Tour Divide recap - Start and Map 1 The Canadian Section.

  Well, I've procrastinated long enough. It has been almost a year since this epic adventure and I must say it's not an easy thing to forget ( that's a good thing). I am hoping to provide some kind of account of what it was like for me and my experiences having the time of my life.  The Start was not how I had it planned.  My wife Michelle and I had a nice relaxing two day drive up to Banff, spending a night in Revelstoke on the way. We arrived in Banff on June 13th the day before the Start.  It was a short drive from Revelstoke so we arrived early enough to have some lunch and get a quick ride in, during which I turned on my gps and made sure I had the track loaded properly. We rode around a couple of trails and made our way to a trail head which was the start of the ride. The track was right on and working well, everything looked set. Now just have a relaxing night with my wife and good sleep ( if that was possible ) and let the fun begin.

  So the relaxing night was good and I did manage to sleep and couple of hours so I was ready to go in the morning.  I was surprisingly not that nervous as we made our way to Starbucks that morning for a coffee and some quick breakfast. I had the bike all set up and Michelle was going to get a short run in before meeting me at the trail head to start.  So off Michelle ran and I was left there to get the last minute things ready, like my mind and oh ya start up the gps.  I pushed the button on the unit and it seemed to start up but then froze I stood there waiting and waiting but nothing was happening the screen was frozen part way into the start up. I had to make a desicion  to turn it off and restart. Well, second time was the charm or was it as everything looked good the map was there it was showing my location, but where was the track.  I went through the set up and it kept saying the track was loaded but it wasn't there. I had a back up memory card but if I used it already then I was leaving without one.  I had my computer back at the hotel but soon remembered I didn't have the cable to connect to it.  I quickly rode up to the Ymca were all the riders were gathering and found a loaner cable. The race was starting in 15 mins. !!!!!!!!  All I could think was I can't believe this is happening. I had prepared myself to overcome set backs that might happen on the route but before it even officially started wasn't what I had in mind.  I raced back to the hotel, of which I no longer had a key and Michelle was out for a run so I convinced the front desk to issue me a another key and had to reload the tracks on the gps.  I sent a text to Michelle telling her about my mishap and finished up the reload.  Test, everything looked great, Time 8:10, start time 8:00

   I had spent a year and a half preparing for the biggest ride of my life and I missed the start, wow that sucks. All I could think on the way back up to the trail head was don't panic, it's a race of days and weeks not minutes.  I also tried to keep the negative thoughts out of my head as far as, if this is going to be how it is it could be quite an adventure. I rode past the Ymca on the way to the trail, YUP NO RIDERS, definitely missed the start.  I arrived at the start to see Michelle and a couple of Forest Rangers talking, I made a quick stop and they wished me well. Michelle's last words "just relax you will catch up and I will see you in a month".  Crazy we had never been away from each other for more then a couple of days up to this point.  As I rode into the trail my legs were already fired up from racing back to the hotel and back to the trail head ( now almost 8:30), not  how you want to start a 4800 km race. Ha ha.

   I wasn't one or two kms in when I relaxed into a comfortable pace and just started to  let the ride come to me. In hind sight it was kind of cool not starting with the masses as I had this intimate time with the trail to settle in ( don't get me wrong I am still a little pissed I missed the start but what can you do). I was only maybe four or five kms  in when I started reeling in the back of the pack.  I would greet the riders as I came upon them, this became more frequent and then all of a sudden I was in the thick of it with a large pack of cyclists, kind of fun riding along with all these like minded people and maybe chatting for a couple of minutes before moving on. It was a single and double track section and I worked my way through most of the riders in the large pack and was out on to the open gravel road (Smith-Dorrien Spray Rd.)  

