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WildBettys posted on July 14, 2011 15:58
So the rain did stop, in fact the riding weather was perfect...the climbing continued to be an issue for stage 6, but the trails in Squamish are amazing....the little bits of pump track or banked woo whoos that we have in Ontario, that are exhilarating but take nano seconds to ride, just pale in comparison to the minutes and minutes of smooth sweeping banked descent trails in Squamish...I so wish I had a 3D video on my bike to show you...stills and photos just don't do it justice. Wild Bettys road trip, anyone?
Again though, I was discouraged at the end of the day with my physical performance...remarkably emotional regarding the disconnect between the desire to go fast and the absolute inability to perform.
After a little pity party, well actually a big pity party, and an amazing dinner and awesome sleep, the sun rising on the last day made me very aware that the 'now or never' sentiment 'just suck it up' was really going to be the only option. So....after repacking everything into the fantastic Dakine bag for the sixth time, and getting on the bus, I really was able to dig deep and approach the last stage with a good head....
My cardiovascular and muscular systems didn't get the message though and during that first climb at Whistler up to the top of the bobsled run I truly wondered if I was having a little cardiac ischemia as there seemed to be an unusual pressure on my chest and I just couldn't pedal. Steve had directed me to keep my HR below 130 and had said "we may be alone" but as the sweep started chatting to me I realized I really was at the end here and that was not what I wanted....I just kept pedalling, breathing into the pedal stroke, drinking and looking up the hill.....
Eventually, of course, the 35min UP turned into an unbelievable DOWN, followed of course by an excruciating technical up...complicated by Steve's third flat of the week...."keep going, ride what you can, I'll catch up" So I was on my own for a bit and the trail was muddy and no one was riding it....except Steve coming up to catch me after McGivering the emergency piece of duct tape to patch the ginormous hole in his tire ( a fact he didn't tell me untill the end of the race, and a good thing given the terrain).
But again the long , seemingly never ending arduous climb did end in a long decent of many kilometers of rocks and rock drops and amazing downhill trails that Whistler is famous for....and after a week of practicing and being 'one' with the Superfly I surprised myself and it all came together for a very successful descent down into the village....I rode past loads of riders walking down steep sharp babyhead scattered trails , and easily hopped up on boulders, and I was no where near the sweep by the end....pacing pays off eh? Thanks Steve.
An amazing adventure, a life changing week...I highly recommend the BCBR....you have to experience it to understand it....riding through the down days is reminiscent of riding through the bonk at the Tahoe 100 last season, but on a much much grander scale and the sense of accomplishment is well, well worth the pain.
So what's next?
Ride On!
Melinda.
Friday, July 15, 2011 1:49 PM
You are amazing. I wish I had your guts (and some spare cash...) to do a stage race. Congratulations for being such a great role model. I wanna be you when I grow up:)