Bow80 2012
Well, the so waited Bow80 came this year with an stellar warm weather for the first time in at least the last 10 years !! I decided to stay home instead of camping at Station Flats to ensure a good sleep and be 100% rested for the race. Woke up at 5:00am and had breakfast before heading out to Timys for my large coffee with cream :-)))) It was dark and the drive to Bragg Creek was quiet, but I always enjoy that pre-race feeling in my stomach... with mixed feelings, expectations and lots of butterflies. At 0725hrs I was lining up in the front ready to go. Off we went and pretty much out of breath fairly quickly, but I knew I had to put in that extra efforts at the start if I wanted to stay ahead of Andy. About an hour into the race 4 of us in single speed where riding together (that was Jeff N, Pat D, Pat H and myself. Jeff was chatting with Pat H and soon I was in the conversation... (we probably weren't working that hard if we could still talk :-)).
Pat D, took off and we couldn't see him anymore.. I got to the first aid station and grabbed my two bottles in seconds and was ready to go. Off to the gravel road and with a 32/21 didn't have enough rpm in my legs to pedal, so I coasted lots and hammer the climbs.
Once I got into the Powder Face climb there was a lot of push a bike, mount, dismount, push a bike, mount, dismount and so on... Once you get to the top you know that the race is about to start, as riders are starting to feel tired and fatigued... As I was coming down through the rocky section of Powder Face I saw Jeff N fixing a flat, made sure he was ok and kept going. Few minutes later and the SOB passed me again :-( I managed to stay close to him for a while, but could see him leaving... Cough up to him going up Sulphur and was yelling at him (I see you Jeff !!). Running up Sulphur was hard, but I was so looking forward to see Pneuma so I kept going at a good pace. Jeff stopped to fill up his water bottle and soon was behind me again. Up Pneuma I let him by as I was starting to cramp pretty badly and while I was digging into my pockets for the last resource for cramps he managed to get away from my sight. Almost at the top of Pneuma I saw him again, but as soon as he started the descent on Special K he was gone. I had to walk some sections of Special K, but didn't cost me to much time. Into Tom Snow I was already looking forward to finish the race and had that extra bit of energy to crank it up to the end. Passes a gear guy that was in front of me all the time and dropped him in no time ! Holy crap I think I was pedaling at least 120rpm in the flats to stay away from that guy and managed to cross the finish line in less than 4:46 (almost 15min faster than last year and 5 minutes closer to Kate than last year too :-))))
Nick and Maria drove to Station Flats to spend the rest of the afternoon with me and the rest of the group where we had at least 3 spolumbos and too many sodas..
Pat D, took off and we couldn't see him anymore.. I got to the first aid station and grabbed my two bottles in seconds and was ready to go. Off to the gravel road and with a 32/21 didn't have enough rpm in my legs to pedal, so I coasted lots and hammer the climbs.
Once I got into the Powder Face climb there was a lot of push a bike, mount, dismount, push a bike, mount, dismount and so on... Once you get to the top you know that the race is about to start, as riders are starting to feel tired and fatigued... As I was coming down through the rocky section of Powder Face I saw Jeff N fixing a flat, made sure he was ok and kept going. Few minutes later and the SOB passed me again :-( I managed to stay close to him for a while, but could see him leaving... Cough up to him going up Sulphur and was yelling at him (I see you Jeff !!). Running up Sulphur was hard, but I was so looking forward to see Pneuma so I kept going at a good pace. Jeff stopped to fill up his water bottle and soon was behind me again. Up Pneuma I let him by as I was starting to cramp pretty badly and while I was digging into my pockets for the last resource for cramps he managed to get away from my sight. Almost at the top of Pneuma I saw him again, but as soon as he started the descent on Special K he was gone. I had to walk some sections of Special K, but didn't cost me to much time. Into Tom Snow I was already looking forward to finish the race and had that extra bit of energy to crank it up to the end. Passes a gear guy that was in front of me all the time and dropped him in no time ! Holy crap I think I was pedaling at least 120rpm in the flats to stay away from that guy and managed to cross the finish line in less than 4:46 (almost 15min faster than last year and 5 minutes closer to Kate than last year too :-))))
Nick and Maria drove to Station Flats to spend the rest of the afternoon with me and the rest of the group where we had at least 3 spolumbos and too many sodas..
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