  Twenty something kms in and already back to riding mostly on my own. I remember thinking I can't believe I'm actually doing this,  how cool is this. I was trying to take in some of the scenery and stay present ( this was my approach for most of the ride, never looking farther then today). I rode along with a couple of riders here and there but alway kept my own pace.  We had been informed by email from Matthew Lee before the start that there was a reroute at kms 89.9 as there had been bears on the Kananaskis Lakes trail the last couple of days so we continued on the road to our first opportunity for food. ( One of three I would have that first day). This stop is at the Boulton Creek trading post which is your typical camp group or park store. There were about 10 to 15 riders in and out of the store buying various things to eat and drink.  My plan was to always eat something when it was available as I didn't want to to carry anymore then I needed too. I bought a couple of burritos and water and gatorade ( I chose to always go with gatorade as I knew every store or gas station would have it and I wanted to stay consistent).  I quickly ate what I bought, refilled my bottles and was off, it is a race remember so you try and not waste to much time milling around ( this seem to get harder and harder to do as the days went on).  The next section is when I knew this wasn't going to be just your average bike ride I rode or should I say walked a couple of steep hills and if anyone knows me this isn't my style I like to climb and not riding was tough at first. I quickly got over that on this race as it about self preservation and walking steep sections is just part of getting to the finish. 

   I met up with Evan and another rider ( sorry his name escapes me right now) and rode a few miles with them chatting and before long was in Elkford. It was my plan to stay there for the night but as it was just around 5-6 pm I made my way to the store ( just as it closed I might add but the store owner let a couple of us in as he closed the door this is the type of hospitality I found throughout the race ) and restocked on fuel. Being early and feeling good I pushed on to Sparwood where I knew there was a campground and food, that's if I could make the 48 more kms before the stores or restaurants closed. I rode into Sparwood with Evan and another rider who decided they would get a hotel as we had ridden through rain and cool temp. that afternoon/evening. Me I just wanted to find food, campground, hopefully with a shower to warm up after a successful first day and 225 kms under my wheels. Loving it!!!!!!

   

    Day two and I was up earlyish and packed up and rode up hill ( like I needed more hills) to Sparwood and the route for breakfast. Finally on the road around 8, after a not so speedy breakfast, I was feeling good and riding alone. I wasn't 10 kms out of town riding on a paved mine entrance road when I looked off the the left and saw my first Grizzly standing on his hinds sniffing the air. I kept an eye on him as I rode past but he didn't seem interested other then a good sniff,  that was my first and last bear sighting on the entire route.

  Day two was an interesting day as there was some great riding and hike a bike. It was sunny for the most part and after the rain the first day was great to see. I am from the wet coast so am used to riding wet, I guess that is why when I came to one of the first creek crossings I decided to take a swim. This was not planned but as I approach the crossing I thought I got this no need to dismount. Well, if this is your thought don't hesitate part way through. I hit the water which was running faster then first thought and down I went loaded bike on top of me. I quickly got myself up but the damage was done me and my gear were wet. Oh well just part of the adventure, I decide to just ride wet and I quickly discovered that the crossing turned into the trail and I had to ride down the creek for a while anyway.  

  On this day there wasn't much for services ( like none until the border 200 kms )  so I would stop every so often and take in a snack. I had made the first of two main climbs of the day up Cabin pass when I stopped to take a couple of picture at butte's cabin a small hikers cabin that some of the riders stay at. There were a couple of riders there but weren't in the race they were out bike packing. I started talking to them and realized one was Serge a Canadian rider that had done the ride the year before.  He said something that stuck in my mind the rest of the ride, " look around and enjoy the view it goes by fast and you want to remember it".    Well, I guess I was enjoying the view a little to much as just a couple of K down the road I missed a turn and was cruising down the hill when I realized I was riding away from my Gps track. U turn back up the hill, I always needed more climbing, RIGHT and back on track.

  I was just cresting the pass when I saw a cyclist approaching going north bound. I knew there was a rider that had started from the south and was riding north to join the race going south, Billy Rice, the first person to try the yo yo, race one way and then back.  It was him and we stopped to say hi and wish each other luck so I said good luck but I hope you don't caught me on the way back.  I did end up making it to Mexico before him but not that long before he did. 

