Day Two: The Bear Facts
One of the major hazards on the Trans-Rockies - apart from the technical terrain (more of which later) - are bears. Riders are advised to attach "bear bells" to their bike or helmet and the really cautious riders carry a bear repellent spray that comes in a can somewhat larger than hairspray. Apparently it is just as effective as the "spark repellent spray" in the old Batman and Robin film.
While your chances of seeing any bears are slim, some riders were held up for 20 minutes at the second feed-station today because of a bear with cubs further along the trail. For our Irish friends, this delay led to them missing the cut-off time at check-point two.
Bears caused me a few problems today as well because the race organisers will not let competitors ride alone - you have to find a team to ride with for safety in numbers. If you find yourself without a partner on the Trans-Alps, for whatever reason, you simply sign into the starting block each day with another team and then do your own thing. On the Trans-Rockies you must ride with a team and stay within two minutes of your new team-mates at all check-points and of course the finish line.
I pointed out to the race organisers that I didn't want to slow down a fast team, nor did I want to meander along with a much slower team. The compromise was that I would ride with a TR-3 number for two days. This is a new three-day solo event added to the Trans-Rockies this year. So at 8am this morning I was all set to ride alone on the toughest stage of this year's race.
One of the most notable differences between the Trans-Rockies and the Cape Epic or the Trans-Alps is that the organisers are determined to keep everything off-road. There are tarmac roads through the mountains we traversed today, but instead we headed up a steep, rocky climb that soon became a hike-a-bike. The climb to the first feed-station was ridiculously steep in places and this quickly stretched out the lead group of around 20-30 riders. I made good progress on foot, both uphill and down - the descent on the other side was loose soil and some of the steeper sections were much safer on two feet than on two wheels.
The second big climb of the day was a long rocky drag and it proved difficult to maintain traction in many places. The descent to feed-station two was probably the most exhausting, technical mountain biking I've ever encountered. The trail criss-crossed a fast moving stream and there were countless fallen trees that bestraddle the trail. The result was an "on-off, on-off" descent that sapped the energy and drained the riders' concentration.
After the final feed-station of the day, the riding was a break-neck drive to the finish line in the big ring, with just one short climb into Nipika in the granny ring. Only eight riders finished ahead of me today. However, although my number board says TR3 I am officially unclassified, so I won't be on the podium tonight despite being the first rider home in the 40+ category. I suppose I'll just have to grin and bear it.
Pete & Jon's sponsors:
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