Here it is then. The last day of one of the hardest things I will ever do. I was starting to feel proud of myself already.

With a later start everyone was well energised and raring to get it over with. The race got off to a fast pace again and with a few drags early on I realised I still had to do this stage and had to concentrate as my mind began to wonder.

With nothing too difficult the race finished with a lovely piece of downhill single track. It summed up the week in the Rockies - the best mountain biking you will do. As we came down the main street in Fernie it was amazing. Their street was lined with loads of people and the cheers were great. The congratulations and handshakes at the end last for a long time as we waited for a few of the guys we had became friends with to come in. One of our friends, Ian, from Wexford came across the line on his ass. It was probably one of the funniest things anyone there had ever seen. The challenge was extremely tough but I gained a lot from it. The characters in the race were unbelievable. Whether it was Rocky drinking whiskey every night and fixing his partners bike with nothing but pliers or the crazy American guy who could be heard anywhere in the mountains when he was on a descent. I have a million stories to tell of all these people I have met and all the things I have seen. And I have met so many people. Paul and Ian from Celtic Bikers, John and Pete from England and of course the boys from team WORC who incidentally finished really well. And I’ve met so many people from around the world and enjoyed the craic.

I know I said this would happen but I think I did enjoy myself but I will never forget how hard it was and I don’t think I could explain how hard it was.

The question everyone is asking is ‘what about next year’?

That’s one of the hardest questions I’ve been asked.

Matty

Category: Mountainbike » Canada, Matthew Blayney, Matty's Trans Rockies Diary, Trans Rockies |

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