Epic 8, 100 miler, Bean n Bones

So...apparently alot went on this weekend in the world of mountain biking.  Where to start?  How about with the Summer Epic 8 Hour.

OK, fine.  The Summer Epic 8...now a classic local race.  Happened this past weekend, promoted by Pulse Racing, at Hardwood Ski & Bike.  This year's course featured some rolling climbs off the start, then sections of flowing singletrack connected by sections of doubletrack, allowing for passing.  Ending in a swooping descent, the course resulted in fast times, and many laps.

Apex Race Photography was, once again on-site to get your favourite action pic!!

There were local celebrities out at this one...

or is this just RifRaf??

The big guns at the start line...

Team True Grit showed up in force, including these guys...

DavidV and Giant coming in 1st and 2nd in their solo cat

Nicely done!!

And Martin representing the best bike shop in Waterdown, BicycleWorks...

Taking 2nd in his solo cat!

And these folks...some of the friendliest, most passionate mtb-ers in the sport...so awesome to see them on the podium!

Pinoy Pedal Pushers!!

Congrats to all who got their 100km pins!!

Kudos to all who participated, and congrats to all podium finishers!!


What else was going on this weekend?  There was the Carrabassett Backcountry Challenge somewhere in the USofA.  A 100km race that some of our local celebrities  participated in...and kicked butt!!

Andrea...lawyering up?

Alexa...SS queen??

Linda...several crashes and a flat...and still takes third place!  

Impressive!!  Nice work!

There were a couple other events this weekend...like Max's Big Climb...but I haven't heard a thing of what went on there.

And my buddy SteveS rode his fatbike from Ancaster to Turkey Point to bikepack and ride back!!  Crazy...and fun sounding!!  Read all about it at his RideCycleSpin blog!!

I'm still on a bit of racing hiatus...so I didn't attend anything racy.  I did plan a couple of 'longer' rides though.

Friday with recent rains leaving the mtb trails questionable meant a 100+ kms of rail trail, gravel, and road on the CX bike...

I scouted Paul's soy beans...

BWPaul owns the bike shop and is also a farmer...

I may have also checked these...

But that would be telling...

Although I did find these...

Ya...twizzlers and buttertarts...

I also found new friends...

Lois said I should have kissed it, cuz you know...anything could happen...

But that would just be stupid ... (I hope the rash goes away by the weekend)...


Anyways...100 and some kms...a great ride, in great weather!

OK then...

So Sunday planned another longer ride.  This time on mtb on our local trails.  And this time NewfieSteve and PowerPaul joined me.  Our local trails are huge fun.  Plenty of climbing and much technical with escarpment roots and rocks.

Well...about an hour into our ride, on a technical bit of steep single track descent I got going a little quicker than I should have considering how slick the roots and rocks were.  I determined that it was safer to ride it out than to hit the brakes at this point in those conditions.

Bad decision...

Front wheel washed out on a slick flat rock...and I went down hard.  Hard enough, that I laid there for a minute and thought, "Wow...that was hard..."

Paul and Steve were behind me watching this happen...and thinking maybe I ded...but I got up and surveyed the damage.  The bike was OK.

I had a few bleeding scrapes and skin holes that Paul's first aid kit tended to.  And ribs were a little sore...but it seemed like we survived...

So we continued on...for about another half hour.  But the ribs were really starting to ache...and it seemed my thumb was swelling inside my glove, and wasn't feeling quite right (no, it wasn't left).  Upon inspection it didn't look quite right...

So...we thought it best to call the ride and head home...so we did.  (Thankfully, I was on the single speed and the thumb was not really needed for shifting).  But our 4 hour ride became a short 2 hour ride...  Sorry fellas.  I needz better skillz...

And by Monday the thumb was looking worse...

So...a doc appointment was made...and Tuesday was spent with family doctors, x-ray technicians, and osteo surgeons.  Lois kept me company for the day...but I think only cuz she was hoping to meet this guy...

Anyways.  It was determined that there were broken ribs...that the doctors didn't really care about as long as the lungs were healthy...

And they weren't too concerned about the concussion...it was the thumb...

A broken thumb bone (proximal phalange) and torn/detached ligament (ulnar collateral)...

Means...4 weeks in a cast/splint...and a few days??? off the bike...I guess.

Ah well...that's enough whining for one blog post, isn't it??

OK then...

I'll keep ya updated...

Stay posted...