Finishing Leadville100 I could happily have taken a few days
off the bike and recovered both mentally and physically from riding hard for
over 8 hours at altitude. The race
hadn’t exactly gone to plan and I wasn’t feeling much love for my bike as we
drove round and signed in for Breck Epic starting in less than 24 hours time.
I first heard about Breck Epic a few years back through
Dewet from Squirt Lube and since then its been on my bucket list of races that
someday I’d love to do. 6 days,
240 miles and around 11000m climbing all at altitude in proper mountain bike
territory appealed greatly, I seem to be attracted to races which are as much
about challenging yourself as they are racing other competitors.
When I heard it was round the corner from Leadville I
couldn’t resist trying and thanks to Squirt becoming a sponsor in the event and
as an ambassador for Squirt Lube things fell in place and I became one of 400
excited and nervous riders on that first race morning in Breckenridge,
Colorado.
Stage One
Pennsylvania Gulch
35miles 6000ft
climbing
I rolled out of bed this morning not stiff just drained and
to breathe in deep set me off coughing.
I didn’t feel ill though so just put it down to having to breathe much
more yesterday racing at 12000ft.
The vibe at the start perked me up as did the coffee me, Dewet and John
shared on the way up to Breckenridge.
As we started I felt ok as the car took us out of town. However when he pulled off and the
hammer went down I couldn’t increase my pace and had a swarm of riders overtake
me and jump into the first single track.
For me that was the best thing in hindsight, I could relax a little on
the flowing single track and keep up with the riders in front and slowly get my
race legs back. Towards the end I
tucked in behind a young rider on the open forest and popped out to see Kate
Aardel just in front. I sprinted
towards her thinking the finish was just round the corner and preceded to blow
up as we turned up hill onto a gravel track and away from town. We raced for around another 40 minutes
from that point and I learnt the hard way that at this altitude you pay big
time every time you go anaerobic though luckily recovered enough to enjoy the
berms down to the finish line. I
came in 3rd to 1st place rider Kelly Boniface and Kate
who took 2mins30 out of me on those last few painful miles!
Stage Two
Colorado Trail
43 miles 7, 200ft climbing
Today we rode the Colorado Trail and was told at the
briefing that
if there is one trail to ride in Colorado it’s this one so
it had a lot to live up to and didn’t disappoint. The race started fast again but my legs now knew they were
racing a stage race and didn’t rebel as much as yesterday! Plus the first climb was pretty loose
and with the mass of riders there was a lot of recovery as we walked and
climbed in a line for a while. I
felt good going into the first feed before the long climb of the day and
catching up Kate and Marlee, (the local favorite who lost a load of time
yesterday with a flat) on the road I went into the single track ascent 1st. I settled into a comfortable pace on a
perfect gradient climb, single track with some roots and rocks to concentrate
on but all ridable. The ascent was
amazing the other side, single track that went on forever, fast long straight
sections, compacted switchbacks and views that you could sense rather than look
up at and hope that some photographer would take care of those views! I only had a couple of guys catch and
pass me and could keep them insight most of the way down. Kate didn’t catch me either so I felt confidant
going into the next climb that I might win the stage. On a good day you remember the fast flowing section and
zipping through the trees and riding high on the berms and these were all the
things I’ll remember from today.
I’m sure there was some brutal steep long climbs but they are a blur and
I came into the finish on a real high and with a stage win. I moved up to 2nd on GC,
only 6 seconds off wearing the leaders jersey that Kate moved into.
That afternoon I moved locations. We were staying down in the valley 15 mile away but Dewet
was leaving for Europe and John was driving him back so I had planned either
long warm up rides or 2 buses up to the start then hang around for the briefing
and presentation each night. Not
ideal but I was happy enough just to have gotten to ride the race so wasn’t
complaining when I was offered a bed in the apartment of organizers Laura and
Karen right in town. I couldn’t
believe my luck, not only was it a beautiful apartment but both are such nice
people and with all the male company I’ve had on these trips it was a real
treat to relax with girls!!
Stage three
Mt Guyot
37 miles 6700ft climbing
Today was the Queen Stage with an epic climb over French
Pass. It was the most scenic pass
so far this week and you could see a trail of riders in front and a trail
behind with massive views of Mount Guyot. There were ridable sections but also a lot of walking so
chance to look up a few times There were some locals at the top handing out
bacon and beer and I did have a slice of bacon in my mouth for half the hairy high
alpine descent. I do have strange thoughts
while I race and during that descent I wondered if I would choke to death on
bacon if I crashed! I had to hop
off and run a few sections and lost a huge chunk of time to both Marlee and
Kate on that down hill, I should have had the beer to be honest it might have
relaxed me! I also struggled down
the next descent off French Pass with a rock garden I found very hard to negotiate! Today was one of those days that
seemed to go on forever and I had a hunger knock near the end that didn’t help
my mood as one climb followed another.
To do the route again with fresh legs and a wheel to follow down and it
would probably be a brilliant day out on the bike but today I wasn’t feeling
it. Still, no mechanical problems
and somehow no crashes so all is good plus I discovered the best ‘made to
order’ sandwiches post 4 hr epic effort: streaky bacon, gherkins and
crisps. Amazing.
Stage 4
Aqueduct Loop
44 mile 6300ft climbing
This morning I had a much more chilled out warm up and had
the best start all week in how I felt.
We were up and down a fair bit then hit Vomit Hill. I can see why it was called that, early
on in the day it was a very steep hike bike or slow cadence grovel. Off that it wasn’t long before we hit
the main climb of the day. I was feeling good and riding a steady
tempo but not fast enough to hold off Marlee on course for her 2nd
stage win. I still had her in
sight at the top but only saw her again on the final big climb, a steep one but
with better legs I was actually enjoying the challenge of riding the whole of
it. In the briefing we were warned
we would be passing the finish line a few times before finally finishing so at
the top had another jel and that got me through the single track loops we did
near the finish. I finished a
minute or so behind Marlee while Kate came in 3rd. The woman’s category is getting
everyone excited as its that close and its great to be part of that. The girls are so friendly we all know
each other’s strengths by now and while we are battling it out on course we are
always the first to congratulate each other after.
