(Which I clearly don't)
The several individuals I saw, and passed, who by their frequency of occurrence tonight seem to indicate that using aerobars on the Calgary river pathway system is commponplace: this is just plain wrong. There is no reason to use aerobars on the pathway, unless you want to signal to others you're inexperienced and of poor judgement so they can give you wide berth upon spotting you.
I passed them while I was not going fast at all. This means that they are not going fast enough to need, or benefit from aerobars. Coincidentally, this also means they are not going fast enough to steer them straight. It also perhaps indicates that they are not strong or experienced enough at cycling to realize all this.
City paths are about common safety. If it's crowded, I ride slow and with the flow pace of the traffic, just by common sense. If I'm too hopped up to be patient and want to ride at whatever speed, I ride on the road so people aren't exposed to a frustrated banker trying to work out some stress. If the paths are deserted, I ride whatever pace. But I have a strong opinion that a disc brake mountain bike "speeding" on a path with heads up is safer than heads down, wobbly aerobar use, not even past the 10th street bridge... right downtown.
Oh well, rant one over.
To the chick who yelled to "ride on the sidewalk" in Varsity to the three of us riding together tonight: please inform yourself better. I realize you're unlikely to surf bike stuff on the net, but if you do, the rules of the road that actually prescribe where bikes are supposed to be are available.
Neither of these however dampened the fact that tonight is a totally beautiful summer night for some post work cruising - so nice out! 60k on the mountain bike cause I couldn't get home to swap for the road bike to ride with Joss-man and "Joss-man-woman".
Thursday 28 July 2011
Monday 25 July 2011
Vancouver weekend
Did two sessions of riding the north shore which was awesome, one trip out to the Langdale terminal to ride Highway 102 and the bike park in the woods, and a day of tandem riding around Stanley Park and up to UBC for fun. Great workout as I can go as hard as I want and we won't get separated. Saw Cyrus and Ginette as they too rolled bikes up to the Langdale ferry, so got caught up on his move further west - so nice. Great weather all weekend.
Friday 22 July 2011
Bike Packing
Thursday 21 July 2011
Midweek mountain ride
Devin, Geoff, Shawn and I rode from Dawson trailhead out the gravel road, up the Bow 80 climb, then back towards Dawson along the ridge last night. Nothing like being out in the mountains at 9pm on a Wednesday night. After a fun descent, it was pin it for the finish. Best ride of the year for me - so fun to be out midweek, didn't feel like crud for a change. So fun!
skier
after the unimpressive gong show and poor behaviour at Buffalo Bills in Whistler post BCBR... this is timely. Maybe someone needs to work on their alcohol tolerance or reduce consumption.
Thursday 14 July 2011
post BCBR
Here's the videos from the race that bring back fun memories, it's so lush and green to ride the west coast.
BC Bike Race 2011 - The Race from BC Bike Race on Vimeo.
I've got a feeling...
BC Bike Race - I Got A Feeling! from BC Bike Race on Vimeo.
And here's a couple that indicate why Brian Lopes won the timed downhill sections cumulative - a lifetime of kicking ass downhill. The hardtail he's riding is the same bike (frame) as what I rode in TransPortugal - he just coaxes a LOT different speed out of it downhill.
BC Bike Race 2011 - The Race from BC Bike Race on Vimeo.
I've got a feeling...
BC Bike Race - I Got A Feeling! from BC Bike Race on Vimeo.
And here's a couple that indicate why Brian Lopes won the timed downhill sections cumulative - a lifetime of kicking ass downhill. The hardtail he's riding is the same bike (frame) as what I rode in TransPortugal - he just coaxes a LOT different speed out of it downhill.
Stampede
Saturday 9 July 2011
BC Bike Race Day 7
A short and generally insufficient sleep led to a cool but sunny morning. My bike was one of the last ones off the truck into the bike area, then it was off to warmup.
We climbed right off the bat straight up the hill for however many kilometers, looped back down, then back up again to a back entrance to the gem Comfortably Numb with all the rock roll ins. Had the makings of an awesome day. Thought it might be fun to post a better result on a day if I could.
