Covid-200 Solo (Water Valley Loop 2020 edition in -8c brrr)

Every year I try to do a long ride to start getting in the mood for 24 hours races... at the same time, it is always nice to get out your regular route and hammer a distance that you only do a few times a year at the most.

This route is known as the Water Valley 220. Started years ago (at least for me) with Craig Stapler and Kate Ardal. Super hard core riders, lovers of adventures on two wheels and crazy fit riders (physically and mentally). They both accumulate enough miles on the bike to go around the world a few times !!!. Anyway, it was probably ten years ago when I told them I would love to join them for a super long ride, they toss the idea of the Water Valley 220 that originally started after coffee at Cadence (Bowness breakfast place) finding a way north through 12 mile coulee all the way the Maden and then left towards Water Valley. There are many other ways to get to WV, but at least this is what I would consider the original route. From WV (after a mandatory stop at the gas station to refuel on water and other snacks, or if you are in the mood for lunch you can visit the Water Valley Saloon which we have done at least once) we would head out west towards Hwy 40. The first 5k from WV are on a paved road. Once at the bottom of the road the real challenge begins !!

Gravel Road North Ghost Forest Reserve

A gravel road all the way up to the top of Harold Creek (this is a trunk road) fairly packed down, although I have ridden it in all conditions (wet, fresh gravel, dry, snowed and hard frozen like it was this past Sunday). Almost 30k to the summit, a gradual climb through the North Ghost Forest Reserve. You have no cell coverage and you feel in the middle of no where.... at that point you are closer to home if you keep riding than if you turn around and head back, therefore bailing out is not an option ! Commitment and moving forward will get you home.

Probably 8-10k from the summit all the way down to the intersection with Hwy40 you will get to the beloved sign that reads “Cochrane 59km”. From that point you still on gravel for at least another 30k, all the way through the South Ghost Forest Reserve, through the Whispering Pines dirt bike area, shooting range on the side of the road and of course the Waiperous Campground.

Once you pass the Campground there is still at least 12k on gravel, up and down all the way to the entrance of AltaLink substation.

I am counting the kms down, 12, 11, 10, ....... can’t wait to see the texas gate that marks the end of the gravel and the so waited “pave road” !! Everything goes silent after that point, smooth sailing from there on, you smile, scream and laugh. Yeeeee pavement I yelled at least once !!! What a sense of accomplishment... And although you still 60 kms from home you feel as if you are almost there. No more major climbs, no more gravel roads.. Sometimes you get lucky and a nice NW wind will be you best friend, other times (like this past Sunday) you have that nasty SE wind in your face all the way to Calgary !!!&$ Going through the town of Waiperous is pretty neat, big houses, small houses, paintball court, horses, windmills, mountains, views of all kind.. there is nothing after the Water Valley gas station, so make sure you have enough water and food otherwise it will be a miserable ride to Cochrane..

I had one more stop to finish a frozen sandwich right after I passed the Waiperous bridge, one more dose of energy in my legs to finish the stretch. The day was foggy, could barely see 200mts ahead of me the entire day.. temperature was around -8c and -11c, damp, wet and windy.. If I am riding with company, just before hitting Hwy1A We would go left and conquer one more hill (Wild Cat Hill), awesome way to close your big day, but If I am riding solo I would skip that. Hitting the Hwy1A is so nice, you see cars, people “civilization” yeeee, so nice. Cochrane is only 15km from that point (although the wind can make it feel like 100k).

Made it to Cochrane just under 7 1/2 hours, quick stop at the gas station for a hot coffee before the hill. With my feet now a bit warmer after the stop and coffee I was ready for the last push, 22-24kms all the way home. I decided to go up the hill and not through Glen Eagles, up the hill is usually 15min on tired legs and head wind which is ok. From there is all flat... the city of Calgary starts to show up in the horizon, you can spot the COP and the river is the view you are always familiar with, so nice ! I still have 3 granola bars in my bike, had one and felt good, had the other one and felt even better, might as well have a third one !! Oh it felt good.

Lessons learnt:

1. Don’t forget your booties, specially when the forecast is -8c all day!

2. Don’t let your water bottles freeze! You need to drink at least 4 of those in such a long ride !

3. Try toe warmers packs inside your shoes, might help keep your toes save
4. Load more songs in your iPod so that you don’t have to listen your playlist 20 times !!!!