Wow… what can I say… simply amazing experience. Today with a couple of friends and about 1000+ other cyclists, I rode the first annual Tour de Victoria. It’s hard for me really to try and put into words what the experience was really like. Fun, exhilarating, painful, suffering (I’ll get to that later), sheer joy, and amazement.
I chose to ride the 140km option. The roads and traffic would be completely controlled and we’d have almost the entire route to ourselves with the exception of two traffic lights we had to stop at. As you can imagine, it would take quite an effort to line both the 140 and 90km routes with traffic cops and volunteers to ensure the safety of the riders. It really was astounding and awe inspiring to see so many people give of their time for such an event. If you wade through the website, you’ll find the route and linked over to another site, you’ll see the elevation profile of the ride (look at the Climbs tab). There would be two sections along the ride which are timed. At the end of the ride you can look up your placing on these sections. One of these would be along that massive climb you see in the elevation profile, the other would be a flat section along Beach Drive through Oak Bay. It would be the first time I’ve ever rode that far in one go.
While I had a fairly decent cycling fitness base, it would take some preparation and training to work up to the challenge. My official training didn’t begin in earnest until late March. I would work up from rides of about 2 hours to about 4.5 hours - toping out somewhere between 100 and 120km. As the course would be rather hilly with about 2500 feet of climbing over the course, I would also spend some early mornings before work improving my climbing fitness as well. I then tapered my training off the week of the ride to ensure my legs were nice and fresh. That was the general plan, and it worked out more or less. It was a little ad-hoc - and nothing one could consider a truly organized training regimen. Nevertheless I arrived at the start line this morning feeling quite good and fairly well prepared.
Today’s ride was attended by quite a number of high profile athletes and Olympians. A few of the notables would be Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria local, pro cyclist - 7th in last years Tour de France), Simon Whitfield (Victorial local - world class triathlete), Trever Linden (yes, that Trevor Linden), Andreas Hestler (Olympian in mountain bike) - and a number of others. Ryder Hesjedal and Trevor Linden would be riding the 140km ride, while Simon Whitfield and Andreas Hestler would be on the 90km route.
So… let the ride begin. Here’s an attempt at recounting the play by play as I recall it happening (though some of it was a bit fuzzy… remember my comment about suffering?).
I lined up in the starting gate near the sign that indicated my expected ride time - somewhere around 5 hours. I was a bit nervous, but not overly so - more excited to see how this mass spandex celebration was going to play out. I had a chat with a couple of my training buddies. One lined up quite near the front (he’s a machine - top notch athlete, who happens to be the Bishop of our congregation at church), and the other a little back of where I was lining up, but not by much. All the pro’s, VIPs and elites were right up at the front. We were given the countdown and then the cowbell to signal we’re off.
The entire group stayed together for the first 10km as we wove through town and intersections. It was quite an interesting part of the ride. Super relaxed, but not at the same time. As you can imagine, it’s easy for lots to go wrong with that many riders all grouped together. It all seemed to go well though, with everyone making our way through Esquimalt and down towards Fort Rod Hill. We would head on down Esquimalt Lagoon and then begin some of the first few significant climbs up into Metchosin and boyond. As we started moving through a number of the climbs, I started to notice how good I was feeling. I seemed to pass just about anyone in front of me without too much effort. My theory is, the quicker you climb, the quicker it’s over. It seemed to be working quite well.
The group seemed to thin out as we wound through Metchosin and up into some of the hills there. Eventually people would get into a rhythm with others of similar speed. We also had an amazing fast sweeping curve decent out in Metchosin as well. Having previewed that part of the course before, it was really great knowing it before hand. Total exhilaration. As we got to the bottom of the decent, I regrouped with about 6 or 7 others and we began to work hard as a team to catch up to the main front group of some 50 or more riders which included all the elites and VIPs. We made good time and worked hard together, each taking a turn at the front briefly before pulling off. By the time we got to the end of Happy Valley road, we had caught up with the bunch.
The ride then took us through Langford and out past John’s place (my brother). As we passed along Atkins road, I could see him with his camera hanging out waiting and watching. I hollered a few meters before I got there and he swung the camera as I went past. Not sure he expected me to be up near the front - I think it took him by surprise. If the picture works out, we’ll post a link to them.
