Paris to Ancaster Bike Race

Paris to Ancaster bike race is Epic

April 26 2015

This is Canada’s largest race with over 2,000 riders attending this year. Partakers race the full range of abilities. From the invited skilled professional cyclists and Olympians’ , who naturally finish the course in about two hours, to recreational riders and amateur athletes whose drive is simply to complete the race. It’s incredible to see so many countless cyclists having a great time.

2015 would see professional cyclists, Gabby Durrin and Mandy Dreyer, and cyclocross professional, Christine Vardaros & Ellen Van Loy, they are the big names in the women’s wave with Jeremy Martin, Andrew L’Esperence and Evan McNeely on the men’s gender.

Paris to Ancaster is a bike race of all sorts of bikes and skill levels. Every thing from the traditional mountain bikes and tandem to a fat bike or wide tire bike I like to compare to the Hummer of bikes.

You have a choice of races to choose from; 20Km family ride a 40km for first timers and those that want a shorter race and the legendary 70km race that athletes have fought through for the past 20 years.

It is a race through only 8km total of short road sections with sections of gravel, dirt roads, farmers driveways, muddy single track, rail trail and most famous are the mud chutes that will leave a mark if you fall or stumble if not a permanent burn mark into your brain of the memory of the knife stabbing pains in your legs.

I Don’t Know

I hummed and hawed race or not, the guys said I could do the race, I just did not have the confidence in my self.

My brain would not commit.  Would I be good enough, could I handle the confusion and mass start of the race. What about the anxiety before I even get to the race, am I going to be able to catch my breath.

Weeks went by, and months and I kept checking the promoters web site for more details to make it easier to decide. None came! It wasn’t until other found out I may consider doing the race that I actually went through the motions and finally registered at almost the last moment.

Should train more? No cant do that as I am already getting over a hip/glute injury, and since I started spinning I have developed a problem with my left ankle.

My spinning instructor doing the race suggested we get together and do some real outdoors training to prepare for the race. The 5min sessions of standing while spinning was great to help build the endurance required for the race. Time well spent!

I was getting really concerned and I wanted to wimp out and find a reason not to go, as the weeks got closer the weather turned nasty, I think we had three days of rain that week with low temperatures around 5-6 Celsius. I had images of a mass mud fest from start to finish and me dealing with the stress of it all and my brain not knowing how to deal with it. Lets just say it lets me down a lot and I don’t trust it.

I hate the cold and it hates me and I am not really good at figuring out what to wear. As I recall one of the athletes going in our small group said he was taking his whole closet of clothes. One suggested Tri-top,  cycling jersey, Tri-shorts, arm warmers with gloves.  I trusted this as it meant I trusted him and not my own brain. That’s a load off me.  I did however smother my legs with In-Heat, I should have gotten the extra hot stuff.

The night before I did the ritual pile the gear in the front hall so I trip over it going out the door as a reminder not to forget something, like my helmet! Water bottles lined up on the counter with the jet fuel to get me to the finish line and some cut up Vega energy bars that I ended up almost choking to death on during the race.  Never again unless I am walking with a bottle of water in hand.

The early rise race morning would see 4:30am come too quick. This helps me to get my mind ready however I had the chills from being very nervous, I had a constant trips to the washroom hoping my 6:30am ride would not show up early to give me more time to get my self straightened out.  As destiny would have it we ate at Tim Hortons up the street and they did not have a non greasy meal for my sensitive tummy.  I was hoping to get a double dose of hot oatmeal and ended up getting turkey on an English muffin that seemed to take forever to get.

We arrived at Ancaster to pick up our race numbers, Hummmm guys I picked up mine the day before to avoid the mad rush and stress.  We transferred our bikes and gear to the other car for the trek to start line in Paris Ontario; at this point It hit me I was in this suffer-fest whether I liked it or not and I guess it showed. I became very quite and nervous about the mass crows there would be at the starting line, I made anther dash for the washroom before we got in the car.

We arrived at Paris Ontario and the car was driven like a jeep down the shallow ditch and up the other side of the grass to angle park along a farmers wire fence. It was like we were going to a show but in the country. Cars and bikes were every where; like a bees nest building to prepare for the slaughter of our legs and bodies. Cars trying to find places to park, cyclists warming riding the busy road warming up for the race and others making mad dashes into the bushes to make a last minute purge. I would soon find myself trying to find privacy too, that was near impossible.  Minutes before my wave started I would find a port-a-potty to go again in privacy.

It was about 6 Celsius and that added to the jitters,  I was on the front of my wave and to the left so I would not have to get worried about the crowd to en-golf me. That had me paranoid. My nerves settled down when I got bold and started talking to a competitor of my age group that was one of the local guys doing the race for the 4th time. I had forgotten I had to go pee again.

