A successful Bow 80

So over beers at Carson's 1st birthday party, Chris lent me his Single Speed to ride the Bow80. Yep, End of season dumb and drunk is all it took.

Discussed the gearing for way to long and in SS I think under is better then over. But I went over. A 32 up front with 18 on the back, on the 29er. Slow cadence and balance was key all day long, and lots of hiking.

A usual scattered start, borrowed bike didn't have water bottle cages so had to beg them off the fine folks at Bow Cycle. All the excitement and coffee kicked in 7 minutes before the start. Line up was too long so had to do my best imitation of:

Don't worry, ran deep in, used heel to dig hole, covered back up.

Just get to start see all the other SS and hang. Patrick Humeney, Sir Pat Doyle, Cesar. Ceasr and Pat take off but I don't know what to do so think " Sir Pat rides smart" and follow him. We caught the other fellows just before Prairie Creek and all rode together almost to the aid station on Powder face road.

Grabbed some water and it was only Sir Pat and I. i cannot believe how much I learned riding behind Sir Pat for the first 3rd of the race. He is a picture of conservative power, he always has it but never wastes it. Smooth on the ups, smooth on the down. It was like going to SS school. Unfortunately, like an ill prepared student, with a bad summer job, and spending too much at the bar, I didn't have tuition money for the second half of term and Sir Pat was finished teaching. Sir Pat dieseled away on the road and I never saw him again. He ended up 13 minutes ahead when it was over.

I had a flat going down Poser Face, as was to be expected and Cesar and another SS passed me. Rode down with team mate Andy Paul how was on a hard tail and we both were tentative until the bottom. I had to open it up and get Cesar back in sight. I made a move on Elbow Springs and got to Sulphur before them. I knew that being over geared, Cesar was going to be faster up, and he was. He caught and passed me. We rode up lots of Pnuema together but he let me pass, which I gave him trouble for as he had me on the ropes. I took the lead, ate, drank, and attacked. Silly Cesar.

I tried to hold him off but I kept hearing this voice with a Venezuelan accent " I SEE YOU", to which I would reply " I HEAR YOU". This happened right until the top where it gets a little flat, I hammered and got into Special K ahead of him. I knew I could descend faster and rolled the dice. It worked. 2nd and Cesar took 3rd.

Congrats to Pam Pearson from Terrascape with a podium in the Wpmen's 40+ and to Alana, the only female Single Speeder. It is an open category but she is #1 in our hearts for the huge effort she threw down!!!!