So It's a go. i signed up for the Xterra and swam in Quarry lake this morning. Lucky for me I met a great guy form Ontario named Gary Swayze. I don't know if I would have been so brave if he wasn't going for a lap as well.
The water was surprisingly nice! I know! for a mountain lake i could still feel my hands when I came out. Jay, Dee, and Zee came down to watch and probably to life guard my newly found activity. Greg has lent me his NASA wetsuit and it basically swims itselfs. I just have to hold my breath when it turns my face in the water.
Dee grabbed her bike and joined us for a lap of the course. Oh what fun. It is a little dis-heartening knowing you are by-passing some of the sweet single track but one must remember that this is not a MTB race but a off road tri. The course is laid out well and has some classics and some fun new stuff. Lots of places to eat and drink. Way different then Ed's Single track enduros, where your head involuntarily moves side to side and up and down for days.
Semi-comfortable swim-Check
Pre-Ride-Check
Run- we will have to wait and see???????
Wish me luck and i hope i survive the washing machine start.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Dirty Little Secret
So what do you get when you cross a swimmer, a biker, and a runner????
Nope, wrong!
Just a guy doing his "Thing".
I always start running after the TransRockies to change it up and to get the legs used to it for Cyclocross season. But this year I went home to my parents lake in Ont. and did some open water swimming. I loved it!!!
I have kept up the swimming with my sister in law and now Ryan, and Cesar. The Kid (Ryan),
Soooooooo, Xterra is coming up this weekend and I am so not ready for it. 3 weeks of training is, well, binge training.
Truth be told it is not the distance or the race it's the cold!!! A 3C low over night and 14C high. I know I won't be able to use my hands at all after the swim which will make for a spicy MTB ride. Not very "hard man", but hey i am doing this for fun right???
I have possibly 3 more swims to get ready.
I may or may not. i guess we will see.
Nope, wrong!
Just a guy doing his "Thing".
I always start running after the TransRockies to change it up and to get the legs used to it for Cyclocross season. But this year I went home to my parents lake in Ont. and did some open water swimming. I loved it!!!
I have kept up the swimming with my sister in law and now Ryan, and Cesar. The Kid (Ryan),
Soooooooo, Xterra is coming up this weekend and I am so not ready for it. 3 weeks of training is, well, binge training.
Truth be told it is not the distance or the race it's the cold!!! A 3C low over night and 14C high. I know I won't be able to use my hands at all after the swim which will make for a spicy MTB ride. Not very "hard man", but hey i am doing this for fun right???
I have possibly 3 more swims to get ready.
I may or may not. i guess we will see.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
When One Season Ends........
XC season is over, excpet for the Snow 80 of course.
It is now time for what I call Phat and Sassy season. Cross season and riding for the beer at the end of the trial.
Apparently this is the best beer in the world.
Jason ordered and received a 6 pack for over $80. hand crafted by Monks and sold in limited quantities you usually have to wait years. The Monks are renovating and need some extra splash cash so....the are selling their ultra beer to heathens like Jason for working capital. Thoughts on the beer: I don't think I am the guy with the authority to call something the best in the world but, for all it's darkness and flavors, it has a grounded initial taste and no heavy lingering bitter taste of an 8% beer. Best beer I have ever had that is for sure.
Rode in Ont. on our vacation at Buck Wallow. Great home grown bike park. big perimeter trial with lots of 500m-700m inner loops. Interesting thing about Ont. riding, I would not call it aerobically challenging in the way we out in AB sit on a climb for 10-15 mins. It is so tight, with roots and rocks that you actually have to "ride" your bike. As Alana said "could use some time there" to learn tight flow.
May play bike polo, may run, may road ride, may swim. Hey, it's not Aug. it's May!!
We jsut got back from On
It is now time for what I call Phat and Sassy season. Cross season and riding for the beer at the end of the trial.
