|   Test of Metal Report (very long) | JRA
Jun 26, 2002 12:56 PM | | I signed up again this year for the Test of Metal race held in Squamish, BC. Last year was the first time I'd done the race and I managed to crawl in somehow. For those who don't know, the Test is 67km long (about 42 miles) and has around 1200m of elevation gain (about 3940ft). You have to get approximately half way within 2.5 hours of riding or the organizers will pull you from the race. I knew what I was in for again this year yet for some odd reason, I figured it wasn't hard enough so I signed up for the Singlespeed class.
Actually, I have this British friend who did the race with me and he twisted my arm really hard. So there you have it. The stage was set and all I had to do was get on my bike on a semi regular basis and ride. Did I do the prudent thing? If you know me at all, you already know the answer to that question.
I'd acquired a new singlespeed frame, made in the UK, and really had intentions of putting some time in on it before the Test. Due to my procrastination, I didn't get the bike fully built up until the day before the Leavenworth race (June 1st) where I ripped the rear QR to shreds. I decided to try installing a solid rear axle on the XT hub instead of purchasing an SS "specific" wheel. Again, pure laziness took over and I ended up installing the rear axle Thursday evening. I didn't look at the rest of the bike, just put it in the car Friday morning with the rest of my gear and headed up to get my friend Anthony (also signed up to do the Test).
We pulled out of Kenmore around 2pm figuring that it would take around 4.5 hours of driving to get us up to where we were crashing at a friend's place in Whistler. We made it through the border just fine (due north of Bellingham), hopped on the Trans Canada Highway and headed into Vancouver. Due to our late start, we got into the joys of the Vancouver rush hour but it wasn't something we hadn't anticipated. For those who don't know, the route to Whistler goes from where the Trans Canada Highway ends at the ferry terminal to Nanimo, then heads north hugging the coastline. Things can get kinda blocked at the ferry terminal but usually the ferry traffic is put off on the shoulder and thru traffic flows. Not this time. We got within about 5km of the terminal and traffic came to a complete stop. We sat there for about 2 hours. Nothing we could do about it. By this time, I have an urgent need to go see a man about a horse. We're zooming along the winding Hwy 99 and I'm starting to eye the trees, never mind that traffic would be zipping by only a few feet away. Suddenly, I spot a construction staging area with a porta potty off on the left. I jamb on the brakes, squealing the tires, and whip into the pullout. Disaster narrowly averted.
Anthony and I were going to go do the registration Friday evening but since we were running so late, we decided to head directly to Whistler. We pulled in there around 9pm and not too much longer after that, hit the sack to rest up for the big day tomorrow.
Race day registration is from 8-10am ... strictly enforced. If you're not signed up by 10am you don't race ... no exceptions. We got to the start area around 9am Saturday morning and went through the signup then headed back to the vehicle to get the bikes put together and all our gear ready. My friends in Whistler weren't racing this year so they volunteered to be at the first big aid station to pass out water and whatever else we wanted. I put the On-One Inbred SS together and rode it up to leave my one water bottle with my friends. Remember, I haven't touched the bike since the last race. On the way back to the car, I notice that I'm getting a lot of play in the cranks. I look down and realize that the fixed side of the BB is loose and backing out. Not a good way to start the day but I did bring tools so I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. Got to pawing through the toolbox and to my horror realized I had everything except the 14mm socket wrench! I quickly scooted back to my friends and inquired if they had one. No good. I start walking around the lot asking all the racers there if someone has a 14mm socket wrench I can borrow. I finally find a guy who just happens to have a 14mm wrench (not a socket wrench) which he VERY kindly lets me borrow. Nice people those Canadians. I quickly hoof it back to the car and pull off the cranks. I realize that while I have the BB tool, I don't have the wrench needed to tighten the cup down. I jury rig two crescent wrenches and cross my toes hoping it'll hold. Quickly ride back to the start area to drop off the 14mm wrench and hotfoot it back to the car to get suited up. Who needs a warmup when you're pulling this kinda stuff? It's almost 10:30 so I quickly throw everything together, slap on a ton of sunscreen and ride back to the start area. Not the way I wanted to start the day but at least I made it. Unfortunately, I realize at the start area that my tightening job wasn't worth squat. The fixed cup is backing out already. I'm majorly bummed and consider not even starting the race. After talking it over with my British friend Miles, he suggests trying to bodge it together using a screwdriver to hand tighten down the cup and keep an eye on it. Since I was using a solid axle on the rear, I'd purchased a Jethro Thule to tighten down the track nuts on the axle. On the other end of the Jethro is a bottle opener. I sorta wedge the opener end in the slots on the BB cup and screw it down as tightly as I can.