I rode as hard as I could on the climb and held a better place than most of the week, which was great going into the first descent. Picked up a few spots on the way down. Held on the next climb and hike a bike, even picked up a couple. Started Comfortably Numb in good place, and had ridden it just in fall, and was already around new faces before the fun even began.
Then the fun sort of eroded.
I flatted. Big air'd it which was good for a while. But then I did another flat. Catch here is my package of race stuff fell out of my pocket yesterday, and despite many riders saying they saw it on upper Half Nelson, it didn't reappear. Had to tube it and beg a pump. In this time the two of these happened I was waay back. Tried to tube it fast, but I got bitten by I think a billion mosquitoes during the change. These all added up to a bit of a buzz kill.
I got back in the riding line, and it was a slow procession down the obstacles. When it's spread out and there's like the odd person around, a pass makes sense. When you're in a string of 30 struggling to stay on, and the trail is narrow, it's kinda not worth it.
To cap it off, on a rock roll in, it's typical (and fine) for people to pause as it becomes visible then roll in. I was 4th man back in a pause queue and just sorta slow rolled/track standing, then a guy rolled into me from behind, non drivetrain side. I lost my balance and took foot out, but his tire/bike was there. I clunked down in slow motion on my left knee. To a sharp rock. Nice. Blood on my crank, water bottle and leg. Kinda deep but I scrubbed and polysporin'd it after.
So from there I fully officially gave up mentally and coasted in. I debated waiting 20 minutes or whatever to just chill and ride clear trail, but the mosquito memories didn't support that. Plus there'd be beer at the end, and it seemed like beer time.
Trish won the overall because she's more awesomer as time goes on. Jeff held on to second, Andy third. Marty's partner Ricky was violently ill but Marty pushed him on the hill and they lost 16mins but not 20 so held on for 2nd. The cute Belgian girl in the open class doesn't seem super popular as her boyfriend whom I think dropped out for some reason this week (out of official standings anyway) still rides and he just pushes her up the climbs. Not sure the other girls are big fans of this.
Really fun race overall. I like the short format. I like the social time. I like the perfect weather and the almost perfect mechanicals record, except for the last 25 minutes. So fun!
We climbed right off the bat straight up the hill for however many kilometers, looped back down, then back up again to a back entrance to the gem Comfortably Numb with all the rock roll ins. Had the makings of an awesome day. Thought it might be fun to post a better result on a day if I could.
I rode as hard as I could on the climb and held a better place than most of the week, which was great going into the first descent. Picked up a few spots on the way down. Held on the next climb and hike a bike, even picked up a couple. Started Comfortably Numb in good place, and had ridden it just in fall, and was already around new faces before the fun even began.
Then the fun sort of eroded.
I flatted. Big air'd it which was good for a while. But then I did another flat. Catch here is my package of race stuff fell out of my pocket yesterday, and despite many riders saying they saw it on upper Half Nelson, it didn't reappear. Had to tube it and beg a pump. In this time the two of these happened I was waay back. Tried to tube it fast, but I got bitten by I think a billion mosquitoes during the change. These all added up to a bit of a buzz kill.
I got back in the riding line, and it was a slow procession down the obstacles. When it's spread out and there's like the odd person around, a pass makes sense. When you're in a string of 30 struggling to stay on, and the trail is narrow, it's kinda not worth it.
To cap it off, on a rock roll in, it's typical (and fine) for people to pause as it becomes visible then roll in. I was 4th man back in a pause queue and just sorta slow rolled/track standing, then a guy rolled into me from behind, non drivetrain side. I lost my balance and took foot out, but his tire/bike was there. I clunked down in slow motion on my left knee. To a sharp rock. Nice. Blood on my crank, water bottle and leg. Kinda deep but I scrubbed and polysporin'd it after.
So from there I fully officially gave up mentally and coasted in. I debated waiting 20 minutes or whatever to just chill and ride clear trail, but the mosquito memories didn't support that. Plus there'd be beer at the end, and it seemed like beer time.
