It started with a red wine handshake a month or two ago. I'm in says I. I have been yacking about this race for years and I have to check it off the  list. Bro Pete and Ron finished this race about 6 or 7 years ago. Pete says never again. Ron trained hard and I well trained like half ---. I will blame it on my back-not good and thats my story and I am sticking with it. Lame. That hand shake is good till next year I hope. I will blame it on the bike park. My youngest daughter thinks its pretty sweet. On Thursday before the race I had to wimp out. Spinal decompression is about to start. Ron already knew, then I notice his voice-he sounded like Amy Winehouse(the name says it all) after a three day bender, if she was a guy. Ron has the flu and he is bummed, but he will still race he says, if possible. Saturday morning and Ron starts the race a lot under the weather and after the 300+ riders take off up Paradise and up the steep climb to the canyon. Man I would have been in bed. He is just going to ride, he did'nt even pick up his number. Our beautiful ladies send him off with some good lucks and worries. I don't think they knew the scope of this race till they drove up the highway towards Whistler.

I am volunteering at the first water station at Pinecrest with the Corsa Cycle guys when the rains came. We had three of us handing out water like 15 year olds on  a Red Bull Taurine Overload.  I did not know these first group of riders would be going that fast. Impressive. The three of us were very busy for the first  250 riders. I notice an old buddy from ski racing days Bill L. up front and he is flying. Give er ---- Bill.  After most of the riders went by I am getting a little worried about Ron. I have to phone the girls and they are shopping in the village. So much for their worries. Some of the riders are pulling out and were only a third of the way in. Some riders are asking us if they are almost finished or if  they should keep on going. All of the riders were very thankful for the volunteers and thanked us. Many of the riders did'nt want to throw bottles on the trail. "THROW IT we will pick up".

Finally I phone Ron and he phones back a bit later and says he is near Lucille Lake and may ride the road up. He is having a rough time breathing in the cold. Don't ride up the road I say-the highway is full of Broken down english cars from the car club trip to Whistler. I was looking through the trees and an old mgb was broken down in front of Pinecrest. English cars and rain don't mix-believe me, I fixed them for years. A while later and I notice Ron riding past me on the Hwy. I yell for him but he is too far away. He is actually riding fast and looking good-from a distance. I clean up and get into the car and motor up the hwy. I pass Ron up the Two mile hill up to Brandywine and he is still riding pretty good, even if he has ---- hanging out his nose like no tomorrow. He gave me a look like he had enough. I tried to pull over but no safe place with all those english cars broken down, taking up the good pull outs-wankers. I pull into Brandywine and a while later I pull Ron off the road He's had enough (see photo in user album-check out his arms, still frozen holding his bars). He was frozen and wet and sick as a dog. Does this not sound like a lot of fun ? I opened a ice cold OK Spring Pale Ale (only for him, I was driving) and load him into the warm pimp mobile. His only complaint was that he could barely breath-minor problem on a 72 km uphill race. I drove him directly to the soaker tub. He is one tuff nut. We also found out we had another BMBA rider finish in a little over 5 hours-way to go. (MORE ON THIS LATER)

That night we went to GLC and also Dustys and riders were still finishing up to seven hours later. We met up with Bro A and oldest son A who rode Cut yer Bars a few times and went to our fave pizza joint for a little bread and red. A great weekend had by all. Next year-are you in ? If we get 10 or more riders we will get a discount. Come celebrate the Pain.

Ski2die

PS if you want to read all about the history of the race and the english cars check out the Whistler Pique newspaper online under columns-alta or altered states-very funny.