack riders. As these guys are running as light as they can, carry just gels and one water bottle on the bike and possible a small bottle in their jersey. For me I have found on the longer stages to have the Camelbak has been good (yes a little heavier). Just for the fact that the trails are so engaging and there is so little opportunity to grab your water bottle and sip that much needed water. The pace at the front is so furiously fast at all times, you just don’t get a chance to grab the bottle. Also I lost a bottle on day 2 hammering down the Enduro segment, which left me little dehydrated post race.

Day 6 : 110% was plan with only one day left after this stage. Ride through the 2 water stations not stopping to grab food or water just keep the head down and try gain time on the guys in front of me! As the gun went off the pack set off at the usual time trial pace up road to the gravel fireroad which quickly splits the pack. The starts are hectic as the 550 riders are broken into 12 starting groups of 50 based on your overall time. Obviously I am in the 1st group the “Red dot group” which means we have the top 50 punters all gunning at the start for a decent position. I haven’t stressed too much about being first on the line in the groups, as the pace is so fast out the blocks the hierarchy quickly gets sorted out as you hit the first hill which is within the first 5 km, then the pack just blows apart. I have just made sure that within the first 2km I am nicely jammed in behind the pros trying to draft as much as gravel road allow. At this point I am maxing out for the next 10km as I can stick with the Pros/top dudes (which is normally a pack of 12 of us). In the pack we are now getting to know each other and riders strengths, which is good as some guys are super strong on the climbs and flats but loose heaps of time on the techie single track trails. So it is important to position yourself correctly in the pack to make sure you don’t get dropped as you hit the first section of single track. Once we hit the 15-20km things start blowing apart in the pack, as for me I have been redlining for +- 45min’s and the attacks start to surge pace. So the pack will break up and I have found myself in a smaller pack of 4-5 normally the same guys, setting our own pace. Then came the first Enduro- PseudoTsuga; a 2km pump, flow burms singletrack with double jumps and some loose corners. The Enduros have become a bit of a focus to me, so I made sure I was first into the trailhead and then let the fun flow downhill to pops out of at the water station. First water station came up and sure enough the guys stopped so I hammered on through to their dismay. And 1km up the road Carrie, Simon and Alex where eagerly awaiting with a water bottle. It was a smooth transition over to a new water bottle and was quickly back into the hurt box all by myself, no one but me and my pain! So it was head down and hammer time. The 20km’s I just rode in the red, my heart rate was at around the 154-163 bpm, the trails were well suited to me, as they were techie, rooty, tight turning singletracks (Powerhouse plunge, Hoods in the woods to Far side). I rode all by myself till Carter and the German gladiator (on a hardtail) caught me at the 40km mark with 8km to go, at this point I put down the gas on a tight single track and Carter and I broke zee German. With 4km to go the lactic had set in my legs after the big push we hit the last little climb, which left me feeling like I was riding backwards. Carter past me and I didn’t have the legs to hang on to his tail up the climb. But after the climb with 2km to go I went into time trial mode knowing the finish was only 5mins away. So it was head down and turn those cranks over hard and in a big gear. Before I knew it I could hear the crowd at the finishline BUT couldn’t see any pink/red ribbon marking the course. Yes I had missed a turn AGAIN 1km from the finish, there were some arbs sitting on the side of the road which I yelled at them in total panic “ have you seem any riders?” and they just looked at me as if I was some doped cyclist on a bender. So I turned around and rode back for 3 mins up the road to find a junction and raced along it to the finshline. I crossed the line obviously in such a state after pushing so hard for 3hrs and then the panic buttons all still engaged. To see three guys already across the line who were behind me the whole race was a sad feeling. I had worked so hard that day and taken risks to gain the time which I need to move up to top 10. Although I crossed the line in 11th position (which is an awesome result) I was bummed as should have/could have finish in 8 or 9th which would have been the first time I had cracked the top 10 finish. But that is racing and lessons are always learnt in the most stressed position. Still I knew that day I had given everything I could and left nothing on the course and had the legs after 6 days of hard racing to gain on my competition. It’s a good feeling when your legs are getting stronger and the guys around you are fading.

