• the race was rescheduled to be two weeks later in the month

  • weather turned out to be great. the forecast was looking bleak.

  • delayed start waiting for the RCMP. didn’t turn up so followed race director through town

  • the initial gravel section following the neutralized start was brutally rough. there didn’t seem to be a line of any kind. my momentum was completely destroyed

  • the out and back section along the north side of comox lake was the hardest section of gravel riding i have ever done.
    • it was larger rocks, so loose
    • endless brake bumps
    • no smoother line, just had to eat the bumps
    • super punchy climbs, not all that long but wildly steep
    • after getting back onto pavement i was having trouble holding my handle bars due to issues in my hands: the rough surface brought blisters to the base of both my hands
    • the section behind the dump i found very difficult and was happy to arrive on the comox valley trail
  • the long single track climb went pretty well. i was having trouble holding the bars as my hands were killing.
    • i mentally broke at the top of this climb
    • the trip to comox lake really took it out of me mentally
  • coming down from the climb i was faced with a choice, turn left and face the climb a second time and complete the long distance or go straight and wrap up the middle distanced
    • i choose the shorter distance - i mentally didn’t want to ride anymore
    • shortly after making this choice it started pouring rain and that really dropped my body temp
    • given the rain i was even more happy with my choice
  • the result was not what i was hoping for
    • that said, looking at the results i was on pace for what i had set out to do pace wise.
  • coming into the race my fitness was far better than what i had coming into the BWR in the fall of last year.
    • i did the same sim ride 15m faster this year