The group made it’s way down Atkins and onto the Galloping Goose and heading towards town. Somewhere along here I had a rather unfortunate mishap. Actually, I had two. The first one was that I lost half of a snack bar when I was eating it. Bummer. Then after taking a drink from one of my two water bottles (which was still 3/4 full), it slipped out of my hands when trying to put it back into the bottle cage. Ooops. Really bad ooops. Not only is it terribly dangerous in a group ride like that - but now I’m down to one water bottle and I’m not even half way through the ride. Wow… I felt like a newb. I was feeling good, riding with a bunch of great riders and… well, oh well. quick look back and it seems no harm done. At least I wasn’t like the guy ahead of me who had a spare tube dragging from his rear axle. Everyone was screaming at him (including me) to pull over and get it sorted. He managed to catch back up - I saw him again about 20 min down the road.
The route then takes us off the Goose and down Burnside road, over towards Prospect Lake road. Here’s where we met up with the 90km riders and our route was shared briefly for a while. It was pretty clear who were the 90km riders and who were doing 140. 140 riders were going quite a lot faster with much less effort. This time spent together was only brief however. We would soon turn left and start heading up Munns Rd. It’s that big massive spike in the elevation chart. Partway up this climb we would enter the timing area.
But before the timing area I came across what would be the absolute most hilarious scene on the entire ride. I come around a nice sweeping corning to find what looked to be about 40 guys in spandex lined up side by side just off the edge of the road taking a leak. Where’s the camera when you need it!
Soon after that the timing area begins. I was feeling good, and having seen the climb before I figured I’d open it up (without blowing up). By now I was in a group that was mostly at my level, though I would sill pass a few. The route in this area is basically climbing up behind Mt. Work through some amazing back roads. We’d then take a right hand turn and climb up again on rolling, curvy single lane road that pops us out over by Durance Lake. As you can imagine, after all that climbing the entire front group I used to be with has been shattered. I come out at Durance lake with about 6 other riders in site with the Elites who knows how far up front. We’d soon have a few more with us and we had a group of about 8 or 10 that I’d be with for the next 50 or more km.
As we made our way up passed Brentwood Bay - what was turning out to be a great ride turned a little unpleasant. Rain began falling, then heavier, then heavier. Soon the road was soaked, and so was I. If you don’t know what it’s like to ride in a pack where nobody has fenders in a rain soaked road, it’s like standing in the shower with the cold water on. Oh, except it’s worse - turn on a fan to make a head wind of about 40km an hour and set the air temperature to around 13 degrees C. That I’ve lost half my water, and with opening a snack bar with sopping wet gloves impossible - let the suffering begin. I think you can see where this is going.
Despite the fowl circumstances the group pushes on at a blistering pace. At first it’s not too bad, but soon I’m starting to see I’m a little out classed. It appears my climbing skills are ahead of my flat land time trial skills. I start to hang of the back more, not taking my turn up front. I’m suffering more and more. I’ve got a bit of a conundrum now. If I manage to stick with the group, I can save about 30% of my energy and move along much faster. Other option is to let them go and drop off and suffer in solitude. Sure there are other riders near, but I can see they are all 90km riders (their route and rejoined ours) and they don’t know how to ride in a group. I would be essentially on my own if I drop off. So I choose to hang on for as long as I can.
The ride moves on up towards the ferry terminal and then down through Sydney. I manage to stick with them through there and don’t really begin to seriously consider sitting up until we’re headed back south on the Lochside trail near the Pat Bay highway. We’re heading along a dirt section and they’re still pinning it. I’m cold, wet, out of gas. Time to sit up. I let them go.
A couple of young ladies doing the 90 km route come up behind me. We chat for a while. I tell them I’m doing the 140 and I’m out of gas. They ride along cheerily and I’m struggling to even hold onto their wheel. I manage with them for about 5 or 6 km and then we hit a hill. I’m done and off they go. I struggle to the top. My glasses are filthy and wet. At this point I can’t tell if they’re just that hard to see through, or if my vision is starting to blur. I come out into Cordova Bay and I hear one of the Voluteers say there’s a feed station up ahead just over the hill. Easier said than done. I push on to the station.