The final stage: Day 7 Whistler: The final day 25km’s, you would think that this would be a breeze after racing double that every day for 6days prior. But I was warned this was not an easy day in the saddle. The first climb was straight up and downhill run for 5km, the down a hectic but super fun downhill run with huge berms and 6ft jumps on it. I was cautioned not to hit the jumps too hard on a XC bike. The start was once again hectic as everyone knew it was there last chance to gain that position they wanted. I start rows back in the start shoot as everyone was early into the box wanting a good position. So I had 40 people to pass on the start to get to my normal top10 position, I even at this point waiting for the start said to Carrie, I am too far back in the group! The gun when off and the red group sped off and within 20m from the line some muppet when down next to me and he hit the ground hard with his bike bouncing up and lodging itself behind the rear wheel and my frame. I quickly stopped, threw his bike off mine and raced off to find I had been dropped by the front pack. I fought so hard up “Easy does it” the 5km uphill, passing guys I hadn’t even seen all race, I passed Dre and he commented “why you back here?” so I fought harder, slowly I started recognizing guys I had been riding with for 6 days. I found myself on Carters wheel again knowing that if I am on his wheel I am in the top 10. So sat there all the way down “ Crank it up” which was such a blast going down, as we popped out the track my mate Luke was there with the camera. But I was more focused on Carter who was making a sneaky inside turn on the leaders of the team’s race the Rocky Mountain factory team’s inside. So as we turned I tried to make a tighter turn on their inside only to find myself eating dirt and blood pouring out of my arm and off Carter went up the hill at EPO pace. I hope Luke got the shot of me eating dirt!

The next 17km’s was hammer down, use all the fuel in the tank. No stopping just ride the fastest you can ride to the end. Things went well as blood poured from my arm and through the last Enduro segment which I was now lying 8th overall in, I was focused on following the pink ribbons and getting through the stage to finish this amazing race. I passed Carrie cheering me on in the final stretch of the forest and on to cross the line in the top 10 in 7th place.. It was a good feeling knowing that I had the capability to be in the top 10 and finally getting a smooth race, well as smooth as it goes in mountain biking. I got the finishers belt buckle and T-shirt to show, but the real reward is self-accomplishment. Knowing you can do something, setting goals and gathering mental images that you will keep for life is cool. The BC bike race travels across the most amazing landscape and touches undoubtedly some of the best MTB singletrack in the world! For me it is a proper MTB race that sets the mountain bikers from the roadies, you need skills through the techie sections and it never hurts quite as much working to gain time when you are focused on the challenges of the track not just the pain in your legs. Most stage races aka Cape Epic/Joberg2C is about doing a lot of open fire road km’s, the BCBR takes you to the best singletrack Canada has to offer every day and leaves out the boring stuff to pack in the cherries to 7days of awesome riding. Our experience of the BCRC was gold, from travelling with a great bunch of mates, making new friends for life to having the RV at our disposal we currently didn’t want to leave, we could have carried on doing this for a long long time!

BC Bike race day 3 and 4

Day 3 and 4. I am going to start this entry and state: stage racing is just hard- ficking hard, when you maxing. Whether you in the front pack or down the tail end of the race. Everyone is trying to do their best and pushing their own personal boundaries – and respect to that I say! I feel everyone in life should challenge themselves in life and try go do things you think you are not capable of, as you learn so much about yourself and puts so many things in perspective. From time to time we all get caught up in the daily routine of life, which is so easy to do!

This BC bike race has been amazing, and Carrie and I have just had so much fun travelling Canada. The race takes you to a new beautiful location everyday, shuttling ferries, over snow capped mountains, through the most pristine lakes which we cool off after every day’s race effort’s to having a beer at the local pub on the water. Ok, so we have done the race in style in the camper aka”Home” and has been our dream not to do tent town and have transport so “ Home “ has made it for us. With the assistance of a few incredibly people/mate for lifes: Simon and Alex Lamond(who is 2weeks from popping bubs #1) who we have found the most epic camping locations and made delectable meals (along with endless stashes of Biltong). The Saffa convoy has been strong and the flag flying proudly on Simon’s rented 1983 poo brown VW campervan. Carter Hovey, Simon and Mike Robinson the local Canadian’s have put us on the “inside program” meaning we are missioning to the next stage ahead of the race organizers to ensure we are maximizing our time and staying in the best locations to chill and braai post race. Really just that alone has been a joy.

Then I need to make creditable mention to the girls Alex and Carrie – A grade support team. They have had us on the program to the minute, and when I say a minute I mean arriving at ferry terminal with not a minute to spare. Support teams are the rocks behind racers! Trust me having a good support team just makes racing hard much easier! Because little things are even hard to do post race- like eat food or hand you your pants etc etc

Now to the riding, O my god! Everyday I cross the line and say : those last 10-20km where the best trails I have ever riding. However the bar just keeps getting set higher everyday. Look there are some hard miles to get to the sweet trails and but no means is the BCBR just made up of sweet single track, there some climbing and hard grinding of the gears. Distance means nothing, you look at a course profile and you go this day should be easy (only 50km’s) but at times you are chewing the bars so hard all I am seeing is roots, green most and blood red around it. Which for me has caused issues as the course has been marked with pink ribbon tape hanging from the trees and at turns and because I am just seeing blood red, cause my heart rate is maxing out so ficking high, the pink ribbons just blend in the blood red. In turn is making me miss some turns. Over a week long stage race it is near impossible to for you to have a smooth race, shit happens and happen more often when you redlining it trying to hang onto a 10 year younger Pro’s tail. I have been coming in consistently 11th overall which I am super stoked about knowing that I can mix it up with some of the world’s best trail riders (even if it is for the first 1hr). But Day 4 I took a wrong turn and ended up dropping down 300m into the “valley of hell”, so I call it. To see no blood red/pink ribbons and to my dismay had run back up the valley from hell. Anyway shit happens and that’s racing you can’t have everything go your way over such a demanding race. So I finished 17th overall and dropped a few positions and rolled across the line with a few broken spokes and some more grazes.

Day 5 was another so called it quick day 41 km’s on my Magellan Switch up over Blazing saddles El Dorado,Guys Gulch to HWY103, then enter the Enduro segments HWY102 at 4km downhill track of pure insanity followed by a further 4km Enduro -Sidewinder . It’s kind of my aim now to try stay in the top 10 of the Enduro segments as they are really proving to be setting the fit mountain biker mad men from the others, just hope I don’t kill myself but if I do so me it I did it doing what I love doing. The Enduro’s are not just pure downhill but more down/up, over 2 or 3 wooden dodgy structures, then on a 20cm wide structure then over an old bridge then into twisting turning berms over a kicker jump which launches you 15feet in the air and at this stage I am holding on for dear life and my blood red eyes focusing on the track so hard I think my brain is going to pop. Yip the Enduro segments rock!I am a fan.

Today I crossed the line around the top10 again so back to form, and body is holding up well. Always good to know that the base training miles you put into pay off. I have seen some pretty batted bodies and snapped frames along the way with some stories of pain and hardship but for me the support crew aka: Carrie, Home and the Rocky Mountain guys have really made me feel awesome. A big up’s to the guys from Rocky Mountain factory Racing they have helped me out heaps, from loaning me a new Fox float rear shock from when I blow mine on Day 3 to servicing my bike post race. For privateer like myself that really helps. Carrie and I feel like we are locals here, cos more people ride Rocky Mountain bikes here than any other brand and the reason is simple, the bikes are built for this type of terrain along with the suspension and geometry is a winner. Big brand MTB’s have there place in the mainstream but RM can match them any day and here is proof!

