Is This A Logo??

Is This A Logo??

Thursday 26 January 2017

There I Was - Gone

So, luckily for y'all...I may be unavailable for a week or so, unless I can unlock the mysteries of ascension...or at least mobile technology.  Both unlikely.

I am off to the country of LandHam where I am told there is still winter...which means great mountain biking, Hok skiing, and snowshoeing.



They got snow!!!


I am not certain if they have beer or whiskey drinking there though...I will have to investigate.

If I can figure out the technology, and if you are bored enough, I may post updates on my facebook page.

Speaking of real mountain biking...this weekend are a couple of local events (that I am aware of):

Substance Projects has the Frozen Beaver; the 3rd installment of the 45NRTH Ontario FatBike Series.





And there is the Sugar Shack Hustle.






So, which one you gonna attend?

See...always something to look forward to!  Like Raf's shirtless fatbike ride pics...or Oggie's political viewpoints...or unglued's 'what the hell did he just post?' posts.

Or Ross's daily Chuck Norris calendar post.  I think this is my favourite so far this year...





Pinoy Ryder always has an interesting post too...this is one of the latest...






Then there is always Blaze's mid life crisis' to look forward to...this being the latest...an incredible mountain bike tatoo!!





That is a different kind of mountain bike!  And I have no idea what the stuff in the background is all about.  I am afraid to ask...

Anyways...I Di Gress (yes that is a real person!).  Yesterday had me near puking several times chasing BicycleWorks Paul during a training interval session of 5x5s, so today I think I will go and do something easy...like squat an F150 several times...

Gotta get that power back!






Does that look like JeffS kind of power??  Gotta have goals right?

Anyways...then it's time to prepare for the trip to the Land of Ham.
When will you hear from me again?  Likely too soon.

Stay posted!!








Tuesday 24 January 2017

Fog Horns

So the spring/fall weather continues...into the end of January.  And there was fog...so much fog.  And no more snow...even the parking lot piles are gone.  So...on plus 8 degrees last Friday CoachRob tells me, "You need mo' powa'!!  3 hours of hill repeats for you!!"

So Friday...a beautiful day for January (damn near a beautiful day for August!); the trails a sloppy unrideable mess...so I headed to Sydenham road to do repeats on the hill.  Fun times!!  Or something.

For recovery, Lois and I headed to Krys' cool new place in Dundas...






Then Saturday, the regular BicycleWorks group mtb ride turned into the cross ride due to trail conditions.  Unglued, the Lapdog, had asked to join us...but he never showed up.  He posted this pic later, so I assume it had something to do with him missing..





Hey!!  TMI!! 

Anyways, Blaze was supposed to show up too....but apparently the new administration had called him to clear out some old stuff...




Anyways...BWPaul, SirDobby, and Daryl (on his damn road bike!) showed up.  Daryl did his best to shell us on his road bike, then Paul decided a 10km sprint to the finish was necessary.  It was a great ride, with bright coloured jackets and red blinky lights to make us as visible as possible in the thick fog.






In fact, Saturday was so much fun, BWPaul, Dobby, and I did it all again on the still foggy Sunday...
This time, icy trails forced us out of the valley, up top the the roads where headwinds killed us!!


Paul was hoping to catch me wiping out on the icy bridge...but, skillz eh!!


With the temps so mild here...and the lack of snow...some showed  some True Grit, and went all the way to Quebec to find some real fatbiking conditions...




If you are wondering what this True Grit thing is all about...you can check out the developing web site at www.truegritcycling.ca  

Then Monday was a gym day....then recovery time as Lois and I went to see the movie Rogue One...where I ate too much theater popcorn...then felt like I had to drop this when I got home...








Actually, I am from Saskatchewan...so it would be more like this...







Anyways...off topic again...
So...before I get into trouble...let's call this one...

Stay safe in the fog...and...
Stay posted!



Tuesday 17 January 2017

Power of Rain

Short one today...cuz I gotta get out and ride in this icy rain...good training for Dan's cross Canada Ice Duck Race.  (OK...maybe there isn't such a race...yet...but Dan is creative like that.  And apparently I can be a tad sarcastic...right Andrea??)

Apparently the Albion Fatbike Festival was a raging success this weekend.  There was racing, there was poker derby, there were costumes, chili, beer, prizes, laughs, and Rafs.  And ApexRacePhotography was at their ninja finest, on hand to capture it all.  Click on the little logo...and check out all the cool pics!!



