Races
Trans Rockies Update Day 3 - Aug 14 2007
The boys had a roungh day yesterday with 3 flats and a bad tummy.
They have lost a bit of time yesterday but are sitting at a solid 15th place.
Richard reports Marc is feeling better today for stage 4
Hazen & his partner are remaing strong and sit in 9th place over all - fantastic!
Trans Rockies Update Day 2 - Aug 13 2007
Ryan and Marc had a good day and managed to move up one spot to 11th - a mere 5 minutes out of 5th.They are out of cell phone range for yesterday and today so getting updates has been hard, especially seeing it take the Trans Rockies almost 18 hours to provide results.
Trans Rockies Update Day 1 - 12-aug-2007
We are waiting for times to be relased from the Race organizers but we have talked to Ryan and have found out he and Marc had a great day. They finished 12th, but are only minutes away from 5th place. This is very attainable as today's stage was very short. We will update more with more information as we get it.
Trans Rockies 2007 - Pre Race Info - August 12-18 2007
Hello to all of you who are following team rebound this year at the Trans Rockies Challenge.
We have undergone some pretty big changes this year for the race and this is an update to bring you up to speed on the Team, sponsors, products and testing that we will be doing this year during the event. This year I have teamed up with fellow employee and friend Mark Leblanc to race and represent Rebound Cycle, Scott Bikes Canada and Pearl Izumi Canada. This will be a huge change as Hazen Simson and I will not be racing together for the first time in three years. It will also be the first time we race each other in any type of mountain biking event. Hazen will be racing with Bow Cycle rider Kelly Servinsky who is an experienced stage racer as well. Mark and I have been fortunate enough to get full support from the Scott Canada folks and from our Alberta representative Ken Domareski who has also got Pearl Izumi on board for the 4th year in a row.
Aside from racing this year with a rookie rider my plate will be full like a stay at home mom. I will be representing Elete a new sports drink additive that helps prevent cramping and muscle fatigue. We will also be product testing for the fine people at the Pearl Izumi foot wear department in Colorado by wearing the 2008 top end mountain bike shoe. We are going to be hammering out all of our kilometers this year on the new Scott Spark equipped with the full 2007 XTR kit and the fabulous Rock Shox Reba SL.
After a few months of beating on our Sparks we are confident that they will no doubt be the bike of choice for the future Trans Rockies Races. I am also a subject in a ground breaking study on human performance and the effects the Trans Rockies has on many body systems.
Here is a list of products we will be using and testing during this year’s event.
- Scott Spark primary bike
- Scott Scale LTD back up bike
- Full 2007 XTR Kit including wheels
- Catlike Whisper helmets
- Adidas Eye wear
- Pearl Izumi Shorts / Jerseys / Socks / Gloves 2007
- Pearl Izumi shoes 2008
- Elete Mineral Drops
- Ultima replenisher
- Endurox R4
- Accelerade
- Amino Vital jel Packs for Recovery
- Enervit Gels and cheer packs
- Clif shot blocks
- Nathan ultra light hydration
systems
Cape Epic Update 6 - March 29th
The boys came in at 4:37.55 today - good enough for 28th - the first time below the top 30 ranks!
Today's stage, after a blistering 5km tar start through Cogmanskloof, leftg Montagu and headed into the farmlands of the lush Robertson valley, the rolling hills and fun descents were riddled with thorns, so riders had to be prepared! Exiting the farmland, the riders had a scenic 25km tar section before heading up the day’s big challenge, a 6km hike-a-bike section - followed by open roads and fast descents all the way to the foot of Rooihoogte.
Two more full days of racing left.
Update From Day 5 Cape-Epic - March 28th
The Boys finished strong today with a time of 4:36:02 - which was good enough for 32nd place. Moving up every day. Some of the biggest names in the world are struggling in this race, so quite a feat.
The route out of Barrydale promises to be spectacular with the first 40km crisscrossing the scenic farms in the valley, before the riders of the Absa Cape Epic are asked to find their climbing legs once more as they head up a challenging 5km singletrack climb to the top of the Op De Tradouw pass. From this summit, all roads point down until the race enters the moonscape valley leading to the Wolfieskop Pass, which climbs 430m in 7km, before sending riders on a helter skelter ride down the other side on the best descent of the 2007 route. The roll into Montagu is fast and not too taxing and the welcome will be warm.
Cape Epic Update 4 - March 27th
The boys are back on track and holding 39th place after finishing with a time of 5:10 today
After arguably the hardest start to the Absa Cape Epic ever, day four is a relatively easier rest day, but still holds its own challenges. The roll out of Ladismith is on tar for 6km, before the riders turn right and head onto farm roads of the area. Wide open roads, short climbs and a few technical obstacles will give the Epic entrants time to regroup and recuperate, before entering the Leopard Rock game reserve, where sandy jeep tracks and perplexed wildlife await. Then it is onto more rocky terrain for the final 25km into Barrydale.