  About 150 kms into the day I arrived at some very tight single track along the valley floor which leads to a section that some call the wall. If your gps didn't let you know this was the route you would think you were lost. It was at the entrance to the single track that I caught up to a few riders who were scratching there heads wondering if that tiny trail leading through low dense underbrush was the trail. Myself and another rider decided to see what the track on our gps would tell us and off we went and yup this was the way. At the base of the Wall a few of us all bunched up, with a couple of chuckles up we went. You can barely push your loaded bikes up this section and this year is wasn't that wet. As it was I still slipped backwards a couple of times, all the while thinking if I bale I'm going to take out 5 other riders that are behind me and wouldn't I be liked. I made it and with one more pass to get over before the border it looked as if I was going to be in the US by the end of day two.

   I had a great climb in the sun up Galton pass and then on the decent, a fairly extreme grade and twisty I was feeling free.  I was really having fun now, the hard work for the day was done as I had a plan to reach Eureka for the night a few kms after the 

border.  I hit the paved highway to the border and was really excited to have the first of many mile stones I had set for myself in the books.  I rolled up to the border guard and he knew what I was up to, quick scan of the passport and I'm in.  There is a store on the US side of the border but as Eureka was only 16 kms down the road I just headed straight there.  MAP ONE COMPLETE ONLY 6 MORE TO GO!!!!!!

My Dream.......

  This Ride, the Tour Divide, is my dream for the last year and half but I did not accomplish this alone. I am sitting in a motel room in Revelstoke reflecting on who helped me get here. I first and foremost have to thank my wife for all the support and love she has shown me this year. I am not the greatest help around the house at the best of times but this past year with all the training this has been nonexistent. My wife not only did all this without complaining but then had to listen to my constant talk about the ride all the time being my biggest supporter. Then there are my kids, they have been very supportive of the time I needed to train and continue telling me how proud they are of me which only makes me want to accomplish this event even more. It is extremely hard to be away this long from them as I have never done anything like this before. The positive side to this is they understand that you can always go for your dreams and with support you can do anything.
   I have a couple of friends that I want to mention as with out them I probably would have talked myself out of this event more then once. Matthew is someone that not only rode with me during some training rides but helped with my computer stuff. Matthew also shared my excitement when I would talk about the logic's of the ride, he was the person I could bounce ideas off and get ideas on what would work best. The other person I need to thank is Kristen, she is someone that I met doing the Ride2Survive and quickly became friends. I have only known Kristen for a short time but know we will always be friends. There are people that can make you feel like you can do anything in life and she has quickly become one of these people in my life. She is always there to listen and gives me great advice. I am also fortunate to have a lot more people that have given me support to accomplish my goal. I have read some past riders say that the friends and family that supported them believed in them more then they believed in themselves.  I now know what they are talking about.
  I can't write about support without mentioning West Point Cycles.  Tim, Sara and the staff at West Point Cycles have been great about prepping the bike for the ride and removed a major worry from the ride. I hope I can bring back a full ride for them.
  In the end, this is My Dream but could never be accomplished without many supporters. Thanks Again everyone. 

Final Prep.

