The night before the race checking out the times of the previous year winners for solo women Grace noticed she needed 6 laps to win. The pre-ride the night before was awesome but we only rode half the course not the crazy downhill which we soon learned about in the race. The race started at 10am and it was an all out sprint to take your place in line. The course was awesome lots of challenging logs to go over and some crazy downhills as we both almost launched into a ditch.
With no support and just a car to go back to – to switch out packs and get food there left little reason not to keep riding. Grace was in the lead for women’s solo early in the race and really didn’t want to do a 6th lap but knew that 6th lap would mean 1st place. Phil had a mechanical on lap 5 as his brake pads went into his router, not so good when the rest of the lap is all downhill but he made it to the end safely and in time to convince Grace to do that 6th lap. An awesome race and we will probably go back next year. See you at Pedal by the Puddle
The best place we know so far for fishing is Grassham Lake located near Fort St James a small town where Grace grew up. It’s always a great fishing day almost every cast or a few minutes of trolling it’s either a bite or a fish landed in the boat. A favourite location for camping or take the catch to shore and cook up some fish with salt and vinegar chips on a bun who needs hot dogs when you have nice rainbow trout.
We caught enough fish for dinner for a week and we spotted a moose and calf on the lake. Always a great day out if you go fishing at Grasham Lake. If you are looking for a guiding outfit to take you out for a great day these guys can take care of you and show you a good time at Grassham – Omineca Outfitters.
Here are some pictures that Grace and I took at the Race the Ranch Downhill Race this past weekend. It was a beautiful day for the race. There were 358 riders taking part in the race. Grace and I volunteered to help out with the timing for them however before we got started Grace and I snuck off and got some pictures of the racers pre riding the course. I would have loved to get photos of them while they were racing but it was very busy around the timing tent and no time for running off to pretend to be a pro photographer. Maybe next time there is a race in town I will try and get on as a photographer instead. Anyways hope you guys enjoy the pictures.
The biggest DirtChix ride of the season, so far. Thanks for the invite and thanks to Phil for putting on his skirt and joining the DirtChix to take some pictures. 16 fine girls and 1 photographer were out for the ride, which slowly broke into a few groups so the faster girls could ride ahead. Only one really good tumble not sure who won the dirtiest girl award but I tried rolling around in the dirt but that didn’t work. Thanks to Dana for organizing a great ride. Check out some of the pictures below from the ride.
Here is the latest video angle we are trying with the hero camera. It’s pretty good it gives you a new look on the trails. We shot this video up in the Juniper area of Kamloops late in the evening. Super fun riding up there. Enjoy.
Do you want to go riding in Salmon Arm? Hell’s ya!! It’s hard to believe it’s mid April for the past how many years riding in April meant wearing lots of layers and piece mealing a trail together. NOT NOW, for Phil and Grace it means great climbs, awesome trails and lots of sunshine.
There were 12 of us riding; the climbing was awesome as we pounded our way up to the top of the hill where we rested so the group could catch up. Cruising down the other side with some dips, berms and gates. At the bottom was a bike trials and jump park. Time for some pics and a snack and the dreaded climb awaits. Watch out for Phil the creepy guy along the trail taking pics of everyone else riding, well not really creepy.
Reaching the top again and awaiting the arrival of the rest of the group was a great time to work on our tan. Did someone say DOWN, WOW that was amazing the down was filled with tight corners fast descents, more corners, trees, rocks and GATES!!! what a rush we loved it. Just another day in paradise. Thanks to everyone for letting us tag along can’t wait for next week.
A perfect day for a run in the mountains, Grace and I got up early and got out for an early start on Ribbon Creek Trail before all of the walkers got going. We ran the 8.4km trail into the falls campground, where we stopped for a quick bite to eat and some pictures of the falls. The weather was starting to turn for the worse so we decided to turn around and run out instead of continuing onto the Lake. On our way back out we stopped at all of the beautiful areas on the trail where you could get good shots of the river and the falls. In all we couldn’t have asked for a better day for running and taking pictures in the mountains. Check out the photo album to see all of the pics from the run. Click here to see all of the picture or click on either of these image.
Grace and I decided it was time to get out and do some hiking and camping. After months of only biking we needed out and we wanted it to be remote. We didn’t have a lot of time so we decided camping on top of Jumping Pound Summit would cover everything we needed. 2.5 km hike, you get to camp above treeline, and almost guaranteed not to have any company.
Here is a stop motion video of us setting up our tent.
