Let’s start with the good stuff…scenic views and spandex…
I know it’s only the end of day two, but holy crap I feel like I’ve seen more scenery and had more awesome moments than in my whole cycling career in the last 24 hours. This really is the trip of the lifetime.
After yesterday’s great prelude, we started our real riding today. After continental breakfasts, we rode out to Maligne Lake. It was about 48km out and we made sure we stopped to see the wildlife (mostly big horned sheep but one man who was a little behind us saw a bear!) and to admire the views. I took a few pictures but I’m telling you there is NOTHING like being here. NOTHING. And riding and being outside in this? Holy schnikees—start planning your trip out here ASAP. And plan me into it – this might be a yearly thing for me (granted I survive).
We took a lengthy stop at Medicine Lake, which was just so huge and beautiful and I’ll let you see for yourself in the photos. We took our time at lunch, ate on a dock, and then came back towards Jasper. We stopped at Maligne Canyon, saw a rainbow, and made awesome time home. I felt so good, even on the descents today! I hit 72km/h which might not be thattttt fast if you’re a daredevil but for a scared sally like me that’s pretty fast. I got the most aggressive award for the day, apparently, because we had some wind on our side and because it was a nice ride DOWN to get back to town. It was a 97km day with plenty of climbing. My average on Strava was 26.6 km, which I will totally freaking take considering I rode with Garmin in my pocket cuz I don’t give a poop. 
Upon our arrival back in Jasper, we all had some espresso and then did our own things for a while. My own thing = sitting on my butt, showering, organizing my photos, etc. and then heading into town on my own for some exploration while I waited for my appetite to strike back up.
I thought that this lone wolf would be dining alone (and I was okay with it) btu then I ran into my tour guide and ended up having dinner with the company folk. Very cool to talk to these people who are doing epic things with their lives and are not conventional in one bit. Plus my dinner was amazing – a huge salad, salmon, veggies – what more could I ask for? Beer? Check. Chocolate covered espresso beans when I got home? Done deal!
On the topic of food, I think I ate about a pound of dried fruit today. I’m going with it. I know it’s high sugar/energy but I also know I burned a lot of fuel riding up and down those hills today. I hate that I still worry about “overfueling” when the honest truth is that I am not trying to lose weight – it’s an old mindset – and I’d much rather aim high than aim low and feel like shit during a ride. So breakfast at the continental breakie was delicious (I had a bit extra to try to do some pre-fuelling and to see if I might not crave so much chocolate at night), the food on the ride was good (dried fruit/trail mix, energy chews, a fruit bar, and a lunch stop with gf crackers/an apple/almond butter and the view of a lifetime). A second apple here, a handful of trail mix there, and I think I must be doing okay. I felt awesome soooooo—confirmed! Gatorade helped me stay hydrated cuz it tastes better than water but I’m definitely going to need to stay on top of this! So let’s just remember something: this is an EXPERIENCE! And I’m here to ride, not to worry about food.
So moving on…
Tomorrow we are in for a climb. I am not sure what to expect as I didn’t think that today was that excruciating. That being said, I did a century’s worth of riding (68km yesterday, 97 today) in the last 24 hours so I think my legs will feel a bit…different come the morning. Maybe the training effect will come uber fast since I am going to sleep shortly and will be well rested? I’m choosing to believe that. The nice thing is when I feel like I’m going to die or spontaneously combust going up a mountain I can look around and remember that I’m going up a rocky freaking mountain.
It is supposed to rain tomorrow but apparently the best views happen about 1.5 hours into the ride. We’re aiming for an early start even though we have to be packed up and ready to go before we ride because the trailer brings our stuff to the next stop tomorrow (rather than out and back). It’s worth it to me if it means we’ll see the sights and NOT have to descend in the rain!
The description is:
The comforting fact? There’s a van seat with my name on it if it starts pouring! And 60% chance of storms is 40% chance of clear. Let’s think positive, folks!
Amen for scenic views!
