BCBR Day 4 (And 5... And 6): Sharkies and Shotgun Shells

Mountain bike stage racing is not your ordinary bike race. Typically the races are run in teams of two, the team is awarded a time for the second rider to cross the line.
And therin lies the art of stage racing. Rarely (ie. Never) are two teamates the same speed, and the connection between them is elastic in nature: keep everything controlled and you will get the most out of both racers - but if you stretch the elastic too far, snap! You've now done more damage to the collective team.
Craig and I have figured this out pretty quick. A few teams on the course (to remain unamed - but there are more than one) haven't quite mastered the art - with a dominant rider consistently pushing the limits of his partner until they crack. It has been one of our startegical assets, and snapping the band on some of the more unevenly matched teams has been enjoyable, and there lies the most important dynamic of team stage-racing.
The racing over the last few days has been great, we are consistently in the top 6 or 7 teams, holding on to 7th overall gc. As far as a guided tour to B.C. Trails, this week has been a value. The constant transfer between race sites has been testing, but the reward is great courses that are as much a blast to ride as they are physically challenging.
Every day the courses feature two feed stations (energy drinks and food provided by the race organizers), where I have discovered my new favourite energy food:  sharkies. Imagine gummy bears meets winegums. Amazing stuff, especially when baking in the sun for the afternoon. My pockets have extra capacity, so I have been stocking up at every opportuntity.
It must be a BC thing, all the last three days the course has been littered with shotgun shells - funny the things you notice out under the sun...
Only one day left before an incredible amount of beer drinking...