I was not able to make it to Albion.  I have actually enjoyed the last few months just riding my bike without competitive goals, or tightly structured training.  But it is time to get back at it...so I have.

Focusing on endurance training over the past year has resulted in a depletion of power and strength.  So of the few goals I did have for over the winter, one was to increase my lost power/strength.  This weekend was a good example of that kind of workout combo.

Thursday had me doing adaptive training...running.  While that may not sound power related...it is when you are running these on the trails...




I may have found my new home out there too...



And Lois thinks I have nowhere to go...



Anyways, Friday had me at the gym working more directly on leg strength and power.

Saturday was a mostly solo fatbike hill ride, 540m of non-studded fatbike climbing on our icy, local escarpment trails.  A few near tragic close calls.

Sunday, I thought I had better play it safe and ride the studs.  However, they are on the single speed...





And Sunday's ride was with BWPaul, and SirDobby, two of the most competitive, and gifted mountain bikers around...in every sense.  Technical skills, power, endurance, speed...yet they don't race.  So I spent Sunday's ride, trying to keep their carbon fatbikes (studded) in sight...often failing...for 42+ kms and over 840m of climbing.  I limped back to the truck...thoroughly depleted...if you ever want a challenging ride...these are the guys to go with.

Anyways...I am getting back in the game.  Increasing the power just one of the goals...don't think I will make it this far though...


Robert Forstemann...German track sprint cyclist...

But hey...no limits!!

I was trying to get NewfieSteve to come out on one of the weekend rides...but he wanted no part of it.  I'm a little worried about him...I think he may be forgetting how to Newf.  He thought this was a sheep...






I told him, "Alpaca your bags for you if you need to go back to the home country to reset..."
We shall see.

Anyways...it's icy raining out...so maybe no ride today...which is OK.  Another gym day is scheduled...





Maybe Rob Forstemann is outta reach...but maybe I can reach serious, or dskunk??  Maybe even JeffS???  Ah well...a guy can dream...right??

In pursuit of betterness...off to the gym.
Stay posted!




Thursday 12 January 2017

Holy Weather Batman!!

I can't even be sure what country we are living in right now.  It is January 12th and it is dang near 15 degrees C above zero and raining outside this morning.  The two feet of snow we had two weeks ago is all but gone...and the -30 degree weather gone with it.  Mother Nature...toying with us like a cat playing with a half live mouse;  I'm almost wondering if I can break out my new heritage-proper summer mountain bike shorts...








Until Lois reminded me that this is closer to my truth right now...





Lois can be helpful like that...







I am pretty sure the cats were in on it...







Actually, Lois asked me the other day, "What would you do if I left you for your best friend?"
I wasn't sure where that came from so I asked, "Which one?"
She replied, "How many best friends do you have?"
I said, "Well, the best friend would be the one you are leaving me for..."
Yeah...that didn't go over so well...but she kind of had it coming...
The other day, out of the blue, she said, "I love you, I can't live without you."
I said, "Is that you, or the wine talking??"
She said, "It's me...talking to the wine."
So yeah...(seriously...you should hear some of our conversations...or maybe not!)

Anyways...back on topic...
The Superfly Racing Albion Fatbike Festival is scheduled for this weekend...






So I hope they have more snow up there than we have here...

Speaking of Albion....it is the venue for the Summer Solstice 24 Hr...which is one of (if not THEE) my 'A' races planned for 2017.  And I just found out this morning that dskunk is registered...

Smarter racers than I would just throw down their mountain bikes and walk away...but sadly, I live to compete.  dskunk is a two time Tour Divide finisher...once on a single speed; and I believe last year he finished in under 20 days.  So, a 24 hour race is just another day (literally, even) on a bike for him.



dskunk (I think you could call him Dave, for short) on the Tour


So, I am pretty sure I am going to have to make my Summer Solstice target 20 laps to keep dskunk in view...which is a far sight more than the 15 I put in in 2016.  I am going to have to get my fat old thong body into more like this...






So...I guess I better get out there and get to work...starting now!  Mother Nature....get out of my way!  Could be worse...I could be living in my old stomping grounds of Saskatchewan...



This was yesterday...


So...I guess we should be happy here..

Also as part of training, I am planning on attending a 6+ hour Padega ride out in London area on Sunday...so I hope conditions are OK for that...

Anyways...I feel dskunk mocking me...I better get at it...

