Biking in Monsoon June

Powering Up at the Top of Swine Flu

A few weeks ago after riding Swine Flu, a trail with an attraction that has spread like a disease, I was heading to Essential Yoga Studio for Core Class, only to find out it was cancelled. Boo, there goes a lame attempt at cross training! The gym was an option... but the trails more enticing. Tired of riding solo, I went by a friend's to see where they were heading.

"You're riding Phat Bastard to Dem Bones? I don't know if I'm up for it," I complained.

My friend poignantly replied, "So how long are the rides for the TR3?"

Point taken. I need to get my act into gear.

This past month Pat Gilmar - Route Coordinator for days one to three of the TransRockies - asked if I would like to ride day one with the TR crew. How could I say no, especially after said situation with biker "friend"? Honestly I have been riding a lot, but my perception of "a lot" is the problem. An hour or so a day, four to five days a week might keep me fit but not so prepared for 5-7 hour days. Time to step it up and put myself to the test.

When I met up with Pat, Jim Smith, Route Coordinator from Canmore, and TR director Aaron McConnell at Freshies, they were looking pretty serious. Head to toe in lycra, energy bars and fluids at easy access, colours of various sponsor logos flying at me... "What have I gotten myself into?" I thought as I looked down at my long, loose downhill shorts and cotton T-shirt, realizing my only energy would be from the electrolyte drink I packed at the last minute. "This is going to be interesting!"

Jim at the First Bench on Hyperventilation

We headed off to Hyperventilation. What a different approach you take when you know this climb is the first of many. Normally I would push myself to see if I could get through it all without putting my foot down. Ya right! I spun all the way... where I could anyway, Fernie Trail Builders sure like steep pitches.

On the way down Hyper Extension I was a bit cautious. The week prior while flying through a quick Fat Bastard - Black Betty loop I completely belly flopped, trying to ride a steep pitch with my seat at climbing height. Not making that mistake again, I went way back behind my seat and eased into it... which helped me to decide that it's not as much fun or as fast as a dropped seat. Since I'm biking "just for fun" I figure a drop seat post is in order! (Especially if I want to keep up with Shopland, the queen of biking and the drop seat post.)

It's All Downhill from Here!

The ride continued with loops (and loops) in Ridgemont, and I surprisingly felt strong. The big climbs hurt (they always do) but the downhill in between gave us time to recover and forget about what just happened and what was to come. 2/3 way into the ride, Jim stated that he needed to "power up" before the next portion. Intrigued, I watched on curiously as I sipped my electrolyte drink.

After the ride, I went home and thought that maybe I too should "power up". I didn't feel hungry, but made sure to eat and drink a lot (and put off those couple of beer I was so obviously craving). All afternoon and evening I was anticipating the "bonk". And it never came! I was so happy, even more so when the following day I wasn't tired OR sore. After a short lived "Yippee!" I faced the music. One day is nothing in comparison to three (especially when days two and three are around the 75km mark with massive elevation gains - check out the stage previews, including elevation gain and distance: www.transrockies.com/trc/route-and-stages).

Since that fateful day, and in anticipation of joining the TR crew for trial runs of the day two and three rides, I've decided to up the biking "just for fun" just a tad. While I still want to enjoy biking this summer, I don't think the TR3 will be much fun if I'm dreading every day. Longer rides are now part of the program, along with days off and "powering up".

Recently any kind of biking has been put to the test. Not only has it been raining cats and dogs, it's busy in the office as well, trying to get the Fix to press while working on a mountain bike guide in collaboration with the Fernie Trails Alliance. While the rain is great for getting work done, it sure takes the fun out of biking. As Henry Barret writes in the Fernie Mountain Bike Guide riding on wet trails isn't helping the cause. So until the sun shines or we have a dry spell my biking will be indoors, but at least when we get back out there the trails will be in fine form! Just in time to test myself on the remaining two days of the TR3 this July. Yikes!

Happy biking everyone, and keep your eyes peeled this July for the Fernie Mountain Bike Guide!

For more information on the 2010 TransRockies or TR3 visit www.transrockies.com.