Dean Stanton

Triple Crown Redux

Hi Everyone
Now an update to the infamous Triple Crown Ride!

3 Hills Lots o’ Climbing and lots of fun! (well at times it was)

Because of the larger difference in pacing of riders in hilla I sent the groups off at 30 Minute Intervals
We start at Obsession Bikes at 12s and Lonsdale on North Vancouver

• First Group at 7:30 AM was Mark Stanton, Pip and Tannis
• Second Group was Just after 8 AM and was Joanne, Stan Teresa & Brownyn.
• Third Group left Just after 8:30 AM and was comprised of Dean, Shay, Dan, Doug, and Mark.

We really lucked out with the weather as it was supposed to be a little crappy and wet all week but it turned for us by friay and was great. Ut was aliitle cool int eh mrinign but it quicly wamred up

We headed for lonsdale over towards Mt Seymour.
I had forgootten how tough the bottom of Mt seymour was and it wasmighty tough until after the Baden powella nd power lines. Marc Castro was with us and was a little vbit behind but suddenly he dropped from sight? After the first turn and about half way up the seocnd section i decided to go back for him. he had dropped his wayter bottle on the steepest part of teh first hill and had to chase after it and then sat up teh Hill again. Man thats crazy!

I ride with him for a bit to see if h was OK. Another group of cyclists was coming by and i decided to jump on the back of the group. They were called Massive Hammerage. I was doing OK and then my heart rate slowly started creeping into the red zone. Once I caught up to the rest of the group (these guys were averaging about 13.5-15.5KM/H) I decided to take a breather and check in on everyone.
It was starting to get warm going up hill.

Mark Stanton went flying by on the downhill followed by Tannis and then Pip.

A guy who was dropped by the hammerage guys came by and i decided to ride with him for a bit. We talked about rides and riding and averaged about 12.5-14Km/h and went past the CBC towers and thn up to the top where he put in a sprint and I held back a bit as I still had 2 more big hills to do.

At the top Joanne, Stan and Teresa and Bronwyn were getting ready to head down the Mtn.

Then Dan followed by Doug, then Shay came up the mountain. We headed for the washrooms to get more fluids and eat a bit and then Mark Castro rolled in and we had a break. We then put on our jackets and vests etc…

It was freezing on the descent and also my rear wheel was squeeking like a banshee. some sort of crap has gotten alover the rims making them squeek when i brake.
I could barely feel my face and I was so cold my eyes were tearing up or was it the joy of going down hills. Not sure.

We then all met up at the bottom and tried to warm up.

We headed over to Grouse mountain Parking lot. Route was down the parkway, left on Riverside then right Dollarton, Main street, low level road, Esplanade, then left on 3rd, right on Bewicke, then right on Larson, then left on westview which turns into Delbrook.

We then headed up to Montroyal. it was not that steep at the bottom but if got up to 13-14% just before the 4 way stop. Then left and down Montroyal for a bit of break whjere we stopped at a store and waited for Mark. Me an Dan left the store and headed left up Capilano road. It was not that bad at the bottom when we just tried to get into a climbing rythm. Soon it started getting steeper and steeper. It was about 14% by Nancy Green Way and there was ton of cars with lots tourists and people either coming from or getting ready to do the the Grouse Grind adding to the mix. You could now feel it warmimg up nicely through the day. My heart rate was now in the 170’s and not coming down. We go to the parking lot and went right above the parking lot above the Skyride and then back to washrooms below the skyride and waited for the group there. Eatng and drinking lot.

We ran into Teresa, Bronwyn, Stan and Joannne just getting ready to head dwon the hill and over towards Cypress Mt

Now down Capilano rd at the top even with brakes on you just kept accelerating which was also a bit scarry as all these cars were pulling in and out.
After that it was good and we kind of took over the right lane for safety on the way down.
Spinning the legs and preparing for the effort of Cypress Mtn.

Turn left and got onto the bike path over the Capilano over it then on the side of the ULH (Upper Levels Highway). It was strewn with a lot of crap. After the Taylor Way exit we went up the hill I forgot how steep this hill was. At this point is was starting to get warm-hot out.

Over to the Cypress Mtn exit and then we all met up at the works yard. As we started out at the bottom of the mtn I tried to eat and drink and take it easy at the bottom. Doug took off at a fast pace (it seemed to me) and Dan and I road together. Just behind was Shay and Marc. I caught up to Stan just around the first corner and he did not look good. His cadence was quite low and he looked a bit pale. i gave him some encuoragement and tried to chase after Doug. I got into a really good dythm and fet suprisingly good (HR was about 160-165) and I was averageing about 13-14km/h . I caught Brownyn who also looked to be struggling a bit but she kept going. I then caught and pased Doug and saw a few mor riders in the distance. As i got near the top of the second sections and took the corner to a usally easier section there was no recovery to be had as there was a headwind. I was cursing it as I made my way to the top. Just after passing Joanne at the last hairpin corner before the the power lines I could see Pip. I caught Pip on the fast flats towards the Ski Hill’s main parking lotsn concession and bathrooms. I also caught Mark Stanton and to my surprise Tannid came dwon from the X counrty ski area on my right. At the washrooms there was just tersas’s bike. SHw was sandbagging it all day. LOL! We all waited up for everyone and the wind was quite high and i was coldy and eveone was putting on clothes and eating and drinking were all quite excited as the hard part was done and now we could head down in group towards the finish. Originally the plan was to go out to horsehsoe bay and then back to lonsdale but we all were so tried we jst headed back tot Obsession:Bikes. I thought everyone did an amazing job and was so happy to see they all did really well. Once we got there we headed to the pub for a much needed pint and then back to my place for shower and a nap. I was sure grumpy and sore the next day whch i think was due to the amazing effort of the day. We all climbed over 2400m. (and distance was abou 112 kms.) Much more climbing than the Whistler Gran Fondo which is actually about 1900m.

A great day and great ride!!!

We wil be doing it again next year.
Cheers
Dean