TransRockies
Stage 2 - K2 Ranch to Nipika
Cory Wallace / 11.08.2009
The day started off with a pretty mellow pace as the lead group of 40 riders rolled along lake Invermere. Feeling fresh and wanting to start a race I punched off the front of the group with Roddi Lega on the chase behind. At the first feed zone I was pretty winded and soon after came upon a super steep avalanche slope which soon had me hauling my bike over the shoulders. Looking behind I could see the Rocky Mountain Team and Team Amarante from Portugal chasing hard. Riding bikes is one thing but hiking up avalanche chutes pushes most of us bikers to the brink of self-explosion as seldom used muscles get called back from there long layoffs.
Getting over the avalanche shoot we road/hiked along some steep side hills before hitting a wicked decent down some recently cut trail. Riding a hard tail the new trails were a nice treat as the soft loam soaked up every little bump. Hitting the feed zone at the bottom with Team Rocky hot in pursuit I made a quick stop and tried to charge up the last climb of the day but the Rocky Mountain boys (Widmer and Lazarski) were on fire and soon took the lead as I began to feel the effects of the earlier efforts.
Behind in the pack Lega, who had been in 2nd for a long time had to pull up at a feed zone due to cramping and wouldn't leave until he got some jujubes. Solo winner from yesterday, Kerr (Rocky Mountain) passed the Jujube munching Lega at the feed zone and continued his ride towards Nipika now in 2nd in the Solo division
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