Trish won the overall because she's more awesomer as time goes on. Jeff held on to second, Andy third. Marty's partner Ricky was violently ill but Marty pushed him on the hill and they lost 16mins but not 20 so held on for 2nd. The cute Belgian girl in the open class doesn't seem super popular as her boyfriend whom I think dropped out for some reason this week (out of official standings anyway) still rides and he just pushes her up the climbs. Not sure the other girls are big fans of this.
Really fun race overall. I like the short format. I like the social time. I like the perfect weather and the almost perfect mechanicals record, except for the last 25 minutes. So fun!
Friday 8 July 2011
BC Bike Race Day 6
Today's day in Squamish is living proof that god loves mountain biking and wants us all to be happy while riding. Same course as last year, and I just love it.
After roll out, a drag race up pavement to the gravel to thin out the group. I'm way back, but saw Trish fly by like she meant serious business. Saw her one more time on the gravel climb only a few minutes later and I was amazed how far ahead she had already made it. Last other woman regardless of category that I saw had blown way before.
Settled in for a while with Craig Bartlett from Canmore who's like a metronome. Great pacing. Had fun on all the single track climbing then popped out on the road. Ate a bit then saw Trish up ahead and started closing, then tried to help her with buddy pacing for a while.
Finally pulled into some singletrack descent and just let it roll. Little bit damp today, so rocks and roots wet. Going slow is tempting but counterintuitive - if you're on a rock or root for a second your tire has time to slide down the way it wants you to. If you're going fast, you're fine. All the Challenge riders are polite and pull off, but almost too polite. Maybe they want little breaks, but to me it's fine if they just move to the side a bit and let a roll by happen, it's certainly not my expectation they pull over and put a foot down a hundred times a day.
Got to Half Nelson and rolled it the best I could, it was timed. Lost my tools and such out of my pocket. The Whistler time this year helped a lot, I could clear a lot more of the doubles. So fun. Just rode the lefty around the corners driving it into the berms keeping it as perpendicular to the berm as possible so centrifugal force negates the need for actual traction.
Got to another swoopy section and Dre pulled away from me like I was standing still, I'd hoped I could watch the flow a bit. Nope... not fast enough.
Next section of roots and rocks was damp and carnage - tough to flow with random skinnies in the middle of tight sections. Took the brakes off and flew through, first place I caught someone who's usually been higher in the standings.
Crumpet Woods was damp enough to be tacky but not slippery. So fun. Pinned it in on the flats after and had a mediocre time overall. Made up a bunch after the slow start. Not doing the ABA XC and road season plus a lot of other things has sapped me of the ability to do the fast starts the same.
Staying up in whistler tonight to skip the bus ride in the morning.
So fun overall. This is a shining example of how good mountain biking can be.
After roll out, a drag race up pavement to the gravel to thin out the group. I'm way back, but saw Trish fly by like she meant serious business. Saw her one more time on the gravel climb only a few minutes later and I was amazed how far ahead she had already made it. Last other woman regardless of category that I saw had blown way before.
Settled in for a while with Craig Bartlett from Canmore who's like a metronome. Great pacing. Had fun on all the single track climbing then popped out on the road. Ate a bit then saw Trish up ahead and started closing, then tried to help her with buddy pacing for a while.
Finally pulled into some singletrack descent and just let it roll. Little bit damp today, so rocks and roots wet. Going slow is tempting but counterintuitive - if you're on a rock or root for a second your tire has time to slide down the way it wants you to. If you're going fast, you're fine. All the Challenge riders are polite and pull off, but almost too polite. Maybe they want little breaks, but to me it's fine if they just move to the side a bit and let a roll by happen, it's certainly not my expectation they pull over and put a foot down a hundred times a day.
Got to Half Nelson and rolled it the best I could, it was timed. Lost my tools and such out of my pocket. The Whistler time this year helped a lot, I could clear a lot more of the doubles. So fun. Just rode the lefty around the corners driving it into the berms keeping it as perpendicular to the berm as possible so centrifugal force negates the need for actual traction.
Got to another swoopy section and Dre pulled away from me like I was standing still, I'd hoped I could watch the flow a bit. Nope... not fast enough.
Next section of roots and rocks was damp and carnage - tough to flow with random skinnies in the middle of tight sections. Took the brakes off and flew through, first place I caught someone who's usually been higher in the standings.
