Is This A Logo??

Is This A Logo??

Tuesday 29 November 2016

True Grit

Well quite the winter?? weather we got this weekend!  Some snow that soon melted...but mostly rain...and cold wind.  Had to be selective with the riding plans...

In fact, Friday was too wet on the trails and the road for my comfort...so no ride.  Made up for it with a couple of brews at a social evening with the True Grit crew.  What is this True Grit thing??  Can't say...it's a secret...or something.






Anyways, Saturday the trails were still too wet and mudded for my liking.  But had to get some kind of ride in so pulled out the cross bike...and peeled off a few kms on spongy rail trail, and sloppy gravel before giving in and finishing the last kms on the cold windy pavement.  I didn't dress nearly warm enough...stopped in at BicycleWorks for a warm up stop then spun home frozen after 2.5 hours of ride time...metis popsicle.

Sunday, was dry enough to hit the trails.  So planned some fatbike with NewfieSteve and BicycleWorksPaul.  Giant picked up a brand new, shiny carbon Fatboy from BicycleWorks Saturday night....so he planned to join us and test the new bike....and his recovering broken shoulder.  As it happened...Steve and Paul both bailed on the ride...so it was just Giant and me.  Bad news for me to try to keep up to him.

3.5 hours later, 885m of climbing....on fatbikes...gave his bike and his shoulder a good test; and Giant-pace gave my lungs a test.  Legs are still sore today!  No crashes...nary a scratch...so all is good!!








Haven't seen Blaze on a bike this weekend...don't know if he has given up the sport...or likely just too busy organizing new bicycle clubs (which is just one of the things he is apparently very good at).  Like this True Grit thing??

Oh yeah...its a secret...but I can likely say this much...

True Grit....it is the name of  a new bike club to be associated with BicycleWorks (the best bike shop in the universe....and that's no secret!).  I believe they are working on a logo...with this rendition getting some consideration...


And I believe they are working on some kit designs....nothing yet determined...but this could be one of the top secret options...




And the True Grit people I met at the social on Friday, were all awesome.  Such a wide range of great people!!  So...look for the new logo and kit (or something similar) on the trails and in the race paddocks next season!!

I hope that ApexTed can work his secret magic and make me look as fast in the new kit as he did in the previous...


My fave Apex pic!


Anyways...that's all I can say about that...cuz it's a secret.  Or maybe I am just making it all up...
Confused??






Is it a dog or a cat???



Anyways...I do have a big secret to reveal on Thursday...
And now Lois is worried...she thought those pics were gone forever!

Till then, then...

Stay posted!!




















Thursday 24 November 2016

Snow What??

So...I woke up this morning to a note on the fridge from Lois that read "This isn't working.  Good bye."  But I opened the fridge and it seemed to be working just fine.

So I prepared to make a tofu scramble, but it just kind of sat there.
So I put my clothes back on.

Sorry, I guess this is what happens when I don't have rides/races/material/motivation to report on or post about.

Actually, when I woke up this morning there was mostly rain, but a little snow.  A little more snow could make for a good fatbike ride...if the temps stay cold enough.

The snow actually brought back tragic memories of the 2015 Frostbike race.  It was about minus 58 and windy as Jupiter...and it had just snowed about 34 feet...


Didn't have a fatbike yet...


Ended up riding most of that 'race' with Blaze who kept falling in front of me due to the deep snow and make snow angels...





Seriously....but it was so cold out I may have been delirious...cuz I kept seeing this...






Anyways enough memories...what is this, like Throwback Thursday or something??

So...for today with the temps at plus 4 and 5...and damp...not looking like a great trail day.  Could be rough...






I guess I will have to just have to show some True Grit, toughen up and get out there...









Perhaps, it will be the fatbike on the road/gravel kind of day.  Would that be weird?  I seem to remember a couple of fellas taking a wrong turn and doing just that at this years Eager Beaver 2.0 100 miler...so maybe that will be it.

And riding plans this weekend??  No idea yet...  What is going on out there this weeekend??

First...I guess I better find out if Lois is really gone...although I do have a plan to get her back...


The perfect Lois trap...


Just kidding...really....everything is great with me and Lois.
I think...

Anyways...before I start feeling like it's time to start putting up Christmas decorations I better get out...looks like fatbike on the road...

