Rider Perspective: The Highs and Lows of Bike Racing

It’s hard to fully explain the journey of bike racing. It’s a roller coaster. It’s always up and down and everyone deals with it differently. I’ve come to realize with my 10 years of racing experience that shit happens and lots of it, but how you deal with it is what shapes the road ahead. 2015 is a big year for anyone looking to make a run at the 2016 Olympic team. Canada is very strong right now and that makes the fight quite hard, but at the same time if the depth wasn’t there to push each other, then I don’t think we would be such a force. Being in my second year as elite the goals are big this year. Building off of last year’s breakout results seemed only natural. More work than ever was put in throughout the winter and the motivation was all-time. It didn’t feel hard to squeeze in early morning workouts, be at school all day and fit in another evening session, or embracing the winter and spending hours on the skis.

Rose Valley Trails in Westbank, BC. Home stomping grounds and some of my all-time favourite trails.

When looking back over the winter and the spring everything went great, almost perfect to a tee. I wouldn’t change anything. This year hasn’t quite gone the way I pictured it, but that’s what makes this bike racing thing so fun, so addicting and so motivating.

Some people 'train' all the time and forget about 'riding'. I just love to ride bikes and have fun. Photo: Mike Kirk

Rewind 5 years to one of the lowest points when I found out in 2010 on April Fools Day, of all things, that I had mononucleosis. Talk about a roller coaster ride that lasted 12 months and mentally affected my under-23 years. At the time it didn’t feel like a low, but looking back in affected me in the way of always being scared when training hard (or now the ‘usual’ feeling from training) which eventually had me training less intense and at a lower duration – this essentially meant losing fitness and getting slow. This continued for a couple years and led to a pretty low time for anything bike racing.

First big race of 2015 in the California heat at the Bonelli US Cup. Photo: Chris Vezina

Coming back out of that place took a lot of support, direction, opportunities and the passion for riding to get back to my happy place. This wasn’t fully realized until this past winter of 2014/15. Changing to Norco Factory for 2013, enrolling in post-secondary for other focuses and supporters believing in in my passion for riding and not specifically my results. I grew just loving to skid and jump in ditches; it’s just so simple when put that way. Everything started to come back together for a rise in 2013, and 2014 became a magical year. Everything clicked and the fun again was all-time. Our team camaraderie is quite special and makes a big difference in the way I can now approach races.

One of the best days I've ever had on a bike at last years National Championships. Photo: Jeremy Allen

A little rambling there but the point is no matter what, there are highs and there are lows. Making the best of those situations is totally up to you and outcome is controllable through your perception.

Rider appreciation day (RAD fest) at Silver Star Mountain Resort. I think I was on the wrong trails, but hey, let's all be friends? Thanks Zander Geddes for hanging out with dude in spandex and shaved legs. Photo: Long Nguyen

As athletes I think we’re very hard on ourselves and most pressure comes from within. In a weird way I think it’s a good thing because if you didn’t expect more out of yourself or believe in reaching the next level then you might not.

Test of Humanity course in Summerland, BC. One important race of the year where the race isn't the purpose behind things, it's the fundraising and awareness for the less fortunate in Africa. One of the more important events I attend each year and a reminder that there is more to life than just bike racing, but bike racing is a good foundation other parts of life. Photo: www.ckstenberg.com Instagram @ckstenberg

With all the personal goals laid out this year and then coming up short becomes quite tough. May of this year - after finishing the spring World Cups - ended up being one of the lowest feeling points in a few years, racing-wise that is. A month scheduled at home with a local race, a bachelor party, non-cycling plans and, of course, a reboot on all the local trails turned that ‘low’ feeling right around. Figuring out your personal balance and as Happy Gilmore would say “your happy place”.

Cycling BC is bringing bikes back. I was lucky to help at an iRide program day in Kelowna for some experience and I start more coaching.

I turned back to my roots of BC racing and started the 20th anniversary edition of the Test of Metal. BC’s biggest and longest standing mountain bike race. Being able to take the win there was a big boost, as it’s been 4 years since I’ve won a bike race of any status. In bike racing years, that is a long, long time. Let’s call this a turning point in the year and it was a perfect time, we head into the second part of the season that is filled with the big goals; World Cups, World Championships, the Crankworx Canada Cup and a couple of Enduro World Series rounds.

The Test of Metal is a long standing event in Squamish and taking the win this year was special and served as a big motivator heading into the summer. Photo: Grant Bruce

At the end of the day, it’s just bike racing and we do it because we love it. Don’t let it consume your life in a negative way but in the most positive way possible because it’s pretty damn fun. I’ve gained a lot of good friends, made some fond memories and am able to travel the world with wonderful people.

Evan Guthrie

www.evanguthrie.com

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Until next time,

-Evan

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