  The final prep. for the ride. Training had been going good but I needed to get away for one last over night trip. I headed up to the interior on the May long weekend to ride out of Kelowna. I started out of Kelowna first thing Saturday morning heading up towards the KVR  (Kettle Valley Railway). I rode up a forest service road on the east side of Myra canyon I would be travelling through the canyon toward Rock creek. When I arrived at the trail ready to head toward the first trestles of 16 or 17 I would have to cross I see a sign that says trail heading toward Rock creek closed Trestle # 3 damaged and impassable. The first thing that came to thought was I am going to pay for not checking the web site before leaving for the trail. The only thing to do was head down the forest service road I just spent 45 min. climbing and head farther east to re-climb the next forest service road. This road would bring me to the trail on the other side of the canyon. As I was climbing the mountain for the second time that morning two guys pulled up beside me in there car and started chatting as I rode. This took my mind off the second climb and was great meeting them so at the top in the parking lot we exchanged business cards and I went on my way. The weather wasn't the best as it was drizzling and a bit cold but I came across a couple riding along the trail and began talking and found out they were camping along the trail. As I was travelling faster then them they offered there camp site to take a break if I wanted. It was raining when I arrived at the camp ground and used there space under their awning to have my lunch and change my socks. The weather that weekend didn't cooperate but the ride gave me a chance to get out for an over night covering 330 kms and I met some really great people.
   With the last major training ride complete and only 3 weeks until the ride starts it was time to take the bike in for its final overhaul. I was having the bike completely rebuilt and checked over. West Point Cycles ( my sponsor bike shop) did an amazing job replacing everything I wanted and making some get choices on parts. The one problem that showed up on the two day ride was the front bag started to wear a hole in the front of the head tube. This was a bit unnerving as I am riding a carbon frame. I had to modify the bag as to protect the frame which seems to be working. With the bike running good and ready to go it was time to work on the GPS track and maps. This is where having a good friend that knows computers comes in. My friend Matthew has made this part of my prep. easy. We have spent several hours getting the right maps and overlaying the track. This in combination with the maps should make navigating the route easy, I hope.
   At this time there is under two weeks until the big day and I am second guessing my training and prep. but also reminding myself, if you don't try, you don't succeed.

  Keeping the climbing legs up with a ride to the top Grouse Mountain on the back road.

Inspiration

  This inspiration couldn't have come at a better time. I was of course thinking about the tour divide and if I was ready and would I have what it takes to get it done. My blog was overdue so I went on my site to read hoping that I would get inspired. What I got was that and more. I noticed that there was a comment under one of the posts. The comment was from someone named Cameron and asked if I could contact him about my blog.  What came of it is exactly what I needed to inspire me. I would like to share his story ( with his permission).

  Lessons from a Caregiver for a Cancer Survivor

  Beginning on November 21, 2005 my life completely changed. Later on, I would learn to recognize the positive effects of this experience, but during my wife Heather's initial diagnosis I could only respond in shock. On this day, the doctors told her she had malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare and extremely deadly form of cancer. From this moment on, I became my wife's caregiver and struggled to be the rock she needed during this difficult time.

  Heather and I had just had our first child, Lily, three months before. We had been preparing to celebrate her first Christmas when the news arrived. The doctor told us we had three options. We could seek treatment at a local university, a regional hospital or with a mesothelioma specialist in Boston. As I waited for my wife to respond, I realized that the shock and fear had immobilized her. I spoke for the both of us and decided that we would seek treatment with the Boston specialist, Dr. David Sugarbaker. We could only hope that he would be able to save her.

  For tow months, our schedules were thrown into disarray. We went from being a two income house to living off of my now part-time earnings. Outside of work, I spent my time taking care of my wife and raising our daughter. Every day, I faced the fear that my wife would die. I had to somehow manage to keep our finances together and keep our house. In front of me was the constant terror that we would lose everything and that I would be left a widower. More than once, I collapsed in tears as I thought about all the possibilities. Despite my fear, I worked to remain strong for my wife  and never let her see me when I was at my weakest. My determination to be there for her always outweighed my fears.

  With help from family, friends and complete strangers, we struggled through the most difficult time of our lives. For anyone who has to suffer with a cancer diagnosis, the only piece of advice I can give is to accept all of the help that is offered. Every bit of help is one less thing you have to worry about.

  Being a caregiver is not a simple task. You have to deal with the stress and turmoil every day. It is the toughest challenge you will ever face and one that does not end. You can have bad days, and that is expected. Whenever things are at their worst, just never forget to have hope for the future.

  After countless struggles, my wife managed to defeat cancer. She underwent a risky extrapheural pneumonectomy surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and despite the frightening odds we were given, she has remained cancer free to this day. It has been seven years now since she we initially diagnosed. through the struggles, I learnt how to transform my stubbornness into a positive trait and how to believe in the power of hope. I hope that by sharing my story here, I can help others in their own battles with cancer today.

