Bacon Buffet of Pain and Suffering

Goal for this race: Finish in the top half
Secondary goal: Ride the Houfallizer climb on each lap

After looking at the ABA schedule I thought for my first year I would do a race every other week. This one just happened to fall 2 weeks after Lethbridge...but to be honest...I probably would have done it either way. I was really looking forward to this race. Everyone I talked to said it was one of the best courses and it was a lot of fun. Also you get handed strips of bacon during the race...that is just awesome.


I was going to go the night before and get a hotel...but then I talked to a teammate and thought it might be better to just carpool early Saturday morning. Darcy came along to drive back home and we went up with another DG, Tori, as well. We got there in pretty good time to do a pre-ride thanks to a shortcut from Tori and this time I felt really good after doing a pre-race lap.
There was a really steep grassy hill climb (Houfallizer) back into the feed zone which I heard tales about but I really wanted to see if I could climb it everytime. The course itself was like a lot like Fish Creek Park...very twisty and rooty single-track. Not many places to pass and not a ton of elevation gain.

My bike of choice this time was my Vertex. I had just recently replaced all the shifting cables and more importantly installed hydraulic disc brakes so I figured it was good to race this time.

After hearing final call for the start line I ran up th hill just in time to get my name called and get into the pack. This time I was much more relaxed and I felt pretty good. The whistle went off and everyone sprinted hard out of the gate. Midway through the first lap I started to settle into my own pace...which I held for the rest of the race...I was picking guys off during the power climbs and catching up on the hill climbs and straight away sprints.

On teh second lap, there was a log technical that was pretty high up and on a descent that I worried about during the pre-ride...I had ridden it on my first lap so thought I could do it again. I didn't have my weight far enough back and ended up going over the handlebars. First crash of the day. I picked up my bike, got back on and just started riding without checking myself...my knee was killing me but I figured I would ride through it and maybe forget about it. Then near the end of the lap when I was about to climb the big hill...my chain came off...forcing me to get off and get it back on again.

When I was on my way to completing my second lap someone yelled that if I ate 5 strips of bacon I would have 10 minutes taken off my total time...no one was in front of me and no one was behind me...so I figured I had 3o seconds to eat 5 strips of bacon. I grabbed a handful and just shoved all the bacon into my mouth , grabbed a new bottle of water from Darcy and rode off to complete my second lap. Trying to chew bacon, swallow and drink water to get it down meanwhile pinning your heart is not a good idea....in fact that was downright stupid. After I managed to force the bacon down my throat I continued on, just wanting to finish the race.

My third lap I rode cleanly. No dabs, bails and I managed to clean the log technical section. No mechnical issues and I managed to climb the steep hill for a third time. As always I use up everything I have on the final sprint for the finish.

Result: 11/29

I never did claim the 10 minute deduction from my time for being the only person that day to consume 5 pieces of bacon at one time...it would have put me in 4th place...but I'd rather see what I can do on my own.

I really enjoyed this race. The atmosphere was awesome. I felt way more relaxed and my teammates mentioned I looked a lot stronger on this race than in Lethbridge. I met a bunch of other riders and had a fun time all around. This is what mountain biking is all about...I love the community. I've noticed that mountain bikers are by far the coolest atheletes to hang around, it's like a big family. I didn't know if I could hold on for 3 laps a the start of the race but I managed to finish and still feel good.

After hearing stories the next week about the TransStonies challenge, I felt that I probably should have stayed for that 6 hour Enduro the next day but still not sure what my endurance limits are. Next race....Deadgoat Giver-8-er.

Midweek Mayhem

Well this week after getting fitted on my bikes I decided to attend a road racing clinic so that I could possibly do some road races next year. I don't really have a racing road bike right now...I have a modified cyclocross bike...so wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep up on the road races.

The road racing clinic was pretty interesting and I learned a lot from it. The information provided was group riding tips, strategies and techniques. I met some really cool people and after the clinic I was really looking forward to participating in the Tuesday night crits.
All of a sudden road racing didn't seem so intimidating anymore.

