Moving

Sunday morning I spent some energy riding out to Cochrane and back via the backroads with Geoff and Devin.  Nice pace - fitness inducing without torture, no loafing.  Nice coffee stop at Java Jamboree, got home before the rain, nice temps, just smiles all around. 

Sunday afternoon was a little heavy lifting with the [absent] beach muscles I [never] cultivate.  Shawn, Andrea, Cindy and I had a good time while gettign something important done.  But a tiring day needs refuelling - so we did takeout Indian food plus Dairy Queen surprise Buster bars.  Can't beat that!

Dyson

Well, let's be honest. I get more excited about bike parts... but... after a morning ride where I felt pretty sluggish with Shawn, Cindy and I went for a sports car ride and a "surprise". I looked online and found that Dyson vacuums are sold at Wal-mart, but preferred to go to Okotoks to get some nice country road driving in.

Cindy thought we were going to get a kitty, until we got to Wal-mart. Perplexed - we wandered around until I found the vacuum aisle, where excitement erupted loudly (for anyone who knows how excited Cindy can get). The Dyson ended our errands, as no more fits in the back of the car. It's is pretty sweet, it sure sucks a lot of stuff out of the carpet.  Then after she asked if it was a prelude to getting a kitty, since it sucked up hair so well.  Hmm... this kitty thing.

Had a great dinner and patio time relaxing Saturday night with a friend of Cindy's - really nice relaxing day overall.

Deadgoat hammer #3

A fantastic night out, with 18 deadgoats starting the ride.  It's really amazing this year how many riders there are out, and how many are riding strong.  Other than Boonen, err I mean Bunnin repeatedly squirting off the front, with Devin in charge of chasing him down numerous times, highlights from my road weary eyes were:
- Steve Walsh strongly pulling through on 22 into a headwind on the road lane side of the double paceline, while Shawn looked towards traffic where a sweet old air cooled Porsche was simultaneously driving by.  "Look a that sweet old turbo".  I'll never know if he was talking about Walsh or the 911 ; )
- Trish making it into Bragg in the lead group!  Awesome.  I'm not saying I've previously discounted Trish's talents - it's just extra surprising when the ride is geared toward high speed, flat paceline vs. mountain climbing - I know on TransAndes the flats are hard work for her size.  Trish keep eating your Wheaties!
- Riding next to Geoff "freight train" Clark on the way back from Bragg on the 1% down grade, with him ticking over some giant gear peacefully, showing no strain, and pretty much blowing me up without him even showing a hint of effort.
- Brent and Ryan held in to the bitter end - very solid riding.
- Doyle has a Deadgoat team kit, color matched, ROAD bike!  And with that power he was putting into the headwind, he's delivering on the euro-pro theme beyond just the good looks!

The size, fitness and teamwork early on this year look like they're forming up a very good deadgoat foundation for the upcoming racing season.

Feels like summer

After 2/5ths of a race Sunday, I slowed right down to patio enjoyment mode... warm summer day came very early and was very welcome.  20 people or so rotated through having a few beverages while sharing stories on the roof.

Monday's end of day work ressucitation ride (after a particularly negative day in the office/capital markets) was a lap down by the Leighton Arts Center with Jay.  We hammered out about 3h of hills, totalling 1,141m from his tracking, in nothing but shorts and jersey till the sun went down.  Such a unique feeling to not be worried about bringing more clothes.  Awesome!

Plus when I got home, the garage was packed tight with two cars, and Cindy was home!

Happy belated birthday to me

Mom and Dad got me lots of mustard varieties. I'm gonna be in heaven for bbq season!

Congrats Shawn

Strong ride, on top of a strong several days of riding... and Speed Theory good work on a thoughtful prize.

Prairie Roubaix

Despite waking up tired this morning, Shawn's coffee got me going. Add to that the double Bunnin carpool (thanks for being awesome early in the morning Andrea) and I was feeling pretty happy. Super sunny, super beauty day.  Lots of racers out, huge deadgoat turnout too.

A group started with 40 (sounds like 40 in each of A/B/C which is great).

First lap the legs got tested on the gravel - Shawn and 2 others hit the gas and stretched out the group. Devin, Craig and I caught on in the follow group, then by top of the paved climb a few km out the group was two dozen of the original 40.  Craig and Devin did some headwind pulling leading up to the gravel...

...then we came fast into the gravel on second time around, front three took off again. I was able to be part of the next 3 chasers, so was feeling good on the gravel. That worked out great, until I ended up at the back of the three for a turn, the first guy got speed wobbles and panicked and hit the brakes, second guy hit the ground hard and broke his collar bone. I was 6" behind, half rode over him, ditched my bike, tried really hard to not step on his face, then met the gravel myself.  He's in the ambulance, not me (they were nice enough to swab my knee with some alcohol or whatever).

Couple groups went by, then group of 2 chasers came by like 2 minutes down and yelled for us to get out of the way, on a 40' wide gravel road, with a guy nursing a broken collar bone, when they had line of site to us by 500m and let's not forget were 2 min down. All class.

Anyway, I have a few things to fix, at least not bones. Scott Manktelow of RMCC has a little more healing to do.  Pretty good overall for hitting the dirt going that fast - not sure how fast, SRM not working/downloading now either, but it was a fast part of the course with a tailwind, I'd say 45km/h not a bad guess.  Tough way to start a season.

Next lap was down to 15 in A, 4th lap Craig flatted out at start finish. Last lap had two riders come in for a fast finish, with a guy named Bunnin in for the win.  Devin, Tim, Craig, Kyle, Geoff, Pat, all had a solid races.

Patio season is now officially opening, time to relax.