Crumpet Woods was damp enough to be tacky but not slippery. So fun. Pinned it in on the flats after and had a mediocre time overall. Made up a bunch after the slow start. Not doing the ABA XC and road season plus a lot of other things has sapped me of the ability to do the fast starts the same.
Staying up in whistler tonight to skip the bus ride in the morning.
So fun overall. This is a shining example of how good mountain biking can be.
Swivel hips
Thursday 7 July 2011
BC Bike Race Day 5
Had a nice sleep in, perhaps too late. Great breakfast, including a salsa reinforced breakfast burrito of fantastic-ness. The lateness plus the deliciousness plus my overall crumminess made for a hard start as it was just a big gravel climb after a through town roll out.
Somewhere out on some gravel roller I saw flags into singletrack ahead, and coincidentally I pulled it out of reverse and decided to go in before the mass in front of me. At least a fraction of the sucky feeling departed. Yay! Biking at the flip of some invisible switch was fun again. Spin spin spin, pass pass pass, finesse through some uphill singletrack with bridges, roots, rocks, etc. Made a point not to dismount, except for one super steep of mud that I'd say was probably only do-able if dry, but what do I know.
The stage was shortened, but the 30k they said was more like 40. But I'm oblivious as I more rely on vague memories of the trails and a timex. Recording distances of this scale seems a bit moot after the TransPortugal mega miles onslaught. Slight side thought here: saw a guy wearing a Mongolian race t-shirt that said 10 days, 1,400km. Now I'm not really familiar with Mongolia, but my gut feel is they don't have luxury hotels dotting the landscape like Portugal. My guess is the Mongolian race would be fun for the same crowd that revels in the delights of the Crocodile Trophy. I'll have to chat him up to learn.
Back to BC - had fun on all the bridges and skinnies on the mountain traverse, then pinned it up the last gravel climb since I knew it was short after the left turn. Pinning it being a slow motion flurry of sore legs and like 200W probably.
Got all giddy with joy thinking about just devouring that steep loose drop in that Nutbrown shredded when we were together, but they did a slight reroute just at the top for erosion issues. Passed the two German guys as they simultaneously fell off the trail into the woods. Comical.
Luckily I brought my downhill Scalpel today with the mostly worn out front Racing Ralph DH edition and the fairly well treaded rear one (yes, the "one point gay" width one as was observed when we rode Ridgeback). I knew since about halfway through yesterday that I needed a king size dose of fun, and had been dreaming for the day about breaking every speed limit on Highway 102 since no cop would be out to take my bike away.
The little Ralph's that could held most corners and slid a little. Front tire traction was the speed limiter. The bike chattered and rattled. The brakes didn't do too much interfering. I got right up to that fear of god line and held it. People were nice about passing, which was great. I suspect some of it was the furious noise of chain slap was an indicator that allowing a pass was logical. And that pretty much on it's own made my week. I guess for now I'll overlook the longevity issues implicit in the fact that I feel most alive when the edge is nearer than it as the desk.
Now for all the fun I had, I'm pretty sure it wasn't all that fast. They did one timed downhill somewhere earlier, but only a small section. They should do this today - to heck with the race insurance policy premiums. I'd like to see what kind of time a guy like Brian Lopes put down. Rumor has it he scorches it.
Somewhere out on some gravel roller I saw flags into singletrack ahead, and coincidentally I pulled it out of reverse and decided to go in before the mass in front of me. At least a fraction of the sucky feeling departed. Yay! Biking at the flip of some invisible switch was fun again. Spin spin spin, pass pass pass, finesse through some uphill singletrack with bridges, roots, rocks, etc. Made a point not to dismount, except for one super steep of mud that I'd say was probably only do-able if dry, but what do I know.
The stage was shortened, but the 30k they said was more like 40. But I'm oblivious as I more rely on vague memories of the trails and a timex. Recording distances of this scale seems a bit moot after the TransPortugal mega miles onslaught. Slight side thought here: saw a guy wearing a Mongolian race t-shirt that said 10 days, 1,400km. Now I'm not really familiar with Mongolia, but my gut feel is they don't have luxury hotels dotting the landscape like Portugal. My guess is the Mongolian race would be fun for the same crowd that revels in the delights of the Crocodile Trophy. I'll have to chat him up to learn.
