BC Bike Race Stage 2

I haven't been hit by a truck - just feels like it!

2 down; 5 to go...
 😬🤪🤕
I had a brilliant sleep last night and woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck! My body is bruised and scratched all over the place. Luckily nothing serious, but still painful.

We’ve just finished another 40km day, and I cannot begin to convey the details of the route. Cumberland started with some lovely uphill and rolling gravel roads which I loved! The steep climbs continued in various forms - gravel roads, rooty trails, etc. - until we were around 1000m of vertical elevation.

Looking at the stage profile, you would think that was the biggest challenge but BCBR is never straightforward, and the worst was yet to come.

Severely tight trails closely lined with trees showing their roots every couple of pedal strokes. The roots were exposed and as slippery as butter. Wheels were slipping and sliding all over the place, bucking us off our bikes and sometimes causing us to crash.

The landscape was like a screensaver at times - lush green biodiversity at its best. But it was difficult to enjoy with the grueling biking conditions.

Around 14km from the end, the course wound through the camp from the night before - which also happens to be where the finish line sits. Because I broke my Wahoo ELEMNT mount during our training ride, I’ve been carrying my Wahoo in my back pocket and have no way of knowing the time, distance or terrain unless I take it out. Which I have not done yet. So when we came to the finish I was sprinting because I thought it was the end and would have been very happy for it to be over. But no. The worst was STILL yet to come!!

By the time we found ourselves amongst the final rooty section, it was so technical and we were so knackered, people around me were falling over more and more, and so was I.

I felt slightly drunk. Probably dehydrated. Definitely exhausted. It was hard to push my bike up the short steep slopes and I didn’t trust myself to tackle the more technical descents, so lots of walking ensued.

Back at camp now with a few precious minutes of WiFi now! Wanted to document at least a little of today.

Sorry - no pics of the trail today - it was nuts! John kept riding ahead and he will have more photos and video to share when we have more time and better internet connection.