Dare To Ride The Richter

The Richter or as it is more formally known, "The Ironman Canada Bike Route. A ride that would challenge even the Tour de France riders although they would not have to get off the their bikes and run a marathon after the ride, the wimps. 180 kilometres (100 miles for you Americans), two passes with climbs of over 1400 feet. (370 metres for everyone else) The winds can be gentle and kind or vicious and unyielding. The route travels through the only desert that exists in Canada so the heat can be unmerciful.

Three riders would dare to challenge the Richter  this day. Two young and foolish and one older,  well past his prime and who should know better. The temperatures hovered in the low 20s but were expected to rise to the low 30s as the day progressed. Today they would test the months of training and discover if they had it in them to ride the Richter.





It takes more than stamina to finish a Richter ride. On the bike for 7+ hours with your body losing up to 1.4 litres of sweat every hour, fluids and nutrition play an important role in a successful finish. Sarah and Kevin spent the night before mixing their potions and elixirs that would power them over the Richter.

80 kilometres (50 miles for you Americans) into the ride finds you at a lookout halfway up the Richer Pass. You can see how the orchards and vineyards give way to the desert when irrigation is missing.

 

90 kilometres (Americans, divide total kilometres by 1.8 for mileage) into the ride, Sarah meets the challenge of the Richter Pass with a smile on her face or perhaps that's was a grimace.  

 

The Richter can be a lonely ride. Thanks to Nonie, who supported us all along the way. Especially from the grumpy old guy who suffered two flats in the first 40 Kilometres.
                                                                              

Kevin at Yellow Lake, 150 kilometres into the ride and 34 C. Now, that smile is definitely a grimace.  Saddle sore doesn't begin to describe what the Richter has wreaked on our behinds.

Thankfully, we were met by Nonie who took our drink orders to be ready upon our arrival in Penticton.

Yes, Yellow Lake is really yellow.

Ride over but not done yet, Sarah goaded the old guy, who should know better into a 30 minute run to see if we had something left in the tank for the marathon we would need to run on Iron Day. Only then did she let me sit down with a cold glass of my favorite recovery drink,  chocolate milk.

Kevin opted for the kinder and gentler post race nap. A wise choice.