BC Bike Race Day 0

Devin, Craig, Shawn, Tori and I started with a great value breakfast.  Teresa's Cafe had choices Adam through Fred - we all got Adam.  Simple way to structure a menu.  We intended to be virtually first through the lineup to check in for the race, but got minorly foiled on that front, got caught in the lines, and stretched it out to a 2 hour process. 

It wasn't too bad spending that long signing in, as it's basically like seeing family again.  Riders from La Ruta, TransRockies, the ABA, and wherever else we've crossed paths are here and we're all catching up.  Life is good.

When packing our race bags, Shawn and Craig realize they have too much sleeping bag and not enough cargo hold, so we do a mid day warm up ride to MEC.  Good warmup other than a path crash that took Tori out with some dude here riding the other way.  Fortunately all ended fine, but not the way to start.

The race overview meeting had some notable takeaways.  We will be riding technically challenging trails tomorrow, including Severed Dick, where world famous downhiller Wade Simmons will be there at the top to wish us well on the way down.  Those who aren't comortable with North Shore riding are encouraged to stop to lower their saddles.  2 climbs, 2 descents, short day.

The other notable for tomorrow's route is there's a bottleneck a few minutes into tomorrow's course.  The organizers asked for everyone's help - those with big engines please gun it off the start to stretch out the group.  Those in no hurry please hold back.  Now that's an aweseome way to get everyone hopped up.

We got some of our new deadgoat jersies courtesy of Gerry brining them out, so we're flying the team long sleeve jersies at dinner.  Our group, plus Gerry, Tom, Pat and Geoff tried our best to put an all you can eat sushi buffet out of business, then disbanded for our various dessert experiences. 

Between check in, riding, dinner, dessert and sitting in the lobby, today reminded me the bike riding adventures are an exercise in hilarity.  Everyone has so much to add all day it ends up being a day long riot.

Last but not least, Tori surprised me with a can of new energy drink to try, in all seriousness, called Tropic Thunder Booty Sweat.