Sandbagged! I should have known it would come to this. Especially after “The infamous 2005 Trek” and the success I had during “The 2007 BC Lung Association Bicycle Trek ”. You may wish to check out those two stories for the background to this one.
A quick disclaimer to remind everyone The BC Lung Association Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath is a friendly, enjoyable, well supported bicycle ride that raises funds for a variety of Lung issues including Lung Cancer.
Enough of the polite stuff, I was sandbagged by Melissa, my ever loving partner. Hard to believe you say, read on…..
Following the 2007 Trek Melissa informed me that we rode too hard and that if I was to choose, in 2008, to attempt arriving ahead of Kenny, Adam and Lenny I would have to do it on my own. Fair enough, I thought; she had been a real trooper supporting me in the months of recovery following my cancer surgery. My goal was still going to be arriving first in 2008. A lofty goal given my minor troubles and lack of cycling in the spring of 2008. My summer training of 10 metrics and one century fell short of the 17 metrics, 2 centuries and one double metric that had been my training in 2007. I was however undeterred. Optimistically I informed Melissa I was going to go for the brass ring, even if it meant riding alone.
Trek arrived surprisingly quickly after what seemed to be a barely existent summer. This year we chose to drive over and visit friends rather than cycle over as we normally do. Arriving at Hazelmere I opted for a 15 km shake down ride before the Friday night BBQ to ensure I and the bike were ready. I felt confident as I glided up the Zero Avenue hill between 216th and 192nd.
When I arrived back at Hazelmere I responded to Adam’s query about my ride by mumbling something about needing to “shake the ooglies” off. The game of cat and mouse was in full swing, Adam earlier referring to the “jet lag” and “age” issues, though he had recently completed a holiday cycling parts of the “Tour de France” race route. Something us mere mortals would quiver at the thought of attempting, much less completing.
Saturday the ride started friendly enough, milling about discussing the weather and rides of years past. Once the formalities were over we started amicably enough, Kenny and Adam following Melissa and I out of Hazelmere, down 8th and around the corner to 192nd. Melissa commented on how she disliked the hill so early in the ride and then proceeded to attack it, I responded by trying to keep up with her. Kenny responded by spinning up the hill past all of us. He was away.
Turning onto Zero Avenue I noted Kenny had already joined a paceline, while I was still struggling to keep up with Melissa as she climbed away from me. Cresting the first hill I noted Kenny and the pace line were already climbing the next hill. This was going to take a little effort, so I bid Melissa adieu and used the momentum of my extra 50 lbs to accelerate down the hill. On the flats I would use my aerobars to make up for the ground lost climbing hills. Momentum, Aerobars and spin up the hills. It would continue this way until I finally caught the paceline a couple of kilometers before the first rest stop. We all turned up 272nd and then down into Aldergrove park, calling our numbers out. The paceline pulled into the rest stop, I U-turned and headed back out onto the course, determined to stay out in front for as long as possible.
Flying back down 272nd and then turning onto Zero avenue, I dropped into my Aerobars, taking advantage of the cool weather. Cruising along at 35 kph, I started to fade. After a few kilometers I was down to 32 kph and a glance in my mirror showed the paceline approaching. Mixed feelings surfaced, I knew single rider breakaways always get caught, but I had been doing so well. My legs were graciously reminding me that joining the pace line would give them a much need rest.
So join them I did, only to discover they were averaging 35 to 45 kph. In this paceline I would get my time at the front every seventh turn. The rest of the time I, like everyone else, would ride with 30% less effort than the lead rider. My turn at the lead came quickly, was short and I fell to the back mumbling an apology and determined to carry my weight for my next pulls. We stayed together until the lunch stop, where one of the riders informed me they were going to slow down after this break.
As we were talking Adam rode by and was away down the road. I picked up my bike and left in pursuit. The paceline was not responding. We were a fair ways down the road when I glanced to see Kenny closing the gap in an attempt to catch us. And catch us he would. The third leg would be the highlight for me as we formed a paceline of three. There would be no breaking away or falling back now. 1st, 2nd and 3rd were at stake. And for the first time in 7 years I had a real shot at our unofficial race placement. Life was grand, 17 months post cancer I had recovered well and my cycling had improved.