This pictures coming on its own cuz I freaking love it. My tour guide took it and said it was the photo of the day. Linda behind me is repping the pink too. I say if it can be pink, it should be pink and I think you can tell how happy we all are to be biking where we are.
Holy. Freaking. Crap.
Someone pinch me!
Like I think I mentioned before, we’re heading into the middle of the icefields parkway and away from much civilization. So no cell phone and limited internet = me disconnecting. But I promise to take tons of photos so you can be on the edge of your seat and anxiously await my return. I’ve got a little guest post schedule for you (compliments of my blogger buddy Bee) so you know you should probably still pop by and see what’s up…
ORRRR you could read my latest article, “How to go on an extended vacation” and then plan one here.
Wanna come out here with me next year?
How do you fuel for long rides?
I am just in continuous awe of how gorgeous it is there and how lucky you are! You’re living the dream, girl.
I’m glad you’re not worrying too much about food – you probably need everything you’re eating! Riding almost 100km in a day is no joke and is probably burning some serious energy. Just go with it and have fun!
Next year – I’m going with you. I will be your +1 so you don’t have to be the 5th wheel hahaha (or maybe by next year we can both go and bring our hot boyfriends and it would be a double date!
). This place is GORGEOUS and I mean, I know Colorado is gorgeous too, but you can never see too many gorgeous places if you ask me…..
I feel ya on fueling for long rides, too. I’ve never ridden more than 50 miles at a time, so nowhere near what you’re doing on this trip, but it IS kinda mindboggling! I don’t want to OVERfuel and feel weighed down (or have GI distress!), but I don’t want to bonk either…..I’ve definitely got the hydration down (for me specifically that is) – I carry three bottles, two with flavored Nuun tablets (electrolytes but no significant calories) and one of straight sports drink. Gatorade and powerade f* my stomach, but Hammer Nutrition works pretty well for me. I try to eat based on time and not miles, and I usually start nomming after 60-90 minutes (depending on how big a breakfast I had)….and as for what I eat, I haven’t found my “sweet spot” (so to speak) yet….I think what I eat also depends on my sweat rate, the hotter it is the more I gravitate towards salty noms like pretzels, but I also like fig newton cookies, Honey Stinger Waffles, rice cakes…..still haven’t found a clif/gu product that doesn’t f* my stomach. Maybe I’ll have to just teach my stomach to man up and take it like a champ. hah. ANYWAY it looks like YOU are doing a great job with fueling! I would most definitely want to overshoot than undershoot here – not only is 100k a big deal, but you’re doing that multiple days in a row. I think you know how to listen to YOUR body rather than what others are doing to fuel much better on this trip than on your last, so I think you’ve got it!
THANK YOU for stepping up and being my biking buddy. And there’s room for these hot future husbands to come too so we are in good shape!
You’ve figured out your fuelling well! I think the problem with eating is only a real problem if you significantly overdo it (volume wise, anyways) whereas with running, things aren’t so forgiving. You can drink easily while you’re biking so for me, gels work. FYI Hammer gels are not good. I am eating the ones I brought but the espresso flavour was GROSS. I prefer Gu or the clif brand, with plain water — too much sugar does give me some tummy issues. I used to want to work up an appetite but now I realize that finishing a ride ravenous is not really that enjoyable or that ideal…but I usually go for carbs too — lately rice cakes or rice crackers but I’ve been known to make peanut butter and pretzel sandwiches at rest stops!
The food on this trip, since it’s supported, is awesome. The owners accommodate everything with a smile — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free — whatever you ask for ahead of time, they’ll do their best for! 
And they grill at lunch and serve real food and gosh — this is not like any “ride” I’ve ever been on in terms of food! So nice to have a supported tour (especially after my last one–haha what a change from that vacation but I guess since we planned that one ourselves and just kind of spent about 1/5 of the cost…!).
Anyways, now I am rambling but I think like you said — you have to figure out how YOU work while you’re riding and go with it. I feel pretty darn good on the bike and in terms of the in between nibbles, I’ve adopted a “What if this was okay?” mantra and realize something — it is okay! <3