Back to BC - had fun on all the bridges and skinnies on the mountain traverse, then pinned it up the last gravel climb since I knew it was short after the left turn. Pinning it being a slow motion flurry of sore legs and like 200W probably.
Got all giddy with joy thinking about just devouring that steep loose drop in that Nutbrown shredded when we were together, but they did a slight reroute just at the top for erosion issues. Passed the two German guys as they simultaneously fell off the trail into the woods. Comical.
Luckily I brought my downhill Scalpel today with the mostly worn out front Racing Ralph DH edition and the fairly well treaded rear one (yes, the "one point gay" width one as was observed when we rode Ridgeback). I knew since about halfway through yesterday that I needed a king size dose of fun, and had been dreaming for the day about breaking every speed limit on Highway 102 since no cop would be out to take my bike away.
The little Ralph's that could held most corners and slid a little. Front tire traction was the speed limiter. The bike chattered and rattled. The brakes didn't do too much interfering. I got right up to that fear of god line and held it. People were nice about passing, which was great. I suspect some of it was the furious noise of chain slap was an indicator that allowing a pass was logical. And that pretty much on it's own made my week. I guess for now I'll overlook the longevity issues implicit in the fact that I feel most alive when the edge is nearer than it as the desk.
Now for all the fun I had, I'm pretty sure it wasn't all that fast. They did one timed downhill somewhere earlier, but only a small section. They should do this today - to heck with the race insurance policy premiums. I'd like to see what kind of time a guy like Brian Lopes put down. Rumor has it he scorches it.
Wednesday 6 July 2011
BC Bike Race Day 4
Bus and ferry this morning to Earl's Cove were relaxing and fun. Nice hot clear day lay ahead, with some longer distance and likely longer time out on the trails. They don't let anyone warm up in Earl's Cove as the public road there is a militarized zone occupied by ferry people. Makes for a fun road climb right off the start. Legs like cement for me; probably a peloton full as well.
I thought I'd go a bit easier and just spin out the start. I went a bit tempo, but not killer. Fine till the crest then onto the cut line. Felt fine for a while then just got a bad case of slow again. Ended up riding on my own behind group two for probably 90 mins, then really slowed and spun granny for another 90 mins. During that time had the next big couple groups come by. Thought I was eating/drinking smart and right ingredients, but just kinda had the fuel lines stop supplying. Who knows. It was hot, I'm not always great at that. I don't know anymore sometimes. Pat and Trish both went by looking like they were on missions.
Plucked away at the singletrack in the middle of some super aggressive group of a dozen. Weird vibe actually. Just slowed up a few meters and climbed the switchbacks behind someone to give myself room for the on and off bike at corners/rocks. Guy behind me chatted me up and asked why I was riding back there with them, as he said it looked like I knew how to ride a bike better. Funny. I just said cause I'm trying to get to the finish and am tired and going about the speed I can go, which is the truth. Internally though the debate was maybe because I'm a weakening, desk sitting office dweller. Maybe its couch sitting, crypto sporidium, the resulting hemorhoid/saddle time killer, yada yada and not biking like the good old days with a decent commute and fuller riding schedule. Or maybe it's the extra pounds too. Or all of the above.
I started longing for the days of repeatable, semi reliable fitness that was respectable enough to have fun with... but I used to ride so much more (cause and effect usually add well, and the math I'm on says the effect I'm experiencing is probably about accurate to the sum of the cause). Oh well, I guess I'm better off being unimpressed by myself than others feeling that way.
Everytime I'd come out on a gravel road, people would accelerate off. That's the fun way to do it. Plodding along just to make distance is less fun than feeling like a little energy is available for use.
Found a wrong turn somewhere with another guy, few minutes down and about 10 back up. At the rate I was going I wasn't too rattled. Just interrupted the single track.
IT band acted up in last 90 mins, really didn't like that. Hurt standing to pedal, which in the singletrack at the end is pretty required.
