Stage 3 Port Alberni to Cumberland

87k.. another long day. Day began at 4:45 w/ cold pizza from yesterday. A pre-breakfast snack to begin our fueling for day 3.

Today's stage was a turning point for me and Grant! After yesterday's tough 125k, we moved up from 32 overall to 28th place. Happy with our top 10% position, we decided to hold on today w/ no great efforts.

After a short police escort out of town, the raced quickly escalated into a double track pathway to a single-track that lead us to the first of a series of climbs. The field tore apart after hill one, during which Grant reminded me to go easy and save it for the end. Good advise as Grant kept getting stronger and stronger as the day proceeded and it reflected by the end of the day and the countless pulls we did to earn out position.

Good advice. We tackled the hills w/ moderate efforts (in the granny) and made our way to to the first of a long series of logging roads. At km 31, single track resumed and we descended quickly to our first big river crossing. Waist deep we slowly crossed the river on our way to the first aid station. We quickly moved through the three tents, first water, then electrolyte drinks onto some Sharkies, Honey gu's and bananas. Thanks to Rich at Live Fit Medicine we fueled throughout the day and it payed off.

Once onto the trail after aid station 1, we created a nice group w/ a few teams, including Steve (of Fusion) and Joe from Perth and quickly accelerated to the next aid station. we made very good time, making our way to the final 15k where we encountered some of the best single track thus far. Grant and I pulled away from the aforementioned teams and were the first to enter a steep and winding section. Grant warmed us of going too fast for fear of punctures and we made good time winding through the trees down the slope safely. We hit the last bit of fire road to the finish with a time of 4:29. A moderate day w/ no drama. Happy we our time for the day, we are now looking forward to another big dinner and some good rest. Up very early tomorrow to take our first ferry ride from Cumberland to Sechelt. Tomorrow's stage 4 is just over 60k.. looks like it is going to get easier and easier..not! lot's of climbing tomorrow!

Till then. Grant and Scott

a few races photos from Day 1 and Day 2

photos..

Day 2 Lake Cowichan to Port Alberni

Dusty long day... 128+ kilometers. a couple of really ugly crashes at the start. two poor guys went over the bars when initial pack left the the start line. we were suppose to have a 10k controlled start but once again too many anxious, novice riders moved to the front and a for bad luck two or more went down hard. not a fun start.

once the controlled start terminated the race too off fast. Grant, with much enthusiasm and strong will, and I were in the beginning dropped from the main pack but were able to get back on at kilometer 22. Fortunately we got on the wheels of many and stayed w/ the pros until kilometer 58. At the first aid station, many blew through and we were once again dropped. We are actually, along w/ many other riders, going to contest this. The race mandates "proper" check in.

Anyhow, we filled up our deuter packs (thanks to Rich Stagliano of Live Fit Medicine) we knew the importance of proper fueling. And at 90 deg water consumption was critical. With plenty of water and food, we raced on again w/ a few other riders, trying to bridge the gap to the lead group. Too far ahead, we picked up some more riders also dropped by the main group and worked on. Pull after pull, we charged on to aid station #2 at km 99. With a long hard hill a few kilometer before the station we pulled ahead of most of our group, along w/ 3 mixed male female teams, of which two are pros! boy they were tough. At km 15 grant and began to do much of the work and pulled us right to the 2km single track at 125km. I, regretfully, went the wrong way (on a badly marked intesection) and lost about 2min, enough time for 3 more teams to catch up. Determined, we recovered and repositioned ourselves for a strong finish. Grant with true determination gave it his in the last kms. It was a great finish and we rolled w/ lots of enthusiasm to a strong finish. 5:07min.

take a look at the attached photos! It was so dirty and dusty on Stage 2 from Lake Cowichan to Port Alberni we'll report back on our overall standing tonight! Scott/Grant Team Bike Rx

RACE DAY 1

WOW!! What a day... hot, hot and really hot. 90+ degrees and competition is tough. 89k today with some really tough riding. much harder than we anticipated and boy there are a lot of pros racing here. the boys from Costa Rica (La Ruta winners), Tinker Juarez, many specialized pro teams, etc.

After a good breakfast at the start line, the raced quickly entered the challenging single track w/ many hard climbs that we were told about. We had no idea how hard it was really going to be. boy do we feel unprepared. Despite the challenge, we took 32nd today out of 300+ 2-man teams. Grant rode well but his cramps are back and they made it really hard to keep up w/ the main teams. We kind of got stock in no mans land w/ a few wrong turns here and there. The biggest factor was the heat and lack of water.

I, for once, pulled for the last 25k up a light, false flat to the finish w/ a few hard kilometers from Grant. The fast start tooks it toll but no doubt the locomotive Kiwi will be back tomorrow.

Well feed and ready for bed, tomorrow is another long one: 125k! We are up at 6am, back to the starting line for a 7am chow down. let's hope we can do as well again tomorrow. From Cowichan Lake. 'till tomorrow.

Day 1 travels to BC Bike Race

June 27, 2008

Travel Day. Off To BC for the BC Bike Race. Epic it is said to be.. .
Welcome to the official launch of the Bike Rx blog. We thought it would be fun to post a blog on our popular web site to inform our clients and friends of our current status. All too often we don’t have enough time in the day to share w/ our friends and clients our expereiences on the bike. Avid cyclist ourselves, we wanted to share with you (and from you) on our adventures and yours via our new blog.

This inauguration starts with a summary of the Day 1.
My partner, Grant Smith, and I left SFO at 7am for an 8-day journey through BC. We are off on 7 days of MTB racing that will take us 500 kilometers from Victoria, Island BC to Whistler, BC. It is said to be the most technical single-track endurance MTB race in the world. Yikes.. what have us Marin boys gotten ourselves into?
As the owner/founder of Bike Rx, it’s hard to get away, especially in the summer months. But this year, my very competent partners, Chris and Colin, are back at the shop holding down the fort . It is a really pleasure to get away to do such an event and I thank my guys for keeping the Bike Rx spirit alive and well while I am gone.
This race is a celebration of sorts, back on the bike for 2 seasons after an injury in Spain took me out of the riding scene for 4 years. Now, hours away from the start of this epic race the nerves begin to race.
At the moment, I am riding the shuttle from Victoria to the start line, anxious to build my box, register and then (I hope) pre-ride a part of the first day’s race course.

I’ll be checking in again tonight with an update before tomorrow’s commencement.

Scott – owner/founder Bike Rx

BC Bike Race starts Friday!

3 days away...