Upate From Cape Epic - March 26
Ryan and Hazen have not been able to get to an internet enabled location. What we do know is Ryan did not finish day one due to getting e-coli 24 hours before stage 1. He did try to race on the first day, but was unable to complete the stage. The boys are back on track with stage 2 & 3 with a time of 7:07.28 on the 3rd stage - good enough for 39th place today. Hazen seems to be trucking right alone - 21 hour total time for the first three stages!
Stay away from the water boys!!
More to come as we get it
Upate From Cape Epic - March 25
We are still waiting word from Ryan & Hazen.
At this point all we know is that the Cape Epic site is reporting that Ryan did not finish stage one of the race. We will update this site as soon as we know more
First Update From Ryan & Hazen - March 22nd
Hello to every one following our progress,
It was officially 47:57:00 hours to get from Canmore to Knysna South Africa the race start town.
Our arrival in Cape Town was flawless and I must say if any one is booking a flight any time soon go British Airways. This air line took such great care of us and is accomodating to no end with entertainment and comforts I never imagined possible on an air plane. (free socks and tooth brushes wow)
Our first impression of Cape Town was a little hard to swallow. As the plane was landing all I could see for miles were rows upon rows of small shanty homes.
Children running arround half clothed and for fun chasing car tires that had been abandoned on the side of the main high way. It was a difficult but very real introduction to the 2 weeks we will be spending here in Africa. Once we left Cape Town the land scape and ever changing coast line were the big eye catchers for us. As we road the bus 7 hours to the start town we wondered which roads, mountains and directions the race may take us.
Once we arrived in Knysna the race start town we found our guest house and had some local food and beer to help us sleep better. Fighting jet lag is tough but having 2 or 3 pints is a sure fire way to fall asleep.
This morning we woke up to some of the most annoying birds we have ever heard and two Belgin riders who are in the room next to us loud buggers I tell you. After breakfast we put our bikes together ( Paul will be waiting for this part) and only one problem that could have been a major one. My rotor on my rear break was severly damaged and bent so we had to use the spare one that I always carry to races. A side from that the bikes work great and we think we are ready in that department. Thanks PAul for all the work on our bikes before we left and it should be a testament to all you reading this e-mail that Paul is the best wrench we know.
As for the rest of today we went riding had some lunch (amazing seafood)and I am now waiting for Hazen to finish his massage, then it's my turn.
Well we must go but before we do we would like to thank every one that has helped us get this far. Kevin & Paul at the shop, Lynne from Mountain Image, all the spin class regulars, our friends, our families and of course our partners in life Kristen (my fiance) and Laura.
We will be in touch as the facilities allow.
Ryan and Hazen Team Canmore # 576
www.cape-epic.com for more race information.
Cape Epic Update 1 Pre-Race - Start March 24th
Ryan and Hazen have left for the Cape Epic.
You can email them your wishes for success to racing@reboundcycle.com and the boys will get them.
Stay tuned here for updates as we receive them.
Cape Epic, South Africa - March-April 2007
Team Canmore
Canada
Ryan Draper / Hazen Simson
We are looking forward to starting the 2007 Cape Epic an 8 day mountain bike stage race that crosses the southern cape of Africa.
This 8 day event has an enormous amount of climbing and is over 900 km’s in length.
This will be our first time to Africa and we are looking forward to an amazing race as well as cultural experiences.
Hazen and I have been training hard over the winter months to get ready for the earliest of the World’s ultra endurance events.
Our training has been a little different this year spending just as much time on long back country ski and snowshoe days as on the bike.
We are both feeling strong physically and mentally for what appears to be the toughest of the races we have entered. As the days pass by the more excited we are getting about the scenery, the people, the competition and overall experience.
This year we have been fortunate enough to have Lynn Harrison of Mountain Image Distributing sponsor our efforts in South Africa.
Lynn has been instrumental in helping us fund our way and has been one of our number one fans.
Also on our calendar of events this year will be the 6th annual running of the Trans Rockies Challenge in August where Hazen and I will race each other for the first time with new partners.
Stay tuned for Trans Rockies updates in August or check it out at www.transrockieschallenge.com
For those looking to follow our progress on the internet you can check the updates at www.cape-epic.com
We look forward to hearing from you while we are away so if you want to e-mail us try us at ryan@reboundcycle.com
Trans Alp Challenge - July 18, 2006
Day 4 Trans Alp Challenge - Scuol to Livigno
Total distance 78.01 km
Height Gain 2717 m
Height Loss 2050 m
Max altitude 2290 m
Today's ride started off with a crash before the race even began. A rider in the start line fell into Kevin's bike, damaging a spoke. Luckily, he was able to start and complete the 4th stage of the race.