Seem to be getting weaker each day rather than stronger. No mechanicals, flats, chain suck, cramps or otherwise though which is of course very nice. I see so many flats and guys slipping on roots... still don't get how people don't see the performance and fun tradeoff with the reliability of tubeless, esp UST. Rode almost whole course, don't remember many dismounts. Once I slowed I made it a point to ride everything just to keep some fun in the day. Didn't have a hard time with the steep climbs either on the legs, other than the IT would twinge with pain, but just could go one pace. Missed my massage, drove some girl to the ferry terminal so it was an hour sitting in a car. Legs feel cement-ish, trying to work on IT band.
Course tomorrow shortened plus sleep in time expanded.
I thought I'd go a bit easier and just spin out the start. I went a bit tempo, but not killer. Fine till the crest then onto the cut line. Felt fine for a while then just got a bad case of slow again. Ended up riding on my own behind group two for probably 90 mins, then really slowed and spun granny for another 90 mins. During that time had the next big couple groups come by. Thought I was eating/drinking smart and right ingredients, but just kinda had the fuel lines stop supplying. Who knows. It was hot, I'm not always great at that. I don't know anymore sometimes. Pat and Trish both went by looking like they were on missions.
Plucked away at the singletrack in the middle of some super aggressive group of a dozen. Weird vibe actually. Just slowed up a few meters and climbed the switchbacks behind someone to give myself room for the on and off bike at corners/rocks. Guy behind me chatted me up and asked why I was riding back there with them, as he said it looked like I knew how to ride a bike better. Funny. I just said cause I'm trying to get to the finish and am tired and going about the speed I can go, which is the truth. Internally though the debate was maybe because I'm a weakening, desk sitting office dweller. Maybe its couch sitting, crypto sporidium, the resulting hemorhoid/saddle time killer, yada yada and not biking like the good old days with a decent commute and fuller riding schedule. Or maybe it's the extra pounds too. Or all of the above.
I started longing for the days of repeatable, semi reliable fitness that was respectable enough to have fun with... but I used to ride so much more (cause and effect usually add well, and the math I'm on says the effect I'm experiencing is probably about accurate to the sum of the cause). Oh well, I guess I'm better off being unimpressed by myself than others feeling that way.
Everytime I'd come out on a gravel road, people would accelerate off. That's the fun way to do it. Plodding along just to make distance is less fun than feeling like a little energy is available for use.
Found a wrong turn somewhere with another guy, few minutes down and about 10 back up. At the rate I was going I wasn't too rattled. Just interrupted the single track.
IT band acted up in last 90 mins, really didn't like that. Hurt standing to pedal, which in the singletrack at the end is pretty required.
Seem to be getting weaker each day rather than stronger. No mechanicals, flats, chain suck, cramps or otherwise though which is of course very nice. I see so many flats and guys slipping on roots... still don't get how people don't see the performance and fun tradeoff with the reliability of tubeless, esp UST. Rode almost whole course, don't remember many dismounts. Once I slowed I made it a point to ride everything just to keep some fun in the day. Didn't have a hard time with the steep climbs either on the legs, other than the IT would twinge with pain, but just could go one pace. Missed my massage, drove some girl to the ferry terminal so it was an hour sitting in a car. Legs feel cement-ish, trying to work on IT band.
Course tomorrow shortened plus sleep in time expanded.
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Otto
BC Bike Race Day 3
This morning was a bus ride then ferry ride to Powell River - we raced after noon as the ferry was late.
I had not too bad of a start. Led out through town by cop cars so we did parade speed till the steepest piece of pavement in town when the cop pulled off. Ouch. Fine on that hill, but a half hour later quickly went backwards. Probably the sawdust/oatmeal on the ferry just sat in my belly as I had no energy after what was stored in my legs was gone. Instead of tail end of chase group I was surounded by the middle area who'd slip rear tires over half the roots and call "root" every time we crossed a root. We essentially rode roots for 3h non-stop - I wasn't perky with energy so this wasn't all that fun as it was pretty repetitive. Just sort of coasted along with a couple meter gap so I could slow up and navigate stuff while guys hopped on and off.
