10/06/2008

Downhiller Gone Touring - Part 2 Steve Mitchell

Penticton to Whistler..
Well, I have arrived at Crankworx after what felt like a long ride in a short period of time. Watching the screaming fast downhills and slow, grinding climbs of the Tour each day has inspired me. Maybe my team doctor can get me some EPO next year? The weather has gotten worse but the flat tires have stopped after I re-taped my rims. Watching the Tour de France on TV at Freedom Bike Shop in Penticton I reminisce about the past 5 days of riding that brought me to the Okanagan.

Thursday I rode through the Okanagan and saw my shop accounts (Freedom, Bike Barn, Kelowna Cycle, Gericks, Cyclepath, and Olympia) in the morning and rode in the afternoon. After Vernon I was tempted to take the ride offered by Scott (trek rep) as the rain and wind pounded. The 110km ride soaked me right from the start and I felt like I was going backwards with the headwind. I guess that makes up for the tailwind into Penticton.

Toughing it out through the rain.

After a stop for lunch and a full gear change at a truck-stop cafe, I wrapped my feet in plastic bags as the truckers simultaneously watched me out the corner of their eyes in between the Monster trucks on TV. I made it to Barnhartvale just outside Kamloops and ran into Cheryl and Taylor from the Bike Cafe en-route to a ride. They took one look at me and insisted I go straight to their place to dry off for the night. I didn't argue.

Setting out from Kamloops after a good rest, good food, and great friends.

After a breakfast with the crew from the Bike Cafe and a visit with the Boar, I was off to Cache Creek. At this point, people were taking notice of my tour and I had a few honks and stops from people heading to Whistler. At one point, I even ran into my old racer buddy, Tony Pejril, in Savona working on his truck.

Anticipating the climb...

I had a great ride into Lillooet the following day and then prepared for the biggest climb yet; the Duffy Lake road. I couldn't tell you the elevation I climbed, but it is steep an unforgiving. You climb and descend, followed by another climb-descent in order to cross a creek, and then of course, once you've crossed you had to climb - again. I was very happy to finally see Duffy Lake appear through the fog and rain. I knew it wouldn't be long before one long, screaming descent!

The summit of the Duffy Lake Road climb.

Arriving in Pemberton I hooked up with Big John from the Pemberton Bike Co. I tagged along as he loaded up his 2 shop dogs, "Jethro" and "Osa", and was treated to an awesome dinner and a stay at his beautiful cabin in the woods.

The next morning I enjoyed a leisurely morning ride into Whistler to hook up with the Sombrio Cartel for the first of 3 days of sales meetings. I can't say I wasn't happy to be getting off the bike for a few days!

Whistler thru Vancouver and up Island
Crankworx proved exciting with our boy, Ben Boyko picking up the win for Sombrio! I enjoyed a weekend filled with a Chromag breakfast and hammerhead ride up and over the Kyber pass (forget gondolas - that's climbing from Creekside!) Of course, I also got some runs in the park, attended all sorts of industry parties, and best of all, my girlfriend Lisa made it up for a weekend away from the city.

Ben Boyko wins the Crankworx Slopestyle (and Dave Watson seems pretty psyched too)

Sunday I was back on the road. I skipped the Squamish to Vancouver section of road for fear of being run over by any of the large construction machines or being pushed into a narrow barrier by the weekend traffic. Monday morning I was back in Vancouver to meet with dealers en route to the ferry. Did you know they only run the tunnel shuttle every two hours? What a joke! I caught a transit bus, rode the ferry, then found the Lockside / Goose bike route into Victoria from Sydney, which was a great relaxing ride.

Riding with Ian, Kevin, and Steve from Chromag

After a day of touring Victoria dealers, I headed up the island to Naniamo. I arrived and got my work done early enough to put in a few more Km's. I ended up riding all the way to Comox! I think that was the single biggest day I've ever had on a bike, with over 200km. I would have liked to ride down the Sunshine Coast, but with a long weekend coming and a floatplane trip in the Chilcotin waiting, I raced back to the city with only hours to spare.

I had a great time on this ride and I would like to think that I'd do it again (ask me in a few months). I felt better than I ever expected and would encourage anyone to give it a try.

I couldn't have done this ride without the support of my work colleges and friends along the way. I would like to thank: NRG (Surly, Ortlieb, Cliffbar, Chromag), Sombrio, Revolution, Knolly, Sram, Mightyriders, Freedom, Bike Cafe, Pemby Bike Co., Jamie Morrision, Tony Pejril, and Smoke & Barb at Bush Pilot.

Cheers,
Steve Mitchell

What do you think about Steve's trip? Have you ever toured by bike? Dish it up here.