Posted Aug 17th 2007, 9:26am

TRANS ROCKIES BLOG - Round-Up, Stages 2 to 5

Having been out-of-range for the past three days, Isporty is relieved to have made contact with founder Chris Ward and team-mate Bill Gilbert as they continue their energy-sapping trek around and across the Canadian rockies in the Trans Rockies mountain-bike race.

Here's what has been happening over the past few days:

Stage 2 ..

Bill's Blog ..

Mountain biking is nothing like road biking - the only thing in common is that they use something that has two wheels!

I've now experienced single-track two times in my life. I'm sure there is a point to it but I don't see it at the moment.

Everyone around me seems to love it. It makes me scared.

We started the day well on the first climb (it was tarmac and gravel forest roads) and were in the top 25%, but then the single-track started, and I found it very difficult. Chris was better (he has 7 days more experience than me) but I felt I was taking my life into my hands everytime I descended.

I had one nasty fall which did my nerves no good. At one point there was a 1000ft drop two feet from the track. (Honey, send more shorts because these are useless now.)

Chris was very understanding which helped a lot. I might clean his bike tonight to thank him.

Although my experience is 100% more than this time yesterday and some things are definitely better, it's all about nerve - fitness is not the issue.

Question is can I, should I, throw caution to the wind?

We were really slow today on the single-track, and we must have let 120 teams pass us .. (you have to let stand aside to let some pass- get it? Single track!

So basically if you finished after us today, you shouldn't be mountain bike racing .. I know we shouldn't!

Chris's Blog ..

Another day, another dice with danger and some hard work. Generally a decent day for me though, although I know Bill feels differently (I'll let him tell you) but generally he has a gluten allergy and unfortunately had some last night so was not on top of his game today - which meant I could ride well within myself and avoid all accidents.

We cycled 60k over one major climb - a lot of single track and then a short tough small climb. The interesting bit was hike a biking downhill through mud and a forest and through a river.

Organisation of this event isn't great so water for showers and food have both run out at different points.

We are staying in the middle of nowhere for next two nights - the weather is great, the scenery of the mountains amazing and the community of cyclists is very sociable - I'd rather be here in this mountain bike race than at home in the ratrace.

Tomorrow is a 90k stage with much on gravel paths - should be made for mine and Bill's skills and training.

I mentioned the relationship between riders is often the most cause of stress - we are continuing to get on as well as ever.

I was better tactically and strength-wise than Bill today and I/we will have to deal with this if the inbalance continues. Last year in the Alps I was completely knackered at the end of every day which hasn't happened here yet - although I was expecting it.

Your overriding memory is of completing an amazing route, not what position you finished, but I hope I get to feel mentally and physically tired by the end.

We can work together as a team to balance ourselves out and achieve what we both want to do - who knows by tomorrow it could be Bill who is helping me up the climbs? Anyway, you have no idea what strength you have in your legs until you take your first peddle strokes at 8am in the morning on the start-line.

Stage 3 ..

Bill's Blog ..

Well it was a cold night. We didn't put the bikes in the overnight lock-up, mainly because we are in the middle of nowhere and also just kinda hoping that someone would steal them, but realistically who in their right mind would steal my bike unless they were a stand-up comic looking for prop.

The race started as usual at 8.00am and it was 9 degrees C then. By the time we finished it was 30 degrees.

Today was better, 93km-long it took us 5h 56m. Overall we came 132 out of 290 and the reason was simple: only 7 km of single track! Most was on forest service roads.

The downhills are going better - Chris shouted at me for touching the breaks on the first one, so I figure I would be less cautious, and it wasn't that bad, although I was airborne at one point, but overall didn't fall at all on the day - a major accomplishment.

But coming down the last descent I was taking it fast, and then on the side of the track was a guy with a blood stain bandage round his head - it didn't look good, although I figured that seeing as Chris was ahead of me so I could gently tap the breaks without retribution!

There were two main climbs (1850 metres ascent in total) and we passed 30-35 teams on the last climb, only for them to pass us on the single-track, but it felt good being so strong on the climbs.

Its a good atmosphere on the race, a lot of people know we are roadies with almost no experience, and they really try help with advice on technique and bike handling, which has been useful.

Also the scenery is spectacular. On each stage there are normally two or three river crossings (where you pick up your bike and wade across a thigh deep river). The water is freezing and crystal clear with the mountains all around - its about the only time we get to enjoy it, as the rest of the time you are just too scared to look anywhere other than the next 10 metres of the road!

At one point today on a very dusty trail, a big logging truck came by. It was unbelievable how much dust the thing threw up and we couldn't see a thing, having to stop to let it settle before starting again.

Once back into camp, we went through the usual routine - quickly eating as much food as you can, then shower (5 mins max per shower, but they're nice and hot!)

Then clean the bike and after that relax swapping stories, til dinner.

Around 9.00pm collapse into your sleeping bag and fall asleep in about 5 seconds.

Chris's Blog ..

Still no internet or phone connection - today was a 93k loop so we are now back in the campsite which is as near to the middle of nowhere as we get on this bike race over the rockies - 45min drive to the nearest village.

Being in a race with 290 teams of two (down already by 25 teams (50 riders out already!), means being in a campsite has its traditional downsides but after today's long stage the community atmosphere is excellent - simply everyone is up for a chat and a supporting word - particularly to us two 40+ roadies from that mountain bike capital of the world: London.

