When one rides a ride like the Transam Bike Race, all manner of formulae get tossed out of the window; you can make all the plans you want to, but you’ll have to have the ability to change them at a moment’s notice, due to changes in conditions, or factors you’d not accounted for, making a difference. That said, a good Plan-A is also very important, else everything you encounter is a surprise, which is not always nice. When I stopped in Mount Vernon the previous night, I intended to get out at the crack of dawn, but I found myself leaving just before seven. I’d taken a look at the climb profile, and it seemed pretty tough. It would see me climbing three hills in quick succession, and Baker City lay on the other side of those three hills. The temperature was in the high 20s (Celsius), so it would be essential to maintain good hydration, and keep a cool head.

The soak in the tub and the good night’s sleep felt great, and I was up and ready to go. Probably a bit too excited to leave, as I failed to ensure I picked up all of my belongings before leaving :( I forgot my excellent 10400 Mah battery pack and my wind-free ear covers, in my haste to leave. By the time I noticed it, I was some twenty five kilometers away, and just didn’t want to lose two more hours, riding back and forth. I called the motel owner, explaining that I’d forgotten some stuff, and if he could put it away safely for me. When I called him back later, he said nothing was found, so I guess somebody quietly pocketed it. Their gain, my loss. Losing the wind-free was particularly bad, as it did a very good job of cutting the wind whine around my ears, as I’m a bit sensitive about that, and it makes my tinnitus worse.

Previously: TABR: Day 2
Looking back at my TABR ride now, I realize the many, many ways I could have done things better, and I believe the experience will hold me in good stead for my future rides. Back then however, it was hard not to get overwhelmed; I was afraid of getting into a state of panic, so I often overcorrected, and was perhaps a bit too relaxed. On a ride like TABR, it’s important to keep stops short, and even a few minutes saved makes a difference, as it all adds up. My Day 3 of TABR 2017 started at a quarter to two A.M (0145 hrs). I rose, packed my bivvy, whose liner was quite damp, after two consecutive nights of bivvying, and knocked on the fireman’s quarters door, to ask to use the restroom.

Bliss in the Hills is a unique 1200 brevet, and arguably the toughest ride in all of India. I’d attepted the 2016 edition (you can read my account here). The 2017 edition is on September 28 2017, and registrations are open again for a limited period of time. For registrations, go here. This remains a ride that’s rather high on my ‘must complete’ list, and though I can’t cross it off the list this year, I look forward to doing it sometime soon.

I woke up at 0330 hrs, in the park, determined to try and have a better day than the previous one. The GPS said the temperature was 5°C. I was shivering a bit, as I rolled up the bivvy, and tightened up the saddlebag. I’d stopped before it got dark the previous evening, so the lights were flicked on for the first time, and I noted that they were aimed too high. Stopped, adjusted them a bit, and was off. My rig has a Shutter Precision PD-8x dynamo hub which powers an Axa Blueline 50 front lamp and a Busch + Müller Toplight View Plus rear light. When the lights are not being used, the dynamo powers my Cinq Plug III converter, which supplies a USB outlet to feed electrons to my phone, GPS etc, and on this cold and pitch dark morning, the Axa lit up the road quite brilliantly, and I was rolling down the Salmon River Highway quite confidently, at speeds near 40 kmph. I could have easily gone faster, but was afraid there might not be much time to react and avoid, if there were potholes or any other debris on the road, but my fears were largely unfounded; the surface was truly beautiful.