It takes good habits, healthy eating, hours in the seat and a sense of humour to compete in and complete the BC Bike Race.
According to Colin Koszman, he and his race partner, Russell Brewer, have been doing that as they focused their training for the last four months.
“Russ and I have developed our own program, including working together as a team,” said Koszman. “We signed up as a team, just to motivate each other and to go through the experience together.”
They are one of two teams from Powell River who are competing in the 10th annual backcountry bike race. The other is husband and wife Brad and Patricia Winchell.
BC Bike Race is not the easiest experience to share, and one about which Koszman and Brewer hold differing opinions on how much such an endurance test punishes the body.
According to Kozman, hurting is part of the fun. Brewer, on the other hand, said, “It hurts like hell!”
Brewer said he thinks he will hurt a lot more than his teammate, based on some cryptic advice from Graham Cocksedge, an extreme athlete well known in Powell River who has done the BC Bike Race himself and holds the record for the Sunshine Coast Trail Marathon Shuffle.
“Graham said, ‘Oh, you guys are on a team. Great, great,’” said Brewer. “He pointed to Colin and said, ‘You’re going to love the race.’ Then he pointed to me, ‘You’re going to hate the race.’”
Beginning on July 6 and ending July 13, the pair will be together for seven grueling days.
“My experience so far is that it’s just getting funnier and funnier,” said Koszman. “I think that by the time we get to the end, we’ll be in a ridiculous and hilarious place.”
The race arrives in Powell River on Thursday, July 7, and takes place on Friday, July 8.
“I hope people come and cheer us on, at the start, on the course and at the finish line,” said Brewer, “and see if Colin and I are still talking to each other. I’m sure we will be. It’s only day two.”
BC Bike Race is a 300-kilometre, seven-day mountain bike stage race with 600 athletes competing from 36 different countries. It takes racers on an experience and adventure to Cumberland, Powell River, Sechelt, North Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler.
The Powell River stage, according to Koszman, is not the most difficult.
“I’m guessing it’s going to be the Earl’s Cove-Sechelt leg,” he said, “because I think it’s the most kilometres, at around 60, and the most climbing.”
Choosing the most difficult leg of the race is one point that Koszman and Brewer agree on.
“It’s probably the hardest leg,” said Brewer, who competed in the race last year. “A lot of climbing. It can be hot and dusty.”
