I hope you have been following us on twitter @TmFighting40 for daily updates during the event and if you have I will not repeat myself here with those details.

What an adventure. We have completed one of the most challenging mountain bike events in the world. We have enjoyed ourselves, tested our bodies, put our skills to the limit, punished our bikes and endured difficult riding conditions while meeting some characters, top athletes and other weekend warriors. Dieter and myself signed up for the TransRockiesIX 2010 mountain bike competition in September 2009, a 7 day mountain bike event from the 7th to the 14th of August. We are now sitting in Calgary airport waiting for the final stage of our challenging adventure, the trip back home to our loved ones.

We took different approaches to prepare for our task. Dieter took the traditional training approach of building a base level of fitness by cycling low intensity high mileage rides topped of in the last fews weeks with 16km road time trail power sessions. I took the different approach of training using repetitive short sharp high intensity sessions balanced with strength and core development never cycling more than 50km in any one session. We came together from different ends of the country pretty well balanced to head off to the Canadian coal town of Fernie in rocky mountains of British Columbia. We both agree on one thing though we did not train for and should have and that was climbing very steep slippery 40 degree slopes with a combined weight of 29kg mountain bike and CamelBak (water, food, 225grams bear pepper spray and tools). Climbing on your toes for up to an hour at a time is very painful on your calf muscles.

Did Dieter and I fall out? We have done many rides together in various places in the UK and we are of about the same ability and fitness. However spending 2 weeks together reveals aspects of each others character we have not experienced before stimulated by the terrain and weather that challenged even the most seasoned enduro athlete. It did test the both of us. I got more serious and resolute pushing myself each day while Dieter worked hard remained quite only to periodically asking how I was doing. I did not care for the stage results but did listen and take note when Dieter told me of our success or slippage in the GC (general classification - participants ranking). No we did not fall out.

We thought we were good and fit, we are good and fit! But there is a stratospheric level of fit riders out there and unfortunately for us they entered the TR too, a lot of them. The level of competition was very high with entrants from all over the world made all the more competitive by the fact that this years TransRockies for the first time had UCI accreditation and awarded points to competitors in the world championships. Many of the competitors have also competed in the TransRockies several times already or other TransRockies like events such as the South African Cape Epic or the TransAlps in Europe. The TransRockies though as we found out and did many others can put forward challenges that cannot be trained for such as injury or major component failure out on the trail and you either have to either persevere, improvise solutions or unfortunately pull out. There was at least one collar bone fracture that I know off, a few hypothermia suffers and several people requiring stitches. Would you believe a team came in with a collapsed brake rotor due to excessive heat. We think we did pretty well considering the level of the entrants. Our group, the 80+ category was the second most competitive after the open mens group, it had many proficient teams. We came 21st out of 35 in that group with a total time of 39 hours and 53 minutes something. However our positions and times often beat higher positioned teams in other groups such as the 100+, woman or mixed teams. On the last stage I over took the a podium woman team three times. On the descents we both often over took riders with ease who had overtaken us moments earlier on the flat or ascents which was a little surprising. At the other end of the spectrum was a team, a brother and a sister. The guy did mountain biking but not seriously while his sister was competent road cyclist. They finished! Made all the more impressive by the fact the sister had never ridden a mountain bike before this event. Off the top of my head the teams and individuals came from such countries as; Scotland, England, Spain, Germany, Czech, USA, Brazil, Belguim, Mexico, Australia and Canada. To put us in perspective, in the various categories we positioned:

0verall: 61st out of 131, 103 teams finished, 23h38:54
Open mens: 28th out of 39,  23h38:54
80+ mens: 21st out of 35, 26h07:52
Open women: 3rd out of 6, 33h20:06
Open mixed: 10th out of 14, 26h28:49
80+ mixed: 4th out of 8, 35h15:15
100+: 3rd out of 7, 36h23:29
Total distance 400km with 12000m of ascent.

