July 26, 2015
It was challenging given I haven’t been riding as much
what with work and being away for 10 days. I started to really huff and puff.
So much so that briefly I worried about lung mets…ya I know, but someone on the
team had told me about a team member who suddenly started to get slower and
slower and tire on rides he never did before, and it turned out his cancer came
back…(he’s ok now) Before this ride I didn’t usually huff and puff as much so
“naturally” my brain went there.
We were going at a good clip and I had visions of flying
off my bike…but I did as was told (to the t lol) and was just fine. Best not to
overthink I guess! We caught up with the team and I was tired but exhilarated!
I made it!! I would not have made it had it not been for my team, but they got
me here!! I was grinning like a fool as we rode up to the group, who were
surprised to see me! Phil walked over and handed me a huge box of skittles that
he had picked up for me as consolation prize – now it was a congrats prize! We
took a quick group picture and then started to head back. Nigel was waiting for a
few others, and I decided I could start without him as no doubt he would catch
up no problem if I coudlnt’ make it up. Might as well get a head start so I
didn’t hold everyone up. Phil, Shawna and I rode up that hill. They talked me
up the whole way – and I made it up without any assistance!!! I joked that it
must be the skittles…(and have not ridden without skittles since just
incase…)
Today was another big milestone for my riding. Phil and I
completed the 118k ride from Banff to Lake Louise…and back! We rode with the
team and it was fantastic. It is so incredibly beautiful. I’m used to driving
in and around the mountains, but to experience it from a bike saddle is very
different.
But as always my team was there. Shawna, who is smaller
than me, and a very strong rider, let me draft her up a few of the more
challenging hills as I was losing steam. I was getting frustrated with myself
for not getting out as much and losing some cardio, and started to worry that if
I couldn’t do this ride, how was I ever going to complete The Ride in a few
weeks?
We got through that part and she was helping a few others
on the team, and I was fighting back tears because I was losing steam again and
then suddenly Phil got in front of me to let me draft him through another
particularly difficult hill. I don’t know that much about cycling yet, but man
what a difference when you can draft someone!! I was still putting in effort,
but I could actually breathe again lol Thankfully after having to work hard to
get up the hills, we had a blast coming down the other side! I think I actually
let out a few “Whooooooops” as we flew down (which thankfully didn’t give Phil
a heart attack cause I was pretty loud in my exuberance lol)
There was the option of stopping about 5k out from Lake
Louise to eat lunch, or you could go all the way to Lake Louise and then get
lunch on the way back. I had intended to go to all the way to Lake Louise. But
given how much steam I was losing, I didn’t think I’d make it back . To get to
Lake Louise you have to go up, then down to Lake Louise, then do the same again
on the way back. I didn’t know if I could make 2 more big hills and have enough
in the tank to get me back to Banff….
Nigel found Phil and I on a long flat stretch. I told
him I wasn’t sure if I could make it. Phil was all in so Nigel let Phil draft
him and they flew to catch up with one of the groups going to Lake Louise that
were further up. As I was riding on my own, I have to say I was suddenly wondering
about bears LOL This probably helped keep my pace up ha ha. I met up with Nigel
at the bottom of the hill that was the last leg to Lake Louise. He was putting
up the sign so people coming would know where to turn for lunch. Phil and
the group had continued to Lake Louise.
“I don’t think I’m going to make it to Lake Louise. I can
maybe do one more hill, but not two. ”.
(I don’t know how I managed to get this out without
bursting into tears – I was that disappointed)
Nigel just smiled and said “C’mon let’s do it. You can’t
let Phil have bragging rights! We’ll do it together. I’ll push you if need be,
but you can do it.”
What could I say to that?
So up we went…and Nigel, who was probably dead on his
feet because of the 24hour ride from Fri to Sat night, got beside me and talked
me a ways up…then as I slowed to a crawl, pushed me up the rest.
If he was trying to reduce any hero worship on my part,
he was failing miserably.
As we flew down the final stretch into Lake Louise, he
yelled out “oh and sit back and hold the bars straight when we go over the
Texas gate“
What????
We rode into the lunch stop and ate a lot of the food
provided by One Aim…you burn a ton of calories on longer, challenging
rides and I was famished! I was a little worried I might run out steam before I
got back to Banff but it wasn’t too bad. Except it started to rain…then started
to pour lol It was one of those situations where the clouds got socked into the
mountains and it was cold and dreary and wet…but I was still smiling! I was
actually pretty warm so the rain didn’t bother me too much. I think I had a
dark line from my chin to my forehead though from the back tire ahead of me –
and decided I needed to add tire guards to my list of things to get…My toes did
start to get a bit chilled…and numb the last 10-15k. I added shoe covers to my
list…(they help keep your feet warm and dry)
Phil waited for me to catch up together with Nigel and a
few others we rode into the parking lot in Banff that we started from. I was on
cloud 9. I looked at Strava – 117.9k!! Holy cow! I had one of those “I can’t
believe I just rode from Banff to Lake Louise and back” moments. As tired as I
was, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. And the gratitude I felt towards
Nigel and the team swelled. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Or Phil.
I have to say knowing how hard it was, I was once again
worried I wouldn’t be able to complete The Ride. This was basically the
equivalent of one day. On Ride weekend I’d have to get up the next morning and
do it again! Although I didn’t feel too sore, I was wondering if I would even
be able to get out of bed the next morning…Yikes! But it was just a passing
thought – I was too overjoyed with completing my biggest ride to dwell on the
future.
As Phil, Hal and I got into our van to head home, I
savoured the sense of peace that always comes after a ride; the sense that all
is right with the world. I thought to myself it has truly been a great day.
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