We get in the long line of starters almost at the complete rear of the pack. I haven't been on a mountain bike since June 1st and almost a 1.5 months before that time. No way I'm ready for this race but I'm bullheaded and generally find a way to gut rides out. Did I mention that it seems like every race I've gone to recently I get an upset stomach the day of the race? I'm doing the Test on about 5 spoonfuls of oatmeal, a mug of coffee, and a couple slices of orange.
In line just behind us is a female SSer on an Independent Fabrications SS bike. We get to talking a bit and find out she's primarily a sponsored 24hr solo rider who was at the Spokane 24hr race earlier this year. Small world. Miles is on a custom Edge Mango SS bike and I'm on my On-One Inbred. So we have a Brit on a US made bike and an American on a UK made bike ... wearing matching Hawaiian shirts. My friend used a 32x21 gear and I was as low as I could go with a 34x20. We could just faintly hear the small child singing the Canadian national anthem and figured the start was almost upon us. We hear the crowd cheering as the leaders take off then wait until the wave of starters finally makes its way back to us.
The first part of the course goes out from the start area and onto Hwy 99 for about a mile, which is closed down until the starters get through. I'm near the back of the pack and quickly went into my patented reverse breakaway move. I'm spun out quickly, although its surprising just how fast you can spin 180mm cranks. I hear a horn honking behind me so am anxious to get off the highway. Turns out the vehicle honking its horn is leading out the Teen Test of Metal riders (another 200 riders in addition to the 800 person main pack). Miles is the very last person in the race and is spinning feverishly to not get run over. We turn off the highway and head up the road into the community of Squamish. Climbing for that first taste of dirt. Miles soon catches up and begins to pull away from me. I will see him only once all the rest of the race. Anthony is somewhere in the pack ahead of us. The town is out in force cheering everybody on as we ride past the homes. We wind our way past the community and make one final steep pitch up to the dirt. This starts off with a wide dirt road which narrows down somewhat to one lane through a "wealth" of 1"-3" round gravel rocks. This year, being so far back in the pack, there are no walkers in front of me so I can pick my way down as fast as I care to go. Next up is some nice singletrack winding through the BC woods. Here also is the first bunchup. The trail really isn't technical but it does have a few spots where all it takes is one person stopping to bunch everybody up. We finally get flowing again and make our way out to a paved road alongside a lake. We're basically riding through a campground and the crowds are out in force cheering. Back into the woods again onto dirt roads then more singletrack where we wind our way around to the bottom of the hike-a-bike section. Everything seems to be taking more out of me this year but there's nothing to do but soldier on.
After the hike-a-bike is a section of snaky trail that twists back and forth through a clearcut heading generally downhill to another section of road. This is an extremely fun section to ride and I try to push it as much as I can to make up some time. I didn't carry a watch with me but I'm pretty sure that I'm getting close to the cut-off time. Last year, I ended up following a slower rider down through this section. This year, we again bunch up behind a slower rider but eventually, we're able to get past them and open it up a bit more. I believe that the name of the trail is Rock-N-Roll and it sure is. Just before you drop back onto pavement is a steep section with lots of little drops and rocks to it. The crowds gather here to cheer people on and also hopefully see some carnage. Even though I'm near the end of the pack, I draw some extra cheers for what I'm riding. "Hey, he's riding a singlespeed!" "Old school rigid!" I must say, it does a body good to hear that. When I enter into the "chute", a spectator drops his helmet and it rolls down the hill trying to beat me to the good line.
