Ferries and Outposts

"If a black bear attacks, fight to win. If it is a grizzly, don't fight." Those were words of advice from the BC Bike Race medical team at today's mandatory racer meeting, despite the low likelihood of an encounter with wildlife with 450 bikers on the trail. We learned other practical information, such as what to do if we had a trail emergency and trail etiquette if a faster racer or the moto pacer is on our rear wheel.

Before the meeting, we had handed over our bikes and bags to be loaded and packed with care in a semi-truck. We had been given a Dakine travel bag at registration and it was full of everything we might need for the week (from boxes of energy bars to the bikini for the Whistler hot tub). It was hard for me to do, but the laptop stayed at Gabrielle and Greg's house (no separation anxiety yet).

These trucks will cart our stuff from start line to start line each day. Loads of amazing volunteers will set up a tent city and buffet line at each base camp (called the Bear's Den) and attempt to care for each rider's needs. Maybe I'm getting soft in my years, but I admit that taking the logistics out of eating, sleeping and handling our bikes is very appealing. Unlike a race like the Tour de Divide, the race along the Continental Divide where racers have to be self-sufficient over the 4000 plus miles, this event allows you to expend mental bandwidth on racing well, not setting up camp along the way.

Mid-afternoon, we boarded a massive ferry in Horseshoe Bay to travel two hours up Howe's Sound to Nanaimo, a city of 90,000. Biding time on the ferry dock, we bought fresh strawberries and raspberries that had been picked that morning. An iced latte hit the spot as temps had already climbed into the 20's Celsius ( that would be 70's Fahrenheit). The weather forecast looks dreamy for the week ahead, with 20's and dry weather everyday of the week. This is typically a dry period of the year, but like Vermonters, locals have lamented over a wet spring and closed trails. In fact, many of the peaks that have encircled us the last few days still show snow chutes.

We arrived in Cumberland in time to catch a salmon burger at a local pub called the Waverley and settle into our hotel room. Tomorrow will be a good introduction to the flowing singletrack through deep forests and the vistas of vast inlets here. Day 1's race is 54 km (almost 34 miles) with 1200 meters of elevation gain (almost 4000 feet). I'd better get some rest.