Jason ordered and received a 6 pack for over $80. hand crafted by Monks and sold in limited quantities you usually have to wait years. The Monks are renovating and need some extra splash cash so....the are selling their ultra beer to heathens like Jason for working capital. Thoughts on the beer: I don't think I am the guy with the authority to call something the best in the world but, for all it's darkness and flavors, it has a grounded initial taste and no heavy lingering bitter taste of an 8% beer. Best beer I have ever had that is for sure.
Rode in Ont. on our vacation at Buck Wallow. Great home grown bike park. big perimeter trial with lots of 500m-700m inner loops. Interesting thing about Ont. riding, I would not call it aerobically challenging in the way we out in AB sit on a climb for 10-15 mins. It is so tight, with roots and rocks that you actually have to "ride" your bike. As Alana said "could use some time there" to learn tight flow.
May play bike polo, may run, may road ride, may swim. Hey, it's not Aug. it's May!!
We jsut got back from On
Saturday, August 4, 2012
TransRockies Stage 7 and 8
Start in the rain end in the sun, always. Seems to be the sucker punch in the TR. It leaves you with a huge smile on your face and a thought that maybe it wasn't that bad, which of course it wasn't.
Here are a list of thanks that i can remember:
Alana-for just about everything
Tyler and Bert for somewhere to stay and an excuse to buy good cheese
Terrascape for the camaraderie and laughs along the way
Dave-for your witty banter and invaluable help servicing the "Jeffhammer" and free beers, well almost free.
TransRockies for another fabulous summer vacation.
Pam and Linda for coming all the way back out form Calgary to move the Big Blue Truck
Jason and Deanne for you poor laundry machine.
Deadgoats for always being there for a shuttle or water bottle
Heather and Dave for again moving the Big Blue truck.
all my fellow riders for stories, pumps, hands that work, and sharing the joy of cycling.
Day 7
Started at Rafter 6 and smartly avoided the cow pasture cicuit in favor of the road. It was cold, wet and tight in the peloton. I think it is a blast when someone from mid-pack comes up to the front and makes a "break" for a stage win. good chuckles though turned to a bit of fear as the fellow tried to join the front and was all over the place trying to get it right. Decided it was time to go and made a break for the right hand corner that would be a gong show of rocks, gopher holes, tall grass, elbows, tree branches and mud. Made the corner first and settled into a good pace till the road.
Geoff and I made a plan to ride safe and smooth until check point 1 as the course is a bit treacherous along the Trans Canada Trial. What makes it cool also makes it dangerous. single track, roots, sharp rocks, bridges, fall away slopes, and stairs. Travis Hauck was down with a flat and would eventually hammer back to be down only until seconds. He would finish 4th in the TR4 but 3rd in the unofficial TR7. Heroic efforts and a huge heart from our little buddy from Nelson.
Geoff kept attacking me!!Why??? He needed 8 minutes to get back on the podium in 3rd spot. The race was on. I rode with him to help keep the pace up and to give myself some focus for the day. We had fun at times but the hills were getting pretty intimidating near the end. A normally benign trial like EKG has uphills!! I never noticed them on a weekend night ride.
We rolled into town together adjusted leg warmers and jerseys for the photos and sprant for the finish. Geoff got me by 1.3 seconds enuf for the stage win and his 8 minutes.
Alana and Nicole had a great week and were all smiles at the finish.
Stage 8
It's what we call the ceremony and after party. I thought I was only going to stay for one but it was one of the first times all of us were warm, fed, and had nothing to do. Conversation flowed easy and so did the drinks. 2am say Alana and i at the Canmore Hotel eating Poutine with some Goats and friends.
Breakfast with Jason Deanne and Zach and back to life.
We are on our way to Ontario Cottage country for a week of lakeside eating, resting, and visiting. Buckwallow cycling center is just down the road and Ryan Draper may be able to hook us up with some Scott's as they are HQ'd out of the town 15min away. Or pass una mas cerveza Por Favor!