O, ja highlight of the day: Riding with Andrea’s “ Dr Dre” Hestler (Olympic MTB and BCBR owner):The man can ride with legs that match the size of the Redwoods here and has skills with power! I rode with him for +-10km till this massive structure, that left me following him up to only find myself upside down 4 feet under the ramp! But was good as he knows the course so well, riding with Dre was great as the pink/red ribbons where easy to follow. However post me turtling I did make one wrong turn again and left me lost for 2 mins. But 5km from the end my moment arrived, I caught Dre and came flying pass him on a rocky section yelling “on ja right” Haha that was good!

Cool 2 more days left (Squamish to Whilster) and am supper stoked with my performance and experience more than anything. We are back in Squamish and Carrie has set off for a ride to try move up the Strava ladder.

BC bike race day 1 and 2

Let the race begin, 550 people lined up at the start of day 1 to find themselves 3-8 hrs later buggered. Day one was hard, stage racing is hard and life is hard racing for 7 days on super challenging terrain! The body hurts in places you didn’t know you had muscles due to the long downhills and rootyrocky single track. For me I loved it, it a challenge that you desire to push yourself and test yourself in area’s you have not been challenged before. If you look at anyones results weather you are in the top 10% or bottom 10% everyone has a story to tell for that days results. For me my story like anyone else is moan a little then stuck it up and just go out there and see how you do on the day, as you never know how you going to go until your bum is in the saddle. My first day result didn’t come easy and am happy to be in the front of race and keeping my stole which hasn’t stopping flowing for 4 days prior. I would say the guy who was 14th behind me was happy that I kept it inside me too! On day one out the 550 people there where 30 DNF’s due how tough the terrain was and many guys with broken bones and strain ankles, etc. For me it was just keep it tight and get to the finish in one piece. The pace of the race in the front is so fast its silly, and to try hang onto the Pro’s in front for as long as I can is mentally a race in itself. I been using the Magellan Switch (small and light with more than enough battery life) on my bars and have been trying not to look at my heart rate (as would scare me off) but have been riding at an average heart of 154 bpm for over just under 3 hrs it has been taking me to finish. So pretty much maxing it all the way for the race, but if I die I will die a happy man. Day 2: I woke to the first semi solid dump in 5days day, so yeah for that! The race bused us 1hr to the start of the race, which means they place us in the best trail network they can everyday leaving out boring traversing on endless fireroads (unlike some stage races). The first group (the race snakes) charged of the start line the pack is tight and hectic as groups for 50 set off dependant on your previous days result. Day 2 riding had to be some of the best MTB trails I have ever riding in a day, bold statement but I am putting it out there! Such amazing single track, mixed with techie climbs and fast flowing narrow and beautiful scenery (which all looked red to me from the blood and sweat in my eyes). Currently I am the top placed Saffa and 2nd Ozzie, I the last 25km with Ian from Perth (who got 6th on day 1) it was good to have company in the latter part of the race just to keep us flowing. He was strong on the flats (riding a hardtail) and lead through the singletrack. It was working for us till 2km from the end, the race lead us out of some single track over the road and back into a single track. However the two grey boulders entering the track camouflaged with trees where too narrow for a MTBer flying at pace to see and I nailed my shin into the lefthand boulder at 30 kph. I at that point I saw white light and stars-the mind quick ascertained that there was pain and issues! I looked down to see blood and my pedal stokes kind of stopped and I dropped of Ian tail yelling -O shit’s, o’no and o’ god’s,) and coasted to the finshline think is this my race over. I crossed the line in 11th overall and am 12th in GC after day 2. I finished in just over 2:30hrs and in a great position, not sure the result yet as have no internet, seen we are staying the most awesome campsite in the woods pimping it our Home next to our mates Simon and Alex Lamond (which has made the race just so much fun). 18hrs later after R.I.C. E (a little drugs- and people who know me I don’t take drugs to aid recovery, this time I took everything the medic’s had instock)and numerous cold lake swim, I can walk and think I am going to be ok to spin the crank in a square motion. So the plan is just to go out and see how the day of another racing pans out, and most of all just enjoy it!

Day 1 of The BC Bike race :