Is This A Logo??

Is This A Logo??

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Sweet Windy Buttertarts

Mother Nature is still having her way with us...but at least we are not in North East Australia right now (they are in for a nasty cyclone!!).  Just enough rain here to keep folks off the trails.  Which meant it was once again a CX road/gravel/railtrail training weekend.  'Tis the season.

Saturday a group of friends went out to pre-ride the Tour of Pelham course.  Sadly (or not), I could not make it.  Plus 2 degrees and rain made it a bit of a challenge.

Dis Was Dem


However Sunday Mark & JennR, Giant, Jaimie, Seth, Fig, et moi headed out into the +6 degree, 35km/h wind gusts, and rain in search of adventure.  Mark had damaged his bike on his Saturday ride, so BicycleWorksPaul very graciously loaned him a Kona Rove for the Sunday ride.  (Dem BicycleWorks guys are some kinda awesome!!).


Crux 'n' Kona...cousins almost...before the Sunday ride.





Not really....Paul is genuinely generous to his customers....but he does sell alot by loaning/demo-ing...

Anyways...off we went.  West...through Dundas Valley, then onto an extended section of rail trail.  The rail...not soft enough that we would damage it, but just soft enough to make you feel like you were dragging an elephant...and suck the life out of your legs early in the ride.  When we eventually took things north...Fig was dying, and we were now battling the wind.  By 50km Fig packed it in and headed for home.

More wind and rain...we eventually made it to 97 General Store at the 77km mark, and made a brief stop to refuel (buttertarts!!), and refill bottles.  We were three hours in....cold, and soaked...and whipped from the soft trail and gravel, wind, and rain.  We decided to take the most direct route back.  30kms to home...for a total of 107kms in ass kicking conditions...what better to prepare for the spring races??  4hours, 22minutes....home where Lois had hot vegan chilli, and cold beverages waiting for us.  (Yah...Fig was back waiting for us...and surprisingly left enough chilli for all.)

JennR's training program called for her to do another 3 hour ride on Monday...so I offered to join.  So Monday we did it again...conditions slightly better this time.  90km of hurt (JennR is faster than a Riot!)...to Moffat (Dar's bakery....and buttertarts!!) and back.



Dar's famous bike rack.


So it wasn't the nicest weekend, so if you got out for an epic ride...like JeffS and Hal's 165km fatbike ride.  Seriously...165km on a fatbike...who does that???  Well, besides JeffS, and Hal...(and Jack would have if he had known...).

Or if you just got out for a 10km spin in the rain, before the sun set....good on you!!  It's all about the passion for the game, and the love of the outdoors and nature in all its forms and conditions.  Don't let anyone tell ya different!

Looking forward to getting back on a mountain bike soon!  (I have to burn off a couple of buttertarts.)  Until then...

Stay posted!!


Nature...in all it's forms??




Thursday 23 March 2017

Celebrities Galore

So...I get to add another to the list of celebrities I know!!





Seriously...check out the details here.     https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ca/livgiant/ambassador/jenn.kennedy/1052/

Congrats Jenn...you are perfect for that role!!  Although I am a Specialized and Kona guy...mostly because of this celebrity...




BicycleWorksPaul...bike shop owner extraordinaire.  Paul also farms so his very busy season is coming up.  He only grain farms now...used to have animals too.  I remember when he sold off his animals.  Me being from Saskatchewan, he figured I would be familiar with farming, so he asked me to help him round up his flock of 57 sheep.  I said, '60'.  We've been friends ever since...

Speaking of celebrities...word is Oggie is switching brands...too bad...he has always been an SWorks fan...going to the lefty darkside...




In case you didn't know Oggie is a former Olympic bobsleigher.  Not my kind of sport though...I have never been good at killing...not even a few bobs.  It's not the Olympic thing that makes him a celebrity though....it's his always smiley, jolly attitude.  Or something like that...

Speaking of too serious...do you recognize this local celebrity before he discovered mountain biking??





And speaking of former Olympians...SingleSpeedSarah former Olympic equestrian...




I heard she has been riding some geared suspension thing lately, but she says she is just horsing around.

I know...the jokes are getting worse.  Lois doesn't always like my jokes either...she says they can come across as condescending.  (That means I talk down to people...)