Thanks for reading. I found the Stats page and someone is actually reading this. Helps to know that. I will let you know when the next adventure happens.
Ciao!
Here are a list of thanks that i can remember:
Alana-for just about everything
Tyler and Bert for somewhere to stay and an excuse to buy good cheese
Terrascape for the camaraderie and laughs along the way
Dave-for your witty banter and invaluable help servicing the "Jeffhammer" and free beers, well almost free.
TransRockies for another fabulous summer vacation.
Pam and Linda for coming all the way back out form Calgary to move the Big Blue Truck
Jason and Deanne for you poor laundry machine.
Deadgoats for always being there for a shuttle or water bottle
Heather and Dave for again moving the Big Blue truck.
all my fellow riders for stories, pumps, hands that work, and sharing the joy of cycling.
Day 7
Started at Rafter 6 and smartly avoided the cow pasture cicuit in favor of the road. It was cold, wet and tight in the peloton. I think it is a blast when someone from mid-pack comes up to the front and makes a "break" for a stage win. good chuckles though turned to a bit of fear as the fellow tried to join the front and was all over the place trying to get it right. Decided it was time to go and made a break for the right hand corner that would be a gong show of rocks, gopher holes, tall grass, elbows, tree branches and mud. Made the corner first and settled into a good pace till the road.
Geoff and I made a plan to ride safe and smooth until check point 1 as the course is a bit treacherous along the Trans Canada Trial. What makes it cool also makes it dangerous. single track, roots, sharp rocks, bridges, fall away slopes, and stairs. Travis Hauck was down with a flat and would eventually hammer back to be down only until seconds. He would finish 4th in the TR4 but 3rd in the unofficial TR7. Heroic efforts and a huge heart from our little buddy from Nelson.
Geoff kept attacking me!!Why??? He needed 8 minutes to get back on the podium in 3rd spot. The race was on. I rode with him to help keep the pace up and to give myself some focus for the day. We had fun at times but the hills were getting pretty intimidating near the end. A normally benign trial like EKG has uphills!! I never noticed them on a weekend night ride.
We rolled into town together adjusted leg warmers and jerseys for the photos and sprant for the finish. Geoff got me by 1.3 seconds enuf for the stage win and his 8 minutes.
Alana and Nicole had a great week and were all smiles at the finish.
Stage 8
It's what we call the ceremony and after party. I thought I was only going to stay for one but it was one of the first times all of us were warm, fed, and had nothing to do. Conversation flowed easy and so did the drinks. 2am say Alana and i at the Canmore Hotel eating Poutine with some Goats and friends.
Breakfast with Jason Deanne and Zach and back to life.
We are on our way to Ontario Cottage country for a week of lakeside eating, resting, and visiting. Buckwallow cycling center is just down the road and Ryan Draper may be able to hook us up with some Scott's as they are HQ'd out of the town 15min away. Or pass una mas cerveza Por Favor!
Thanks for reading. I found the Stats page and someone is actually reading this. Helps to know that. I will let you know when the next adventure happens.
Ciao!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
TransRockies Chapter 4,5,6
After 3 days of racing it's time for...well, 4 Days of racing. TR4. Alwasy good to see who shoes up for the TR4 and who toughs out the unofficial TR7 Solo.
Lot's of folks combining the 2 and Doing the "full Pull".
Day 4 went well, off the start at least. Godo civil pace and good drafts got me in the lead group and feeling frisky. I was able to stick with them for a bit then relaxed into my pace and hoped to make up time on the DH. Nope, My memory of this day failed me as I thought it was mainly smooth. It's not. It's the Rockies. They call it that for a reason. Should have changed tires. Didn't. FLAT.
It's great how many people asked or stopped to help. Even with their competitors all around. Fixed. Tore side wall. Fixed and on way again. Made up some good time and managed to squeak a stage win out of it.