  I don't know Cameron personally but am honoured that he would share his story with me. Since the death of my father from cancer I have always wanted to help others in their fight. Cameron, Heather and Lily are exactly the reason for my continued commitment to raising money for cancer. I am thankful for the inspiration Cameron has given me to do what I'm doing, raising money for cancer and riding the Tour Divide. I hope my adventure will inspire others to overcome challenges and go for their dreams.

  I am adding a very important project that Cameron and Heather sent me this past week. It is an important message to spread awareness and support to other cancer patients. Heather and Cameron are a great inspiration to not only cancer patients and their families but all of us. Check out the following video project.
http://can.cr/heather

Being able to adapt !

  I often wonder how well I'm going to adapt or overcome on this adventure as I know all the planning in the world can't prepare you for things out of your control. I have to admit I am the type of person that lays awake at night thinking what if this happens or that happens. In the morning ( after a terrible nights sleep) I often think what a waste of good sleeping time as there is nothing you can do for the unknown. I am usually pretty good at thinking on my feet so I don't know why I put myself through this but it happens. One of the reasons for doing such an event is to see how well I can overcome different trials and problems that come up (hopefully not many).
   This past weekend was the Easter long weekend in which I had 4 days off. I had planned on riding my mtb on some trails in the Okanagan for the 4 days, with 3 nights of camping. The weather was looking perfect and I was checking a couple of web sites for weather and conditions when I found out that at least two areas had a lot of snow still on the ground. I have a good chance of encountering snow on the divide so this isn't the worst thing but the amount and length of the areas that were snow covered didn't seem worth the time driving up and back. I used this as a situation to overcome and changed plans. New plan stay home and get as much riding in around here as possible. I knew this probably meant riding at least some of the time on my road bike. I went out with a friend on Friday for 60 kms of great trail riding on our mtbs and felt I was off to a good start. Saturday I had plans for a long day on the bike and decided to head into the US from my home. The route would provide me with what I guessed would be somewhere between 200 and 300 kms of varying terrain. By the time I returned home Sat. night I had covered 277 kms and 10 1/2 hrs of riding. Sunday was another great day with the sun shining and warm temp. so I headed up the Sea to Sky hwy. to Squamish approx. 75 kms from my home. The route has a couple of challenging hills which tested my legs after some good back to back rides. To end the training for the weekend my wife met me in Squamish and we hiked for 2 hrs. just to fully cook my legs. Monday I was perfectly happy to walk the dog for a couple of hours and relax.
  The original plan was to camp and ride around 700 kms but I made the best of the situation and feel I got some good kms in. I am still planing on getting away for 4 days to train and do final prep. on my kit. I am happy with how everything is going so far in the planning and training. We will only know how well on June 14th .   

For a cause !!!!!!!

