BC Bike Race Recap 2021

The following is a compilation of my day by day diary/narrative of my BCBR 2021 experience.

October 2, Registration Day:

I can’t believe I’m here. Growing up in the PNW, the BC Bike Race—a six day, seven stage race founded in 2007—has represented the holy grail, a spiritual pilgrimage, a mountain bikers Mecca of sorts. It’s the race by which all other North American mountain bike stage races are measured. I’ve dreamed of this race since I first learned about it a decade ago. I’ve been emailing Moniera Khan (Racer Relations Manager) for two+ years, dreaming and scheming about a possible attempt in 2023 or 2024 (a bold and seemingly out of reach stretch goal for a spondy athlete with poorly shaped hips and chronic overuse injuries/tendinopathy(s). Each winter, I dive back into the BCBR videos archives, a montage of inspiring stories and enthralling images. Emailing back and forth with Moneira and John Kearns in the weeks leading up to the event, made you feel like you’re part of the BCBR family, before even crossing into Canada.

And after 3 venue changes and 4 date changes, the stars have aligned, I got a late entry (feeling like a wildcard of sorts), we locked down passports on a wild 20 hour trip to Seattle’s Passport Agency, found a dreamy Airbnb and Friday evening, Amanda and I crossed the border. When I checked in at racer registration before our racer meeting last night, Moniera had penned ’Be Audacious’ and my ‘WNbL’ my sign off. Finally sharing hugs and laughs with Moniera—a beautiful, bold and brave soul—kickstarted the festivities. Riders from across the globe have descended upon Penticton, BC, for the adventure of a lifetime.

My recent crash flared up my right hip (the one with impingement and a labrum tear) in a big way—keeping me off the bike the rest of the week and in the trusted hands of @momentumptmt who dry needled my neck, hip flexors and glutes like a woman on a mission. Just two days ago, as we began the 10 hour trek to Penticton, it was hard to envision starting a stage race, but the hip is calming down and I’m going to be at the start line for stage one. I don’t have crazy expectations as far as how many stages I’ll race/ride; it’s going to truly be an ODAAT (one day at a time) effort.

There’s so many uncertainties going into day one and I’m feeling vulnerable as a mug, but I’m hopeful, I’m mindful, and I’m present. Health over results. It’s going to all come down to managing the flares, staying upright, and having fun. Head up, eyes forward, feet moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 3, Day One, Stage 1: Three Blind Mice

Stage One of the BCBR on Sunday was rowdy, gnarly and straight up mayhem. The climbing out of the gate was relentless and technical, and the downhills were sketchier than anything I’ve ever ridden. It was as intense as it was fast and furious.

The usual 600 rider limit has been cut to 200 this year and the field is stacked. I’m talking names like Emily Batty,Haley Smith,  Laurie Arseneault, Andrew L ‘Esperance, Geoff Kabush, Felix Burke.

After the 5km neutral rollout (which was anything but neutral as riders jockeyed for position) we pinned the climb and I eventually turned off the heart rate on my Wahoo as the numbers were through the roof.

I was humbled yesterday by the race (THE most amazing race organizing crew, talk about an event); the terrain (stunning scenery and sketchy AF descents—so rocky and SHARP, must have seen 20+ flats) and the drops–don’t get be going about the drops; the riders (the fitness level and technical skills of this field are next level—these Canadians KNOW HOW TO RIDE); and the international feel—there are riders from all over the globe.

I climbed well, got a little sendy on a pumpy flow trail (god that section was fun), made the technical ascents and picked my way down the sketchy sections, which were plentiful. It was a strong ride and I gave myself a fighters chance to get back in the chute for today’s two stage thriller.

October 4, Day Two, Stage 2 & 3: Summerland-Cartwright Mountain and Conkle Mountain

I journeyed into uncharted waters yesterday, racing back to back endurance efforts. They call it “The ultimate single track experience” and the first two days have delivered on that in a big way.

After a 36 km/988 m elevation Stage One, day two brought us Stage 2 & 3 for a fast and furious effort on some dusty Southern Okanagan single track in the Summerland region, totaling 38 km and 1164 m of vertical. Yesterday’s stages were shorter and punchier than day one and without the neutral rollout, the jostling for position began early.