At the beginning of the event we talked to the bike mechanics to find out how they operated just in case we required their services. They provided a service which involved cleaning and servicing your bike every day including replacing most worn or broken parts for a flat fee of $500. It could not be purchased once the event started. As the days proceeded prices want up. They had every conceivable job you could do on a bike itemised. The $500 seemed rather expensive at the time but in retrospect that turned out to be rather good value or 'insurance', especially as after completing stage 5 we came back wet, tired and very cold and our bikes were in a very poor state. The fine grain dirt from the clay roads with the rain have given our gears either a stubborn or 'change when ever they feel like it' mind of their own. The prospect of cleaning and servicing the bikes was to much so we said "Take them do with them what you must please". They did an excellent job. We spent the same time just cleaning our shoes and clothes anyway. Parts and labour were:

Illya's mechanic costs $80 labour flush and refill front hydraulic brake, new brake pads and a gear cable + clean bike.
Dieter's mechanic costs $400 labour chain 2 chain rings, gear cable, XT rear mech, brake rotor, cassette block + clean bike.

Mind you it may have looked as if I got off lightly compared to Dieter but then I had purchased earlier in the week a new pair of Shimano M161 mountain bike shoes at $223 + $8 for toe studs + $23 for pedal cleats. Getting your hands on a set of SPD cleats proved to very difficult due to the locals riding on flat pedals. The Mavic 'very expensive' carbon shoes I had brought with me I quickly found out were not appropriate to the conditions I needed to put them through when we surveyed the first stage. I needed a shoe that could flex when walking and the Mavic's did not flex at all and will, note the word will not would, will be destroyed very quickly as the shoes did not have any external toe area protection for climbing over rocks or up steep terrain. I'm glad I made the right decision to go ahead and buy them as it did seem a little excessive at the time. This proved to be a good choice as in the latter half of the week Dieter passed on to me that he had spoken to a competitor during breakfast who happened to mention that they had a set of new carbon soled shoes and they were now in poor condition to the point they would be written off.

As an incentive to myself to push a bit harder during the TR I said to myself, when I get back I'll get a new bike "I worked hard I will have earned it", but I now I can't make up my mind. The Scott has done me well for the last five years and during the TR it proved itself again to be a very capable 125mm full suspension bike. It is a little bit more scratched, it has been dunked in creek crossings, covered in sticky mud then ducked again to try and get rid of the mud and it has survived 4km brake smoking descents that would give any vibration test facility a run for it's money. It needs to be stripped and serviced but it is not broken. The most popular bike in the competition by far was the Scott Spark. A team rode single speeds and another a tandem. I did speak to a guy who had the only Rolhoff hub. He was pushing that around with a 42t ring!

The best day was stage 7 as it did not rain and the sun shone less the mosquito bites. The worst day was stage 5 for various reasons:

1. Severe weather; almost freezing temperatures, wind, rain and hail for all the stage.
2. Part of the stage closed due to severe weather and incurred a three and half hour time penalty. The section cut out also denied us to experience one of the best trails the TR is renowned for which included a fantastic 4km descent. 
3. Lost time due to the Scott's hydraulic brake failure (though I did fix it by using water from my CamelBak) which caused Dieter to almost go hypothermic while waiting for me. 

Despite the testing weather and poor trail conditions it was amazing how most people finished with a smile on their face and would hang around the finish area to wait for their new friends or just talk to other competitors as they came across the line. Each with their own variation of the story to tell and compare. This euphoric atmosphere was continued after dinner when the next stage preview video was shown followed by the days' photographers' images and video which captured peoples' skill, determination or calamities. By the end of the week the only groaning to be heard from the crowd was on hearing the words from the course designer when describing the next stage using the words "it can be done in the middle ring". For us mere mortals this really meant we will be using the Granny ring.

When I designed the shirt I asked the ATAC shirt designers what they thought of the design and I thought they were just pleasing me saying it was a good design. But on several occasions during the TR either at the beginning of a stage while waiting in our block for the AC/DC's song High Way To Hell to start to play for the impending last 30 seconds to the off or at the end of a stage while chatting about the day's tests and trails we received complementary comments on the shirt. It was also only one of two team shirt designs that showed a country flag, the other being from the UK too. The only thing is the shirts were white and will test any washing detergent to it's limits, either that or the laundrettes we visited were rubbish (they were rubbish). 