It was supposed to be a 2 day event with the next day being a lead up into the first crit race of the season...unfortunately it got cancelled because of heavy rain and construction on the course.

I still highly suggest that anyone with a road bike or 'cross bike with skinnies comes out the clinics. It really does help ease you into the discipline and take away a lot of the intimidation.

Lethbridge Coulee Cruiser

This was it. My first ever ABA racing event.
Goal for this race: Finish the race.

I couldn't believe how much I stressed out the week before this race.
First issue was that my ABA Racing license had not arrived even though I had applied for it 4 weeks prior to this race. Because of this I could not pre-register for the race. I phoned up the organizer and they said it should be OK and that they'll put my name on a list in case it doesn't show up.
Second issue was driving to Lethbridge and back by myself for the first time. I knew is was going to be a long drive by myself and wasn't sure how I'd stay awake on the way back.

I packed everything the night before and triple checked to make sure I had all my essentials. I had shifting issues with my Vertex during the group mountain bike ride and didn't have time to fix it, so I decided to bring my Prophet with me for this race.

After getting to the venue I talked to the ABA rep and my license was there waiting for me. I paid my fee, got my plate and went over to where my team was setting up.

This is where I mae my first mistake. I met up with another DG and she wanted to watch the hill climb event...so I decided to go along and cheer on my teammates who were climbing it. I learned it is not a good idea to climb a 2km hill with a heavy trail bike without really warming up first. After the hill climb finished up, the MTB course was finally open for a pre-ride.
During the pre-ride my quads were already killing me...and they were considering 3 laps for my category.


After talking to ABA it looked like a lot of the Novices felt that 2 laps was enough for the first race of the season (and for a bunch of us...the first race ever). I didn't even think I could do 1 more lap, let alone 2. It was at this point the thought of dropping out the race crossed my mind...if only for a split second. Then I remembered Cyrus telling me that placing is secondary and the experience comes first...so I decided to just go out and give it my best. Racing is supposed to be hard...if it was easy, everyone would do it.

When we all lined up at the start, I was a nervous wreck. Although this was technically not my first mountain bike race, it sure felt like it. I looked around and I was one of the few people with a camelbak because my Prophet doesn't have space for a water bottle cage. I also had one of the heaviest bikes of the group, 5.5 inches of travel with no lockouts and these huge 2.25 all-mountain tires.



The whistle went and everyone just took off. I was getting passed like mad on the starting hilll climb and even on the downhill portions of the race. By the midway point of the first lap I was already sucking air bad...I could barely breathe properly.

The second lap came around and my team cheered for me while I grinded up the hill (slowly). I thought for sure I would nothing left for this lap...all I could think of was to just to keep pedalling. A few more riders passed me on the last half of the course and at this point I thought for sure, I was in last place. As I did the final descent it looked like someone in my category had taken the descent too fast and bailed into the bush. As I rode by I asked to make sure he was OK...I got the thumbs up so I kept going. Sweet...I'm not last anymore. I cranked out to the finish and was actually really happy I had just completed my first race. My goal for the day had been met.

After watching the experts and elites race I decided to call it a day and head back to Calgary.
To make it back...I had to drink my first ever full can of energy drink. Because I don't drink energy drinks at all...I was pretty wired the entire drive home. The road to Lethbridge is really boring...just so you know.

Final results: 12/21

I couldn't believe it when I saw the result. I guess I hadn't done as bad as I thought. I figure I could have done a little better if I had my Vertex and prepared myself better for the race....but this is what racing is all about...learning how to get better at it.

Things I learned:

1. Don't race the Prophet
2. Don't wear a Camelbak
3. Pre-riding the course is really important
4. Check to make sure you bring food and recovery/sport drinks to the race (I went the entire day on a bagel, orange juice and an oatmeal bar I found in my car...seriously...I had my first real meal when I got back to Calgary)
5. Stretch properly before and after the race
6. Get fitted on my bikes
7. Just giver