I made a couple of mistakes in Stage Two, and dropped six spots from my placement following day one, but linked up with Nicole for Stage 3 (a Nuun ambassador and stud of a rider from Seattle, by way of AZ and CO, who I rode with for 90% of Stage 1) and she pinned the climb and I followed her wheel as we worked our way to the summit before a rip roaring descent of some loose switchbacks and flowy forested single-track. We picked off riders on the climb, and only got passed by one daring Canadian on the descent.

I cracked the top 100 in Stage 3, climbing 26 spots from Stage 2 on more comfortable North Idaho/Butte style terrain and ended the day with a four position jump. I’m sitting at 111 after three stages and while feeling the sleep debt and big two day effort—I’m all smiles. I’m hyped and beyond grateful that the body has gotten me this far and has proven this capable. It’s ODAAT mode.

During our nightly Zoom sessions where they prep us for the next day’s stage, they warned us last night that today is going to be “really hard” and cold up on Apex Mountain.

Ride safe. Ride strong. Ride smart. That’s one of my mantras. It’s gonna be cold today, but I’ll be at the line for Stage 4. 🙏🏽🇨🇦🤠

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My guys Sebastian from Denmark and Marc from Lebanon. The place is powerful, the people are beautiful. Sebastian and Marc flew a long way—from Denmark and Dubai collectively and they are killing it, both in the top 70 overall.

After the race yesterday we grabbed lunch with Marc’s cohorts, all living in Dubai, representing Spain, South Africa and Lebanon collectively. It was a good birthday lunch—two stages and post race banter with three rich, intellectual and multilayered gents and my bountiful bride.

I’m not sure how much longer the body will hold out (it’s all about managing the flares and how the course treats me), but I’m sure relishing every moment of this ride.

 

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October 5, Day Three, Stage 4: Apex Mountain

At 27 km, just over 1,000 meters of climbing—and the seven stage high point of 2,200 m, and ALLTIME high point of any of the previous BCBR’s—I’d been eying this Apex Mountain stage for weeks as the course that best suited me—if I was still in the field and had some legs.

I woke up with a migraine @ 3 AM the morning of Stage 4 yesterday, and we used all of the tricks in our migraine quiver to avoid taking my migraine medication, but driving up the mountain, I had no choice but to take it. I reminded myself of my strong York 38 with a migraine morning in August, but that wasn’t after four stages and three days of racing—every day is entering into uncharted waters at this point.

BC Bike Race Stage 4 start

With a 200 rider rollout, there was a lot of jostling early in the road climb to the fire road before we hit the single track. The legs felt good, so I went for it.

They told us yesterday was going to be deceptively hard, and a lot of people where suffering, especially as we climbed the mountain and gained elevation, but the legs felt strong and the elevation didn’t have that crushing effect on this MT boy, so I pinned it. After hitting the aid station up top, there was a rip roaring descent, only to climb again. This time a steep wall of a climb. With about 25 riders’ hike-a-biking, I stayed in the saddle and made my move—to have stronger riders, guys and women in the top 80 saying, “you’re a beast,” definitely gave this spondy warrior some juice. I took some chances on the long, loamy, tacky descent (coastal PNW style trail), and kept pushing. This time, I only got caught by two riders on the downhill, one, my man in 88th overall from Calgary and the other a top 70 UK rider who I edged at the line.

It was a good day. A bold and audacious day. My favorite stage by far. I cracked the top 90 with an 89th place finish and moved up seven spots to 104 in the overall. I was fueled by a belly full of my wife’s pancakes and eggs and our host Linnette’s banana bread and I finished this big day of climbing feeling strong and grateful.

I tell my daughter and the kids I coach, we can’t be our best every day—only mediocre people can do that—but we can do our best every day. On Stage 4, day three, I can honestly say, that cracking the top 90 in this field was the best I could have possibly done.

This race is special!!