Make a great weekend!!  Stay safe and...

Stay posted!



Lois says I am still her superman...




Tuesday 10 January 2017

Ice 'N' Snow

I wasn't there but DanOfSubstnace's 2nd race in his fatbike series, The Kingston Snophy took place on the weekend...and was apparently great!  There was snow, there was frozen mud, there was ice!  A fast day on the trails....congrats to all who participated...and all who spent time on the podium!  (Who is the dude on the singlespeed destroying everyone???)

Results of the race were up but now I can't seem to find them...but I do tend to misread things sometimes...





Anyways...although not at the race it was a great weekend for mtb.  Saturday...an awesome sunrise on the escarpment...




...blue sky and sunshine...had me drag Fig out on a ride.  I chose the single speed because it is very icy out my way...and it is studded.  Now it is not uncommon to see Fig bonk...but 2 hours into the ride...he experienced the mother of all bonks!  So we made a bee line for home...shortest route possible...but it still took us an hour.  Fig struggled horribly but have to hand it to him...he toughed it out.  When we pulled into my frozen driveway...he totally Figged out...laying on the driveway in -10 degree splendour for 10 minutes.





Anyways...he eventually made it into the house (I don't think he even noticed the backyard fox almost peed on him while he lay there...)...where we ate too much of the Spanish rice Lois had prepared for us.  The food helped Fig regain himself...then we drank too much of Fig's Four Fingers Inn Cider...his homemade ambrosia.  When that ran out, we drank too much of Lois' wine (Fig is gluten intolerant, so can't drink beer).  It's OK...I don't think Lois noticed...






And woke up Sunday...to NewfieSteve dragging me out to Halton/Agreement Forest for a fatbike ride with the True Grit crew...






An awesome rocky, snowy, icy Halton ride.


Some True Grit crew


I really need to get out there more...such fun, challenging trails.  The trouble is...there are so, so many trails there....and I don't know them well...and have gotten lost for hours there before.  Yes...I am a warrior...not a scout.  So I only go when I know there is someone who knows where to go...

Anyways...expecting to rest and recover on Monday...but got talked into another ride (OK...it's easy to talk me into mountain biking...).  This time with BWPaul...and Sir Dobby...starting at Dobby's in Ancaster with the intention of riding to the Dundas trails.  The Dundas trails are glare ice...so again I chose the single speed with studded tires...

And I think this spurred Dobby to say...single speed, eh....well f' you single speed...let's find some hills...so off we went through Dundas, all the way up the escarpment to Christie...some brutal, icy climbs to get there (700+m over a 3 hour ride).   But overall great fun, another great ride, and super workout to round out the 'weekend'...


Paul, Dobby, n' some goof


And now Ma Nature is going all hog wild on us again today and tomorrow...10 inches of snow predicted...then rain...then +11 on Thursday.  All the furry forest dwellers are going to be as confused as I am!!

So...what will that do to mountain bike plans??  I guess we will see...

Stay posted!







Thursday 5 January 2017

Bring On 2017

Well in case you didn't notice...it's here...2017...and a world of people wondering exactly what the new year is gonna bring us.  Everyone looking to a strange leader with new ideas, or saying he will bring back and refresh old ideas.

Yup...DanOfSubstance...promising to make mountain biking great again!!  Looking forward to what Dan has in mind for us...a new race he says...and he is currently looking for another weird name to title the event.  Apparently he wants to name it something Raccoon related...I suggested Raccoon Wrecked 'Em...but I haven't heard back from Dan...

Anyways...for now the world is rife with fatbike events.  And Dan continues his Fatbike Race Series with the second race of the series The Kingston Snophy ...(see, weird names...), coming up this weekend.  If you want in on this one you better get on it...online registration closes tonight (Thursday) at 7pm...otherwise it is day-of registration.

Then Superfly Racing is holding the Albion Fatbike Festival on January 14th.  And more events coming...but I don't want to get to much ahead of myself...

Actually, I am trying to piece together my goals and race schedule for the year.  So far I think the primary race I shoot for will be the 24 hour Summer Solstice with the goal to outperform last year's result.  I am also looking to make the 8 hour races, and Dan's Eager Beaver 'A' races.  I will try to fit in Dan's Marathon Series...