I make it through this year with no spills and we're back onto the pavement. Just a few more miles and we'll be to the cut-off point. Will I make it again this year? One more section of dirt road and we're into the feed zone. Somewhere in there is the cut-off point but nobody seems to be sure where its at. There are people handing out water and food and I start grabbing as much as I can. I slice of watermelon goes down REAL good. I grab an energy gel pack and a cooked cold potatoe to stuff in my shirt pocket for later. My "support crew" is there with extra water and I take the time to fill up my pack. I thought I was past the cut-off point but someone says that it's at the bottom of 9 mile hill. It's 2:20 since I started so I hurriedly get back on the bike and try to push it. The volunteer at the bottom of 9 mile hill says we've passed the cut-off somewhere behind us at a bridge so I didn't need to worry so much after all.
The agony of the climb absorbs us. The sun is out in force and although its only in the 80's, it's pretty dang warm. Many people are stopping to wet their head in a small stream that flows along the road. I join the line of pushers and just attempt to keep moving forward. I'm ashamed to say it but I end up pushing all of 9 mile hill. No gas in the tank. At the top is a feed station and I stop to take on some water and energy drink. Then its back on the bike. The scenery of the Canadian Rockies is simply amazing up here. Have to pay attention to the road though since it heads down and you pick up some delicious speed. All too soon, this ends and the reality sets in that you aren't quite at the very top of the climb just yet. One more walking pitch and you're up to the top of Bonk Hill.
Next up is the Ring Creek Rip. Back onto singletrack the heads down at a pretty good clip. Throw in some rocky steep sections and open up the throttle as much as you dare. I'm starting to take a real beating from the rigid fork and have to stop a couple times to shake some strength back into my arms. I'm running a bigish front tire but I've pumped it up more than I usually do to try and stave of flats. After Ring Creek Rip is a sharp turn into the Powerhouse Plunge. Steep, rocky, rooty, technical, switchbacky ... the Plunge is a freeriders dream. Last year, I tried to ride some of it but this year I don't even attempt it. I just feel dead in my arms and honestly don't really have the technical skills necessary to ride that kind of stuff.
Finally the Plunge is over and we're back through the feed station for the second and last time. Onto Crumpet's Woods and the final climb, or should I say push, of the day. At the top of the climb, I happen to glance down at my BB and notice that non only is the fixed side backing out even more than it had, but the other side is coming unscrewed as well! Time to pull out the Jethro Thule and bodge it back together before continuing on with the ride. The Crumpet's Woods trails is really a quite fun portion of singletrack but by this time I so exhausted that all I want is for the whole thing to be over. Its good riding through typical rocky, rooty singletrack with one big dropoff called Endo and a log ride section thrown in for good measure. I walk Endo but do manage to pull off the log ride (which I didn't attempt last year).
I should mention that the volunteers are simply awesome. Usually there is at least one team of people at the dangerous sections scattered all throughout the route. From the safety people to the whacky guy standing at the top of Rock-N-Roll yelling himself hoarse for each and every one of the rides going through, the volunteers make the Test one of the truly great mountain bike races.
Out of the Woods and back into the community. I'm amazed that even this late in the day there is still people out in their front yards cheering the stragglers in. The lawn sprinkers are running and I head for every one this year to cool off a bit. We duck back into the woods for some more trail riding, blazing down past the climbing rocks on Canadian granite then cross over a road for the final section of the day. Last year, we just went straight down the road to the loggers stadium but this year the organizers put in one last section of singletrack instead. Its all graveled and flat so really nothing to worry about. I try to keep the pedals turning around. Every volunteer you pass is telling me that I'm almost there and cold watermelon and beer are waiting. They volunteers are stopping traffic on all the road crossings so riders don't have to stop. One final little climb up into the stadium and I'm done! I get a good cheer from spectators in the bleachers on the way through. 6 hours 7 minutes and change is the final tally.
