Saturday
11 Sept. saw me head off with 2 friends in the inaugural Gran Fondo
Whistler. The route was 120km from downtown Vancouver to Whistler.
While short for a Gran Fondo, it includes 2400m of climbing (and 1750m
descending) along a lumpy Sea to Sky Highway. The Sea to Sky is
renowned as one of the most picturesque drives in Canada.
The forecast called for rain. The weatherman was wrong and 4000
entrants saw blue skies and moderate temperatures for a great day on
the bike. The start took us through Stanley Park and over Lion’s Gate
Bridge. These roads are normally closed to bikes and excited the
locals. We then headed up onto the dual carriageway towards Whistler.
The road was open to cars, but one lane and a shoulder was closed for
the event. Thousands of orange cones (aka pylons) divided the road into
sections for car and bike.
After 60km some guy riding in tri bars ahead of me clipped a pylon. The
pylon wobbled then fell directly in front of me and I was flipped into
the air at 45kph on impact. My bike and kit are ok as my head took the
force of landing. I was wearing a helmet, which did its job has been
replaced. The helmet showed crush damage on the side and back and the
foam cracked through in six places. I am glad I wore a helmet and am
lucky I am ok.
After collecting belongings scattered in the yard sale resulting from
my crash I carried on. I was a little woozy and unable to get much
power into the pedals any more. A kindly fellow rider coming up behind
overheard me discuss my crash with another cyclist and handed up some
Advil (ibuprofen). At the next feed, with food provided by one of
Whistler’s fancier restaurants, I emailed my host to let him know I’d
rung my bell pretty hard and was going to wait there a few minutes to
ensure no symptom suggested I should abandon.
My host emailed back to say he’d also crashed and was waiting with an
incapacitated bike a few kms away, with his wife en route to pick him
up. I rode up the climb to him. Breathing was a struggle and I was
light-headed, which put me off continuing. Once the car arrived we put
our bikes in the rack, packed our disappointment into our respective
suitcases of courage and drove to Whistler for a DNF and a beer. We are
both fine now. The third of my party finished uneventfully.
Notwithstanding the result for 2/3 of my party the event was excellent,
particularly as a first try. The overall standard of riding was fine,
and my group’s crashes were flukey. Sign-on was smooth and the
attendant queues moved quickly. Instructions were clear. Route markings
were impossible to miss and the route itself is scenic, interesting,
fast and technically challenging. Next year, the route could improve if
organizers agree with a Vancouver residents’ association on traffic
concerns and route the city portion closer to the water.
The feed stations were well-stocked and the overall level of support
was good. Mechanical assistance was available from follow-cars for Cat
1/2/3 riders in the concurrent Provincial level race, starting 10mns in
front of the Fondo, and at aid stations along the route. Organizers
bussed riders from Whistler to Vancouver after the event so everyone
who wanted to could participate in an after-party in Whistler (one
night’s hotel stay required). The after-party went late.
I entered again for 2011 and encourage TCC members interested in a
non-skiing trip to Vancouver to consider it also. Downsides include a
steep entry fee (C$225) and a 9hr flight from London , both of which
can arguably be justified if part of a bigger vacation, roads
interrupted by a rumble strip down the middle of much of the race
course and pylons that can be knocked around by riders. These road
issues both caused crashes, but I struggle to see a way around them for
organizers. Room on the shoulders of the road for repairs was limited
(the shoulder was frequently a steep verge or a cliff face). Tri-bars
should be banned altogether next year rather than “strongly
discouraged”.
It would be great to see a few TCC riders balance out the downsides
against the upsides of a well-run event along a scenic route between
two fun cities you might want to see anyway. Feel free to get in touch.
Vancouver is a great city to visit and I’m sure Whistler is no secret.
Make a week or two of things!
John