We quickly realized that night why we should not camp on the very top of a baren rocky mountain. The thunder and lightening storm was amazing. Lying in the tent it was not amazing it instead induced panic. We had no other option other than to lie there and count how many seconds between the flash and the bang. As it got closer I felt my panic level increase. At some point it must have stopped because I woke up early in the morning to one of the most amazing windstorms I have ever been in.
The wind made it very cold on the top of the mountain however we were toasty warm since we had taken our Mountain Hardwear Phantom Jackets to keep us warm. We ate our breakfast and packed all of our gear and got ourselves out of there.
Intermontane Challenge – 5 day mtn bike race – Kamloops, BC
What at great adventure to ride 5 days in the beautiful trails of Kamloops BC. We knew it would be an adventure before we started we expected it to be hot but maybe not that hot. Phil and I didn’t get a lot of time training in the heat as it was a cold start to the summer in Calgary.
Day one started out with nerves going crazy as the start of any race for us but we know we had a slow police escort and intro parade through downtown Kamloops. Quickly we found ourselves climbing up the hills to the North shore of Kamloops where you are very exposed to the sun. With the sun beating down at 9am we knew it was going to be a hot day. We started popping salt pills before we left the start but soon found out that was not going to be enough. The long climb on a double track took us to the first aid station we were making good time a quick stop for more water and Fubar and then off we went finding ourselves on an awesome single track trail that looped us back to the first aid station where we refueled again. Next part was a long uphill ride it seemed like it took forever as the heat beat down on us soon to turn off onto a treed trail which took us across to some great single track by this time we had run out of water wishing we were at aid station 3 so we could refuel. 1 hour later thank god there it was Phil had the water guy spray him down and we drank a ton of liquid and loaded our packs with extra water and Fubar. The next part of the trail was some more great single track and then exiting the north shore on the trail started on. Reaching the last checkpoint about 3km before the end we found ourselves de-hydrated beyond repair the great people at the checkpoint gave us ice, water and grape juice without that I think we would have passed out. We found ourselves walking our bikes for next km bonked beyond repair and not sure if we were going to make it or not. Finally we reached the top of the hill and we got back on our bikes and coasted another piece of great single track it’s too bad we couldn’t have enjoyed it we just survived it. At last the paved road and only a few minutes left to the finish for the day Grace pounded out the road after the last 4 hours of having leg cramps what did I have to lose. Crossing the finish line and falling to the ground we were so glad to be out of the sun for once today. Graciously they had a big cold tub we could crawl into to cool ourselves down. A hard day but we dug deep to get it finished.
The evening of day one was horrible we couldn’t eat we couldn’t drink we felt ill so what were we going to do for day 2. Neither of us wanted to take the day off….
Day 2 we still felt pretty ill we got up and ate some food but nothing was very appealing and we still weren’t sure if we wanted to ride or not. I tried to convince Phil that we could ride but Phil the smart one was thinking that was a bad idea so we went back up to our room and we felt really sick in the elevator and then I thought of how much refueling we did from yesterday and that was almost nothing so that was it we would take the day off and eat and drink as much salt as possible so we could ride days 3-5. Day 2 was going back over to the North Shore and was supposed to have less shade then Day 1 notr sure how that would be possible. We spent the day touring around Kamloops and found ourselves buying a lot of electrolytes from the running store. Finally about 5pm we were feeling much better and ready to ride day 3.
Day 3 was hoped to be 80km but with some course logistics and some local claiming a trail on crown land it was quickly changed with a later start time. This day we headed south of Kamloops where we were told there would be more trees yeah!! A quick climb out of Kamloops lead us to a maze of trails near Ink Lakes. The only way to get to some great downhill single track is to climb so that is what we found ourselves doing on a gravel road we climbed for 9km it was very hot and when the lady showed up with a cold water sponge that was the best part of the climb. At the top was the second water station where we fueled up with extra water and Fubar and headed down some wicked single track it was awesome what a wicked ride. We got to a section where you had to use your mantracker skills but after a minute we had it figured out and off we went down some more great single track chasing down our friends from Vancouver another mixed team. We caught them at water station 3 where we started out riding together and then we hit a gravel road and we hammered and they didn’t although they beat us on the technical riding – road was not there strong area. After much hard work on day 3 trying to re-route the course a lot of people still got lost so the day wasn’t counted for times. What a great day!!
