Lot's of folks combining the 2 and Doing the "full Pull".
Day 4 went well, off the start at least. Godo civil pace and good drafts got me in the lead group and feeling frisky. I was able to stick with them for a bit then relaxed into my pace and hoped to make up time on the DH. Nope, My memory of this day failed me as I thought it was mainly smooth. It's not. It's the Rockies. They call it that for a reason. Should have changed tires. Didn't. FLAT.
It's great how many people asked or stopped to help. Even with their competitors all around. Fixed. Tore side wall. Fixed and on way again. Made up some good time and managed to squeak a stage win out of it.
Day 5
It all came together. Knew the course, paced it perfect, hit all the right feeds, rode strong, got 3rd overall!!!
Thought Travis and Houston were gunning me down together but ended up being Jon and Steph.May have burned some matches but when you you get to do that in life?
Day 6
The Cox Hill Curse, as Nicole calls it. It started raining last night, was raining this morning.
The professional staff at TransRockies knows what lay ahead and re-routed for everyone's safety. Be thankful they did. 2 years ago we went up and over Cox Hill in similar conditions and it was not pretty. Lucky to get out alive, no joke.
It didn't make it easier though, the road was a bit tacky, roots were slippery, glasses were dirty.
Was going a nice pace, holding off a charging Geoff Clark, you know that fine fellow from Day 4 who stopped to give me a pump. I wanted to get most of the elevation done before teaming up with him for the finish. i paused just before he caught me to put a little air in the front. Snap goes the valve stem. Told him i was good and started to put in a tube. Problem. Hands were so cold I could not get the tire un-seated from the rim. Pat Doyle and Craig Bartlett stopped both grabbed the tire and pulled it off. Then blasted off to catch up to their competitors who had passed while helping. All good sort of. Hands still too cold to undo valve collar. Took the 2 tire irons and used them as levers and there you have it. Back to racing. Jaun and Trish rode past, Juan turned around and lent me his CO2 for a quick blast then caught back up to Trish and they were gone.
3rd place John Gould had passed and a host of other, mud splattered, rain jacket wearing, hard peeps of the MTB world. Time to catch up. Was following plan when Lo and Behold Geoff is in the ditch?? Broken Derailleur. Pay it forward works. Together we managed to get it to a semi-functioning single speed and we were off. Myself a bit faster as I had gears to choose from.
Rain, blah blah, dirt blah blah, hills blah blah, My Jon Kraukaur best " and then when I thought all was lost I pushed on the pedal one more time and the bike sluggishly, lethargically, unwillingly, moved forward. I thought all was lost as I couldn't bear to push again, but something primal, sub-concious, instinctually took over then I pushed the other pedal with the same out come as before the bike moved! Blah Blah blah
It was a hard go and Jon had ??? minutes on me. Rode a good tempo and spirits were high as I was feeling the love and realizing how cool this sport is. Camaraderie abounds here at the TransRockies. Everyone, (except the guy right near the finish who didn't help, damn outlier) is willing to step out of "race" and help a "fellow rider". I think it's because of the honest and naked truth of mountain biking, that if the person is in front of you, they are faster then you, no excuses.
K, so heading in knowing there is no stage win and maybe not the overall having fun on the DH. FLAT, Remember there is a tube in the front? You did? Great! i didn't Pow right into the rock field. Thought I was only a km or 2 from finish so started running. Quickly realized 2 things, it was farther, and I am not a runner. Bought the Havens for the "no questions asked" warranty and rode in on the rim. Damn tough rim.
Started truck, blasted heater, grabbed shower and waited for Nicole and Alana to arrive so they would have somewhere stinking warm to go to.
This is what they looked like:
Jean Ann and Sandra met them at the finish line. This is what they looked like:
hmm if you look hard enuf you will notice subtle differences.
Jason and Deanne have most lovingly and graciouly allowed us to use their house in Canmore for laundry and beds. Yep staying here tonight. Didn't plan on it but once we got here it was all over.
Calls for rain tomorrow then clearing. Stand by
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