We both agree that booking the Expedition Package which basically exchanged a tent for an RV (with  a driver during the event) was an excellent decision and well worth the extra expense. It allowed us to have room to store our sprawling array of stuff, have access when we wanted to that stuff and not have to pack it all up each day in to a single large bag for transport to the next stage. Our stuff most definitely would not have fitted in the single bag they provided. We could attempt to wash and dry our shoes and clothes which was not possible otherwise. On the worst days most of the RVs had their engines running to keep their occupants warm while the tent people moped around performing their necessary duties to prepare for the next day. Many finding ingenious but very few ways to dry their shoes or clothes i.e. drape shirt over petrol AC generators while hot exhaust blow dries their shoes. Also having the RV several days before and after the event gave as freedom to explore a little; arrived in Fernie in dry conditions to explore stage 1, to visit Banff always returning to Canmore for one reason or other - RV station, atmosphere, propane, Raddisson hotel's free wifi and restaurants.

The only regret, well a few, was the weather was not it's best turning some stages' sections in to bridleways like we have here in the UK, ankle deep mud, poke your bike with a stick for kilometres (it did act as an equaliser from a competitive point though). It was not always the riding we expected to get when we have travelled so far and paid a lot of money. In previous years it has been the opposite apparently with the weather in the 30 degrees plus that brought with it other problems such as dehydration and sun stroke. Hmmm. The other regret was we did not take enough pictures and the pictures we did take don't show the beauty and scale of the landscape. When riding some sections you could well be riding very similar stuff in either Wales or Scotland (the Aviemore area) until you momentarily take your eyes off the trail to look up above to see the near vertical mountains' sides or though the trees to the ice blue rivers running beside you. 

The trail at home near Stirling, the 3rd North Reservoir trail, would a very worthy contender if not exceed technically most of the trails we travelled if it were longer, though there were never any drop offs to speak off during the TR. Stages 1 and 7 were the nearest to trails we would find at UK at trail centres as there were part of MTB trails in Fernie and Canmore respectively. Otherwise the trails were very natural and rooty and not made specifically for mountain bikes, often using old mining or cattle trails. Stage 3 included a trail over Fording River Pass crossing from British Columbia into Alberta which has never before been allowed to have mountain bikes on it. We were privileged and scrutinized at the same time in case we drop any litter. Often sections of the TR trail crossed into private land so repeating the same route would not be possible.         

What next? I think I will enter more events in the Scotland or elsewhere in the UK as I want to continue this level of fitness (well for the rest of the year at least) and I like wearing our team shirt. But I have been told by my wife to do some slow shorter rides too or there will be consequences! Dieter is going to take a rest from his mountain bike for a little while and do something completely different with his girlfriend and go surfing.

Would we do it again? I would (circumstances and money conditions apply). Dieter no. Let me know.

I aim to collate photos, twitters, TransRockies's stage reports and video along with professional photographers' into one 'event album'.

Lastly thanks again all those people who supported us and a special mention to my wife, Dieter for putting up with me for being quite demanding, our sponsors Phase9 Clothing and Torq for taking a chance with us (and with no contracts to sign either). 

So in the words of Warren Miller "If you don't do it this year you will one year older next year". However I would like to add that going by some of the older participants in this years TransRockies that I have had the pleasure of meeting the 'one year older' bit does not apply. So I leave you for now with the TransRockies motto "Found out what's inside...outside", I hope you have enjoyed following us as much as we have doing it, bye.    

If yesterday was hard, today was savage. It had rained all night and continued during the ride. I got to the first descent of the day leading Dieter and thought yes here we go, fantastic only to find 50m into the descent I found I had no front brake - oh sh@t!. I came to a skid fall off just and end up in the side. Get up and look at the front brake calliper while squeezing the lever "Oh crap I see brake fluid" while I continue to pump it out then realize what is wrong. A bolt holding the hose to the calliper has loosened, a bolt I have not had to touch for 5 years. I tightened the bolt but that does no good with no brake fluid. I can't continue the stage without of front brake with more steep descents to do in slippery conditions. Crap crap crap. I decide I need to to the brake fluid cap off by the lever carefull not to loose the tiny tiny screws and fill the resovior with water from my CamelBak. I put it back together I hoped it would work. It did not so I continued to ride residing to the fact I was now last in the riders and put a big dent in our timing. Gingerly continue down the track. About 15 minutes later the brake begins to work then works. I am a genius.

However I quickly realize Dieter has ridden ahead and will be waiting at the next check point getting cold. When I arrived sure enough Dieter had got very cold and the organizers had just announce a short cut to the next stage as the route we were to take would be in really bad conditions and even colder. We were both soaked through. While we talked about what to do the decision was made for us, they close the route, we had to take the short cut.

