TR3 Race Report

The 2010 TR3 is a 3 day mountain bike stage race that starts in Fernie, B.C and makes it's way to Etherington camp near highway 40 in K-Country. It is the solo event run alongside the 7 day "full pull" Transrockies team event. I was competing in the Open Men's category, and went in with the best fitness of my life. The start list had some impressive names including Canada's Max Plaxton, Matt Hadley and Cory Wallace, all fresh off top 10 finishes at the recent National Championships in Canmore, and Team Giant bikes were represented by Americans Adam Craig and Carl Decker.

Day 1- 31km Time Trial Fernie-Fernie

I was super excited to race this course after my pre-ride on Saturday as most of the course was super fun singletrack. However I didnt sleep much that night cause the rain pelting down on the motorhome roof kept me up. Woke up to more rain, found out I was the first rider out at 9:05. Rode well, had fun, got ridiculously muddy (my wife didn't recognize me coming down the finishing shoot) and felt I posted a decent time. Riders went out at 30 second intervals, so I waited around at the finish to see how far behind the next rider would be. After no one showed up for 10 minutes I figured my time was better than I thought. Finished the Day 6th, 5 pro guys in front of me, no shame there.

Before

After- With my Pit Crew Ev-Dog

Day 2- 65km, Fernie to Sparwood

The day started with a 23 km 1300m climb, I decided to see how long I could last near the front. Passed the first checkpoint 20 km in riding with Team Rocky Mountain and Team Kona. Felt pretty good about myself until I broke two rear spokes and wrapped one of them into my rear cassette. After 5 minutes and a few F bombs I rode angry to try and bridge back up. No luck, long day on logging roads for me. Good legs though and only lost 1 spot on the GC.

Day 3- 60km, Elkford to Etherington Camp

This day is best summarized as a replay of day 2 but substitute in a sidewall slash in my front tire and 3 flats. Legs were good and I needed all of them to keep chasing back on. Had some help on the trail to get in, especially Mical Dyck who gave me a tube when I had none left and David Gonda who gave me some CO2. David has some good Karma coming to him, he was one spot behind me on the GC and STILL stopped to help me out. Good dude.

Finished 6th in GC, pretty pumped about that given all the guys in front of me ride bikes for a living. Great event, the Trans Rockies folks know how to put on a show. I'll be back next year, only difference is I'll be battling for the 40+ old guy title. Thanks to my great support team LB, Ev-Dog, and C-Ball, best in the biz.

Ian Auld

Tour De Bowness

Top Gear riders were busy ripping it up at the Niklas Group Tour de Bowness in early August. The event is a 3 day Omnium format which includes a road race in Bearspaw, hill climb at COP, and a crit in the heart of Bowness. Top Gear represented well in all categories, men and women.

The Cat 3 road race saw Top Gear with 3 riders in the top 10. Ian Auld hit the top step of the podium and Mark Franlin was 7th, and Kevin McMahon 8th. More solid results followed the next day in the hill climb up the punishing COP switchbacks. In the Cat 3 race Ian Auld placed first, Craig Fraser 4th, Scott Donaldson 8th and Kevin McMahon 9th. In the Cat 5 race Shawn Bond put in a good time and placed 7th, and Sonia Utting crushed it with a second place in the womens B race.

The always entertaining crit on Monday saw some more great riding from TG. The cat 3 race saw Adam Boyko get a little closer to Cat 2 upgrade with a 6th place finish, Mark Franklin was 7th to cap his solid weekend, and Craig Fraser was super active all race off the front and putting the hurt on the rest of the field. Ride of the day to Jessie James Collins who made the selection into a very elite group in the Cat 1-2 crit.

Top Gear riders in the Cat 3 Omnium-Ian Auld 2nd, Craig Fraser 8th.