Day 4 this was the biggest day of the race posted at 80km turned into about 100km depending on your km tracking device. Whatever the distance was it was a great ride we went to this race to ride our bike so if it’s 80 or 100km it’s still going to be a blast. We left on the same route as day 3 all the way to the first water station then we turned left off the trail and headed out a long way along gravel roads and some double track finally coming out at Stake lakes for a loop around the lake where the trail turned a little more technical then what we could ride our mixed team friends were close behind us but I think they were riding a lot more of this trail then we did it was even sketchy to walk over the big rocky area. At last onto some easy double track where we cruised to the next water station where we enjoyed the company of the volunteers ate some food and headed on our way. The next part of the trail was some crazy singletrack some it rideable for us some of it not so much but a great trail none the less. The Suzuki trail a trail to be remembered we got some great video here and the sun was still shining and it was still very hot but after enjoying the trail we ended up at water station 4 just the last section to do the same as we did on day 3 so it was hammer time on the road again back to Kamloops. The last bit of riding for the day was a ride through Kenna Cartwright Park what a great time some crazy fast winding switchback single track cruising down to the TRU to the finish line. Wow that was a rush of a day.
Day 5 The time trial the day we have all been waiting for a 30km ride through Kenna Cartwright Park and of course we started with a long climb but it all paid off with some switchback single track. I tried to ride something I probably shouldn’t have but it’s race day and I didn’t want to get off of my bike. Down the hill I rode and sure enough I go off the trail into a stump as I jump through the air all I can think of is I hope my other foot clips out and sure enough my foot comes through and I land on my feet and run down the hill what a rush and I’m okay. Surprised but not as lucky for my bike a bent my rear derailleur hanger so later in ride I jammed my chain and then my derailleur wasn’t working so well which was kind of disappointing. I made due with the limited gears and still had a great ride and finished the day in about 3 hours.
After 4 out of 5 days of riding we had a great time and the race was awesome the trails were in great condition and the heat was a little too extreme for us be we will definitely go back to this race as the set up of staying at TRU was great. It was nice to stay in air conditioned rooms after a day of riding in the heat. We didn’t go for the food supplied by the race but we heard it was great everyday we did our own food thing of course. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone who wants to try a 5 day stage race with the convenience of staying in town or the veteran stage racer to give it a try and maybe bring the whole family for a week of awesome weather.
Another training night for Intermontane Challenge – Tonight was the perfect night we arrived at the trail about 7:30pm and did a few trail running photo shots for Ann Corbett from Defeet so we ran up and down Elbow Valley hill into Canyon Creek Trail. As Phil was running up the last time some mountain bikers were coming down so he jumped out of the way as it were we knew the riders so we took some great pics of them as well.
Now on to our mountain bike hill repeats of the gravel road upto ‘You Shoulda’ then a sweet fast ride down. We started riding at about 8pm the sun perfectly in our eyes for the first hill repeats as we climbed up the hill which is pretty steep our sunglasses were fogging up with the heat and working pretty hard putting on a good pace to the top trying to get in 2 hill repeats before dark. Finally at the top ready for the fun part Phil attaches the Go Hero camera to his handle bars and I go first down the trail as he follows I try to keep my glasses clear on the way down so I didn’t have to stop and so I don’t crash. What a rush we make it to the bottom pretty fast with a burn in the legs and arms we come to the end of the down so it’s time to go back up again.
One more hill repeat this time we come across a deer and take a quick stop to say hi and then back on our pound up the hill also a fast ride trying to beat the sun going down. Reaching the top is always the best part until you go down and down once again a great trail and a great rush just watch those tight corners.
We finished the ride at 9:10 so a great night for a ride and for hill repeats – just as we got home the lightning and thunder started and the rain and hail was pretty crazy.
The night before the race checking out the times of the previous year winners for solo women Grace noticed she needed 6 laps to win. The pre-ride the night before was awesome but we only rode half the course not the crazy downhill which we soon learned about in the race. The race started at 10am and it was an all out sprint to take your place in line. The course was awesome lots of challenging logs to go over and some crazy downhills as we both almost launched into a ditch.
With no support and just a car to go back to – to switch out packs and get food there left little reason not to keep riding. Grace was in the lead for women’s solo early in the race and really didn’t want to do a 6th lap but knew that 6th lap would mean 1st place. Phil had a mechanical on lap 5 as his brake pads went into his router, not so good when the rest of the lap is all downhill but he made it to the end safely and in time to convince Grace to do that 6th lap. An awesome race and we will probably go back next year. See you at Pedal by the Puddle
