Adventures on Forbidden Plateau

I’m not a worrier by nature, but something was bothering me today. All the way out to Forbidden my legs pedalled while my mind kept looking up at the ominous clouds wondering if I had enough clothes, if I should keep going if it started to pour cold rain on me and other such inconsequential concerns. 

I had emailed out to get other people to ride with, but since it was a weekday that didn’t work out. Dropping the car off for a tune-up with the mechanic I got on my trusty bike and left. Wait - didn’t leave yet - wrote down a quick ride plan and left it in the car. I think that’s when it all went wrong.

I never leave ride plans! I’m not sure if it’s superstition or the fact that as soon as I tell someone where I’m going I instantly take a wrong turn and am anywhere but where I said I’d be. In fact, anyone that knows me would know to look for me anywhere EXCEPT the locations on the ride plan….

It was also my last day off, back to work tomorrow so I had to make this adventure count for a few days. Last week Sarah and I were on Forbidden Plateau but since she had an upcoming race (the Test of Metal, where she totally rocked!) we decided on the more XC trails to prevent injury or mechanicals. I could hear the more downhill trails calling me! So off I went. Heavy backpack - 2 L of water, lots of snacks, first aid kit, bike tube and pump, multitool ( 2 in fact for whatever reason), light jacket (lovely Sugoi emergency jacket) - and my new cell phone. I bought the cell phone 3 days earlier, and this is the first time I’d ridden with any communication device other than a whistle. The ‘big girl bike’ for extra downhill security and slightly softer tires than normal for extra traction to try to prevent the “I told you so” injury.  

                   Suzanne on Forbidden

Up the road was a bit slow since I brought the ‘big girl bike’ but I listened to some music and just pedalled upwards until it was over. No bear sightings, no near misses from vehicles, pretty uneventful so far! Into ‘Two Sheiks and a Dog’ trail - through the technical bit over roots and little bridges and found I was riding fairly well although my legs were tired from climbing practice the day before. Out and down over the first rock drop - nice and loose, happy riding! The flowers were out everywhere and the views were magnificent. Halfway down the third rock drop I heard “pffffffffffff”, and got to the bottom in time to sit back, have a snack and change a tire tube. Not a big deal, since I always have a spare. Back on the bike and to the bottom in 44 minutes, after almost 2.5 hours of total ride time. Up the 

                                                                                                                                          Some Rocks

hike-a-bike over Cable hill and down into a maze of intersections where I predictably became completely lost but was having a great time, through a gully I recognize but have no idea where I was - when suddenly I’m at the Drop of Doom intersection. My ride plan said I was going there, and by pure coincidence….! Pretty cool! So I rode up and over the Drop, even caught the bottom corner with style, (and feeling maybe a little too cocky for someone with a grudge???), …..pffffffff. 

Sit down. Have some water, check for second tube. Don’t have one; didn’t think so. Get patch kit out. Slap mosquito. Find pinched spot and take out glue. Squeeze glue. Squeeze glue again. Get hard bubble of glue coloured stuff that is in no way adhesive. Hmmmph. Oh well, I’m sure the patches have some stick. Hmmmpf. Nope. Look for second tube again. Empty camel pack and examine contents. Zapstraps, electrical tape, First aid kit. Food. Jacket. Try electrical tape - it holds, but as the pressure increases pops off and can’t be convinced to seal. Slap mosquito. Say “hmmmmpf”.  Try to clean tube with antiseptic wipes for more ‘stick’, which despite more packaging than wipe turn out to be bone dry. hmmmmpf. Try tape again, pumping as fast as possible to try to seal tire. Walk for a bit - past all the awesome bridges ain John’s playground while I try to think. A KNOT - that’s IT. Tie a KNOT!  Stop, pop bike upside down, pull off tire, remove tube and tie knot. Put tube over grrrrphff flup  grrrmashpfp thlup  grrrr phlap - don’t put tube over rim since it obviously won’t reach. Slap mosquito. There are three in BC and I’ve killed them all. Take out zapstrap and tie off holes to the side of the tube. Insert tube and pump up, put tire on bike, pump as fast as possible, jump on bike and ride with pump still in hand - for 10 seconds until the tire’s flat again. Hmmmpf. 

Walk for a few minutes. Another epiphany - PHONE A FRIEND!! My new and improved communication device, acquired just in time!!  I phone Simon’s Bike Store in Comox, handy that I know the number btw, and Hefe is trying to find out where I am. I don’t want a rescue, so I’m being obscure. He suggests filling the tire with grass, but I really don’t feel like plucking grass quite yet. I ask about the knot, and mention I have zapstraps. Hefe suggests the obvious and brilliant - zap strap on either side of the pinches! OF COURSE!!!  I zapstrap away, fill the tire and sprint to Comox Lake Dam where I can road ride back into town. No riders there, so I start towards town on a fairly well travelled logging road. I have to stop about 15 minutes later for a refill, and while my bike is upside down a couple drive by and offer a lift. I was determined not to ask for an “evac”, but if  it comes looking for me!

Back to the car 5 hours later, where the mechanic said “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon!” Where did he think I was going??? China???? But I’ll take that as a compliment and moved towards home to some food and a shower. 

Next time - 2 tubes. And a sweater. And the cell phone. Might even throw in a map if I’m really desparate. And I’m NOT filing a ride plan!