Click on photo to view gallery Photo by Brett Wolfe

Stage 3: Elkford to Etherington. 140 kilometers, unknown elevation gain. A long day on the road with the effects of the fires visible in the apocalyptic views. Not a bad day, but not really a mountain bike day. Tame compared to other days.

Texture: Another diverted stage. Much dirt road with beautiful views. More powerline climbs, a rapid descent on roller roads, and some beautiful single track, but all too short. Then more steep ascending, after which we rolled into the checkpoint out by the paved road to climb over the pass and descend to Etherington. We were promised 40 kilometers of descending ahead. The downhill had a stiff headwind and my partner and I had determined the downhill here means rolling downhill. I budgeted wrong on the calories and effort, and began to feel the effect of static position as my foot cramped uncontrollably. We finally saw our turnoff, which consisted of 6 kilometers of pea gravel road with stock at large. I kept having visions of mischievous cattle. Less talking and more pedaling.

Characters: Met a rider, Heather, who had lost her partner, but she was continuing to put in an effort.

Stage 4: Etherington to Sand McNabb. 63 kilometers, 1845 meters elevation gain (3400 top elevation). I couldn't have asked for a more favorable day physiologically. After the road work into the wind yesterday, I was dreaming of road biking and a crew of 10 working hard against the wind, towing the weak one legged guy along. But, I was brought back into focus with a beautiful sunrise on a cold crisp morning and the trail on the horizon. Felt good.

Texture: A double track climb followed by a fast, ripping, rolling singletrack descent. My fast and deranged partner and I hit the accelerator and proceeded to eat up real estate at a rapid rate. We hit the checkpoint after a short stint on a pea gravel road. Then we started climbing in earnest and settled in for the assault.

Big rocks and reasonable soil became a game of chess as we maneuvered to keep traction and to keep moving forward in order to stay out of trouble. JuliRae, my partner, feeds off technical climbing and proceeded to join in the assault of ridge number one. I soon found the best traction in the vegetation and began playing a game of bolting from patch to patch. It felt good to dig in, and threshold felt normal again.

"...unfortunately, my partner smacked the ground. She hit hard, and I could hear the hit as I was rolling in the lead..."

The last section became silly steep and I was relegated to pushing. A crew of cowboys and herding dogs appeared towards the top. The dog kept debating whether or not to herd the cyclists. The scenery was spectacular. It felt remote and beautiful.

We encountered more rough climbing and another rocking downhill, followed by a cross-country section between the ridges that we had to ascend. The beginning of the ascent was a grass covered rock with cattle hoof prints imprinted deep in the earth. Incredibly rough, but reasonably grippy so staying on the bike pedaling was the best option. Incredibly calorie expensive, but I'd rather ride than hike. As we got higher, the terrain changed, and we became immersed in tight alders, an initial ridge ride, and a beautiful exposed last climb, followed by an alder-filled descent with waterbars. Then it was back to riding through meadows on a weathered singletrack, much of it worked over by cattle again. A sharp descent and one more deep river crossing led up to a short section of pavement and into the finish.

Characters: Another rapid descent, and unfortunately, my partner smacked the ground. She hit hard, and I could hear the hit as I was rolling in the lead. Scared, I turned around, but by the time I got there, she was trying to sort herself out. She was hurt, but no broken bones. Fuming and without much dialog, she climbed on the bike and continued the push. She gets my "tough as nails" award.

A few of the other racers that we were amongst consider my partner to be one of tougher woman journalists that they have met. I agree. She decided to race this beautiful, tough event with a seasoned athlete, no easy task. I am methodical almost to a fault. Everything I do relates to making the bike go forward.

We began to pass and was passed by a mixed team from Switzerland. This was their first mountain bike race and they were doing incredibly well, and the woman of the team, however tentative on the trails the first day, continued to improve as we worked towards Canmore.

Stage 5: Sandy McNabb to Bragg Creek. 108 kilometers, 2430 meters elevation gain. I had expected more dirt roads, but was pleasantly given more singletrack and doubletrack rollers.

Texture: An initial road warm-up on pavement. Dan of Seattle and I were hanging out in front of a second group on the road, pulling the group along, and could see the fast group ahead. We kept a reasonable pace with the group in tow. More dirt road work, followed by singletrack and doubletrack riding and some technical XC trails, which made for fast fun riding. We were able to make up time.

Eventually, we visited an off-camber singletrack with smooth waterbars and a very fun trail system. I took off the edging tire on the front and experienced understeer - wrong tire, but was having a great time.

Faced loose rock on a narrow singletrack on the side of a steep hill, crossed the road and ascended a volcanic rock section. Popped in and out of the trees, then rode a short pavement section before back on dirt. More creek and river crossings, and more pavement work with a strong headwind. A rapid descent, then on to XC trails, and hit pavement into Bragg Creek.

Characters: Sisley, another individual from Switzerland, met my partner and started talking about his experience when he severed the nerve in his arm a few years ago. Had an early dinner with a couple of Czech riders and discussed the race course in a restaurant at Bragg Creek. Showered while waiting catch up with a few riders, Stu and Troy, and we discussed the fires with Stu.

— By Brett Wolfe