I'm physically exhausted but running on some kind of unknown energy source. I made both my goals for the day and even finished in about the time I thought I would given my complete lack of conditioning. I head on over to the showers to get cleaned up then we hung around for a little bit listening to the awards. Anthony and I got back in the car and drove back to Whistler for some beer and BBQ. I can't begin to describe how great that tasted. For some reason, everybody was pooped so we called it a night around 11pm. The next morning, after some coffee and saying goodbye to our gracious friends in Whistler, we headed back towards the border and home. I can't recommend the Test of Metal race enough. Get yourself up there and take the Test. You'll be glad you did. If you can manage the time off, make sure to get up there early on Friday for the Chariot Races then hang around on Sunday for the Test of Metal Trials competition and also the Freeride race. |
| long story but well worth reading | shift 'les'
Jun 26, 2002 3:23 PM | | Hey JRA, that was awesome. Just what I wanted to hear. Absolutely everything. Congrats on finishing especially with your cranks ready to fall off. I had been hoping a friend of mine who came in 4th would have given me some news of it but not to be. Anyway, I really want to do it next year. Sounds great. But unlike yourself, I will have to pre-ride the whole thing at least once b4 I get myself into it. On a fun ride last month I only got to ride(push!)the last 3 major climbs & do the Powerhouse Plunge which was my fave. I'll be sure to see you next year.
Hey, the unofficial/official SS Canadian Championships are on Sept 15th this year in Cumberland BC.(get a map of the Pacific Northwest including BC and find Vancouver Island & look about 1/2 way up on the east coast of the island & you will see Cumberland) A tiny tiny little town but very cool. They let mtn bikes in one of their bars!
I guess since it is the Canadian championships you wouldn't be there but you'll see some of us crazy Canucks in Downieville in Oct. I'm really hoping to be there.
...Les |
| Canadian SS Championships | JRA
Jun 26, 2002 7:04 PM | | Yeah! The guys from Dodge City Cycles invited us up there last year but unfortunately I couldn't make it. Maybe I'll be able to swing it this year. It sure sounded like fun. |
| Canadian SS Championships....good times | shift'les'
Jun 26, 2002 9:16 PM | | It was a hoot. A LeMans start & all just out there having a goodtime. No stress, no 'anal-retentive' riders........just mtn bikers having fun. Just the way it should be!
You should come up & join us. You don't live far....do you?
Most people last year just locked out a gear & rode but this year there will be 'me' on a real SS & a couple others.
BBQ after was awesome! And of course the BEER.
See ya there.....Les |
| Thanks! Great race report! | CraigH
Jun 26, 2002 4:17 PM | | I was stuck in the traffic jam near the ferry terminal as well, in the ferry line up though.
There was a 3 car accident, actually 2 newish trucks and a 2002 T-bird. |
| truly inSSpiring | red-haze
Jun 26, 2002 8:58 PM | | and yer a NUT!
glad you finished the race, if I took a month off of riding I don't think i could ride around the block, much less many miles of single/'double track. amazing.
and how do ya get a bb to back out on its own? amazing.
glad you like your inbred, look like nice bikes.
bob |
| Self-loosening BB's | JRA
Jun 26, 2002 9:09 PM | | Think about it. Fixed cup goes on the drive side. The drive side is left hand threads so you tighten it by turning counterclockwise. You pedal in the clockwise direction. Doesn't seem right does it? |
| yeah, have thought about it many times... | red-haze
Jun 26, 2002 9:18 PM | | and always wondered why its designed that way. mebbe the reaction force from the ball bearings makes a difference. but bearing resistance should be sooooo small that even a bb snugged up should stay put. but it doesn't always, i know.
had a pedal back out on me once, from back-pedalling so much on the harmony trails (you remember those?) and came out just as i was hopping over a log. not an ouch-less experience.
so how come you ain't riding more?
bob |
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