Also we had ridden Copeland Forest and Horseshoe before...but had never really ridden the Simcoe trails but had heard alot about them. We thought maybe we could take the opportunity to check them out as well.
So NewfieSteve (who is seriously the hardest working Newfie you will ever know) actually took Friday off, and we headed to Bass Lake Prov Park to camp out. We got pitted in by mid afternoon...
Looks bigger from this angle (that's what Lois said).
With enough time in the evening we headed out to check out the Simcoe trails. Being unfamiliar with the trails (we knew where the trail head was...but that was it, really)....we dove in...but didn't really know where we were going. After about a half hour, we unexpectedly popped back out in the trailhead...and there was Meredith. Meredith is a local (rides for The Bike Zone), knows the trails well, and gave us some directions on which trails to ride. Thanks Meredith!!
We knew we were in the right place when this guy jumped out from behind a tree...
ApexTed!! Seriously?? Yes, but no....
he wasn't really there...or was he???
So, the Simcoe trails are great! Some climbing, some flowy singletrack, some technical...a little bit of everything. Made for a great couple hour fun workout. And I am sure we left alot of trails unridden... I will have to acquire a membership...with so many trail riding options in the area, (and camping options) I am likely to find myself up there often. Besides...Lois has friends and family up there too!
Anyways...back to camp for recovery shakes...
Some gourmet eats...
A quiet, relaxing evening around the campfire....
Well...Steve may have invited a few of his friends...
Not me though, I hit the hay early. Actually, I have the best sleeps when camping! Still, I wake up before anyone else on the campground (maybe before anyone on the continent...). I have time for two full breakfasts' and four pots of coffee before Steve is even awake...
Anyways, we do eventually make our way to Hardwood, to pre-ride the 8 hour course. Out there, we run into Meredith...quite the coincidence. She is also pre-riding, with others of the Bike Zone team. As far as the race course goes....the only real climbing is right off the start...some long drawn out climbs in the first kilometer or so. Then plenty of double track...some seemingly endless stretches. The worst bit being almost a full kilometer through a very bumpy wide open farm field...the roughness could make for a huge challenge for solo riders...even more so if it is a sunny, hot day.
Most of the single track is new and loose, hopefully to get more packed as the race progresses. The last bit of the course is more mature single track...bits of the Sidewinder, Crank'd, and Serious trails...fast and flowy to lead into the finish. However, almost nothing technical, which will be good for newer riders, who may be trying a race for the first time....and probably better for me...less chance to hurt myself.
So, we only did one lap of the course...then opted to ride some of the more challenging trails to get in a good 2.5 hours or so...
Then on the way back to the campers...we stopped at the Simcoe trail head again....and rode one of the newly cut Simcoe trails for another hour or so...
Then more recovery...and cheering for the Roughriders who played (and lost) Saturday...
We certainly ate well once again...this time vegan hotdogs (try them...they're great!!), and tamales from 50 Pesos (a Burlington company that makes great homemade latin american food!).
I know, I know...not exactly Newfie food! What we had was great but I was kind of expecting something more like Brewis and toast...
Ah well, it was all good. At least this night was a little more quiet. None of Steve's friends showed up this time...not even this happy Newfie couple...
So another good nights sleep...and this time I used my native skills in the morning to get the crows and bluejays to make enough noise to get Steve up early enough to get in a couple hour road/gravel recovery ride on our CX bikes before we had to clear out of the camp ground.
On the ride out we ran into CoachRob...quite the coincidence. He was driving Gunnar to some 'Welcome to team Canada, here is your $MM sponsorship cheque' photo shoot, or some such thing. Then we ran into Lisa (CoachRob's 'boss')...quite the coincidence. Then wouldn't you know it...on the ride back we passed the Simcoe trailhead and there was Meredith!! Coincidence???? Hmmmm...
Haha...as Lois says...I wish!
Anyways...Sunday I eventually made it back home...maybe too early??
No...not really...
Human...you are home...about time!
Ya...we missed Pappy...
Sorry for the bad picture...but ApexTed wasn't at my house...or was he???
Anyways...once home I registered as Solo Male for the race. Even though there are currently (as of Tuesday morning) only two Solo Singlespeeders signed up for the race. However, one of them is dskunk...who, barring a mechanical or bad luck will be on the podium. (He just completed the Tour Divide in 18 days last month!!) Maybe he will be tired....but I doubt it.
The Solo Male categories for the race this year is huge!! So many entrants!! Some who usually solo, and some who, I think, may be trying it for the first time. Should make for some friendly (ish...) rivalries. Blaze is not racing...he just finished some crazy 4 day long sailing race (on a boat...not a bike...).
serious has not yet registered for the race...what are you going to do, sir???
Anyways...next post...Thursday...let's see what's what...till then I will be doggin it...
Stay posted!
What is a solo race? Who would do such a thing.. those solo guys are crazy.. see you Saturday.. SOLO
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