 

 

 

 

 

October 6, Day Four, Stage 5: Northern Mice & Naramata Bench

Stage 5 of the BCBR is in the books. Today’s climb wasn’t nearly as heinous as Apex Mountain, but today’s 40.5 km dished out another big BC ascent—this time of the Northern Mice and Naramata bench. While yesterday remains my favorite stage, today was far and away the most fun. One big climb up and one long and gnarly descent. The climb took us through classic coastal PNW forest and the descent gave us a steady dose of Northern Mice chunk, drops and granite rollers.

Today’s race plan was to see if I had the legs to attack on the climb again, and when I saw the F29 bib of Tamara Blythe as we entered the single track after the 6 km rollout, I got on her wheel. Tamara won the Team Open Mixed a few years back and has been crushing it, 90th in the overall. She climbs like a goat and descends like a true Vancouver, BC(er). We finished together and rolled through the arch with a fist bump at the line.

Another great day at the BCBR.

 

 

 

October 7, Day Five, Stage 6: Campbell Mountain

Stage 6 was a spicy one. At 36.2 km/1067m climbing, today was fast and furious from the start. It was a classic XC day—my cup of tea. The climbs were punchy and the downhills smooth, loose and fast. I got in a train of a half dozen riders crushing the climb and made a big move on the penultimate climb near the high point of the day, letting it roll on another fast descent and then one more punchy switchback climb before an undulating sprint with my mate Sebastian to the finish.

It was a big effort and fun day of single track on the bike—and I got to talk story with this guy, Dean Payne (the BCBR President and simply exceptional human) at the finish.

I came into yesterday’s stage 104th in the overall, and after my 93rd place finish in Stage 5, I jumped up to 101. I turned myself inside out today and emptied the tank for my strongest result of the six stages, taking a solid 85th, and jumping to 97th in the general classification.

We’ll see what I have left in the tank (& legs) for the last, longest and biggest stage of the week.

 

October 8, Day Six, Stage 7: Three Blind Mice

Day Six and Stage 7 was the longest and biggest stage of this year’s BCBR at 46.5 km and over 1,300m/4K of climbing. Stage 7 was almost entirely single track—fitting of ‘The Ultimate Single-track adventure’—with relentless and punchy technical climbs and spicy, chunky, and gnarly Three Blind Mice descents full of technical drops, granite rollers, and sharp janky rock gardens. The race within the race was intense and fiery on the final day. There was a palpable uneasiness and anticipation of just how hard the stage would be. I emptied the tank one more time, turning myself inside out —desperately wanting to finish, and itching to hold onto my top 100 overall. I spent the first hour of the ride racing with the Lavoie’s (a brother sister combo from Montreal who got stronger as the stages ticked by). Much like Apex Mountain, after the first aid station it was a solo endeavor.

I had my strongest finish of the seven stages, coming in at 2:59:03, 84th on the day and jumping three spots in the cumulative overall. I ended Stage 2 in 118th and scrapped and clawed my way to 94th in the final overall. I got stronger, raced smarter and had more fun each day.

I’m in a sleep debt haze after a ten hour solo drive back to BZN and my girls, pulling up to the crib at 2 AM, and we’re settling in for a weekend on the couch and a Marvel marathon—Kamiah is hyped!!

The riding was radical, the racing was pointy, the trails intense, the place special, the people beautiful, the event unforgettable. I was so blown away each day by the quality of the riders—such a strong and stacked field—and the diverse and rowdy race courses. On my final roll through the KVR after crossing the finish line on my way back to Marina Park Way, I had a good cry pedaling through the vineyards enroute to one final ride through the BCBR banner—just feeling so grateful.

This experience was so multilayered and transformational (I grew and learned so much), a mountain bike pilgrimage and truly sacred journey—one I’d been dreaming about for many moons. Our base-camp for the week at Linnette’s rental was prime and sharing this journey with with my bountiful bride was a gift. This may have been the boldest and most audacious thing I’ve ever pulled off—on or off the bike. I’m so grateful for all of the love, support, encouragement and smoke signals. My team is strong and everyone rallied (no one more so than my my bride, Amanda) to make this all-time experience, one for the ages. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

To my BCBR ohana, a hui hou–until we meet again.

WNbL, mwl