Stage 1: A tough start

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Schlepping gear(Image credit: Jason Berry)

June 28, 2008

I'm not sure whose idea it was, but Jon Posner and I both listened intently to Chris Eatough carry on about how outrageously fun the BC Bike Race is (after he won the first running of the race last year). It was convincing coming from such a seasoned racer as Chris so we agreed we were on it in 2008. It doesn't matter how much you run it through your mind, but when the adventure begins there's no turning back, and you deal with the knocks as they come. And they have come fast and furious.

Our first flight out of BWI [Baltimore - Washington International Airport - ed.] was delayed due to what the lady on the mic said was a crew who apparently were forgotten by the cab service. Then she hung up the mic and told her co-worker they were out partying too late and slept in. This wrecked our other two connecting flights and the fun game of re-routing began. Luckily we had all day, but our trip managed to take all day. But all seemed back on track once we arrived in Victoria, British Columbia.

The third and possibly most daunting challenge was getting all our gear for the seven days of racing (including nutrition during each day) into the bags provided by the race. The exceptionally cool embroidery took my mind off the fear that not everything would fit. Kind of. Imagine, sleeping bag, pad, riding clothing (for any conditions), spare parts, post-race clothing (for any conditions) and about 10 pounds of gels and bars and mix. DaKine makes some bomber bags as that thing was stretched beyond safe limits. Then I realized my messenger bag with laptop and camera was still sitting beside me...

Another fun hit was getting my bike built only to find my fork was blown - an apparent casualty of the flight. The team of mechanics from a local shop named Bike Obsession were helpful but had no replacements. It wasn't until a local guy named Matt offered me his personal shock off his bike since he wasn't racing. He drove 25 minutes home to get it and then back - without accepting a dime. The techs didn't even charge me to change it out and instead told me to get some rest - that they'd have it dialed in come morning. Wow! I'm used to seeing pros get that treatment but for me? I was pleasantly floored.

Poz and I were not so competitive having escaped incident at the start only to find the heat and length of climbs (the main climb to Aid Station two ran 12km up 700m- ed.) were the most punishing challenge of the trip so far. Poz started viciously cramping to the point of walking climbs he would normally hammer up, swearing at his legs. For me, the hike-a-bike sections inflamed my right IT band to the point of searing pain. Poz and I finished best we could trading pulls with a few of the other super-friendly racers then outsprinting a few more at the end to feel better about ourselves.

The BC Bike Race returns to British Columbia, Canada, for its second annual running from June 28 to July 4, 2008. The BC Bike race is one race in the still growing category of multi-day mountain bike stage races. It uses the popular two-person team format and boasts a large amount of singletrack through the rugged, Canadian backcountry. Follow the adventures day by day from the vantage point of four racers on two teams including last year's winners Chris Eatough and Jeff Schalk (Trek / VW) and first-time competitors Jason Berry and Jon Posner (GFK Racing). Schalk has been dominating the American 100 miler scene while Eatough is a proven champion at both 100 milers and 24 hours races. Film-maker Jason Berry and Jon Posner are long-time endurance enthusiasts and also two of the men behind the movie 24 Solo, which documented Eatough's bid for a seventh 24 hour World Championship Solo title. The racers will take turns contributing diary entries during the event.