Basic Race Report...

Here's the quick report for Thursday August 2nd 2007.

We start the riding day @ 7:00 AM departing from the Edmonds Ferry. Hit the first of the very few freeways we travel and shoot through the brisk morning mist. First Gas stop is @ Marblemount 8:30 AM. So now the North Cascades Fly by and soon enough we're rollin' through Winthrop then Omak and finally gas @ Tonaska at 11:15 AM. Quick snack and gas we're off, to wait. Road construction 3 miles from the border lets us heat up a bit in the 85F degree sun. Ten minutes later we're rollin' again, only to stop for the border. Not too bad, only Ten minutes and now headin' towards Princeton BC. On the way, some fast passes were necessary to keep the sanity, only to find that my front wheel is off balance, not by much, but at 100+ MPH it gets scary. Skid plays a bit with a wicked fast early 90s super T-bird, as for me, just trying to keep up. Gas and Grub in Princeton @ 2:00 PM. The next 140 miles are uneventful, awesome scenery, good flowing roads, and 10 KM of 11% grade downhill makes for a 20 degree F increase as we drop. Neat, Hot. Last Gas stop happens in Cache Creek @ 4:15 PM then to head north to Highway 99. But before we can get there, craziness ensues. We end up behind a Toyota Tacoma pulling a 12 foot RV trailer. We bide our time, and when the opportunity to pass comes up, the trailer gets a little wobble. Skid hesitates, the trailer wobbles some more, then the driver hits the brakes, the trailer's brakes lock up and swings wide to each side. Skid and I then hit the binders and watch the fun. The trailer ends up towing the truck around the driver's side and tosses the pair into the right hand ditch. The trailer tips on it's side and raises the backend of the still connected truck about 4 feet in the air. We stop, and Skid runs over and opens the door to the truck to make sure everyone's OK. The Driver was fine and her dog rattled, but no injuries. Another driver stops and makes sure the propane on the trailer is closed and not leaking. Rubberneckers passing by almost cause more accidents and I wave to traffic to Keep Going. 30 Minutes later an ambulance shows up verifying that everyone is OK, followed shortly by a RCMP. Quick testimonies from me and Skid and we are on our way again around 5:00 PM.

Highway 99 is a road with character and it deals it out in spades. The 1st portion of the ride is long flowing sweepers on brand new blacktop. Then suddenly drops to old chip-seal surface with ruts, bumps, single lane blind underpasses and gravel to keep you busy. Quick check in Lillooet to make sure we're set for the next round of "Character" and hit the main attraction at about 6:00 PM. Here's the problem, there's soo much happening on this road, you need to be at your best to tackle it. There's sheer cliffs with 2000'+ drops, there's chunks of concrete missing from the road, dips, dives, rocks, dirt, trees, everything you don't want on the road, is. So it's now after 6:00 PM and the sun is staring us in the eyes. The transitions from the shade to retina burn and back make this all the more challenging since you're now hit with "Oh $&*+!" moments abound, not to mention the already 600 mile strain on your legs. It's still a hell of a lotta fun though, just challenging as hell. Skid has a dirt tracking moment and both of us find our way into the oncoming lane 'round that off camber missing asphalt right hander. Oops! The end of the "Official" twisties is marked by 5 hairpin turns on a 10% downhill grade suggested at 10 KPH! Serious stuff. The last ounce of energy you have in your legs is needed there. After the epicness of 99 is over, it's another 60 KM to Whistler. A few good turns, some fast passes and chase from a CLK55s sums up the ride to Whistler.

Day 2 Friday August 3rd, 2007

Time to relax. Some big bass blueberry pancakes, the movie 300 and lots of drinks ensure maximum combat readiness for the Mountain biking mayhem the next day.

Day 3 - Saturday August 4th, 2007

Me and Skid get out to the lifts early to grab our tickets and weapons of destruction for the day. We're ready, but the mountain isn't ready for us. To our surprise, the hill doesn't open until 10:00 AM. It's 9:00 AM, time to wait. 03SV arrives just at lift opening, and we're on our way. First couple of trails are easy to get used to the gear and the trails. My rear "UFO noise" brakes, and Skid's over-achieving front fork takes a bit to get used to, but none-the-less big grins abound. 2 runs down, we figure a shot of the infamous A-line is in order. This run is more in line of a motocross track than a MTB ride. Jump after jump after jump. You spend just as much time in the air as on the ground. Woot!!! I'm takin' up the rear of the pack right behind Skid and we're at a long series of table tops on a straight shot that's 6 feet from base to top. I see Skid, jump, then disappear, then jump, then disappear, then jump, then disappear... No jump. Ut oh... I stop to see Skid on his ass. I do some traffic control to keep other guys from using him as a landing pad. Skid collects himself then we’re back on track. (Literally.) A short distance later, we find 03SV on his ass too. Nothing major, just more traffic control. We take another shot of A-line to get some helmet cam goodness. Towards the end of the run I take a digger onto my right side. All 3 of us a bit sore, but still ready for more. Quick Lunch and we're off again, this time for the Garbanzo chair higher up. Last Year me and 03SV braved the Experts Only chair, freight trained and a bear later, we wanted redemption. This year, we drag Skid long. 'Nother couple of bears and some awesome views later, we round the day up just as rain squall rolls in. $100+ worth of raw fish later it's the end-o'-de-day.

Day 4 - Sunday August 5th, 2007

With the sun dominating the skies, Me and Skid head back out the "Short" route back. We hit a quick stop back in Pemberton to secure some gear, and give a polite nod to a few other sport riders. ("We'll be seeing them on the ride...") Back through Highway 99 north to Lillooet. Me and Skid are pretty sore and take it "easy". However we did catch up to the other riders we saw at the stop. Short work and we're in the lead. I was hoping that they wouldn't try to keep the same pace since they weren't really ready for this road at the *Ahem* "Slow" pace. After the 1st turn, they were out of sight. About halfway, the rear end of my bike starts to squirm a bit. Not much, but enough to concern me. I flag Skid down and we stop for a quick check to make sure most parts of the bike are still there. (It's happened before...) All good, and we're back underway. No major crisis this time though, just big grins. From here the ride gets a bit on the boring side, still fantastic views of the Frasier River Valley. The crossing back into the States was at Sumas, with about 1.5 hour wait. (Better than the 3+ hour wait at the Peace Arch. OUCH!!)

A steady ride back to the Ferry and the close to another Epic Whistler Trip.

Trekking To Whistler...