Day 5
It all came together. Knew the course, paced it perfect, hit all the right feeds, rode strong, got 3rd overall!!!
Thought Travis and Houston were gunning me down together but ended up being Jon and Steph.May have burned some matches but when you you get to do that in life?
Day 6
The Cox Hill Curse, as Nicole calls it. It started raining last night, was raining this morning.
The professional staff at TransRockies knows what lay ahead and re-routed for everyone's safety. Be thankful they did. 2 years ago we went up and over Cox Hill in similar conditions and it was not pretty. Lucky to get out alive, no joke.
It didn't make it easier though, the road was a bit tacky, roots were slippery, glasses were dirty.
Was going a nice pace, holding off a charging Geoff Clark, you know that fine fellow from Day 4 who stopped to give me a pump. I wanted to get most of the elevation done before teaming up with him for the finish. i paused just before he caught me to put a little air in the front. Snap goes the valve stem. Told him i was good and started to put in a tube. Problem. Hands were so cold I could not get the tire un-seated from the rim. Pat Doyle and Craig Bartlett stopped both grabbed the tire and pulled it off. Then blasted off to catch up to their competitors who had passed while helping. All good sort of. Hands still too cold to undo valve collar. Took the 2 tire irons and used them as levers and there you have it. Back to racing. Jaun and Trish rode past, Juan turned around and lent me his CO2 for a quick blast then caught back up to Trish and they were gone.
3rd place John Gould had passed and a host of other, mud splattered, rain jacket wearing, hard peeps of the MTB world. Time to catch up. Was following plan when Lo and Behold Geoff is in the ditch?? Broken Derailleur. Pay it forward works. Together we managed to get it to a semi-functioning single speed and we were off. Myself a bit faster as I had gears to choose from.
Rain, blah blah, dirt blah blah, hills blah blah, My Jon Kraukaur best " and then when I thought all was lost I pushed on the pedal one more time and the bike sluggishly, lethargically, unwillingly, moved forward. I thought all was lost as I couldn't bear to push again, but something primal, sub-concious, instinctually took over then I pushed the other pedal with the same out come as before the bike moved! Blah Blah blah
It was a hard go and Jon had ??? minutes on me. Rode a good tempo and spirits were high as I was feeling the love and realizing how cool this sport is. Camaraderie abounds here at the TransRockies. Everyone, (except the guy right near the finish who didn't help, damn outlier) is willing to step out of "race" and help a "fellow rider". I think it's because of the honest and naked truth of mountain biking, that if the person is in front of you, they are faster then you, no excuses.
K, so heading in knowing there is no stage win and maybe not the overall having fun on the DH. FLAT, Remember there is a tube in the front? You did? Great! i didn't Pow right into the rock field. Thought I was only a km or 2 from finish so started running. Quickly realized 2 things, it was farther, and I am not a runner. Bought the Havens for the "no questions asked" warranty and rode in on the rim. Damn tough rim.
Started truck, blasted heater, grabbed shower and waited for Nicole and Alana to arrive so they would have somewhere stinking warm to go to.
This is what they looked like:
Jean Ann and Sandra met them at the finish line. This is what they looked like:
hmm if you look hard enuf you will notice subtle differences.
Jason and Deanne have most lovingly and graciouly allowed us to use their house in Canmore for laundry and beds. Yep staying here tonight. Didn't plan on it but once we got here it was all over.
Calls for rain tomorrow then clearing. Stand by
Lot's of folks combining the 2 and Doing the "full Pull".
Day 4 went well, off the start at least. Godo civil pace and good drafts got me in the lead group and feeling frisky. I was able to stick with them for a bit then relaxed into my pace and hoped to make up time on the DH. Nope, My memory of this day failed me as I thought it was mainly smooth. It's not. It's the Rockies. They call it that for a reason. Should have changed tires. Didn't. FLAT.
It's great how many people asked or stopped to help. