Derick Berry - Biker, Dad, Friend and Business Man

The first year I realized Derick Berry was an avid mountain biker was the year he and his wife Heidi competed in the TransRockies. There were other teams that impressed me, but it was Heidi and Derick that were the most honest and genuine about their experience and instantly sold me on attempting the endeavor. Four years later, there I was as a solo competitor with Derick and other local riders cheering me on at the finish. It was my first bike race and the Fernie camaraderie made the experience. There was one moment in particular that to me epitomizes Derick’s character. On day three we had a 40km fast pace gradual climb that led to a 25km of dreaded hike-a-bike over the Continental Divide, finishing with 5km descent into Kananaskis. It was our last day and the first time I crossed the finish line without Derick greeting me with his big smile, ready to dissect the day’s events. Where was he? I quickly heard from the other Fernie riders that he went down with a peloton around 16km in, splitting open his knee very badly after having being ridden over. “He’s going to be at least another hour,” one of the doctors said. As we were all chatting with a worried Heidi, he cruised in…. wearing his big smile of course. How he pushed himself up that insane hike astounded us all, but that’s Derick.

Derick started riding 15 years ago when a friend, Paul Chow, lent him a rigid bike from the 80’s. “I vaguely remember riding it downhill and comparing it to an unbalanced washing machine. I do however distinctly remember Paul and I laughing our asses off. I was terrible and felt like puking on every climb, but it didn’t matter - I was 12 years old all over again,” he says.

He never planned on racing, but was amazed at how after just a few years of riding in Fernie, an individual could go from a, “poor sole pushing their bike up a climb, swearing profanities at their friends, to lining up at the start of the TransRockies.” Derick believes that we have a bit of an advantage living here. The access to amazing terrain right out our doors and surrounded by a community of residents pushing and encouraging us, reaching goals you never thought possible.

Derick is a self-proclaimed “guy riding as hard as I can and having some fun along the way.” Finding a balance between riding socially with friends, a full work load and most importantly family while still managing to fit in training, is the ultimate goal. He is faced with “regular life” like all of us and is limited in the hours he has to dedicate to training, but feels fortunate to have a supportive wife and a business with great staff that allows for him to pursue his passion.

“ If you know Heidi, you know she’s the one to crack the whip and get my ass out on the bike more than anyone,” he says. “I have to set realistic goals that keep myself and everyone around me happy. Trust me when I say, ‘if you want it you can do it’. You can find the time and you can make the time. Do you know how many midnight rides Shane Soetart has done to the top of Big Money all alone?” he adds.

Derick has found a balance that he is happy with. He’s not trying to be on the podium, but rather looks forward to riding for years to come, maintaining his own version of “fit and fast”. There is no doubt in my mind that Derick will be at the start line at races for years to come, and also at the finish congratulating riders with his huge smile as they accomplish one of their dreams. All the best with baby number two and your races this year!

1. What is it about competing that you love?
I love knowing that I’m about to ride as hard and fast as I can and the group I’m with will push me to my limit. I’m not going to leave anything out there and as long as I see someone in front of me I know that I can catch them if I want it bad enough.

2. How do you prepare/train for your events?
I would love to say it’s a balance of nutrition, exercise, stretching and recovery, but honestly I am chronically bad for doing too much too fast. This is why I have a haunting IT band and always feel very sore. Mostly I just ride. Sometimes long rides like from my house out to Morrissey, up the canyon, around the rolling hills, up to the microwave towers and back down to town. My iPod and I have a very intimate relationship on those rides. Other times I pick something short and sweet with a big impact like Swine Flu, I’ll ride it over and over again a bunch of times in a row and see how fast I can do it. You can get some high quality in a short period of time and it’s so much fun! My favourite training challenge is timing myself from my house in Parkland, out to Hyperventilation and back and try to break that time each week. For all you parents out there, try pulling your kids in a chariot up to the rim trail above Silver Springs at Wigwam Flats, now that’s a work out plus you get to spend time with your family!

3. What are the events you are competing in this year?
As we have baby number two due the end of May I have to be realistic, I will be missing the 24hr Round and Round with an awesome group of friends this year but I hope to race in the Wasa Triathlon again with Simon Piney as we have a title to defend. I will also ride in the Furious3 and would really like to do the TR3 and TR4 together but I first have to meet my new baby before committing to anything. I think that might have to wait as I’m extremely excited to be a Dad again!

4. What are your main goals when competing?
Always to do better than before. If technique and strategy only get better with experience, then maintaining good fitness and attitude should automatically put you ahead. Though it’s been a slow learning curve for my extremely stubborn mind set, I know I can always be faster. I am a huge believer that it’s more mental attitude than anything. A high pain threshold helps but a positive fun attitude is so much better - I think the happy riders are the fastest riders. If you “Yahoo” on the downhill’s you’re doing it right.

5. How do you think Fernie's recreational side has changed since you've lived here?
Aside from the incredible network of trails (thank you Mitch and all of the trail crews!) that are now riddled with bike enthusiasts, we have an incredible amount of events to compete in within our little community. Furious 3, The Lung Buster, TR Team, TR3, TR4, Duathlons, Porky Blue, High roller and so on and so on. You don’t have to leave town to build a schedule of amazing events to ride in.