The trails in Squamish are absolutely amazing!! Despite of the rain last night, we woke up with a good feeling. Start was at 9am and again a controlled lead out through town. The next climb was gruelling, very very steep! Quite punishing, but we made it all! The descent was very technical and called: 'Expect to fly". All the trails have a name here like, 'break a leg', 'hoods in the wood', 'sex on the beach',.... Lots of combo turns, bridges, rocks, roots,... Maybe you are thinking: wow, on the pictures it seems like they are riding easy trails in the forest, but no way,.... we have never done this before! You can not find this in Belgium! Even though it was hard today, we had an unforgetable ride! David was feeling so tired and exhausted today that in one of the descents he lost his focus, felt down from a bridge and took a swim in the river. He hurted his arm and another fellow helped him out. When he crossed the finish line, his body felt like he had been run over by a train, still trying to figure out what happend today! BUT,..... there was beer in tent city and the Gipsy friends to share our stories with. And also Fraser, Glenn's Harly Davidson mate and of course our whole team! It is a good feeling to know that there is someone waiting for you at the end. Thanks already for all the comments you left on the blog and the emails of support. You really help us pedal up and over the mountains. Tomorrow is the last day in popular Whistler!!
This is it, last day on the BC trails!! The weather was again great and the energy at the startline awesome!! A first big climb on the road was painfull and long, then the descents on the ski slopes of mount whistler were again different than other days, rocks, many rocks this time! Black bears were the spectators of today, they looked at us and saw that it was good! And it was good!! We all finished with a happy smile, tired but so pleased that we did it! YES, WE DID IT!!
We are so lucky, no big accidents, no mechanical problems, 1 flat tire (Lieven on the last day). Here some notes of us:
David :
For me the last week was all about friendship, focus and mountainbiking, a perfect combination. I am also glad that my 10 year old bicycle survived a week of hard abuse (XT 750 series rules !!). Going home with a Gipsy state of mind. I'll be back.....
Glenn: BC Bike Race was one of the greatest experiences I ever had in mountainbiking. Very special thanks to my teammates of Mountain Madness: David, for your fantastic company during the whole race, but also the week before during our roadtrip. Due to your eternal optimism, having a bad day with you around is simply impossible. Lieven, to come up with the idea of participating to tis event. You're a collegue, a teammate, but above all a very special friend! Sandra, for your fantastic support, before, during and after the stages. For your help with food, massage, the update of the blog every day, and also your great mental support. Also thanks, to my buddy Bart at home, for the great work we did together during the many trainings, that mostly ended up in the kitchen from Els. After last year only participating on the BC Bike Race was a victory yet to me. Special thanks Mom and Dad for your endless love and support, as well as to my gang of friends that I may call "The best friends in the world!"
Lieven: For me this was a great adventure with buddies and my wife. It feels like MTB summer camp for kids! Thats what a real holiday has to be. The people of Canada are one of the kinds and friendliest I ever met. The support and greetins from everybody involved with the race was just refreshing and GREAT! A 2 weeks holdiay tat I will never forget. Lover the ride with my Rocky Mountain 29er Altitude, XT/XTR DYNASIS Trail bike. Thanks again Darren! Cheers and Canada we will return......