   It's been over a month since my last blog. I meant to blog more often but time is becoming a bit of an issue, and when I have time I have to admit I just want to veg. I want to touch a little on my past experiences riding. What I thought were my big rides in my life. It all started when I lost my dad to cancer. I was listening to the radio one day and an advertisement came on about a ride from Vancouver to Seattle. This ride would be somewhere around 350 kms over two days and the objective was to raise money for cancer. As my father's death from this terrible disease was so recent, I began thinking this would be a good way to raise money, and make me feel like I was helping. I had felt quite helpless as my dad went through this disease and this was my way of trying to Honor him. I signed up for the ride and went off to the bike store to try bikes.I hadn't rode seriously in a long time and didn't even have a bike that I felt would do the job. With the bike purchased I was off to train. I had about 4 months to put some miles on the new bike and old rider before the actual ride day. Well, the first couple of rides were great, I have to admit I was a little sore in all the usual places but was truly enjoying the bike. I raised my money through the generous support of family and friends, and in the end did this same charity ride 3 consecutive years.  Once I had completed the third year I wanted a bigger challenge. It became not only about raising the money but pushing myself.
  I wanted to continue raising money for cancer and heard of a group called Ride2Survive that rode from Kelowna to Vancouver in one day over mountain passes at a total distance of 400 kms. This was the challenge I was looking for. With the opportunity to raise money for cancer and a great cycling challenge. This ride is metaphor for the rider to try and understand what a day in life with cancer is like. We know this isn't even close but it helps us overcome the trials of the day, as you go through the mental challenges of wondering if we will make it the whole way and pushing through the pain. The ride day was a great success for me as the group had put on a great training schedule to prepare all the riders for the big day. We had a few weather issues to overcome as you would expect crossing over the mountains, but all and all the day went well. The total ride time with breaks and all ended up being somewhere around 18 hrs.
  I had already started planning to do the Tour Divide before I had completed the Ride2Survive, which brings me to this point. I want to continue to raise money for cancer or support the cause in whatever way I can, so this year I am continuing to train and raise money for this group. My ride this year is the continuation of my challenge to myself by pushing me to the limits mentally and physically. In my own way of trying to understand what my dad and many others have gone through fighting this disease. There were times when my dad vocalized wanting to quit but pushed on. There were days when he felt like he couldn't get out of bed and move, but he found a way to get up. Then unfortunately for us there was the day when he just couldn't go on and the fight was over. On the other hand I have fortunately seen friends that have pushed the limits and overcome everything put in front of them to continue the fight and beat this disease. I know I can never truly understand what they have gone through but this is my way of seeing what I can overcome.
  The link below is my web page for donations in my fight against cancer. This group is 100% volunteer which means the total amount you donate will go toward research to hopefully one day end this disease. 

http://ride2survive.kintera.org/2013/chrisculos?faf=1&e=6592276317
 

2013!!!!!!!

  2013, the year is here.  The last bit of 2012 didn't go as planned as I got caught by the flu and was unable to train for the last couple of weeks. I tried a couple of times to get on my roller trainer in the the garage but after falling off more then once thought I better just rest until I'm healthy ( I have to admit also a little hard on the pride ). I sometimes think that our bodies let us know when it needs a break and if you don't do it, it will do it for you. I was trying to fit to much in and finally my body said enough.
  I have never trained through the winter months as I usually use this time to cross train by skiing. I find it quite difficult to head out in the rain and cold or snow and cold to put in a few Kms but realize it has to be done. Most of the time once I'm actually out and pedalling I get into that place we all love as riders, the rhythm of the ride. We received a couple inches of snow in mid Dec. and it was a good chance to see how the bike and myself would handle the ride. It was my first real full on ride in snow and it was all good as far as handling went, as it is very much like riding in sand ( no coasting allowed ). It was an evening ride on the dyke in the area I live and was really peaceful as there was really no one out. The snow gives off a lot of extra light from the bike light and makes it really quite bright. During one point I looked down at the crank to see the whole thing turning as a mass of slush and snow, at which point I thought if the temperature were to drop this could become a bit of a problem ( lucky for me it was getting warmer ).
  The bike is still running great and I'm really enjoying the mountain bike again ( as it had been years since I rode one,I've been strictly a road rider ) . The only small issue I have had with the bike is the front shock pop lock, that locks the front shock in and out, was sticking. We tried a couple of things to alleviate the problem but nothing seemed to work at which time we went back to an older style. This style in my opinion is a lot more positive feeling and works better. I am still messing around with grips and set up and really struggling with weather to go with tri bars or not. I really don't want to but also realize it could give my hands and wrists a break on some very long days.
   As far as the off bike stuff goes I have my sleeping kit sorted out, so my focus is on nailing down the size of back pack I'm going to use. I am starting to panic about the amount of storage I have as I am typically an over packer ( this is not the event for that ). I am also looking over a few gear lists that I've found on different sites from experienced riders to see what they are carrying. One thing that I am trying to figure out is should I bring a GPS or just rely on the maps and cycle computer. I am leaning toward having the GPS as reassurance as I don't know how my Map reading skills are going to stand up when I get tired. Anyone reading this with any help in the field feel free to comment and enlighten me.
  All in all everything is proceeding as planned but I truely believe this is one of those events where you will never feel like you have it all dialled in. You do your best to think of everything without driving yourself nuts which I think some days I'm almost there.