Stay posted!!






Tuesday 22 November 2016

Going Nature-All

Well quite the show Mother Nature put on this weekend,eh??

For me, it started Thursday with a road ride.  Ya...road...I know, I got mountain bikes; but considering the weather Ma Nature was throwing at us...had to do it.  November 17th and dang near +20 degrees...and although the road bike was all but put away for the winter...dragged it out.  The Venge in November.

PowerPaul sent me a text, "Can I come widja??"  (Ya...widja...)  So he did...true story.

Two hours in we found ourselves at Dee's General Store on Hwy 97 near Valens Conservation Area, where they sell Dee's Buttertarts (not a coincidence); some of the best buttertarts in the area!!

So we partook....and Paul provided some of his own 'Maple Syrup' to wash it down with...



Blurry Skor Bar Tart (I ain't a photog and ApexTed is avoiding me)...and recovery 'syrup'...



PowerPaul

At this point I offered Paul two options.  One would include about 2 more hours of riding...including another buttertart stop at Dar's Bakery in Moffat; or one hour to go back home.  Paul said, "I think I like the one hour."

So no extended buttertart ride on this day...BUT....there is a rumbling of the return of the sort of now defunct unofficially official 'Buttertart Ride' to make a return in 2017!!  Stay tuned...

Anyways, home we headed...any other stops were unplanned...




So an awesome 3.5 hour road ride mid November!!  And along the way we made plans for the next day, Friday...which was supposed to be even nicer...and it was!

So we dragged NewfieSteve, who played hooky to take advantage of the +22 degree weather, out to the Hydrocut.  Shorts and short sleeves in November 18th!!  Steve on his 27 plus full suspension bike, Paul on his Fatboy, and me on a singlespeed hardtail.  Quite the cocktail!  But once again...amazing ride on those fantastic Hydrocut trails.  And no mishaps...another great plus!


Yes, Paul's magic 'syrup' made another appearance...


Then in an about-face Saturday...Ma Nature got all pissy.  +5 and rain, but it was forecast correctly...






So...being delicate...the rain kept me off the bike.  Too bad...I was hoping to try out my new summer gear...





Well, I guess it will wait for next year.

Anyways, I toughened up for Sunday.  Negative temps and snow...Ma Nature back to herself.  So I took the single speed out for a more wintery trail rip...


Along the Dundas escarpment....rocks, roots, and leaves...



Tew's Falls...snowy stairs...



Entering Christie Lake...flowy, bermy, ridiculously fun singletrack...


I was hoping to hit Dundas trails, but after 3 hours the cold, biting wind had me heading back home.  I know, in two months we will think this weather is balmy!!

So...there ya have it...quite the mess of nature we got this weekend...all four seasons almost!!

What will this next weekend bring??

Stay posted!









Thursday 17 November 2016

Get Out!!

Well, this one is going to be short and...OK...just short....cuz...

...This ridiculous November weather!!  (Hey, am I the only person who always spells rediculous with an 'e' then has to go back and correct it??)

Anyways, seriously...the remainder of this week has the mid teens predicted (temperatures...not people)...with Friday a clear sky and +20 degree forecast!!  WTF??  My memories of growing up in Saskatchewan have Novembers with the natural ice rinks ready for hockey, snowy streets being plowed, and gophers asleep for weeks!

I had hunkered my road bike away for the season, but I may have to pull that beast out for today...just to say I did.  A long sunny ride...maybe a buttertart stop??

And tomorrow (Friday), with the +20 forecast, friends are considering taking the day off (PowerPaul, NewfieSteve, and...anyone else???).  The intention being a MTB roadtrip; with the likely destination being Turkey Point.

Then, if the weather holds into the weekend....the possibilities wide open!  (Except for Kelso...apparently they have closed for the season).

So really what are you doing sitting inside at a desk...reading this?  In the indomitable words (word?) of my pal TeamColin, "Ride."  Or at the very least...get out there!  Mid November, sunny +20...life is too short.  Play hooky, call in slick (ya, you read that right), or tell them you are going to get the mail...or grab a coffee...or go pee...then make a break for it!!  Run!!  Be free!!  Giggle like a school girl....or like Fig.

At the very least make a worthy story this weekend.  I'm outta here!  Maybe we will see you on the road, or on the trail!

Stay posted!


