A Few Follow-up Thoughts
on IMC's Bike Course

The first 35-40 miles are mostly flat, usually with a tailwind, and very fast. There is the McClean Creek Road hill, but it is not bad really. There are a few rollers in there as well, but you will fly. You hit the series of Richter's Hills, and you've ripped down the back. Speeds are 80-90km/hr, typically.

The back side of Richter's tossed you into the rollers, and the wind, usually. Once you exit the rollers, you hit a long, grinding flat stretch. A pavement change and an abrupt flatness clearly mark the flats. The wind usually hits you straight on along here, so the relief from the hills is reduced. It can be a grind.

Soon, you turn onto the out and back. This is where the bike course can bare its teeth and start to bite you. You go mostly downhill going out with a tailwind, and begin to feel confident again. Tired, but you are moving thanks to the wind and downhill. You cruise along the outbound part, looking anxiously for the turnaround. And you keep riding. And looking. And riding. And looking. You can see cyclists on the far off stretch of main highway. You are miles ahead of them. And you continue to ride, and look. Where IS that turnaround? It becomes a goal to reach it. Zillions of cyclists zip by the other way. You see friends through here. You start to see the litter of the special needs bags as the turn finally draws near. You turn around and pick up your stuff.

As you head back, the valley funnels the wind and you sense the uphillness now. The course is biting. Hard. You weather the storm of the out and back, and turn finally onto the main road.

Crowds of onlookers cheer you. They know what's ahead. The wind stiffens as you approach the Yellow Lake and Twin Lakes climbs. For me, the Apex ski area exit marks the beginning. It's payback time for those who hammered early on, or came up short in energy. The hill is not steep. It is long. At the bottom, you have refilled your positive energy tanks. Half way up, they are empty. Early in the ride, you had scores of cyclists around you. Here, you are lucky if you have anyone around.

And you go up.

Doubt can enter now. "A marathon? I can't. This hill is killing me."

The road is blocked off, so you own the road. And you continue to climb. People cheer, clank bells, and honk horns. "I wish they'd shut up. I feel like crap." A volunteer yells, "The top!" The doubt vanishes. The view broadens and Penticton, and most of the run course, lie in view in the valley far below.

Doubt turns to elation. Speeds accelerate. Tired riders summon new energy and begin the descent into town.

You ride by the airport, and you realize you just did one of the toughest rides you'll ever do.

Rolf

Back to IMC FAQ
Back to Gordo Tips