The passing of a legend

the word "legend" is a little overused. But I think it's fitting for this man. He's entertained us for over 50 years. And has given some $200 million to charities. Paul Newman had died of Cancer. I think I'm going to have a personal film festival in the next week or so. From The Hustler to Cool Hand Luke, The Sting, Slap Shot, the Color of Money...right to his last picture, Cars. You were the best in the business, we'll miss you.

169

This is an important number for me. I've been chasing it for the last few years. About a decade ago, I did a career change from a moving around all day job to a sit in front of the computer monitor one. It did not do wonders for my weight. All the beer and cigarettes probably didn't help either. I went from about 160lbs to my top out of 208. That doesn't sound huge, but when you're 5'7", it's a damn scary sight. I stepped on the scale this morning to 169. I haven't been below 170 in 10 years at least. that makes me a smilin' dude today.

Transrockies Day 7

Day 7: Crowsnest Pass to Fernie 78.8km 2101m of climbing

This is it. The end. The big finale. One last ride. Amazingly, no trains come by after 10pm last night. I figured for sure we'd be woken up 2 or 3 times. I still don't feel great, but at least I slept. I can barely sit, and the day is gonna be hotter than yesterday even.

We get the National Anthem sung before the start today. A nice touch I thought. We get to climb another ski hill today, thankfully it is small. And it gets most of the climb out of the way early. There is the prerequisite long, shitty hike a bike. The mood was good today. We all knew how close we were. But we still want to beat the shit out of the people who whined that the last stage wasn't tough enough in previous years (they pretty much doubled the length this year).

We sweat buckets right off the start, it's damn hot. And it's barely 9am. I am not riding well today. Niall helps me along as best he can. I can't say enough about his patience. Control station one doesn't have the usual variety of food, being the last day and all. I can't eat another Clif bar. Watermelon does nothing for me. I still love bananas, surprisingly. My peanut butter and honey sandwiches in my bag will have to do.

I get a flat, first one since day 2. On a fireroad no less. Again. It's just that kind of day. I get another almost exactly an hour later. Oh well. We get rolling, some tough, hot climbs and we are finally rewarded with sweet Fernie singletrack. Great way to finish. I crash once for good measure. We hit the streets of Fernie to the sounds of cheering. I hear my family but don't see them. A final high five to Niall and we've done it! Someone shakes my hand and puts a medal around my neck. We set our bikes against a bench and I look for my wife and son who I haven't seen in 8 days. I hear David yell "Daddy!" and I collapse into a dirty, sweaty crying mess. Group family hug on the sidewalk in the middle of a huge crowd of people. I don't care. I am so happy to see them.

I see Mom next and then Dad. It would have been impossible to have completed this without him. He cooked, cleaned, gave pep talks. thanks for believing, Dad! Not to mention letting us use the most stylish lodgings of the entire race.

Thanks to a ton of people I talked to afterward. Deadgoats Gerry, Tim, Tracey, Pat, Trish and Geoff all told me what a great thing I had just accomplished. Dallas Morris had kind words. These things mean a ton coming from racers like yourselves. I'll never forget James and Simon in their impossibly warm looking Tiger costumes. The brave couple on the tandem Ellsworth. Jim Seethram and his wonderful family. Dan the bike mechanic. The Belgian contingent I always seemed to run across going uphill. Met so many people.

The fine lady who sponsored us asked me if I was ready for next year. I didn't say no...

Transrockies Day 6

Day 6 Elkford to Crowsnest Pass 102.4km 2998m of climbing

Another shitty sleep. Sigh. We just don't seem to get a break with quiet spots to camp. Arguing at 1:45am in some site nearby. Assholes.

It's a cool morning, I overfilled my Camelback bladder and I am now soaked. Left Elkford via the highway and straight up a 5km paved climb. Steep grade. Exited to some neat singletrack, queue the logjam of riders as it's a little technical again. Cranked down what would be the first of a few very dusty fireroads (haven't said much about the weather, we've been lucky. Cool the first two days but little rain/snow. Warm and sunny for stages 4, 5 and 6). Fueled up and a renewed Niall towed me in his wake down the fireroad. Then we climbed. And climbed. And climbed some more. That was the story of the day, really.

After the second control station was a steep, dusty hike a bike that seemed to last forever. I was hot and tired from then on. did I mention the 33C heat? We cranked over the continental divide back into Alberta and flew down Race Horse pass. Fun downhill section. Saw some poor person crash hard in the video footage later that night.

The course overview the night before mentioned 3 "up and down" sections near the finish. These were silent death marches. The fun chatter of the peloton disappeared as dirty, sweaty faces concentrated on trying to finish the stage. I run out of water, but we're on the downhill section into Blairmore. I am so relieved at the end. I collapse and Dad grabs me a burger and we rest in the shade a moment.

They have us camped out right beside the railroad tracks. I mean so close the motorhome shakes when the train goes by. I'm in Hell. One more day....

Transrockies Day 5

Day 5 Whiteswan to Elkford 88.5km 2147m of climbing

A very cool start today weather-wise. A nice bonus at the starting gate is that Niall is going to give it a go. Jim is riding with us as well, just in case. Had my sleeveless jersey, it was about 8C, I got some comments of course.

Felt good off the line, fast pace, got to the first checkpoint quickly. Waited for Jim, he told me to go ahead and try to chase down Niall. I had a good day, nothing too special to report. My but is starting to get sore. The rock gardens were awesome, had some fun riding those. Got in just under 7 hours. I'm very tired.

Transrockies Day 4

Day 4: Nipika to Whiteswan Lake 109.7km 2567m of climbing

Wow, what a difference a day makes. Flt like shit this morning, wanted to quit. My knees both ache. I was cold, tired and sore. I headed to the start. Niall was sitting this one out, he was barely able to bend his leg today. I hooked up with Jim in the United Cycle jersey and we took off.

Felt crappy and struggled out of the gate. Jim was warming up slowly with me. We rode a bunch of the same stuff from the previous day. After 5km, the knee brace came off. I took it easy and tried not to aggravate it. Had some slow switchback climbs and a few shorter hike a bikes. My legs have more trouble climbing down than up. Had some killer water crossings, too, with very strong current in one. I was very wary of my wonky knee.

Jim was struggling a bit, got to the outfitter's cabin and pigged out on some food. I started to feel better. My knee is finally loosening up. Picked up the pace and got a nice spin going. After the final check point, it was basically a 30km downhill fireroad sprint. Big ring baby! I cranked it and felt awesome. I'm back!! I can do this!

Transrockies Day 3

Day 3: Nipika Time Trial 49km 1514m of climbing

Ouch. This was our "rest day". A first for the TR, a time trial. We got to sleep in, which was nice. too bad the wonderful logging trucks didn't get that memo, I heard the first one rumble by at 4am. We started just after 10 and it was still chilly. Dad gets a nice break and doesn't have to tear down camp, we stay at Nipika for two days. We do a few quick km on up and down stuff then hit some very bumpy up and down singletrack. Very difficult to get any kind of a rhythm and my knee aches almost instantly. Niall is hurting, too, he tweaked a groin. I feel terrible most of the day, trying to talk myself out of quitting. Tomorrow's stage is very long at 110km, I wonder if I can handle it. I'll be at the starting line, we get in at 4 hours 32 minutes. Niall will not be, his race is over. I hope I can do it tomorrow. I really, really hope....