Loonie #20

Last years Westin apres was a veritable banquet so we were all keen to see what they would lay on this year.

The race was themed as a Pyjama party with the best dressed prize as a meal in the Aubergine grill.

The course was pretty good but was set to overlap the Samurai course which led to confusion for some.

Now, I'm pretty sure I rode the right course which was:
Whip me snip me, crossing the Rainbow bridge, into the lower switchbacks, climbing into Bobs Rebob at the motorcycle gate, down westside road to the middle River Runs through it section, back to the gravel pit access road, into emerald forest, into an old section of trail around the swamp and then finishing at the gravel pit.

Assuming I rode the correct course... I was 3rd!

The pyjama competition was a resounding success... for the winner.. Helmet Dave of Whistler Action Video fame who rode the whole race in his typical sleeping attire - underwear only.

Westside Wheel Up

The West Side Wheel Up is an annual event that takes the form of an extended weekend Loonie race. Its a fundraising event run by Phil Chew, Whistlers inspirational 1 legged mountain biker and skiier, who is also the coach of the BC Disabled Ski Team.
It was the 13th annual race and the sun came out for the start.
Dave Burch took the male honors with Jo Harrington the womens.

No racing for us this year though as we were running guest transfers.

Loonie #19

Garbanzo Bike and Bean and Good Hair Day were the sponsors of this race and as far as I know, it was pertty much a first in terms of the way it worked.

Aside from what seemed to be a little disorganisation at the start, this 'ride' was pretty well thought out. Billed as a 'Battle of the Sexes' ride not race there were 2 courses, one for the ladies and another for the men.

Ladies set off up the Bike Park access road and into easy does it and came down B-line, the chaps on the other hand set off up Heart of Darkness, up B-Line, down Fansastic, up Crank it up and over to A-Line for a full on high speed return to the base of the park. Again the Ransom was perfect!

The winner of the Battle of the sexes was determined by the sex to have the first 10 riders finish their respective courses and as far as I know, the Women took it!

I took a handy 9th though :)

Loonie #18

Sweet Jesus, this had to be the most technically demanding Loonie of the season!

The race started at the top of Alpine Way and for the 'advanced' riders the course went back down Alpine Way, swung around to the bottom of Mels Dilemma, through Mels and back up the road to the top of Alpine Way again. From there the course followed that of the 'leisure' riders and climbed Ricks Roost up to the Flank, across to the lookout. After the lookout the course split again, 'leisure' riders got to enjoy the Y'elp D'huez switchback descent whilst 'advanced' riders had the pleasure of Billy's Epic trail that in parts rivals Jaws for silly steep technical descending.

Many riders were still coming down after the good light had gone particularly considering the heavy foliage through the lower parts of the Rainbow trail network, but most were still wearing silly Loonie race grins and happy to be done.

This weeks Loonie was sponsored by Pasta Lupino and the Bike Co.

Oh yes, it was a retro themed race too with an interesting collection of attire and a well dressed Anne from the Bike Co. meeting the finishers!

Cheakamus Challenge

A few weeks ago Mark and I headed down to Squamish with race director Grant Lamont to do a bit of much needed trail work on the race course to get it ready for the big day.
As a reward (in addition to food and beer) Grant kindly offered us both a spot in the race - well, who are we to refuse a reason to be riding the King of Classics celebration of pain?!

A nice shot of mark leading out the pack at the start

The Cheakamus Challenge is one of those races that just hurts. It starts off as a nice jolly pack ride up the Paradise Valley and turns into a 'see colours and puke' series of climbs before the finish in Creekside.73km, 2000m of vertical in just shy of 4 hours... ouch.

This was my 4th year of the race with each one getting progressively quicker but no less painful. Cramps foudn me again in the heat this year but at least I didn't end up having to sit down in the shade and share a powerbar at the top of Tunnel Vision with Mark this year.

From 61st overall in 2003, to 3rd in catagory for 2004 and 2005 to 20th Overall and 2nd in catagory for 2006... pain definately celebrated!
The Ransom was in race guise again weighing in at 29lbs, so I'm pretty happy to be the first rider on a bike over 25lbs and probably the first in dignity saving baggy shorts too ;)

Oops

Holy cr*p I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Theres been an enourmous amount of stuff going on over the last 5 weeks. Bike races, new brochures, bike shows, guests, intercontinental air travel, dog sitting and well.. a little bit of riding.

It'll be coming in fits and starts above....