Anyways...speaking of not being funny...Unlgued missed the Riot 140km marathon of gravel and road last Sunday, so he joined me for a little recovery ride on Tuesday.




Well it was supposed to be a recovery ride, but we decided to check the rail trail (real trails still not rideable)...and there was just enough snow and wet sand to make it more of a workout than we planned.  For 60 kms.  (No trails were damaged on this ride...just our egos.)

Unglued is a little sad he couldn't join his crew of celebrities on their South Carolina training camp...





Looks like more fun than suffering...not so secret training...

Speaking of secret training....some have said look out for this guy this season...




In case you don't recognize him...




And word is many new celebrities will be sporting this gear this season...




Anyways...apparently the Riot marathon of gravel and road went over so well that the demand is to do it again this Sunday.  Perhaps the trails will be ready to throw into this adventure this time around.  Fig said he is going to give it another try!

Are you game??

Stay posted!




Tuesday 21 March 2017

Weekender

This weekend defined what it is all about.  Out in the country side, fun, sun, and even better if I can drag a friend or two (or eight) out.  So far it is CX bikes.  The trails are too soft for mountain bikes, and the roads are too dirty and salty for me to take my road bike on them.  (Ya...I'm careful like that...)





Friday was a little solo jaunt to scope out road, gravel, trail conditions.  The gravel was still snowy, but rideable...the trails not so much...not even the rail trail.  So it was a 65km ride on road and sketchy gravel....and a stiff breeze.  A nice warmup for the ride I had planned for Sunday....a CoachRob 'let's hurt the Metis' ride.  And I managed to convince a group of friends that it would be fun times.

So eight of us headed out on a sunny Sunday...Mark, Jenn, Fig, Burnsy, Giant, Seth, Jaimie, et moi.


Can you tell who is who??



Better yet...can you tell the diff between the pics?


Blaze wanted to join, but couldn't....he was busy with some book learning thing...learning how to lead old guys through 24hr races, or something.  Or he was just busy gazing at his latest wall hanging...





Unglued wanted to join too, but couldn't or wouldn't ... busy doing some realty, lawyery, family thing...or something.

Oggie didn't want to join and didn't care...

Anyways...we headed out past my favourite neighbours...






And we managed to piece together some fun gravel along the road....the trails/railtrail were still not rideable.  The only issue we had was my persistently leaky front tire.  Then at about 60km in Mark, Jenn, and Burnsy had to bolt off.  Something about kids and family being more important than sweaty mountain bikers.

And that was about when Fig's world started to fall apart.  He was running out of steam fast...I'm not sure if it was his yapping, or the cycling but he was running low on energy.  And Giant, Seth, and Jaimie kept putting the pressure on...attacking every hill like it might flatten out on them if they didn't climb it fast enough.  I dropped back a couple of times to enourage Fig and pull him along.

At 80km we made it to the first real stop to refuel...


No...NewfieSteve wasn't there...just his stuff...

Hoping that Fig getting more food in him would help replenish his waning energy stores. (At least it became quiet cuz Fig was even too tired to yap...that's when you know he really is hurting!)

About 15km further we stopped to refill water at a natural spring...






At this point we elected to cut out a hill 20km gravel loop I had planned...in hopes that Fig would survive to the next food stop.

This time Giant dropped back to help drag Fig along....and at about 110km we made it to Dar's bakery in Moffat.  Fig downed about 4 energy bars, cliff blocks, and anything else sugary within 20 ft of him.  The rest of us grabbed a coffee and a buttertart.  Then Fig took off ahead to gain some ground of us while we finished our coffees and chatted with some locals.

Then it was the final blast towards home...where after 142kms of fun, sun, roads, and gravel, Lois had a feast of Mexican rice waiting for us...and Fig staggered in to share his home made cider!!

And while we were out Jany stopped in to visit with Lois and to drop off her latest work of art she made for me which is now up on my Jany wall of fame...






So...just another awesome weekend...let's do it again next weekend.  Heck...let's do it this afternoon...over +10 degrees today...maybe spring really is finally here???

Stay posted!


St. Patty's!!!

Thursday 16 March 2017

Whoa POW!!