It continued to rain and we peddled furiously to get back some warmth. Kinda of worked. However both our bikes were now by this stage starting to misbehave. The gears were making up their own mind as to what gear we would be using topped off with chain suck on the ascents (chain sticks to the chain ring and stops the crank rotating due the grit jamming the chain onto the ring teeth).

We make it back very wet, dirty and cold to 4 hours something. We will have a time penalty for using the short cut but we did not quit like some other riders back at check point 1.

While I am writing this both our bikes are with the mechanics to get our bikes back into shape, I need my front brake flushed and set up again, Dieter's bike needs a new rotor.

Oh and while I'm writing this it is not raining and now quite warm. See what tomorrow brings.

Thursday stage 5 out the way and now camped up at a remote location in the 'hills', Little Elbow, entering the proper Rockies. All seems pretty mountainous to me with on average 1800m of climbing each day. The weather has turned from rain to hail catching us as we enter the last 5km to camp. We have had a lot of mud over the last few days with a liitle mix of cow poo as we pass through cattle country.

Stage 6 is 80km passing into the Rockies. We are starting to feel tired and sore now where pretty much each climb is a slog one foot before the other. The competition is tough though we think we are holding up pretty well considering we are riding with some very very fit and talented riders. Today we moved up the table in our category, however the team in front of us are ATM 1 hour faster than us. Unlikely we will get up the table any further. What has been a good surprise is that we can out descend many fast riders, they are fast up but slow down when going down and the mud though we don't like it either has played in our favour too.

The massages are just keeping our bodies from locking up. The terrain and the mud is taking the toll on peoples' bikes with many mechanicals out on the trails. The rivers and the creeks are proving to very beneficial for getting some of the mud out of our shoes and off our bikes.

We had our photos taken a long the way and at the finish by Kirsty Morris the photographer and so hope to get hold of a copy.

I hope you have been following us on Twitter. You'll know already how the RV is proving to be a good choice.

More photos have been uploaded to Picassa.

Stage 2 done and dusted. For every great climb there is a great decent, 4km between 20 and 35 degrees. Tomorrow is more of the same however it isi at the end. Expect it to be cold, 7 degrees celcius, at the top of 2400m.

We have all been transported out the small town of Elk, in the sticks.

More photos uploaded to Picassa, see the gallery page.

Had to service the Mavic free hub yesterday, the new one! Had the same problem as the one I replaced a month back. Ok today. Not impressed.

From TransRockies

11 months of planning preparation training ankle operations physio fitted in the usual day to day stuff like moving house, work and DIY. Thanks everyone helped out.

Special thanks to Phase9 for t-shirts, hoods, wallets, chain lubricant and more t-shirts. Special thanks to Torq for their sports nutrition gels, bars and energy drinks.

Special thank to Atac sports wear for our shirts.

Ubur thanks to Vida for her support and Mr Neyt for fixing my ankle and Mr Hymes for the recovery Physio.

Also follow our progress on Twitter @tmfightying40.

Up at 6am to catch a plane from Edinburgh to Heathrow at 8.55am. Meet up with Dieter and catch the plane to Calgary at 13:50.

No body has requested this service but I think it is kind of cool. You can follow us is so inclined by clicking the little birdie image on the front page.

5 days until we leave for Canada Fernie. Dieter has already got everything packed. However Phase9 have sent through a new clothing attire so he'll just have to unpack and repack.

These are picture of the Phase9 clothes:


I started packing this afternoon. So I start with the bike, but first I give the Scott a service. I gave the Scott new titanium resin brake pads, dura ace chain, XTR cassette, Gore RideOn Teflon cable set including the shock lock out cable. All set up sweet, then move on to inspect the suspension bearing, all good.



Then take the Scott apart to pack



All packed but going to repack as I need to remove the shock as it may get damaged. On to pack the clothes and gadgets next.

Thinking of setting up a Twitter account. If you want me to let me know ASAP.

TransRockies have published the 2010 stage routes. The profiles look "wow" but actually on closer inspection they are not outrageous. What they don't show is what is on the ground, the technical severity, that is the fun bit or the real challenge. Put the mix together and repeat that is the challenge. And don't damage the bike (I'll cry) and hurt yourself in the process (what ever).

You can see the route here.

Met an inspiring group of guys last night riding from John O'Groates to Lands End for cancer research. They started their ride day before yesterday and we met them at Pitlochry. You can follow their progress on their blog.

A link to their stories is here.