Deer Kitty

Bunnin and I rode after work. Warm, but the earth's axis of rotation at this point in our journey around the sun makes for shorter evenings.  On the way to his house, some commuter blew by with amazing speed. I chased on, and at the lights complimented him on his vigorous approach to commuting. Turns out that chasing him was actually fast, I KOM'd the 26 th ave bike lane, probably only because I also chased into him. Ridiculous. After that we got in 92km of bliss. Spot the deer. 

Steepest bike path of death in Cochrane.  Spot the kitty.  

Bici Rodeo 'cross

A second day in a row of quite warm weather made for a great day of racing. Two stories unfolded.

One was the winner of sport women, Cindy. From a third place start to reeling them in to power climbs that made up for dainty barrier crossing, Cindy put out the power today to take a win. Good job!  

Slicing corners. 

We'll work on barrier speed. 

Powering it out solo. 

Crossing the line. 

Podium!

I started faster and more aggressive. Was in 8th going into first corner, which was nice positioning and once it stretched out, was smoother around the corners. I used cornering, riding the run up every lap, and the big barriers, then the last half of course corners to stay in with a group that was putting out way more watts. It was a good recipe until two laps to go, when their surges got me, the 28C started taking it's toll, and I over turned my handle bar by the 2nd gate between the fields where it was all bumpy and the bump ate my wheel and spun it all the way for a little low speed dismount. After that I couldn't catch or hope to catch the group of three into the headwind section, but also nobody was behind. 

BikingBakke climbing. 

Chasing. These barriers and the remainder to the start finish I could usually reel in to then be with the group up the headwind section. 

Finish!

Toast to a victory!

Crave Cupcake 'cross

Beauty day, beauty course, great race.  Beauty finishers too. Kate won her category.

Cindy got second in her category. 

Skin suit season - If it ain't tight it ain't right. 

Date night

Sporting clay shooting. 

'Cross

Midweek mayhem is my version of fight club. Perfect escape, full throttle outlet. Bakke is last in left in Adrienne's start line photo.

Emerald Lake lodge wedding

I Beautiful morning for a ride. As the husband of the bride's sister, my official duties are ideal: stay out of the way!

Descending to Field. Cool but very nice morning. 

Looking east towards the pass. 

Beauty sunrise over Field. 

The abandoned highway to Louise. Only me and one coyote entirely not afraid of my presence. They're beautiful to see up close. I turned back before Louise as the traffic stops had proven themselves as sticklers to the rules and weren't letting bikes through when stopping cars, so I couldn't be late. On the way back there's a lady walking uphill with a baby, said her car broke down. I could see it a ways down the hill. She was walking to get cell service. I said I'd be happy to call from Field. But guy still stopped me. I then asked him to use his radio to his guys down below to ask them to either come up and take her to Field in their truck, or call. He didn't even agree to relay that on the radio. Apparently chivalry and common sense are not skills of highway flag people. Frustrating. 

The divide. 

A lovely après at Cilantros patio at Emerald Lake. 

Moose. 

5 groomsmen, err grooms people. 9 shoes. 

Just lovely. Very happy for Cara and Adam. I got the second last Bonhage sister, no more left now. 

Tour of Alberta stage 5 spectating

I thought the prologue spot we staked out on the last turn was some great viewing of the Tour of Alberta, until I got an email that I couldn't believe at first.  Erik... Do you and a friend want to ride in the Team Canada car with coach Gotd Fraser on the last day, which is 11 laps of a pure downtown urban course in Edmonton?  Hell yeah!

Very memorable. Gord is funny. I broke the ice with the story of him validating my life pursuits in cycling by saying "nice pull man" once in Tucson on the Shootout like 7 years ago. From there on in we got the multi display of driving (including a very thorough display of Nissan traction control systems) on the wet course with right corners, while handing bottles, talking to other teams,  talking to riders (protocol: fold in your mirrors so you can drive closer... yes that close), opening gum, and taking notes on a clipboard of which riders are in the break while also helping draft a rider back up who's two feet off your bumper at 45kph. It's all awesome.  I felt bad at one point leading up not bringing Cindy, but I realized about 1km in it was the right call for her motion sickness.  We saw the shelled riders, saw the crashed riders and blood, the mechanical assistance, the help between teams, and the ever important support car pee break. 

3 laps to go. 

Feed. 

Hill is what cracked the peloton as usual. 

Ha! (It's a cutout board you put your head in). 

The weather driving back was pretty awful. Despite doing 130kph in a sports car that I've had within spitting distance of 300kph and can stop short due to it's weight, I'm being passed by jalopy trucks pulling trailers in the rain while tailgating cars in front of them. Idiots don't know enough about physics to realize they aren't exempt from it. Geez. 

Tour of Alberta stage 1

Great night to spectate!

Labour Day Classic

Cindy got a surprise outing today!