Day 2

Another 6 hours and 44 minutes in severe heat.

The day started a little later as we decided to get some groceries and have breakfast at the hotel. (The race provides tents, but we opted for real beds and our own washroom). Logistically the hotel has taken some adjustments but the process is getting more efficient. Once yoiu cross the finish line (always long awaited) you're standing there filthy, tired, hot, and sweaty. For hygiene and health reasons you need to clean up ASAP. But there is just you and your bike standing at the finish line surrounded by a sea of activity; with various sports fields, tents, music, water jugs, etc. In the last two days my process has evolved to immediately finding my bag (and Wet Ones) and changing to some loose clothing. From there you need to figure out about washing and tuning your bike, getting something to eat ASAP, claiming a tent, hotel transport (and what), when is dinner, how much time do you have, etc. After nearly 8 hours of riding these chores can seem complicated, but getting better. The morning is similiar. But to the ride.
Lining up with Team Winded we discussed a strategy of working as a unit to complete the 125 km. The gun fires and there was a 10km rolling start. Hundreds of bikes in close proximity going through town then onto the country roads. It's quite dangerous in that a slight slow-down or maneuvre gets amplified through the group and can result in brakes being slammed on an spandex hitting the dirt-hard! A slight glimpse away and it can happen to you. I glanced today just as the guy ahead (18 inches) hit his brakes, I somehow reacted, lifting my rear tire, but could have caused a pile-up.
Anyway, group pacing on dirt roads, then it fanned out. On poor guy on the side of the road with a torn jersey and pink road-rash injuries searing with frsh pain. Going slightly ahead I watched Turbo and Stu 2, awaiting the gap to close so we'd ride together. Unfortunately Stew wasn't with them. So I pulled over until he joined me and the team effort began. Feeling quite fresh, we hooked up with a group, but the pace seemed very light to me. I was able to move about the group at will, without taxing my reserves at all. As much as I wanted to be conservative, somehow I could glide by the line of drafting riders and still keep a H.R. around 115. To be honest it was very liberating. My pulls at the front weren't necessarily beneficial to the group as I wasn't similiarly affected by grade changes, resulting in group splits.

As it was so hot, extra self serve water stations were set up and capitalized on. In Transrockies, we would run through, quickly splash-fill our Camelbaks, stuff a Clif Bar or banana in our faces and ride off, chewing the food over the next kms.
Doing this kept you more competitive with only a few minutes of stop time over the whole day. It's different this time, with a far more casual refueling process which involves us each doing our thing then meeting up when ready.

After losing our riding group (which included a team of 6 Mexican riders), I recognized that with such hot weather required us to join up with others (a group draft situation will result in much higher speeds at a much lower effort, ex. 3+kph x 6 hours could be nearly an hour saved on the day. )

Today it wasn't to be. We worked to capture riders in the distance which would typically stay with us for a while then fall off, until we finally joined a large group - right before a feeding station! My work was done and I was feeling the strain - for the remainder I resolved to do our own pace and let it work out however. With a couple of hours to go, something got a hold of Stew and drained him. (My prognosis is dehydration...). Still his never-die attitude kept him working very hard throughout the day. While BCBR is all about great trails, today was definitely the exception. Hot, dusty and loose gravel roads with hills that don't have large altitude gain, but are tough regardless. So we rode and rode, and rode some more. Worth noting that while the terrain is boring the scenery, for the most part, was exceptional. Bridges crossing narrow gorges, snow dotted mountains quilted in fingers of evergreens, leading down to calm fresh-looking water. Then another arse goes flying by in their truck leaving a cloud of dust.

I repeatedly crossed the same riders, including some Ottawa teams the Mexicans, and others in varying stages of suffering. Regardless of any inbalance in the teams, this was where their cumulative issues and strengths had them placed in the race. Fast forward to a couple of kms of beautiful singletrack then through town to the aforementioned situation at the finish.
Though a poor showing in standings, a very tough day of riding.

Now I lay in bed, gear organized for tomorrow and alarms set for 5:30. The route promises to be what we came here for. How we address it is what we can control.

Thanks for the comments.

Uncle Mike
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