The course was created by the mossy chunder monster, I think he looks like oscar the grouch. We rode peat and roots that had no flow in any direction for hours. Squishy peat that took energy non stop. I'm not a fan, but usually I can ride it decently fast as it's flat-ish and technical. Not so much today.
At aid station two I felt better and moved to the gap between the riders who could do this all day long and those that couldn't. Nice to have some space and just pluck away at the kilometers. Rode down the stairs to some wood bridge then noticed on the other side some guy was tending to his partner's cut face from presumably the bridge gone wrong.
Sounds like Pat blew a valve and/or tire just 6 min in and "restarted" riding behind the sweepers. That's tough.
Caught a few groups in the last 5k of gravel and road, then rode in alone from 2k out as the whole rotational draft thing sort of stopped at my turn.
Maybe since I have only ridden bikes for 2 days at a time since Portugal, day 3 was just a surprise to me? Hmmm... or I'm just in poor shape.
Handfords are fast as always - Matt has really brushed up his fitness.
It's kinda funny how fun 3h of biking cool trails is day after day, but how polar opposite it is from the action on observatori.ca which is say magnitudes more colorful and trying.
I had not too bad of a start. Led out through town by cop cars so we did parade speed till the steepest piece of pavement in town when the cop pulled off. Ouch. Fine on that hill, but a half hour later quickly went backwards. Probably the sawdust/oatmeal on the ferry just sat in my belly as I had no energy after what was stored in my legs was gone. Instead of tail end of chase group I was surounded by the middle area who'd slip rear tires over half the roots and call "root" every time we crossed a root. We essentially rode roots for 3h non-stop - I wasn't perky with energy so this wasn't all that fun as it was pretty repetitive. Just sort of coasted along with a couple meter gap so I could slow up and navigate stuff while guys hopped on and off.
The course was created by the mossy chunder monster, I think he looks like oscar the grouch. We rode peat and roots that had no flow in any direction for hours. Squishy peat that took energy non stop. I'm not a fan, but usually I can ride it decently fast as it's flat-ish and technical. Not so much today.
At aid station two I felt better and moved to the gap between the riders who could do this all day long and those that couldn't. Nice to have some space and just pluck away at the kilometers. Rode down the stairs to some wood bridge then noticed on the other side some guy was tending to his partner's cut face from presumably the bridge gone wrong.
Sounds like Pat blew a valve and/or tire just 6 min in and "restarted" riding behind the sweepers. That's tough.
Caught a few groups in the last 5k of gravel and road, then rode in alone from 2k out as the whole rotational draft thing sort of stopped at my turn.
Maybe since I have only ridden bikes for 2 days at a time since Portugal, day 3 was just a surprise to me? Hmmm... or I'm just in poor shape.
Handfords are fast as always - Matt has really brushed up his fitness.
It's kinda funny how fun 3h of biking cool trails is day after day, but how polar opposite it is from the action on observatori.ca which is say magnitudes more colorful and trying.
Monday 4 July 2011
BC Bike Race Day 2
Hard road climb off the start, which I don't have the body weight or intensity for anymore. I chased the second group, which at least kept me ahead of some pile up that happened apparently on some loose gravel.
From there it was nothing but hours of techy singletrack with gentle ups and downs. I had energy all day and just whittled through people who didn't ride singletrack smoothly. So fun. The quality of trails has me entirely beside myself.
Finished up with 4 guys coming in the final roads to town. I was content cruising in, but they kept doing sprint attacks that were more surges than sprints. I just waited for a few hundred meters and sprinted in.
Short day, almost like extended XC. I think I was around 2:45 but don't really know. But definitely not "big stage race days".
My achilles is sore when I walk around, but is totally fine riding. National team Tara gave me some acupuncture to relax the muscles in the area and I'm up for another massage. I hope it stays fine for riding as last time it was just full stop when it acted up.
From there it was nothing but hours of techy singletrack with gentle ups and downs. I had energy all day and just whittled through people who didn't ride singletrack smoothly. So fun. The quality of trails has me entirely beside myself.
Finished up with 4 guys coming in the final roads to town. I was content cruising in, but they kept doing sprint attacks that were more surges than sprints. I just waited for a few hundred meters and sprinted in.