I don't want to put myself into a box, (I prefer fuzzy handcuffs, actually) but my focus will again be on the endurance races.  I will likely still do some of the OCups...the ones where I don't have to drive longer than I race.  The OCups provide a different kind of challenge, and I will use them as a great training ride...plus I enjoy the fun technical courses.  My goal in these will be to try to not come in DFL...the competition is just so fast in these!!

I would also like to do some bikepacking this year.  Nothing as extreme as the Tour Divide, or the TransAm Bike Race....yet.  Perhaps the COLT trail in the spring.  Miles Arbour did the trail last summer and wrote an article about it on RidingFeelsGood, and it seems like something I will tackle...and work up to something longer...show some True Grit??

If you are into the extreme tours like the Tour Divide check out:
Will Scheel who did it in 2015 on a CX bike!
Dean Anderson who competed with our own dskunk last summer...on a single speed!
Brian McEntire who completed the TABR last summer.
Janie Hayes for a female perspective on the TABR.

Or just talk to our own dskunk, or SSSarah...as tough as they come!!

Anyways...once again...I ramble on...
So...I am still putting together my 2017 (maybe to keep an Oggie, or JeffS in sight of a finish line??)...
CoachRob says get off the damn computer and get out there!!




And unglued has just challenged me on facebook...so I guess I better buck up (not a racial reference...) and get out in the minus kazillion cold for a ride!

First...sneak in a Happy Birthday Kat Tourond!!  Careful...one day you may find yourself as old as me!!





Anyway...out for an ice ride!  2017...here we come!!

Stay posted!!


What's wrong with being in a box??

Tuesday 3 January 2017

New Year Shenanigans

Well it has been an interesting weekend...

It started off Friday, not with mountain biking...but with birthday shenanigans...
When Lois asked what I wanted for my birthday I jokingly said "strippers!"... so she brought in this...





When I said that wasn't really what I had in mind...she brought in this...







So I thought I had just better leave well enough alone...and we settled on an evening at ShEd Brewery with friends who showed some True Grit...




EnglishJim instructing Lois on how to drink beer...like she needs help with that...




Blaze attempting a Newfie to Metis brain transplant...




Apparently something went wrong...


LawyerBob and his wife managed to avoid the camera somehow...lawyers are smart like that...

Anyways the Friday off had me primed for a weekend of mountain biking!!  And again...Ma Nature was all over the weather map!!  Global warming??  Or more global every possible thing!!!

There was obvious fatbike weather...





Which had me end up at BicycleWorks, where BWPaul pulled out his great big .... camera to take some random pics...






This pic was actually supposed to be of BigJoe, who you can almost see peaking around the corner in the background.  It was actually his birthday on this day...Happy Birthday Joe!!  (again no strippers were on scene at this location)

Oh...and maybe off topic...but today is my brother Rob's birthday...42!!!


Happy Birthday brother!!


Anyways...back to Mother Nature and her shenanigans...

Another day had freezing rain...leaving me to wonder if the fatbike, or studded 29er single speed would be the bike of choice...




As it turned out the trails were sheer ice...sheets of glass...





Luckily an early alert by AndreaB had me choose the proper bike...







Then it was back to perfect fatbike conditions out at Halton Agreement Forest for a ride with Team True Grit...


Parking lot start...(we were late cuz my ride, 
NewfieSteve had to stop to save a car wreck victim 
he encountered on his way to my house...true story!!)


True Grit on the trail...




True Grit on the rocks...



True Grit firepit...yes there is a firepit out on these trails!!
Two flats and a broken chain couldn't stop the ride...but a firepit...



Also ran into some celebrities on this ride!!!



Christine beauty queen!



Her husband Arlie, king of the world!!

Great to see you guys out there...perfect trail conditions!!

And apparently JeffS was on a ride and found evidence that my mom was in the neighbourhood!


(photo cred: JeffS)


Anyways it was a great weekend for mtb...and no crashes!!  Sort of...




And yes...the weekend included the end of 2016...so for all you statoholics...


My 2016 mtb stats...according to Strava...



And I won't detail my 2016 experience out of fear of waxing too poetic, or displaying writing skills as limited as my mountain bike skills...but I will say this.  For me and Lois, in 2016 current friendships were cemented, new friends were made, and 2017 looks to be rife with unlimited possibilities.  And amid a world that tries to fill our lives with chaos and illusory BS...what really matters is friendship, joy, and love...(and no...Joy is not a stripper...or is she??).

So...off we go...into 2017...

Stay posted!


Brother Rob's cat, Bertha...