So it would seem that Ma Nature is having quite the chortle at our expense this week.  Just when we were getting a handle on this spring/summer thing.  Well, maybe I am the only dufus...looking forward to the warmer weather like a cat hearing the food can open...

I've already removed the fat wheels off my Fatboy (almost two weeks ago!) and put the 29+ on.  I have managed a couple of rides on them before the snow hit.  The latest ride was this past Sunday, with Giant.  Was actually quite an epic ride...almost 60kms, with 1000+m climbing, over 4 hours.  Actually this ride was more of a test of the new Absolute Black oval ring I had the fellows at BicycleWorks in Waterdown install on the Fatboy.  Once again the oval ring is a home run!!  (I have already installed one on my CX bike, and my race MTB bike)  It noticeably evens out the power across the full range of the pedal stroke making the longer rides a little less energy draining, and much, much easier on the knees!!  Especially on the heavier Fatboy.

Ah well, the 29+ will stay on the Fatboy.  No looking back now...



Dec 2016...D'Oh!!!  Looked back.  (Pic Cred: Blaze)


Could be worse, Facebook sent me this happy little memory from March 9 2008...


So, yeah...enough looking back...


Seriously...looking ahead...to rainbows and happiness (right Fig?)...or at least to the classic (and soon to be classic) spring races and rides happening in April.

There is the Steaming Nostril on April 9th, which has quickly become a classic.  SteveS has some interesting write-ups and details on his blog at www.ridecyclespin.com (And who knows, maybe you can con him out of a RideCycleSpin toque!!)  62kms on gravel and rail....and a few surprises, is always something to look forward to in April!

Then there is Wardy's 3rd Annual TillsonBURN on Good Friday April 14th.  A friendly 100+km ride (race?) around Tillson, with donations accepted for a great cause...Freedom Bikes for Teens.

The next day April 15th is SubstanceProjects Homage 2 Ice out near Mansfield, the first DanOfSubstances XC Marathon MTB race series.  Yeah...two big events.  I'll be doing both...if unglued can do it, I can...and you should too!!

April 23rd is O'Cup 1 in Woodnewton.  A must do race...just to be humbled by how much into mid season form everyone but me is already into.

Then the iconic Paris 2 Ancaster to round out the month on the 30th.

So...come on Ma Nature....bring spring!!

I'm also looking forward to picking up this beauty...





The latest work of mtb art (burned into live edge wood!!) by my friend local famous rock climber, mtb'er and artist JJMisfits (her nick name is Jany) that I was lucky enough to acquire.  It will look great hanging by the Janey drawing already on our wall...





Anyways...there is still a foot of snow out there...but it's supposed to be well above zero for the weekend...spring will be back before we know it, so let's see what kind of rides we can make happen!  At least a 3 hour ride each day right??

As for now, its blue sky and sunshine out there...so let's show nature some love and get outside!!

Stay posted!





Thursday 9 March 2017

Day Off

So sorry.  I am taking a bit of a day off from today's post.

Too much to consider for the weekend.

From testing AbsoluteBlack oval rings ala BicycleWorks.

To purchasing some MTB artwork from JJMisfits.

To considering what bikepacking equipment is necessary.

To delivering some MTB hall of frame to a friend.  (yeah you read that right.)

To having Ross Rehab in Hamilton work their magic on my shoulder injury.

To consider other MTB trail memberships I should be supporting.

To curiously see what the Pinoy Pedal Pushers, and Fatboy Nation members might be up to this weekend...and what kind of training you racer types might be up to...

To see what rides the BicycleWorks group may be up to.

And figure out why Lois hired a guard to watch over my bikes...

Or maybe I just need a haircut??

What's this all mean??  I don't really know...

For now...I am just going to ride my Fatboy now fitted with the 29+ wheels for the non-winter seasons.  (Cuz that's what CoachRob said!)  Then I will figure the rest out...

I hope...

Stay posted!



Lois' (my??) bike 'guard'....



Tuesday 7 March 2017

Turkey Point Canada Cup

So, since there were no local organized events that I was aware of this weekend...I dragged a few weekend warrior friends out to Turkey Point.  Some who had never been before.