They both felt very strong today, rode very well and completed the stage in about 5 1/2 hours.
The day wasn't without it's problems though - they ended up with three broken spokes between the two of them, and Kevin had a crash on some rough gravel a couple of km's from the finish. He has some nice road rash, but nothing serious. Again, the Scott boys took great care of them, Kevin was cleaned up by the medics, and both are set for their very long ride into Naturns, Italy.
Trans Alp - July 17, 2006
Day 3 Trans Alp Challenge, Ischgl to Scuol
Distance 73.78 km
Height Gain 2620 m
Height loss 2770 m
Max elevation 2738 m
The ride from Ischgl to Scuol started with a very long climb (1425 m) that took approx two and a half hours and took us to an elevation of 2700 m.
The decent that followed was along a very long, sketchy gravel road, which, after 2 days of long decents, ate the rest of our brake pads. The Scott support team took very good care of us and we were ready for day 4.
We were very happy to hit the very short single track leading into Switzerland, but a bottleneck of slower riders kept us from riding fast.
After riding along a stretch of very hot blacktop, we reached Scuol.
Throughout the race, the riders are cheered on by the locals who offer high fives, bottles of water, or a quick spray down from the garden hose.
The weather is still very hot, but the fast decents offer us a quick cool down. No mechanicals today...all in all, a good day.
Tomorrow we ride into Livigno, Italy.
Trans Alp Challenge - July 16, 2006
Trans Alp Challenge - day 2
Day 2 of the Trans Alp Challenge found us travelling 76,10 km, through the amazing mountains and towns of Austria from Imst to Ischgl. We had stunning views as we climbed to an elevation of 1977m.
The day started out with a flat tire about 500m from the start in Imst. We were able to fix the flat quickly but ended up at the back of the race and we then had to struggle to find the course as it wasn't marked through town. We found the course, caught up to the group and resumed our position about mid pack and continued to progress through the day, despite the heat...about 30-35 degrees and the fact that neither of us was feeling too well due to some bad water in Füssen. We were also delayed due to a rider who crashed and had to be airlifted out.
The day ended in Ischgl, Austria - a beautiful mountain resort very similar to Canmore. The town is in a very narrow valley, at an elevation on 1400m.
Day 3 will have us travelling to Scuol, Switzerland. We will continue with the updates.
Trans Alps Day 1 - July 15
Day one is complete. Mark and I had a great but (hot ) day, averaging 18km/hour for the 84Km day, finishing just over 5 hours. One big climb -800m up a ski hill that was all exposed to the sun, temps. hitting over 30C.
We saw several people collapse on the climb with muscles that had siezed due to dehyration.
Our bikes worked great, and we are set for tomorrow.More to come tomorrow!!!
Trans Alp 2006 - July 15-22 2006
Mark and I will be leaving on or around July 10th. We will updating nightly, assuming we can get internet access.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us get to this point.
Kevin
Update From Madonna di Campigoli - 22-july
Sorry it's been a few days since we've had internet access. The race is going well under extremely hot weather - people's Polar watches read 43C yesterday.
We finished off the 120.5km stage with about 3000m of asc. two days ago. Had to avoid some nasty crashes, and the thing that causes us more grief is avoiding the poor riding skills most of the fellow racers seem to have.
Again we had a flat coming right off the start (people partying the night before breaking glass) which put us at the back of the field right away and then forced us to pass everyone to get to our normal pace spot. If there is technical single track early in the day and something like that happens you are basically stuck walking behind the bad riders.
Normally by the time the late afternoon single track arrives we are ok.
Yesterday and today were tough - 3400m yesterday, a record for both Mark and myself. A shorter day today at 48k, but very steep slow climbs that we baked on - we have been juming into fountains or creeks to cool off, or sometimes young kids hose you down with the hose.
Italy is like I remember it - bad driving, great food!
I talked to Marg Fadina today - she is doing well, we think they came in first in mixed today. She just finished the trans Alps road race - she is so strong!!
Final day tomorrow, our bikes are doing great - a few more broken spokes on Mark's bike, loose cassette on mine but nothing the Scott boys can't handle - their life is exactly opposite Phil and Garry's on the Trans Rockies - lots of power, dry tent, but working in 40C heat everyday. We are so lucky to be riding Scott bikes for this race as they are only there for people on Scott, they treat us well!
Talk to you all soon...Kevin
