I apoligise that I have no pictures of these two races as everyone was racing. I am sure you will agree that pics make it way more fun. I'll try to track some down.
So how do theses races compare to each other./ This year that would be like comparing the complex taste of a good wine and an anvil. What are you talking about?
XC8-a great little race in Jumping Pound Provincial Prak, Sask. Yes, Sask. the course takes you up their ski hill and then winds its way all around a river valley that ends at a dammed lake. The course is tight with some amazing single track. The hills are punchy and 2 or 3 are exposed.
The weather this year-HOT, DAM HOT! 34 degrees someone said. For 8 hours???? I knew it was going to be a race of survival so tried to get on the nutrition game early. Didn't work out quite that well as I also didn't want to lose sight of my main competitor Craig Stappler. He has a fast start I wanted to keep him in sight. He won the hill climb and got a free ride later in the race to the top of the hill. Lucky bum.
4 hours in it was Craig and I riding together out front. It remained that way for the whole race. With Pat Humeney taking 3rd on a single speed!! Lots of tactics came into play. I tried to stay out of sight and make my stops fast. The heat was getting to me mid race and I had to take in extra calories and water. I started to feel better in the last laps and went for it on the last one as I was past last year in the last lap.
Lots of people didn't finish the race due to the heat or modified their laps taking rests and sat in the shade for a bit. SMART. It was not the day to push beyond. Too hot and to much of a change from our otherwise cool summer.
Bow 80-the worst 7 hours of weather in Sept.
Alana and I camped out the night before to save the drive and have our camper at the finish line. It works out great and this is the second year we have done it.
I woke at 5:50 to the sound of rain on the roof. We knew it was coming but it didn't call for that bad of a day. It continued to rain until the start and well into the race. Some people drove out to the start saw it was rainging and turned right around and drove home. There were a lot of DNS. The race started well but it was drizzling. Most people were okay until being exposed to the SNOW on top of Jumping Pound Ridge. Toes and fingers took the worst of it and went numb. Mine were numb since the start but that is typical for me. If you have seen how long my arms are my fingers are a long way from my heart. It was snowing, sideways. The temperature down on the road was 1 degree. It was down right nasty. Kudos to anyone who even started.
Last year I got a flat on Cox hill that cost me lots of positions so I went tubeless this year to not have that happen again. Guess what?? It did anyway. Have you ever tried changing a tire in the mud and snow and not being able to feel your fingers? Difficult. I got the tired repaired and it lasted until the top of Cox when it went again. Jon Nutbrown threw me another tube and many competitors asked if I was good. I got a tube in and started down it lasted 7:45 by my GPS and it was done. There was something wrong with my wheel that was causing the flats. I was doing good at the time of the first flat. My core was warm, I was gaining positions, the hardest climbs were over, and the Tom Snow section is a strenght for me. Alas, it was not to be. I was now cold and had a broken wheel.
I did not finish, DNF, my first race, ever, in my whole life.
I have ridden through a lot of things but it just wasn't going to happen. This race meant a lot too. I had wanted to do well in it this year with all the flats last year. I had pre-ridden many of the sections over the summer and had even done the whole loop with the "fast guys" weeks ago. I had to beat Craig or place right behind him to win the Enduro Series. He went on to get 4th and take the series. Great Job Dude!
They called the race when they realised that things were on the line of getting out of control. People were stopped at the bottomeof Cox Hill and directed to the awaiting buses to be taken back. A back up plan that has not been used in 10 years. Thanks for thinking of it that long ago Bow.
So how do theses races compare to each other./ This year that would be like comparing the complex taste of a good wine and an anvil. What are you talking about?
XC8-a great little race in Jumping Pound Provincial Prak, Sask. Yes, Sask. the course takes you up their ski hill and then winds its way all around a river valley that ends at a dammed lake. The course is tight with some amazing single track. The hills are punchy and 2 or 3 are exposed.
The weather this year-HOT, DAM HOT! 34 degrees someone said. For 8 hours???? I knew it was going to be a race of survival so tried to get on the nutrition game early. Didn't work out quite that well as I also didn't want to lose sight of my main competitor Craig Stappler. He has a fast start I wanted to keep him in sight. He won the hill climb and got a free ride later in the race to the top of the hill. Lucky bum.
4 hours in it was Craig and I riding together out front. It remained that way for the whole race. With Pat Humeney taking 3rd on a single speed!! Lots of tactics came into play. I tried to stay out of sight and make my stops fast. The heat was getting to me mid race and I had to take in extra calories and water. I started to feel better in the last laps and went for it on the last one as I was past last year in the last lap.
Lots of people didn't finish the race due to the heat or modified their laps taking rests and sat in the shade for a bit. SMART. It was not the day to push beyond. Too hot and to much of a change from our otherwise cool summer.
Bow 80-the worst 7 hours of weather in Sept.
Alana and I camped out the night before to save the drive and have our camper at the finish line. It works out great and this is the second year we have done it.
I woke at 5:50 to the sound of rain on the roof. We knew it was coming but it didn't call for that bad of a day. It continued to rain until the start and well into the race. Some people drove out to the start saw it was rainging and turned right around and drove home. There were a lot of DNS. The race started well but it was drizzling. Most people were okay until being exposed to the SNOW on top of Jumping Pound Ridge. Toes and fingers took the worst of it and went numb. Mine were numb since the start but that is typical for me. If you have seen how long my arms are my fingers are a long way from my heart. It was snowing, sideways. The temperature down on the road was 1 degree. It was down right nasty. Kudos to anyone who even started.
Last year I got a flat on Cox hill that cost me lots of positions so I went tubeless this year to not have that happen again. Guess what?? It did anyway. Have you ever tried changing a tire in the mud and snow and not being able to feel your fingers? Difficult. I got the tired repaired and it lasted until the top of Cox when it went again. Jon Nutbrown threw me another tube and many competitors asked if I was good. I got a tube in and started down it lasted 7:45 by my GPS and it was done. There was something wrong with my wheel that was causing the flats. I was doing good at the time of the first flat. My core was warm, I was gaining positions, the hardest climbs were over, and the Tom Snow section is a strenght for me. Alas, it was not to be. I was now cold and had a broken wheel.
I did not finish, DNF, my first race, ever, in my whole life.
I have ridden through a lot of things but it just wasn't going to happen. This race meant a lot too. I had wanted to do well in it this year with all the flats last year. I had pre-ridden many of the sections over the summer and had even done the whole loop with the "fast guys" weeks ago. I had to beat Craig or place right behind him to win the Enduro Series. He went on to get 4th and take the series. Great Job Dude!
They called the race when they realised that things were on the line of getting out of control. People were stopped at the bottomeof Cox Hill and directed to the awaiting buses to be taken back. A back up plan that has not been used in 10 years. Thanks for thinking of it that long ago Bow.
Alana was a rockstar. In typical faashion she just kept going and going. She made the cut off grabbed a garbage bag to wear for warmth and was the only female finisher. She is the "Queen of Kananaskis" and now has 3 belt buckles. One is will be a huge glittery gold one. Well done!!!!!!
Now the season is done. I have a home reno to wrap up and have enjoyed the lack of pressure this week. Spin class starts up in a month and I plan on doing lazy rides and suppport for all the cross racers. You know take your jacket, wash your bike, drink your beer.
I dont' know what to do for the next bit but I am sure I will find something to do.
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