Short day, almost like extended XC. I think I was around 2:45 but don't really know. But definitely not "big stage race days".
My achilles is sore when I walk around, but is totally fine riding. National team Tara gave me some acupuncture to relax the muscles in the area and I'm up for another massage. I hope it stays fine for riding as last time it was just full stop when it acted up.
BC Bike Race Day 1
After all the transportation and logistics, I now remember why I'm here. Total heaven - I'm just so happy. Awesome trails, massage from Cindy, relatively short days so plenty of chill time, great weather. Honestly its like I've died and gone to heaven.
I was nervous at the start as the walks to and from Cindy's to registration with my suitcase plus the walk this morning to breakfast had my achilles feeling odd a bit, but 100% fine on the bike. I wasn't anything fast but never felt weak, sore or anything like that, so just an awesome day on the bike.
Sat down and talked bikes and racing with the gang after for a few hours, which makes it feel like a race now. Travelling out with a dozen cute girls definitely has its perks, but definitely left the bike parts/new bikes/races/trails etc. chat a little light.
Did I mention the trails? Buff fast twisty stuff through the ferns, jedi like at the start. So fun. Gravel climb to the steep hairy descent. So fun pt 2. Hit a ramp I swore from last year had a down ramp exit, but I was wrong. I think the Scalpel doesn't need to many hits that size. Oops.
Greek dinner at Tarbell's was great home made food.
I was nervous at the start as the walks to and from Cindy's to registration with my suitcase plus the walk this morning to breakfast had my achilles feeling odd a bit, but 100% fine on the bike. I wasn't anything fast but never felt weak, sore or anything like that, so just an awesome day on the bike.
Sat down and talked bikes and racing with the gang after for a few hours, which makes it feel like a race now. Travelling out with a dozen cute girls definitely has its perks, but definitely left the bike parts/new bikes/races/trails etc. chat a little light.
Did I mention the trails? Buff fast twisty stuff through the ferns, jedi like at the start. So fun. Gravel climb to the steep hairy descent. So fun pt 2. Hit a ramp I swore from last year had a down ramp exit, but I was wrong. I think the Scalpel doesn't need to many hits that size. Oops.
Greek dinner at Tarbell's was great home made food.
BC Bike Race Day 1
After all the transportation and logistics, I now remember why I'm here. Total heaven - I'm just so happy. Awesome trails, massage from Cindy, relatively short days so plenty of chill time, great weather. Honestly its like I've died and gone to heaven.
I was nervous at the start as the walks to and from Cindy's to registration with my suitcase plus the walk this morning to breakfast had my achilles feeling odd a bit, but 100% fine on the bike. I wasn't anything fast but never felt weak, sore or anything like that, so just an awesome day on the bike.
Sat down and talked bikes and racing with the gang after for a few hours, which makes it feel like a race now. Travelling out with a dozen cute girls definitely has its perks, but definitely left the bike parts/new bikes/races/trails etc. chat a little light.
Did I mention the trails? Buff fast twisty stuff through the ferns, jedi like at the start. So fun. Gravel climb to the steep hairy descent. So fun pt 2. Hit a ramp I swore from last year had a down ramp exit, but I was wrong. I think the Scalpel doesn't need to many hits that size. Oops.
Greek dinner at Tarbell's was great home made food.
I was nervous at the start as the walks to and from Cindy's to registration with my suitcase plus the walk this morning to breakfast had my achilles feeling odd a bit, but 100% fine on the bike. I wasn't anything fast but never felt weak, sore or anything like that, so just an awesome day on the bike.
Sat down and talked bikes and racing with the gang after for a few hours, which makes it feel like a race now. Travelling out with a dozen cute girls definitely has its perks, but definitely left the bike parts/new bikes/races/trails etc. chat a little light.
Did I mention the trails? Buff fast twisty stuff through the ferns, jedi like at the start. So fun. Gravel climb to the steep hairy descent. So fun pt 2. Hit a ramp I swore from last year had a down ramp exit, but I was wrong. I think the Scalpel doesn't need to many hits that size. Oops.
Greek dinner at Tarbell's was great home made food.
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