Last Sunday brought TSkin, TMac and myself together to defend our win from last year’s Stuckylife Gentleman's race. The Gentleman’s race is a 3-person team effort which started out at Recyclista's bike shop by the switchbridge. A le mans start led into a check point course which is designed to challenge your knowledge of local roads, geography and ability to find the quickest line between each checkpoint.
Starting out, Tskin lined up for the running start against the other 14 teams (50racers) and in his signature crushing style got the cue card first and we were quick to head out to our first of six stops. The first checkpoint brought us to Esquimault Lagoon so it was a fast paced, rule bending, group of 20-or-so riders flying down the Goose onto Old Island Highway and down into the Lagoon. A record time of 20 minutes from the switchbridge set the bar for a fast race right from the start. Coming out of the Lagoon the bigger group of riders started to splinter as our team pushed the pace up the climb. Coming down Metchosin Road we had another team with us and the team tactics started; everyone was hungry to stand upon the prestigious Stuckylife podium that no one wanted to work together and unfortunately, our pace slowed enough for some more teams to rejoin us.
The second check point was to Matheson Lake parking lot, so our route took us out past Metchosin's provincial road race course via Rocky Point Road. There were about 10-15 of us riding together along Taylor Road and as we were approaching Rocky Point road we hung back behind the group and darted off onto the goose before anyone could notice. We figured this route was flatter and hopefully shorter than the hilly road section so we had to be sneaky so no one would follow us. With each of us taking turns at the front we pushed a steady pace to Matheson Lake, only to have the group that we had left at the goose intersection, arrive at the exact same time! At the second checkpoint, Jenny was volunteering so we had a quick hello, got our cue card punched, and we were on our way to the third stop; Humpback Reservoir. We settled into a comfortable pace with our team and 2 others, planning our next strategy. Riding up Rocky Point, TMac and myself started testing the waters and upping the pace. TSkin held back with other teams to monitor the pain that was being dished out knowing that at any point he would ride away up to us and then onto sweet victory. Being a bit early on in the race he decided to stay with the group noticing that the group was too fresh to try ride away from. TMac and I sat up at that point, basking in the knowledge that we had the legs to win this race.
Heading to the third checkpoint, we rode down Kangaroo Road then onto Sooke highway to connect to Humpback. We played nicely all the way, working with 2 or 3 other teams along the way. As we got close to the checkpoint Tom slipped up ahead and got checked off first so we could have a quick get away. We slipped around the corner and pushed hard up the hill and promptly dropped what we thought were the remaining riders (there was a group in front of us, which we didn't know at that point). We held a pace line from the Highway back into town and took the "sneaky" trail down onto the Goose by Thetis Lake and Burnside to Prospect Lake Road. As we got to Prospect Road we were surprised by the team in front of us, who were from Vancouver - dang couriers. I was ready to ride with them at this point but TSkin up'd the pace on a few rollers and we watched them shoot out the back like a wet bar of soap.
We found the next check point at Estelline Road, grabbed some delicious baked goods from Bubby's Bakery and headed to Dunsmuir Lodge. We had a vague idea where the lodge was so we headed up West Saanich road and through Brentwood Bay where we quickly asked a friendly old chap walking on the sidewalk if he knew where the Lodge was. He grunted and pointed down the road so we took that as a good sign that we were headed the right way. After about 20 min of paceline effort and burning legs, we were starting to question if we had missed a turn, then a sign for Dunsmuir appeared and we saw G-Robson who was happy to greet us and assured us that we were the first ones to arrive. We filled our bottles, handed out a few self hi-fives and headed to Lockside to ride out to Island View beach.
The miles were adding up at this point and all of us were feeling the pain in our legs. I gave a quick reminder of rule #5, TMac sang us a little motivational song and TSkin told us to shut the F up as we crested the hill down to Island view. We grabbed our last check point marker and high tailed it back to Lochside. We were enjoying the view back to Mitchell's farm as we passed a couple teams heading in the opposite direction, up the climb. We smiled to ourselves as we new we had it in the bag, barring any major difficulties, of course. We continued the paceline back to town on the gravel section of Lochside to the final check point at Gyro Beach. When we arrived, Parker and a pack of skinny-jeaned stuckylifer's handed us some sweet congratulatory high 5's and a few beers.
It was another excellent Gentlemen’s race put on by the Stuckylife Crew with the help of some great volunteers and sponsors.
Some Highlights:
115km of riding
BBQ Pulled pork sangers
Beers at Gyro Beach
Drafting TMac
Bubby's cookies
Not sure who took the photos
2014 Gentlemen's Race
Moderator:vicwheelers
Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
Awesome report. I like the 'bar of wet soap line', and drafting T Mac as one of your highlights.
I was not telling anyone to 'harden the F up' though... I was definitely the weakest link in our chain on Sunday. You and Trev were strong, and I was a weak, bruised soul.
Quote of the day: "This would suck so much if we weren't winning"
I was not telling anyone to 'harden the F up' though... I was definitely the weakest link in our chain on Sunday. You and Trev were strong, and I was a weak, bruised soul.
Quote of the day: "This would suck so much if we weren't winning"
Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
Great report Dan. It was a fun day albeit brutally hard. A day that tough in the saddle is so much easier with 2 buddies. Quotes of the day:
Tom (as CD and I are crushing it): "slow the f*^k down!!"
Tom (as I'm serenading my team with a tune): "Trevor, I'm not in the mood"
CD: "if Dunsmuir Lodge isn't up here I'm giving up"
Tom (after we've left a checkpoint and we're passing a team heading in to said checkpoint): "you guys look tired. You should take a break"
Tom (as CD and I are crushing it): "slow the f*^k down!!"
Tom (as I'm serenading my team with a tune): "Trevor, I'm not in the mood"
CD: "if Dunsmuir Lodge isn't up here I'm giving up"
Tom (after we've left a checkpoint and we're passing a team heading in to said checkpoint): "you guys look tired. You should take a break"
Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
so good! props to the team, you guys killed it.
i'll have a report up asap. just need to get into the 21st century.
i'll have a report up asap. just need to get into the 21st century.
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Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
TMac taking some personal time at Gyro Beach.
Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
Mark you're kidding me. Really? That camera should be in that retro exhibit at the museum.
And CD, I was about to pass out at that very moment with absolutely no shame. Done.
And CD, I was about to pass out at that very moment with absolutely no shame. Done.
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Re: 2014 Gentlemen's Race
Sounds and looks epic. Well done gentlemen.