BicycleWorksPaul behind the camera


With the snow now gone...for good?...I had the BicycleWorks mechs put the 29+ wheels on my Fatboy...and looked forward to getting the chubby wheels back out onto the trails again!

Jordan led most of the ride.  In case you didn't know Jordan is 11 time Canadian National Superbike champion...so he knows how to handle a bike more than most (any??) folks.  And he knows the area well...so he took us on some 'Jordan' trails...a little (lots!!) more climbing;  and when him and BicyclWorksPaul decided to go the rest of us were dropped like my ego at an O'Cup.

We also ran into several other friends out there.  Including Fatboy Nation regulars, Raf, Jenn, Heather, Brent.  I'd like to say just regular folks, but...



...there's nothing regular about Raf or the Fatboy Nation crew...


Why is everyone out at Turkey Point??  Because the trails out there are mint!!  Mid summer packed dirt!!  85kms of fun, variety, challenge, and fun!!  I have been out there 3 times already this year...so I thought I had better get a membership.  So I did.  If I want to enjoy them gotta support our local trails!!  Keep up the great work TPMBC!!

In other local 'news', Oggie suspected he had seen DanOfSubstance, undercover in a suspicious video...


Dan and his 'stache...too much macho...


Dan???  Ron???

Anyways...I wouldn't know anything about that....


Actually there was an organized event this weekend...and though it wasn't local, there were some local racers who made some noise.  CanadaCup #1 took place in Bear Mountain, BC.

In the elite men's category, Raphael Gagne of PanAm/Olympic fame took the win ahead of crowd favourite Geoff Kabush, and local (to us) Derek Zandstra.  Other locals Quinton and Peter Disera finished in the top 10.

In the elite women's Olympic bronze medalist Catharine Pendrel eked out a win by seconds over our local favourite and PanAm champ Emily Batty.


Emily





Still....Emily...





OK, OK...that's enough!



In junior men's Gunnar Holmgren from Barrie took a clear first place, with his Barrie teammate Brody Sanderson taking third.

In junior women's Sidney McGill of Edmonton came in second to American Gwendalyn Gibson, with Dana Gilligan of Craighurst, Ontario taking third and Sarah Fabbro of Barrie coming in sixth.


And so...that was the mtb weekend as I saw it...sort of...

What's up this week??

Stay posted!




Oh-oh...






Thursday 2 March 2017

Got Nuttin

So, as far as I know there are no organized events this coming weekend.  And with the crazy weather we are enjoying this year...it seems we are already into 'shoulder' season...(shoulder??).

I have been told I must do a couple of endurance rides this weekend.  So Sunday will likely be either mountain bike at Turkey Point, or a CX bike gravel/road buttertart ride.  Turkey Point would be better for twisty singletrack practice, gravel/road on CX would likely be better for endurance and overall calorie burn.

We will see...will depend on my level of interest, and perhaps what I get invited/roped into.

I did get a fun ride in yesterday...hill repeats on the CX at Middletown road hill for 3.5 hours...yeah fun.  I did get to meet this interesting fella...



Highland Steer (couldn't get close enough to get a good 'hair in the eyes' pic)

If you don't know what I mean, just google it...they are an interesting looking bovine...although not near as rare as this gent...






However, by far, the rarest pic I have ever been lucky enough to catch was this...



Fig paying for beers (really happened this one time!!)


Speaking of rare, Blaze got me a gift the other day...





I'm not sure what that means, but I'm pretty sure that bag is going unopened...

Anyways...getting very off track....again.

I started physio therapy this week at Ross Rehab in Hamilton; for a shoulder that has been getting tight on long rides and causing cramping from my neck to lower back.  I'm not one to easily visit a doc or rehab so we will see how it goes...seems to be helping alot so far!

I also have serious problems with sciatia (seriously)...but I have heard yoga is good for that...






Not sure I want to try that...

Anyways...I am still hitting the gym working on increasing leg strength/power, while trying to lean out and drop the winter blubber.  The whole body change thing gets a little harder with each year older...





I guess the whole body change thing would be easier without beer and buttertarts...but that's all part of the fun of the bike thing in my world.

Anyways...I digress once more...and with no organized events to pre-post about, this is a short one...

What do you have planned for the weekend??

Stay posted!


Thanks for the photo Kathleen!!