It’s official now, I know exactly what it feels like to Bonk. I have hit the wall. I stumble into Cordova Bay Elementary. The rain has stopped, I can hardly walk and I now see I’m shivering. I park my bike and immediately begin refueling. Foods, water, energy drinks. I’m going to be here a while recovering. The volunteers can see I’m struggling, but I manage to stay on my feet. I grab some food and sit down. Oh so nice. When I muster the strength, I stand in line for the washroom. I’ve had to go since Metchosin - 2 hours ago. I can’t stop shivering.
I finish one energy food after another. One water bottle after another. I head into the school and out of the weather. Still shivering. Eventually one of the first aid guys checks in on me. I’ve had some time to recover and I’m feeling a little better. I tell him I’m having a little minor hypothermia and he sees I’m doing a good job of refueling and taking care of myself. I don’t want to leave until I can control my shivering. I can feel that I’m slowly improving. In the end I was there for an hour recovering and warming up. I head back out on the road feeling much better - a little chilled, but at least under control now - getting the body moving should take care of the rest. That was truly the most I’ve suffered in a long time.
After a few minutes on the road I’m feeling better and warming up. The sun had come out and I’m tired but functioning. I’m moving quickly compared to most everyone around me without too much effort. Indeed, I’m on my own and nobody to work with, but at least I’m feeling good. I head down through Mt. Douglas Parkway and down through Gordon Head. Lots of volunteers now. A few at each cross road to control traffic. They’re all cheering and clapping. There were hundreds of them. It really was inspiring to see them come out and cheer us along.
I make my way down Arbutus Drive and start along the water front route towards Oak Bay. Eventually I hit the 2nd timing zone. I’m not going to break any records here, but I push a little harder nevertheless. The sun is shining, it’s warm, lots of spectators now. Beautiful day for a ride - nothing like a few hours ago. I’m sure no rain hit this part of town at all.
I come up through Oak Bay and hit the one last significant climb of the day - King George Terrace. Another 140 km rider catches up to me and he’s close to my speed. We make friends and chat a little. Happy to find somebody to work with we pair up. Coming along through Dallas Rd now and the views are stunning. We’ve got sail boats all over the Strait of Juan de Fuca - it’s the first day of the Swiftsure. That addition to the view makes the day all that much more sweet. Though I was hating life an hour ago, I’m feeling pretty blessed to be doing this today.
We hit a little climb as we head towards Beacon Hill - I can’t hold onto my buddy’s wheel - I let him go and just enjoy the view. I head through Beacon Hill park on my own - really a fun little place to ride - no worries of cross traffic I get to cruise on through and enjoy the flowers and families playing in the park.
I come out of Beacon Hill and hit the 2nd stop light of the day. I meet up with my buddy who dropped me moments ago and we ride in with another fellow towards the finish line. We round the final corner and head for the finish line in front of the Legislature. I sprint and take the win - well, I beat the other two - no idea if they sprinted or not. I hear the announcer say something like ‘It’s like the Tour de France for these guys, sprinting for the line, it’s a treacherous ride, just like the Tour - they’ve been out since 7am (it’s now 12:30). I’m slightly overwhelmed at having managed my way through it all. I shake hands with my break mates and congratulate them on the ride.
I take a little while to recover, take in all that’s happening around me. There’s food stuffed into my hands just over the line, there’s bouncy castles for kids, pavilions and tents everywhere, food being served up for the riders, etc. I catch up with one of my training buddies and chat for a while. It’s Ian, the one who started a little behind me at the start line. He had a great ride only he was on his own the last 60km. I tell him my epic tale. He’s got his family there so they’re off. I stand in line and get myself a BBQ’d salmon burger… mmm. I eat my food, relax and then start the ride home. Yup… I got another 10km to go. I take it easy, thinking of and pondering over what I just experienced. I can sign up now for next year - you betcha, going to do it again. Hopefully with a little less suffering though.
PS - In case you are curious about the timings, here are the links.
Munns Road hill climb.
Water Front time trial.
I have to say, I’m quite blown away by my timing on the hill climb. I knew I was feeling good, but no idea I was that good. Take a look at the names a few ahead of me - you’ll recognize one. Apparently the Captain Canuck can really ride. My timing for the waterfront is quite what I expected!