Rider Safety with Mack
By Marshall Opel
Whether you line up intending to race your way to Fernie or merely a forest cruise, staying safe needs to remain a top priority. We’ll be traveling through remote mountain wilderness and while this ride is supported, it’s still backcountry and respecting mother nature is required. That means showing up prepared. Being able to face the elements is empowering and gives you the best opportunity to enjoy your experience stress free.
To help ensure we all arrive in Fernie with happily tired but otherwise healthy bodies we spoke with Gravel Royale’s Chief of Medical, Mackenzie Wardle. Wardle is an advanced care paramedic based out of Banff, Alberta and sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine. He’ll be on hand throughout the week to answer questions and provide care.
Weather Wise
In the mountains, weather moves fast. Rain can turn quickly into snow, especially on passes. Cold temperatures make riders more prone to muscular injury and hypothermia. You can prevent both with warm clothes and calories.
Expect mornings, evenings and mountain passes to be considerably cooler. We’ll ride through climates that range from high desert to sub-alpine and could see temperatures above 30 degrees celsius and below zero. “It’s a volatile area to accurately predict but Aaron and the crew do a great job letting riders know what they can expect in the daily meetings.” Says Wardle. Those daily check-ins will be the time to decide on any extra clothing you might need for the stage. Note that a cycling helmet, emergency blanket, and long finger gloves are required each day.
Wear Sunscreen
Ladies and gentleman, to the class of ‘99 and to the riders of The Gravel Royale, wear sunscreen. “It makes all the difference.” Says Wardle. “Sunscreen will keep you from getting heat stroke, something that could essentially burn you out of the race.”
Eat and Drink: Early and Often
Optimal fueling and bonk prevention requires frequent replenishing of essential electrolyte stores. A balance of carbohydrates and glucose will keep your engine running hot. Remember to eat and drink throughout the stages. Aim for around 200-250 calories and one bottle of water or sports mix per hour. Having an emergency gel, bar or other sweet treat on hand is also a good idea. But you don’t have to cram your pockets full every morning. We’ll have GU energy products, fruit, and other delectables at several strategically placed aid-stations along each stage. Mack reminds us to wash our hands before diving into aid-station sustenance. “That will help keep us from passing any bugs to one another.”
It’s called “ride food” for a reason.
While multi-day long distance dirt surfing will have your metabolism singing, Wardle recalls some riders of the TransRockies Classic continuing to eat energy bars as calorie replenishment off the bike. Without a necessary counterbalance of fresh, light greens, this doesn’t set you up well. Too much dense food can make your gut’s natural rhythm of digestion stall out which can cause intestinal pain among other bodily discomforts. So, keep “ride food” for riding and eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of leafy greens while at camp.
Only You Can Prevent Swamp-Ass
Before you settle in (perhaps with a beverage) to chopping up the day’s events with your new friends, it’s important to get out of your bike shorts. “Get that skin dry, clean and put on loose fitting clothes.” Says Wardle. Acquiring a “saddle sore” can derail your experience and is for the most part, avoidable. Just like ride food, chamois time is for riding time only.
We Are Guests
Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Ok, no tigers in the Kootenays. But there are 237 different mammal and bird species that call this area home. Such abundant biodiversity here in the Canadian Rockies made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area’s mammals include families of the deer, goat, weasel, dog, cat, and bear. Most of them are shy and antisocial by nature. Wardle says the key to staying safe is respect.
“On occasion we’ll ride around, you know, grizzly bears and stuff like that, but this is usually done under the guidance of one of our course ambassadors.”
“In general, any animal with their spawn nearby puts you at risk. If you’re in doubt about approaching an animal, you probably shouldn’t. Moose are responsible for more animal attacks than bears are. Stop and wait for others or for the animals to move away.”
Bottom line: “You don’t want to startle any animal you’re seeing. Let them know you’re on your way through. If you’re alone, approaching a black bear or grizzly bear and their cubs, just be respectful. They’re protecting their own, they will typically move off. If they don’t, back away and wait. Make lots of noise as you’re approaching, my experience is that they’ll wander their way off.”
You might be wondering about whether or not to bring bear spray. Here’s what Mack had to say, “There’s safety in numbers. There will be a lot of people riding through the same area. That said, bear spray is not a bad idea if you want to carry it for your own peace of mind.” Mack explained that deploying bear spray is a stressful situation. Chances are you’ve never had to use bear spray so he recommends you watch a short video. Wardle has known bear spray cans to puncture in a crash. So rather than carrying the can in a jersey pocket or exposed on your bike, Wardle recommends using a Scat belt or bear (not beer) cozie.
One More Tip.
Consider wearing riding glasses. At Wardle’s first TransRockies event, the 2019 TransRockies Classic which was 80% gravel, he noticed many riders not using glasses and remembers irrigating a dozen or so riders’ eyes that had been irritated by wind and dust. For a full list of what gear to bring, check out the detailed packing list.