It was then my nemesis struck. On my first few Treks leg cramps were riding companions after the 70 to 80 kilometer marks. I had solved this by ingesting additional calcium, extra training and having my bike fitted. In retrospect I had made some rookie mistakes; no additional calcium, a newly fitted bike and not enough base miles in the spring. This year I would pay dearly.
Adam noticed first. “Problems?” he queried (Was that a wolfish grin I noticed?). With the last rest stop in sight my right quad was twitching. Annoying at this point, I was been given an insight as to what lay ahead. We all pulled in to the rest stop. Adam U-turned and was away again. I chased only to start losing the battle to cramps. When Kenny passed me on Yarrow Road, Adam was at least a kilometer ahead. Adam would hold Kenny off until the final hill, where Kenny’s mountain bike gearing would let him spin past up the hill.
My troubles were just beginning. Still able to climb, albeit slowly, I turned off Vedder Mtn. Rd. and made the short climb up Columbia Valley Road toward Cultus lake. By restricting my speed and alternately standing I fended off severe cramps until half way around the lake. Then my Quads cramped severely, dropping my bike to the ground I walked them off. Unable to remount the bike I remembered dedicating my ride to my hospital roommate of 17 months ago. John Mullin had succumbed to the same cancer that I have so far overcome. With respect to John, I decided I would walk till I could ride again, after all I was still third, with a decent lead on most everyone thanks to Adam and Kenny’s paceline adventure.
The third time I was forced off the bike, Dave rode by mentioning something about Ibuprophen. I was no longer third, the goal evaporated. Back on the bike two more rider’s from the paceline passed me. On the next walk I heard a familiar voice, “Steve, is that you?” Melissa offered to walk with me but I insisted she ride on and enjoy her flight up the final hill. She was away. I returned to riding in time to join Brendan in pursuit of Melissa. As luck would have it we crested a hill. I turned to Brendan and declared I would pass Mel one more time, and did just that. Pulling over to walk off another barrage of cramps shortly after raising my fist in triumph.
The two of them spun up THE HILL, while I resigned myself to walking the entire hill. Walking, riding, cramping, walking …. I dropped from 7th to 8th to 9th. Shortly before Stillwood gate I was consoling myself that I would arrive 10th (my trekker number this year) when Chris overtook me. The final challenge was delivered, this too I would falter at. Unable to mount an offensive I arrived in 11th, four hours of riding time. In spite of walking a fair distance I had shaved 1 minute off last years time.
Oh, and the sandbagger? Melissa arrived in 3 hours and 26 minutes, with an average speed of 29.1 kph. Her fastest time ever! I am going to have to pull out all the stops next year.
Speaking of next year it will be Trek’s 25th Anniversary (September 11 & 12), and I will have crossed the half century mark. I will let you know in March my plans to overcome this years folly and arrive in Stillwood with plenty of time to take pictures of Adam and Kenny when they arrive.
Our return 100 km. was a recovery ride, with Melissa once more pulling me home for the final two legs. We did manage to catch Adam at the lunch stop (apparently giving him a little incentive to stay ahead of us for the rest of the ride). Towards the end I tend to roller coaster the final few hills, while Melissa steadily climbs them only to have me catch her on the downhill.
This year Brendan had ridden with us for most of the last two legs. A light, strong ride he was able to keep up with Melissa while I “roller coasted” to hang onto their wheels. The final hill I always push at the crest as it is long enough for me to overtake Mel before we return to Hazelmere. This year with Brendan on Mel’s wheel, he watched as I closed the gap as we approached the crest. As I rode by, he caught my wheel and slingshot himself past me. The look of glee on his face nearly bowled me over. I found out later from Mel she had informed him of my habit on the last hill and he took it as a challenge.
There you have it. Trek 2008 is complete. If you enjoyed my version of the events and wish to donate to the
BC Lung Association Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath contact me or use the link to donate online
before October 14th.