I had a few swigs of jet fuel from my water bottle and prepared my video camera as one the race started I would not have the ability to deal with things until I had some uncrowded space. While waiting to move up as instructed a bunch of riders cut into the front of waiting line.  This would make it more difficult to make a mad dash out of the crowd. I would soon find I would have to back off for things to clear. It’s only a race, I am there for the fun and experience.

This is my first race ever of this type, I have done half marathon’s 10k’s and a couple of Duathlon’s last year. This could be interesting. After we moved up to the starting line I mentally went over what I was about to do.

Make a mad dash up the hill on pavement and pass as many as possible to get a lead spot, and go slow into the first corner to avoid a wipe out on the loose gravel on the inside corner of the pot hold ridden road. Easier said, when you hit the gravel and realize you should have taken the opposite side of the road I lost a lot of time due to the number of craters just waiting to wreck my bike and rattle my head, I tried to find a good line but it soon ended. I settled to get to the end of the road and would make up during any open chances I had.

Heading into the rail trail there were some construction markers as we made a sharp right turn, I had slowed a bit as I was on the inside and there was a lot of small loose gravel,  just as I passed I heard someone wipe out behind me and knock out the construction maker. I soon past through the rail trail post and I scoped ahead to see where I could start passing, It was not long until a pace-line formed and I took the moment to leap out to the left and start passing a long line of riders. At one point while passing a long pace line a rider jutted out and just clipped me as I went flying by.

Once I got past the main body I settled into a reasonable speed of about 38-40kph, thinking about what Tod told me to just have a good time and have fun. I knew this is where it would begin as I was alone and could focus without the worries of being crowed into a double pace line. Looking ahead for hazards I never thought for a moment about getting a flat tire until I saw numerous riders off to the side fixing flats.

I was probably alone for a good 15-20 minutes before I came up behind a few riders and one on a fat bike, I could never figure to see so many of these big tired bikes in this race. Those cyclists would have to be in very good condition to push their big bikes at such a quick pace. I was surprised.  I kept passing small groups until I could fine the pace to catch a draft for a quick draft.  I quickly learned that to

I started to enjoy the race with the sun shinning through the trees warming my body that is barley covered in thin Lycra like I was riding in June or July weather. The river was to my left curving and reflecting the sunny blue skies above. The rail trail was very dry and hard packed with scattered leaves from the fall swishing around as I went flying by. I tried not to dwell on the distance to the finish line as I looked at my GPS. I focused on keeping my speed up as I knew the winner in my age group finished with an average speed of 22kph.

I started to catch up to more larger groups now that became near impossible to pass on some of the single track trails, I made good use of county gravel roads and rail trails to over take large groups. I was doing very well until a fellow rider as I passed said my back wheel looked like it was crooked. I gave in and pulled over to inspect the wheel. I gave it a quick spin and some of the mud I picked up in the last trail came flying off. I was a little upset because of the hard work to pass so many was now gone in a short time. I made quick to get back onto the saddle to get going again.

Soon things got more interesting I was pushing my way through grass, I wasn’t sure if it was an old rail trail or just an old grown over bike trail. Soon enough things got thick and gooey, I had to push hard and steady in a straight line, if you had to manoeuvrings around an obstacle or another rider you would not have the steam to keep going, this what happened as I was climbing up this incline of sticky gooey life sucking mud, I had slightly backed off my crawl of a pace to avoid knocking over a rider carrying her bike through the mud, in doing so I gave my legs to the pain gods. I quickly took my place ahead to make that tender spot on my left shoulder more sensitive to pain by carrying the bike again. I was so close to the end of the muck, as soon as I got off I was back on the bike again along my way making speed along the elevated edge of farmers fields where I could see in the distance lines of traffic on the road ahead being held up by the race. WoooHoo, Asphalt I hope.

I was soon on a trail again heading where I don’t know. There was a very large pack of riders ahead of me, I soon caught up to realize that they were to close together to attempt to pass, when suddenly every one was yelling and slamming on the brakes in a controlled skid either headed into the bushes or  in to other riders, no one appeared to go down within my sight, there may have been some riders down in the distance as this was a very large pack, maybe over 40-50 riders. After about 4-5 minutes we finally got going again when it happened again after moving for 10 minutes in stop and go traffic. Then I saw the blue sign and lot of mud as far as I could see were riders carrying their bikes any way they could on both sides of the mud cute through ankle deep mud, occasionally someone would loose balance and fall over just as I did when a girl suddenly got stuck and to avoid riding my bike into her I went over side ways into the slurry of mud down the middle of the cute. It was at this point I found it safer to carry my bike. A few times i had to take a step backwards to put my shoe back on that got grabbed from below by one of the mud serpents. Many got back on their bike as the mud seemed to let up but soon many found that was a quick slip down onto the muddy bank covered with branches and prickly bushes soon to entangle their bikes and clothing.

