Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Mist Ridge Loop
with Slice, SilverFox, Eric and Clayton

A wicked and raw ridge adventure. Chilcotin-ish, kind of like a halfway between Cox Hill and Silvercup Ridge. It's so cool that this is not far from home (1hr15 min drive on paved road to a parking lot with outhouse). This loop is so cool and exciting that I can't believe it doesn't get ridden a ton and I don't hear about it all time. Maybe the uphill riding (which was enjoyable) and the bit of bike pushing and bike carrying discourages people. I loved it.
Started out on cart track from the parking lot (Mist Creek Provincial Recreation Area) up a short little punchy climb that feels unwelcome at the start, across the highway, then up a somewhat smooth climb that isn't too steep. It was a bit wet but not too bad. If it had been really wet, this trail would be mucky and slick, and tougher to climb (and the descents might be sketchy if they are really wet). A couple of km in, stay right at the fork (left is the return of the loop). Further up, the Picklejar trail joins from the southeast. This option could add a little more trail length but it looks like it would be a steeper climb. Continued to a saddle, then pushed our bikes to get up onto the beginning of the ridge. Followed the mostly rideable ridge with some undulating high points and exciting steep descents down their backsides. Rideable but sometimes toward the limit of braking. Didn't need the pads, but there are plenty of sharp bits if you did go down; I might bring them anyway next time. Sometimes the vegetated slope had better traction than the loose rock on the trail that was occasionally present. A small scramble is necessary with the bike on the back while using one hand to pull on rock for the short climb to the true peak of Mist Ridge. From there, one more steep downhill to a saddle, then past the next hump and turn left (south) to drop down onto the Mist Creek trail (before all the burnt trees). This then becomes a great trail that reminded me of Standard Basin with a few roots but it all felt easier than the steep descents earlier, so you could let it rip a bit more. **Watch out for a couple of steep ditches at creeks**. This gives a very happy ending with a good downhill trail ride to the finish, minus several short little climbs on the way out.
Such a great ride, super pumped.
Took 1.5 litres of water. Only drank about 0.5. Should have consumed more, but it shows that you don't need too much for this ride. If it had been hot, however, you would go through more. And we weren't pushing a hard pace that would make you sweat more.
Out for 5.5 hours, probably about 3 to 3.5 of riding time.

Tent Ridge with Myka, Jenn, Carbon, Katie and Jenna.
I've never been and wanted to check this out, so Myka offered to take me. Went counterclockwise. It was good; I'll be curious to compare the other direction. Coming down from the peak (tower) might feel steep and loose. That said, the direction we ascended to the ridge might also be steep and loose to come down.
A really enjoyable loop. The ridge looks really long but you travel through it really quickly. A few very runnable sections that were quite fun to run.

I'll have to come back to 1) take my time, and hit Engadine Lodge for supper or tea/baking after (2:00-5:00), and 2) do the loop super fast. A little bit hazy today, so it would fun to return on a clearer day.

Lots of people. I can't remember the last time I've been on a trail with this many people, this one is popular.

Legacy, Minnewanka Loop and back with Houda, Tom, and Peter. Tailwind on the way back, doing 45 km/h.

CNC with a big fun Canmore crew. A great way to spend Friday night.

Killer Bees, Back Door, Swamp, Albertan, EKG, Odyssey, Terminator, No Homers, Long Road to Ruin, EKG, Orchid, Olympic, then did a few laps of the dirt jumps.
Didn't see another person all night.

Dirtbags
Longer warm up, 20 min 3 km
3 x 10 min, looping lower Cougar Creek from the road to the lower bridge and back
5 min easy recovery
Did intensities of about 60%, 70% and 80% on the three intervals.

RMCC Rubber Mallet ride
Haven't been to one of these group rides in a long time and was missing the road bike a little after so much good riding in France.
I came to get worked a little... Mission accomplished.
The group always rolls out in a double paceline at a fast pace (fast for me, I guess they don't find it so fast) and does about 40-45 km/hr down the Legacy Trail pathway to Banff. It's not a very wide path for squeezing a double paceline into one lane, and I don't ride in a double paceline often. It usually takes whatever I've got just to keep up with the group. Did a good turn at the front but then yoyo'ed off the back after that as I tried to hang on.
Given the possible thunderstorms, we chose to not ride too far from town and the workout became a climbing interval up Mount Norquay. Three options were given: one group would start the climb now; one group would ride an extra 6 minutes and then try to chase up the mountain; one more group would ride 8 extra minutes before starting the climb. I went in the first group because I felt like I was the only one getting dropped on the ride from Canmore to Banff, so I didn't need any extra challenge against these faster folk. The first group already got away and pacelined to the foot of the mountain, so I was already starting from the back on my own. My hope was that the legs would still remember all the climbing from France, and they did. Started at the back, set a strong pace (and often questioned whether I had gone out too hard, but it was just right) and passed everyone before the top. A few times, I wasn't sure if I could hold the pace I had set, and I couldn't tell when the last switchback would finally arrive, but after you pass someone you have to "make it work" for fear of looking like you totally went out too hard too soon. A wicked climb, I don't think I could have done it any faster; I wish I was on Strava or something so I could see what my time was (not that I would get a top ranking versus current KOM holders like Levi Leipheimer for that section or other fast local riders, but I'd be happy with my time). On the way back, got hit with a mix of rain, wind, and hail, but fortunately not until we were down off the mountain.
Stopped to put on my rain jacket (it is SO nice) and lost the rest of the pack. Rode back on my own and met up with Shane who had dropped back for me and one other guy. Shane and I pulled ahead and I passed the other guy just before I noticed I was going into the s-bend with the sudden short steep descent. This put me in a non-ideal position to set up the turn and I did my own "Geraint Thomas time trial millisecond wheel lock-up" as I came into the S way too hot at a bad angle and was staring at the gravel off the edge of the trail. Fortunately my tired brain still thought of "look where you want to go", got off the brakes, and it worked out but it was spicy and might have looked a little intense to the guy I just put the passing move on.
The quads and knees are feeling the climb the next day. All good :)
Now I need to work on my power on the flat sections, and put on some weight,... or start chasing polka dots.

** Recently new asphalt on the Norquay climb. Nice **

C • Sounds intense 2