and bolts so to speak. Everyone on the crew, plus many others, had a part in the preparation to simply move the entire group across the country.
EQUIPMENT
The motor home was rented since there was no sponsor found willing to loan us one.
My constant companion on the road, the CHNO mini-van, with its flashing lights, was part of the huge commitment made to the project by the Pelmorex radio network.
The actual cycling equipment was a mix of what I already had, some that was purchased for the trip, and some that was on loan to us. Most of what was purchased was at significantly discounted prices in association with contributions from Veltec, Canada distributors of Concorde bicycles, Paris Glove distributor of Continental tires, and Lizards Actionwear of Sudbury.
Specialty food was required to sustain my effort over 18 hour days of riding. NRG Enterprises provided a supply of Power Bars both for the record attempt and for my training. Believe me when I say that Power Bars work! This, even though I tired of the sight of them, bar after bar, day after day. Despite good intentions we lost count. I must have eaten a dozen a day in addition to my regular drinks and Boost.
Boost is a meal replacement which I first saw at the local Lively IDA Pharmacy. Liquid, and good tasting, it was rated fairly well in a cycling survey. Fortunately it provided a great supplement to the Power Bars and even more fortunate was the fact that the Lively IDA was one of our most active sponsors. Mauno Palys arranged for plenty of Boost along with numerous other necessities such as sunscreen, vitamins, bandages, cold packs, lip balm, etc., etc.
Three complete bikes were prepared. In addition there were spare sets of wheels and a seemingly endless list of spare parts, tires, tubes, work stand, and tools. Battista did all the final cataloguing, preparation, and servicing of all the cycling equipment.
For the technically minded, the three bikes were set-up differently. The first was a 58 cm Concorde Prelude (Columbus SL tubing) equipped with Shimano Ultegra components. It had Ultech add-on bars, a Ciclomaster computer, open CD4 32 hole rims with Continental 700x18 Grand Prix foldable tires. Crank arms were 175mm with standard 53x42 chainrings and a 13x21, 7-speed cassette. This was to be the "standard" set-up for "normal" conditions.
The second bike was a 59 cm Concorde Squadra (Columbus SLX) with another Ultegra gruppo. It had a Cinelli bullhorn handlebar with Ultech add-ons. It also, as with the three bikes, was equipped for the Ciclomaster computer. 175 mm crank arms again with a 13x21 Dura Ace 7 speed freewheel. This bike was equipped with a HED solid carbon fibre rear disc wheel and a HED CX front wheel. Both had Continental LA260, 700x19, tubular tires. The bike was set for the ideal conditions we hoped to get on the prairies, flat with a tailwind!
The last bike was my Marinoni. It is a 58 cm (Columbus SLX) with Shimano Dura Ace components. It had open CD4 36 hole clincher rims with the 700x18 foldable tires. No aero bars on this set-up. 175 mm crank arms were matched with 53x38 chainrings and a 13x23 8 speed cassette. This machine would be used in the mountains and other hilly areas.
Clothing was custom made by Liz Upton of Lizards Actionwear. Shorts, tights, and jerseys wore wonderfully and looked great attesting to the fine quality of the products put out by this custom shop.
Bicycle Lighset Technology (BLT) provided us with two complete single light sets with 6w halogen bulbs and seat mount battery packs. I attached the mounting clamp to the aero bar so the light was slung under the bars, an excellent set-up. BLT also provided a custom made set-up so we could charge off the 12v battery in the motor home while it was running. We didn't use the light much, because the mini-van provided plenty of light, however, lights are a legal requirement. From previous experience I knew that the BLT system is unmatched in quality.
MEDICAL
One of the main concerns was that I be able to stay healthy through my training. We felt confident that, if healthy in Vancouver, we were well prepared, with Shannon on board, to handle medical problems during the trip.
My first step was to contact the Canadian Cycling Association to get information regarding banned substances. I received information from the appropriate anti-doping authority which provides the guidelines for all drugs. This was done to ensure that I would not mistakenly ingest any banned substances through medication.
Armed with this information I visited my family physician, Dr Carscadden, twice during the spring for blood work to ensure that I was not running into any vital deficiencies. On my final visit he arranged for prescriptions to cover any emergencies we might encounter. These included anti-biotics, anti-inflammatories, some Tylenol, and anti-biotic cream. All were checked against our anti-doping literature.
A late spring visit to my dentist Dr Kyle would, hopefully, ensure no major dental problems.
Whether through good planning, or sheer luck, I did not encounter any medical problems all through my training period.
TRAINING
I have previously recounted the base of training and racing which led up to the fall of 1990. From October 1990 to July 1991 I trained specifically for the record attempt. It really wasn't very scientific. I knew the attempt, in relative terms, would be focused on endurance rather than speed or strength. I say "relative" since speed and strength cannot be discounted and, in fact, I believe they were the aspects most misunderstood by many people.
I rode outdoors all winter but, of course, this was inconsistent due to the weather. Running became dominant from November to mid-January when I would often run the 11 kilometres (one way) to work and back. Many of these runs, on the back roads, alone at night through snow storms, or -30ºC temperatures, would become adventures of their own. Cold, crisp nights when the northern lights would play their magic in the sky leaving me staring awestruck as I jogged over snow packed, frozen roads. Nights when the moonlight illuminated fresh snow over a barren landscape revealing hundreds of tiny, and some not so tiny, animal tracks. It was a great period of training full of motivation and hope.
It's hard to estimate exactly how much my full time job contributed to my training. I did have, however, the opportunity, all through my training period, to walk and climb ladders almost continuously for 4 to 5 hours a day, five days a week. It was significant in building strength and endurance in combination with my regular workouts.
Starting mid-January the running decreased as increasingly more time was spent on the indoor cycling trainer. My Tacx mag trainer allowed me to train on my own bike but, like any exercise bike, it is BORING. I watched hour after hour of Desert Storm
coverage on CNN while putting in up to 4 hours at a time on the trainer. In February this training had a test as I rode the trainer from 12:00 p.m. on a Friday to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday during a fundraising event at the downtown Dominion Trust location. I rode my Concorde Prelude on the Mag trainer in the front window while groups and individuals were challenged to solicit pledges for their efforts in riding exercise bikes set up for the purpose. Pelmorex broadcasted live on location during the period and it turned out to be a fun and successful event. About 9:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning I got the best laugh of the weekend. An elderly foreign gentleman stood watching me through the window before opening the front door and suggesting, "Why don't you get an axe and cut some wood?" 700 kilometres were registered on the bikes computer in the 24 hour period. It was a good morale booster not to mention a severe test for my backside!
As weather permitted, and it was a good spring, more and more time was spent outdoors on the bike. Daily 40 kilometre rides led to 100 on the weekends which quickly progressed to 150, 200, 250, and then to Saturday rides of 300 kilometres.
