BC Bike Race 2014: Day 6 – Squamish

The riders at the sixth stage of the BC Bike Race in Squamish, B.C., could not have asked for better weather or a more  enjoyable venue. The camp is set up at the local recreation centre complete with steam rooms, hot tub and a pool. Just what you need after five hard days on your bike. After a great massage and soak in the hot tub, I was able to get a great night’s sleep and had no issues getting up and heading out to find the delicious coffee that awaits us every morning.

The course this year is being praised heavily and I would agree. I finished the 52 km in about 3.5 hours. Usually racing in Squamish for me is always a survival game, but this route was so well laid out it seemed less a punishment and more a giant reward. I rode most of the day with a fellow blogger who led me off course in a previous stage. But Friday, other than us both crashing at separate times, we stayed true to the course marking, worked well together and sprinted to the finish line. He may have got me by half a wheel, but I still like him. With just one short 20-km day to go in Whistler Saturday, I think everyone left it all out there.

BC Bike Race 2014 has been an incredible experience for me. Highlights so far would include sipping espresso in Elladee Brown’s kitchen with Tara Llanes and Juli Furtado in the first 30 minutes of arriving in Vancouver. Seeing old friends who followed their dreams out west from Ontario where I live and others who are B.C.-born as well. Having the support of Shimano Canada everyday with the XTR-equipped bike, Pearl Izumi clothing and tech support when I was too tired to wash and maintain said bike was a great bonus. And, of course, honing my skills on some of the finest trails out there was great.

Support for this trip is provided by Shimano Canada.