It’s 9 pm on the day of, and there’s just too much to go into… I promise I will add more tomorrow, but here’s a taste of the day.
Ian came in first place in his division.
Updated
It’s now six-thirty in the morning the next day. I didn’t choose to be up this early the next day, but the reality of doing such an effort the previous day leaves you sore and your insides a little upset. I’m making coffee, and maybe some pancakes in a bit.
As you may have gathered, it was a whole-family event. Ian was riding the 75 km distance, I was riding the full distance, and Miranda and Tammy were going to enjoy a day in Drumheller. The basic idea was that we would park at the rec centre, and while Ian and I were out riding, the girls would ride their bikes from place to place.
Ian and I were off at 7:45. The 75 km start was at 8:00, but Ian started with the rest of the BCC group so that we could ride together. Our group was Phil, Adam and Justin, and Will for the first 10 km or so. Will dropped back to ride with Derek at a slower pace after he got some GoPro footage. Right from the start, our pace was pretty brisk. I was concerned for Ian, but while he was working hard and only taking short turns at the front, he was keeping up. He took it cautiously (like me) down the big descents and his answer to Phil asking how he liked the climb up from the ferry was “I think I just crapped my pants.” 🤣
Ian was going to stay with us until after the bacon station in Wayne. If he turned left in Rosedale, he would be back in Drum in 8 km. But he chose to turn right and rode for another 12 km to the 100 km turnaround before heading back. We had gone so fast over the first 60 km that he would have been back long before Tammy and Miranda would have expected him. They would have still been at the museum. He did fantastic. The people we rode with who found out that he was 14 couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t know what I was doing at 14, but it wasn’t this.”
Justin
“It took me years of riding to do 100 km in three and a half hours.”
Adam
He rides like his father.
Keith
Adam, Phil, Justin and I continued on. The day was beautiful. It was windy, but that’s to be expected for this ride. If you go into the Badlands expecting a calm day, you’re a fool. The temperature was perfect and the sunshine was welcome after the rain we’d had this week. We worked together, keeping the pace up but taking time to stop at the aid stations. It was a great ride.
Meanwhile, Tammy and Miranda got on their bikes and pedalled to Whifs Flapjack House for breakfast. They got there just before the 8:00 start riders went by. That was where Tammy had her eggs benny and Miranda had her waffle. Then it was off to the Royal Tyrrell Museum (of course!) Miranda took her iPad and was focused on taking reference photos for drawing. Their only complaints was that it was already getting too warm to ride up the hill to the museum for their sweaters they were wearing by 9:00. They were glad to get there for opening, because when they left there was a long line.
They got back to the rec centre to see Ian crossing the line, and got some Vietnamese subs for lunch, and went to a local coffee roasters to buy some drinks and some beans. They were back at the finish for when I got back. I showered and got my food before we were back on the road home.
We were all tired but happy. We got some Pizza 73 and rented Spider-Man: No Way Home to watch at supper and then followed that up with Doctor Strange: The Multiverse of Madness for a late-night movie fest.
Today looks like another beautiful day, but Ian and I are skipping the BCC ride. Maybe we’ll do the ice cream ride tomorrow.
congratulations Ian… Nice pictures, beautiful weather