Sleeps??



Tuesday 15 November 2016

Humbly Posted

So, November's August weather made for some dang good bike riding this weekend.

It started Thursday with riding my CX bike (Crux) the 23 kms out to Blaze's house.


Lakers on the lake on the way to Blaze's

From Blaze's he led a ride around the bay...in total about an 80km loop.  It was supposed to be a nice leisurely ride, Blaze wanted to test out a newly installed drive train; but the self proclaimed fat, out of shape Blaze would occasionally drop the hammer/attack/sprint at a leisurely extended 50-60kph...dropping me like a Friday afternoon French class.

I guess the universe decided I needed a good humbling.

Anyways, it turned out to be a great November CX ride.  Back at Blaze's he threw me a bag of pakoras saying, "Here, these are for you!"  Although they are the wrong country of Indian food, I happily scarfed them down...


Almost empty by the time I took the pic...


I don't know the store he gets them from (he is a regular there)....but they were awesome!  Although maybe next time some good native fry bread??

For Saturday's ride I had put out an open invitation to ride the local trails...so SteveTom, RobS, JocS, GrantSonOfSeth, RichardW, and UnknownMTBer (Rob's friend)...all O'Cup type racers on carbon race bikes...showed up to discover the Waterdown trails.  Our local trails are somewhat technical...and very, very climby;  2-3 hours on these trails is a great workout.  I chose to ride my Fatboy 29+ bike....perhaps too heavy of a beast.  It knocked the stuffing out of me to keep up to this speedy group.

I guess the universe decided I needed more humbling.

And just to make sure, the universe threw me to the ground a couple of times on this ride...on my own local trails...thanks universe...you're a pal.

Anyways...after about two hours the sun started getting low, and the final trail home was a very sketchy long rock garden so it was time to head back before shadows made it sketchier, to finish off another great ride.  And ended with an after party hosted by my favourite party host (who is also my favourite wife, cuz the love of a great woman is humbling in itself) Lois, who had readied some beverages and warm tamales and salsa.  The tamales and salsa came from one of our favourite places...50 Pesos Store and Food Truck in Burlington.  (Click on the logo for their website).


Best Latin food around!!  (and Vegan options!)




Nope...Tamale...sorry...


Then to round out the weekend...a Sunday ride.  Me and NewfieSteve headed towards Waterloo to the Hydrocut Trails, to meet Burnsy, Brian, and crew of riders from BicyleWorks in Waterdown...all very, very talented, fast riders.  And all on fatbikes.  'Cept me...me on my single speed 29er mountain bike.  I fit in like an orange jersey in a sea of black...







And the fatbikes pummeled my singlespeed arse for the entire ride.

I guess the universe...ok...you get the picture.  Yes...humbled, again.

Apparently, it seems like I always have much more work to do...just to keep up.  Shouldn't I get a trophy just for participating??






Speaking of trophies...a very superdy duperdy....huge congratulations has to go out to DanOfSubstance and Substance Projects for this...




That is awesome...and so well deserved...years of hard work and dedication to the sport, and appreciated by so many mountain bikers!  Way to go Dan!!  Now...about that TransCanada unsupported race....????

And speaking of humbling...how about that Supermoon this weekend??  I stayed up late/got up early just to watch on both Sunday and Monday nights.  That bright giant ball of light on its own slow ride across the clear night sky not filtered by cloud, unfettered by aurora...reminding us of the beauty and the power of nature.  One of the reasons we mountain bike.  A beacon that perhaps there is yet hope for the human race to make a better world.  And a reminder for me to appreciate all of the friends that chose to ride with me this weekend.

Thank you!

So, until Thursday...

Stay posted!









Thursday 10 November 2016

Post Vote Post

Well...me...I'm just glad it's over.  Some people were surprised...






But they really should not have been...
And the world hasn't ended....yet...






But...this ain't the platform for any of that political BS...it's bad enough we have all the cats...or do we???






Anyways let's get on with mountain biking stuff.  But...no race/ride events this weekend that I am aware of.  Gotta make our own...so that's what I have done.

RobS has requested a Tour de Waterdown...so that is the plan for Saturday afternoon.  My only concern is whether or not I can keep up.  RobS is not only fit and fast...but his bike skills are rather Stellar...  Which, comes in handy on the local trails...plenty of steep punchy climbs, long drawn out climbs, rocks, roots, creek crossings...it is right on the escarpment, after all.  I will be riding the Fatboy 29+ so if you want to come and help me keep him in check....step up!  C'mon out!