Stage 5
Wheeler Pass
30 miles 5131ft climb
The start today was in a different place and we set off in
waves, the woman just after the men30.
Straight into single track we were overtaking men but soon we were on
the open road then off that was soon into the hike bike section up Wheeler Pass
up to over 12000ft. The views were
very impressive but with a drop to the right along a narrow trail I got a case
of vertigo and struggled to ride it.
Finally at the top I’d lost sight of the first three girls. The guys were up there at the top
handing out whisky, bacon and skittles.
I had a few skittles but didn’t think the whisky would help me get down
the other side! I actually enjoyed
the downhill after all the horror stories and at the bottom were finally
clocked some miles in along a bike path with the help of another rider and Liz
Sampey, currently 5th on GC.
Off that we had a brutal steep climb followed by some rooty single track
that was pretty slippy but was a good trail to concentrate on. I was glad to get to the finish today
in one piece, it wasn’t my favorite day by a long way but was an experience to
get so high with the bike and I was happy with how I rode the descents. I came in 4th but held onto
2nd on GC.
Stage 6
The Gold Dust Trail
31 mile 3500ft climbing
The best of what was left to do can sum up today’s
route. At the briefing, today was
described as a fun day out promising a party at the top of the pass with beer
and even tequila was mentioned. However
I have come to discover the last day of any stage race is usually one of the
hardest. You often go into the day
already thinking it’s over then the first fast hill hits you and you have to
change thoughts and for one last time get into race mode. I did, a little too early! Already having a good start in a fast
bunch up the tarmac road my adrenalin took over and I jumped on a wheel going
way too fast for me to keep up for long.
We got away from the group and onto the single track well ahead of the
next group and I was ready for a good decent, only we didn’t go down, we went
up! The single track had some
steep kickers to it and gradually wound up and up and I gradually got slower
and slower feeling a bit of an idiot for going off so fast. Finally we emerged at the top, Marlee
had made the group just ahead, I dangled off the back. Someone next to me in true American
style told me to go for it, ‘its what you’ve been training all year for’ he
said (if only he knew he might have been a little more sympathetic). I did make contact eventually near the
top of the pass, briefly smiled at the ‘party’ going on up there led by Larry
the commentator before head went down again as we hit the single track
descent. It was over too fast but
did include a wide twisty flat section at the bottom in a deep gully that was lots
of fun. The fun stopped as we
started to climb a gravel road again in a head wind. By now I was really paying the price for my early effort and
could only hold the wheels coming past for a few minutes before having to sit
up and slow down again. I could
see Marlee sat in a group slowly moving away and aware she was only around 8
minutes back on GC I just had to keep going hard and hope the descent wasn’t
too technical. It wasn’t, in fact
I found a wheel to follow and zipped down it better than I have all week
enjoying every minute. The last
few miles of single track were twisty but fun in the forest and just as I was
thinking how much fun I was having swooping along I wacked a tree with my bars
and went down. The only thing I
hurt was my finger slightly but it did make me slow a bit and I came over the
line safely and in 2nd for the day and 2nd on GC.
 |
| New friends |
All 5 of the top girls were in quickly and we all had a good
laugh about how hard we had made the racing this week. Of all the stage races I’ve done I’ve
never raced with such a competitive deep individuals woman’s field in a stage
race and though there were lots of times I wished I could have just backed off
and enjoyed the ride I look back with a lot of satisfaction that I was able to
dig that deep over the 6 days despite what I’ve been through this year. Huge congratulations to Kate Aardel on
her 2nd stage race win, I would be happy and scared if I could
descend half her pace, and to local rider Marlee Dixon who finished 3rd
overall and didn’t let the mechanical problems of day one get to her, and to Kelly
Boniface in 4th and Liz Sampey in 5th and who both won
‘stage 7’. I made it to 11.30 with
a lot of dancing; apparently they were both still going strong at 1! I was pleased not to have a hangover the next day though and enjoyed one last Colorado ride in Eagle thanks to Karen as she prepares for a big race in Costa Rico next week.
 |
| More single track heaven in eagle |
Thank you so much to the organizers, Mike puts on one of the
best stage races out there. They
had an extra 100 riders this year but from an outside view everything ran like
clockwork. The racing and route
was epic and is meant to be yet there is no time limit on the days so everyone
has the chance to earn the famous belt buckle no matter how slowly. Every rider also has their own drop bags
that are taken to all the feed stops for spares, specific nutrition, bottles
and extra layers. The finish food
also became a daily thing to look forward too, sandwiches made to order and
each with its own name. I took
hugely to the bacon, gherkin and crisps but another favorite was bacon, gherkin,
fluff (a marshmallow spread I must import to the UK), peanut butter and
banana. I think that was a ‘Smokey
Jo’s. The socializing round those
sandwiches about the days riding was probably my highlight of the day. Big thank you also to all the helpers,
especially the big crew from Dead Goats a team I’d met at ST6 who worked hard
all week, its always nice to hear personal support along the course. Thank you also to Dewet and John from
Squirt Lube for the whole experience (and the huge bar of chocolate and dried
up brownies, heated up in the microwave together they were like a deluxe
chocolate fondant, making my dull pasta and sauce dinners so much tastier!!),
and to Team Asrin and Cyclefunatics of Durbanville for my duel suspension
Specialized Epic, a hard tail wouldn’t have been anywhere near as fun on these
trails.
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