I was on and off trails and gravel roads as soon I entered them. I noticed I was within 10 km of the finish, I avoided looking at my distance as much as possible and just kept working at keeping the level of pain in my legs where I could manage. I felt burning pain in my right leg just above my knee cap for some time but when I tried to push my bike through mud I felt a cold steel dagger stab through and stop me cold in my tracks, I went over against a farmers fence post that I realized was part of an electric fence. I frantically massaged it aggressively and got on my way. I noticed from this point on I was in the devils zone of fire, I learned I could still push with pain in my quads and a fire ball in my lower left calf. I worked to balance the pain between the puck and pull of the pedals.

I was within 4 km of the finish when I encountered a large hill, not really but I knew it was not the last. Many riders were complaining of fatigue and sore legs, I saw one guy laying on his back in the mud grasping his quad with both hands screaming out in pain, I yelled out with a comforting voice I feel your pain, you will make it man. Riders were getting off and walking the hills and muddy paths. I felt so many did not think they could go on like they were making a epic trip across the barren’s.  Not! Remember it’s almost over, keep pushing I kept saying to my self. I was worried that my brain would stop listening to my body and cause some long term injuries.

Soon I came to a long downhill stretch, weeeeeee. Some momentary relief from climbing and going through mud, focus focus too fast too fast, there is no through road under the bridge, I have to make a very sharp turn to the left to avoid ploughing straight off the road into the pine trees. I just barley made it.

I was soon back in the bush on a muddy ridge looking down into a ravine and I looked way up the left there was nothing but a big hill and in front of me was a long single line of cyclists just dallying along. I knew they were burnt out, soon I saw a tree across the trail ahead and they were single file going through a narrow gap cut by chain saws.  I took the advantage and narrowly rode along the inside edge of the ridge to the piled up tree. I pack my bike on my shoulder for the last time and climbed over and got on my was again, I felt really good that I had thought of this since I was dealing with screaming legs.

Finally I knew I was at Martins Hill, where it takes the riders rising to the heavens above and brings them down by the pain demons burning every muscle fiber in your legs as you continue to climb higher and higher, your mind keeps telling you to stop the pain. You fight ever meter avoiding you fallen cycling comrades to the pain demons and devils. I keep telling my self you can take this, I just need some room to keep my momentum going. I was trying to get some speed up to get to my moejoe pace where I can keep it up then suddenly everything turned in my favor, a bystander cleared the way along the left shoulder seeing I was trying to find a spot to get through the walking wounded.  My pace picked up and brought a victory smile to my face knowing the pain would ease off. Just then I heard my partners cheering go James go at the top of their lungs. I caught a quick glimpse of their green outfits as I went by, just then a switch went on in my brain saying pour it on it over and I felt a grin on my face as I raced the raced the rest of the way up the hill and poured it on cresting the hill to the finish line.

I pulled off to the left into the grass through and opening in the crowd of spectators to a small clearing and my brain had a big rush of mass confusion, I could not think of what to do next or where to go. My brain felt like it had just been flushed out to sea. I had noticed that it was overcast and headed over to the top of the hill to look down at the riders fighting their way of the hill. This would give me time for my head to clear of brain fog so I could figure out what or where I should be next. I could not figure out how to use my phone to take a picture, I ended up doing a selfie by mistake and a shaky video.

Later I tried to find my way back to meet the guys and could not think of where the car was, I was riding around in circles in the parking lot, at one point I thought I was going to cry. I stopped and checked my and noticed Todd had tried to call me twice and sent me text messages. All I could think was that they thought I was lost or confused. I was.

It was a great experience and would do it again.

Due to late registration I started in the 1492 pack, the last wave. I feel good that I ended up coming in at 865th position, that means I passed approximately 627 riders. I don’t think that’s not too bad for my age and first attempt.

Age group was LM50-59    174/269.

Time 3h 17min for 70km Average speed was Kph

Did I do as well as I hopped for, No, I am disappointed that I waited too long to register,  With less bottle necks I could have done a lot better. I did do very well in maintaining my energy levels and found out I could push my body pretty hard and survive through the pain and endurance over a long period of time. Mentally I felt it held me back as I caught me self loosing focus when I was in a bad spot It took too long to plan a way out or around. When I was in the grove I did really well. I feel blessed that at my age I was able to do this and feel comfortable enough knowing I will do it again.

Bringing Back The Dirt