Our joint seven days mountain bike experience prior to this is a source of merryment but today was built for us - two long climbs in 30 degree blue skies. We came 132nd out of the 290. Yesterday we were 195th on a single track short day.

I find it very emotional finally crossing the line completely worn out and with a decent sense of achievement. Don't know where that feeling comes from but my wife knows I'm always struggling not to cry when I talk to her after running a marathon or completing these long bike races.

I enjoy sport to this (still fun) level as I am totally answerable to myself as to whether I achieve what I'm capable of. The amount of training I do, late nights I choose to enjoy or cookies I eat has a direct result on my result! And only I am involved in the decision. I don't enjoy business so much as there are so many variables and peoples' decisions outside my own that often have more impact on my achievements (or lack of them) than my own.

Anyway off to eat loads of food, maybe have a beer, and prepare for tomorrow in the setting sun, rather than in the freezing early morning dew.

PS. Hope I have to wake up for another midnight wee - the view of the stars I discovered last night was simply breaktaking - almost worth the trip in its own right (at least to the portaloo anyway!)

Stage 4 ..

Bill's Blog ..

Went to bed early last night very tired, and woke up at 6.00am (breakfast is served then) feeling like an 80-year-old man, with the prospect of 115 km to ride today. It wasn't looking good!

Chris and I were both a bit flat as we hit the first ascent - I couldn't get my heart rate above 150 (day 1 it hit 178), but we just pushed on. Chris has been stronger over the first three stages, but now we were more even. Its amazing what I don't think twice about now on the ride.

The start today was just frenetic a crowded double track, so dusty you could only see the outline of the rider in front - everyone going as fast as they could. You don't have time to think, you just go! Mad.

After the first climb we got better and by the time we got to the 3rd check point we were about 115th. Then I took a wrong turn, which wasted 10 mins.

Chris wasn't happy, but we both figured let's just power home over the last 50km and see where it puts us. We overtook about 30-35 teams and came in 136th in 6h 29m.

It was a tough day and the temperature was 37 degrees by the time we finished.

We climb generally to about 2000 metres altitude most days, so that has an impact as well.

Walking through the tent city everyone stops and chats about the stage, and how they did. Apart from the top 10 in each category, everyone seems to approach it as something personal, working with your team mate, helping him when he needs it and vice versa, and just trying to do the best and fastest you can.

I must admit it has worked well so far. We're lucky in some sense to be here and doing the race (thank-you A) although I'm glad its seven stages and not more!

I'm not sure this 46-year-old body can take too much more, let alone what its doing to my mind .. (scaring myself half to death on a daily basis).

Chris's Blog ..

Another camp - still no mobile communications at all - amazing views though!

It's been great to have three days without any external communication or media contact whatsoever. In a way I'm not looking forward to the camp tomorrow night as we are back in civilisation and I can see that the fantastic community that has grown together, through shared long slogfest days on the bike in the face of some danger, that seems to result in at least three riders being airlifted to hospital everyday

This will be severely dented by everyone resorting back to chatting on their mobiles, mailing on their Blackberries and sending photos from their laptops (cyclists on expensive bikes seem to love their tech gear).

I might be wrong but judging by the fact that in the last three minutes I've spent writing this, four people have asked me "have you got a service out here?", I don't think I will be.

Of course it will be great to talk to loved ones and find out if anything of significance has happened in the world - but I hope it isn't to the detriment of the shared community thats been built here between the 281 teams (down by another 18 riders this morning!), and riders from 25 different countries.

Riding today was a 113k slog either going uphill, through rivers or along hot dry gravel roads. We did better than yesterday but unfortunately Bill missed a turning and despite me shouting loud enough to start an avalanche he went 10 minutes the wrong way!

In a way we are still racing/competing but having talked to so many people that have either broken bikes or bones your attitude changes as soon as either happens - you realise that what we are doing is quite tough and actually to simply traverse the rockies - with only a mountain bike as a help (or a hinderance) is a decent achieverment in its own right... I hope we make it!

Stage 5 ..

Bill's Blog ..

The highlight of the day was pulling an all-nighter, which to someone my age means you don't have to get up to pee during the night. And when you're in a tent and it 5 degrees C outside that's a result.

The day was spoilt by mechanical problems. Chris's rear derailer snapped and we spent 1h 45m basically trying to sort out a way to get home. Finally got the thing sorted by shortening the chain and the bike-rolling with just one gear. Then on the descent Chris stopped to put the chain back onto the right gear, I went right past him without seeing him (fear forcing me to watch the terrain - it was a very steep rocky double track through the forest). I thought he was still ahead and Chris waited thinking I was still behind.

(I'd like to point out that Chris didn't see me either - this is an important fact)

Needless to say when we finally managed to meet up, there was a lot of name calling - Chris quoting the mountain bike official rule book (like that really exists) "when you overtake your team-mate it is your responsibility to let him know" .. who ever heard of such a thing?

Anyway, we finally made it to the finsh, hugged and made-up, agreeing to adopt the "official" overtake rule.

It was a disappointing day in some sense - we were really doing well and have nothing to show for it in terms of time or position.

This mountain bike thing is really taking its toll - my whole body aches.

Who said pain is weakness leaving the body? Well I seem to have an unlimited amount of weakness.