Fall update

well, I've got a bit of the cyclocross blues. Which isn't very ideal, because I love cross. I'll explain...

Basically, I didn't get a Cross bike this year. Dunno why, I tried at the last minute, but it just didn't pan out. I was pretty smoked at the end of the mtb season, then I just never trained for cross. I wasn't really concerned at the time, but now that all the racing is going on, I'm somewhat jealous. Well, I shouldn't dwell on the negatives.

I've been getting out on lots of amazing road rides. The leaves have been changing colour in a spectacular manner, plus, I've gotten a job at lululemon. Yep, you read right! I just started working, but I have to say that it is quite awesome. Lots of fun perks, and cool people to work with. Overall, its a very pleasurable place to work, and the yoga focus seems to be complimenting my training quite well.

out for now... all you 'crossers out there, enjoy that searing pain in your lungs for me!

Best time of year, ever!

well, now that the season is definitely, officially over, I like to take this moment to comment on what an awesome season it was. New friends, new race venues, good results, and great times.

I've been getting in lots of fall training lately, and just LOVING it. Its so wonderful when the temperature is about 15, the sun is shining, the leaves are changing colour, and everything is just perfect.

Anyways, here are some things that fall bring for me:

-Lots and lots of squash. mmmm

-pumpkin pie

-thicker wool socks

-sweat pants and hoodies

-running through the woods

-making soups

-long walks with dogs

-a sense of renewal.

What does fall bring for you? In my opinion, its the best time of year.

Windham WC was plagued with flats

Well, here it is, the morning after the Windham World Cup Finals. It was going pretty well for me, and coming into the 2nd lap, I was catching people continuously. I had moved up to about 70th when I came ripping through a pointy rock garden, and flatted my rear tire.

Ripped a big hole right in the top! So, I cam limping down the downhill, and to the tech zone, where I got some air. It took about 2 refills before my tire sealed back up, but I lost several minutes, and my race was pretty much over. A bit of a bummer, since I think I had a slight chance in finishing on the lead lap, and I definitely would have only finished 1 lap down. All my laps (except the one with the flat) were within the 80% rule, so, in theory, I could have not been pulled.

but, alas, this is MTB racing, and shit happens. Last race of the season. Now its time for some good rest. I'm feeling very tired.

going to MSA, to do some epic riding, and worlds watching. should be fun :)

Provincials Recap, Windham preview

Well, Provincials were a lot of fun. The course (which i helped build a section of...) was pretty cool. Some people didn't like it, but it was different. Quite a physical course, and pretty cool. had a terrible first 1.5 laps, and then got really going on lap 3, and then finished pretty strong. Overall came 7th, and clenched 2nd overall O-Cup. I was pretty happy with that. this means a #2 number plate for the 2011 season, which i'm already looking forward to.

It will be my first winter which I can dedicate to Training. Pretty psyched on that!

Right now, i'm in Windham, hunting some internet signal. Pretty scarce, but i'm hot on the trail, and its hooking up pretty well now. The course is quite fun. Lots of climbing (I have 195m per lap) and there will be 6 laps, which means just a tiny bit more total climbing than nationals. Should be epic :)

I'm hoping I don't get lapped, and can finish the season on a strong note. That being said, i'm already looking forward to 2011.

Oh, another kinda fun thing, peter G. and I had a "loaf-off". I'll be the first to admit that neither loaf was stellar, due to a severe lack of ingredients, but it was decided that I "took the cake". Pun intended.

Bromont... only drier

So, I won't go on about a lack of posts, because clearly, its been a while.

Bromont was a good race for me. I rode very steadily, pulling back places, until the end of the fifth lap (of 6), I was sitting in 9th, catching 8th, when I crashed, and lost a bunch of air from my front tire. I had to stop and put air in my tire. Several people passed me in the tech zone, and I ended up 11th. Just off the money. oh well. legs felt good, and the course was awesome.

Now i'm getting ready for provincials. Its a very physical course, of which I helped build one section.

Ski Training

Well, its been a long time since the last post. I've been really busy, doing all sorts of stuff.

Recently, to maintain motivation, I've come up with the plan of racing the Gatineau Loppet this winter. Likewise, i've been skiing quite a lot. Its only January 8th, and I've already skied more times than I did last season (and I did ski a fair bit last season).

Anyways, I'll be chronically my learning experience for skiing, and how it translates to Biking.

Of course, my number 1 priority remains Mountain Bike, but, being that I live so close (walking distance) to over 100km of beautifully groomed skate ski trails, I figured, "When in Rome..."

Anyways, The race is a 53km Skate ski race, on February 21st, leaving 44 days to train for it. I think it should be a good journey...

Riding the Mechanical Bull

Well, the theme of my last two races would have to be mechanicals. In the Bromont World Cup, (of which I was really stoked to do) the shims that I made to compensate for a leg length discrepancy folded over top of my cleat, and rendered clipping in impossible. After a lap of really bad frustration, I went to to tech zone, and got the shim cut off. Meanwhile, I guess the muddy conditions, and jamming on the pedals with mostly one leg, bent my chain. But at the time I thought it was just really bad chainsuck that occurred every third pedal revolution. By the time I got up the big climb for the 2nd time my pedal finally clipped in. At this point I was in dead last place, and the chainsuck issue was still present. I rode as hard as I could, until I got lapped at the end of lap 4. Wow, that was frustrating! I figured that I'd just have to smoke in the next O-Cup race...

So fast foreward 1 week, to Mountainview. I only raced there once, last year at provincials, and didn't have a stellar race. But I came into it with some confidence. The start was fast, but then after we went up the hill, and popped out on a long stretch of double track, it became evident that almost everyone ahead of me had gone too hard up the first climb. I passed a bunch of people, and was soon in second place. Yeeeehaw! I was feeling relaxed and strong, just about to finish lap #2, when disaster struck. My derailleur was ripped off my bike by a wayward branch. SHIT. I quickly flipped the bike over, and thought that I should make it into a singlespeed. Then I realized that I have a dually, and the chain would likely snap. Also, I had no way to secure the derailleur out of the way. damn. I reluctantly pulled the plug, just as 3rd place was coming up on me. I guess I was comfortably in 2nd when this happened.

On the bright side, the fitness is good! On the downside, I could have really used those points for Quest for Gold, and the overall O-Cup espoir title. Shit. Well, i'll have to kill it at Kelso. But I usually race well there, so that should be a good time.