Sunday...nothing concrete planned yet...but a few of the local riders are giving consideration to riding the Hydrocut.  Length of ride, pace, and weapon of choice all yet to be determined...so we will see where that takes us...

So...luckily for you this is a short quick post.  As I have to get in gear and get out for today's ride.  Blaze is going to kick my arse CX style...on an around the bay ride....and I have to ride out to Stoney Creek just to get started...

So...other than taking time tomorrow to remember...those are the weekend ride plans...

And if you think you read last Tuesday's (Nov 8th) blog post...you may not actually have read it.  For some reason it didn't get posted properly...it was about Turkey Point, The Hydrocut...trail building...so if you missed it...click on 'older posts' below and check it out.

An den??

Stay posted!!










Tuesday 8 November 2016

Pre-Apocalyptic Weekend Rides

So...not really sure what happened here...but this was Tuesday Nov. 8th post that apparently never got posted...

So...a couple of weekends ago had me at SMBC trails near Barrie with NewfieSteve, and guided by local Meredith; to experience their vast and amazing trail systems (and the continual building that is going on out there).  Then the post ride festivities made for an awesome weekend of mtb.  So how would I follow that up this past weekend?

Well, after a couple of local weekday rides, Saturday found me joining PowerPaul and NewfieSteve accepting an invite by FatBoyNation to join their group for a ride out at Turkey Point.  Turned out to be an epic day (of course!) of fall riding!!  The Turkey Point trails (near Turkey Point Provincial Park between Port Dover and Lake Simcoe) have always (OK...loooong time) been great...but TPMBC continually adds to them.  There now must be 100kms of trail...of various types...sweet singletrack...tight twisty and flat...or steep and technical...it is there!  And they continue to add.

What is better than epic mtb trails in the fall?  Riding them with great people!





There were a couple of stop 'n' fixes...


Stops for photo ops...(Raf, Sandra, Jenn)


Some hams...


And Ken was too busy taking pics to get in any of them....

Some trails closed for hunting...and we didn't want to be prey...


Then of course, the athletes post-ride subdued recovery...(tea and protein shakes???)






So...great fun whipping the fatbike around some awesome trails for a couple of hours with a great group of people.  Thank you FatBoy Nation!!

Then Sunday...as if Saturday wasn't enough...but this November weather though...gotta get out there whenever possible!!

So...Sunday...had to give the Single Speed some use.  So again, drag NewfieSteve out to the Hydrocut...where he then dragged me around more epic fall trails.  And the WaterlooCyclingClub (WCC) has been doing building at the Hydrocut.  Some new flowy, bermy, trails!  And some new awesome features on existing trails.  More rocks, drops, jumps...and stuff!  (Yup...stuff...a good summer-upper word...)  All adds a little more challenge and so much more fun!!

Unfortunately, neither Steve nor I took any pics on this one...I was having enough trouble keeping up to him...

Anyways, after two days and several hours of riding a fatbike and a singlespeed, any power muscles I may have are whipped!!  So possibly a recovery day...oh....that was yesterday...well back at it then.

But first...have to contemplate all of the great trails we are lucky to have in this area of the province.  One has to appreciate the passion that put them there....and the dedication that goes into all of the building and adding that continues to take place.  In fact WCC has another building day planned at the Hydrocut....and so does Halton Agreement Forest Trail Association (HAFTA) out at the Agreement Forest trails.  I believe both building days are this Saturday November 12th...so if you are available and inclined...get out there!!

Truly, with all of this going on...our little area of the country could be one of the best mountain bike meccas on the planet.  Such varying terrain, and variety of trails...and continual building.  Throw in optimal weather conditions...and the potential for year round riding.  Living the dream...

In fact, ran across this pic the other day...SteveS may have the ribbon for best mtb fall pic so far...


(Photo cred SShikaze)


So...get out there while you can!!
Unless of course, you are too busy today pitting in to watch the series finale of America...








Sorry...I couldn't help myself...
Forget it...go mountain biking...and we will see if there is still a world...
Till Thursday....

Stay posted!


Thanks PinoyRyder!