I
would like to acknowledge that Melissa was instrumental in my
completion of my first 400 km Brevet. She did an awesome job of
providing support for me at the controls. Inspirational from
the
day I met her, she is my rock.
Saturday, 15 May, 2010, The Highway to Hell brevet:
The
day started like most days, DARK! Whose idea was it to start
this
brevet before dawn? It did make for an enlightening cycle
through
Fernwood on the way to the start. Arriving in time to hand
off my
waiver and entry fee, listen to the brevet preamble, we were
off.
The weather was predicted to be warm (10 C) There were a few more
riders than in
the “Hills are Alive”
brevet forming a line of taillights blinking in the dark.
Keeping up
was my goal, at least to the Malahat as getting lost in the
first 7
km of the ride would be embarrassing. Having somehow ended up
just behind Ken as we approached the Exit # 14 “bike route” we were
confronted by the glass we had been warned of in the
preamble. Ken and I rode
through the glass, to the sounds of wiser men unclipping from
their bikes as they
carried their bikes the 22 (or so) paces to protect their
tires.
The pace picked up as we dropped down to Goldstream.
With
the start of the Malahat climb, in a moment of delusion, I took over
the lead from Ken. One bike length, then another and another;
this would be the high point of the ride for me. A short
lived
illusion as Ken soon spun past followed by a couple more riders. Then
my tempo steadied and I would not be passed again until I stopped to
adjust clothing. My lighting choice was acceptable for the
speed
I chose to descend the ‘hat. A brighter light would only have
gotten me in trouble faster.
As the sun came up, the temperature
dropped and I was soon checking my toes to see if they were still
attached. This would sort itself out shortly after
Duncan. In the quiet of the early morning, one could easily
forget the traffic jam the
Duncan strip becomes during the day. There are few things in
life
better than greeting the dawn on a bicycle. One of them is
doing
so when you can still feel all of your body parts. Ladysmith
slipped by quickly. Transfer beach already littered with
kayaks
for the Kayakfest being held this weekend. Stopping once more
to change
to
dryer clothing a few more riders spun past. Third place was
definitely out of reach now. Yes, I know randonneur brevets are not
races, however I like the incentive #;o). Stopping at Cassidy
to
use the washroom, I was informed they would not be open for 7
minutes. 7 minutes! I am glad we have so many trees
in BC
that need nitrogen.
Entering Nanaimo before most sane people
were travelling gave one the impression it had well thought out
infrastructure. My father used to say there were all sorts of
roads into Nanaimo, but very few that would take you back
out.
Arriving at the first checkpoint way too soon I was a little dismayed
that my support vehicle was nowhere in sight. A couple of
minutes
later Melissa was there. After brevet
card formalities and refreshments, I
was
back on the road. Ross Nichol and I played a slow game of
leapfrog along the old Island Highway, a wonderful coastal
ride I would recommend to everyone. Parksville and Qualicum
would
soon succumb to the steady rhythm of my pedals. There is a
point
in most of my rides, usually before the halfway point, when reason
surfaces and I seriously question what I am up to. Normally
it
passes quickly, reasonable thoughts are like that. This was
different; this was a 400 km brevet. Am I insane!
Before I
could start processing, Ken was there. Albeit he was on his
return
trip;
that meant Union Bay could not possibly be that far.
Wrong!
Man that
guy is fast!
Rolling
up to the Union Bay Market there was, once more, no support vehicle in
sight. Before I could deal with the brevet card formalities
Melissa arrived, along with my mother, a pleasant and encouraging
surprise. Ross was back on the road ASAP, I however relaxed
for a
meal including hot soup, and 20 minutes for a nap before I
was heading back down island, the sanity question temporarily
averted. Jim Runkel and Philip Lennox arrived and indulged in
a
meal as well. On the ride South the temperature was 18 C and
the
winds light and fickle.
I met Renata, a friend from the Friday ride group, who had
cycled
up from Victoria to watch her son play at the Parksville
Arena. A
brief chat and I was spinning along.
Nanaimo
was busy, the traffic showing the flaws in infrastructure.
Three
for three, I arrived ahead of support. This stop not having
the
amenities of most control sites, I was delighted to discover the hold
up this time was the wait for a hot bowl of “Timmy’s” chicken noodle
soup and a double espresso. (Note to organizer – there is a Timmy’s on
the RHS of the highway as you leave the Nanaimo area) Fresh
batteries in the lights, additional warm clothes for the, hopefully
short, night ride and I was off, alone into the evening, with a little
over 100 km to go. The wind held off, the temperature hovered
around 20 C.
A quick stop in Duncan at Timmy’s (no, I do not
have shares #;o) for more espresso and a doughnut, I was set.
Jim
and Philip would arrive as I was leaving. Philip expressing
concerns about the Shawnigan Lake leg of the brevet. After
reading Keith Nichol’s “Eau de Hell 400 Brevet”
report this was a reasonable concern. I was under the
impression
that club membership freed of us of the requirement to be reasonable in
our thought patterns; part of the allure.
Though the climb
through Cobble Hill and Shawnigan Lake was very dark there was plenty
of traffic on the road due to an accident on the ‘hat. I
would
change tops twice before finally bundling up for the ride down the
Malahat. Unbundling after climbing out of Goldstream, the
adrenaline rush kicked in with the realization I was almost
finished. The road disappeared beneath my tires and soon I
was
shaking hands with Jim Fidler, in third place no less. Well
third
from the last. Jim and Philip arrived shortly. Back
to back
third place finishes, I was giddy (it might have been the lack of
sleep). As for Hell, though Nanaimo came close, I never did
locate it Spinning home I began formulating a plan for the
“Pacific Rim Red Eye" 600; quickly before sanity prevailed.
Epilogue
Sunday,
I slipped out for a hair of the dog that bit me. Who knew
that
you could bonk after 10 km on a recovery ride! Must be my
body
informing me that frozen yogurt and licorice did not actually
constitute lunch. Luckily the corner store had Snickers to
round
out my nutritional needs. After 15 km I decided it was soak
time. I could easily have done twice that if not for the
sandpaper in my shorts, the lead in my shoes and the amazingly rough
roads in our neighborhood. Yeah, I could possibly ride the
upcoming "pacific rim red eye" 600km brevet; with a balanced
approach to support, nutrition and sanity.
More photos
Pin Concept -
Ron
Penner
Graphic Art - Ali Holt
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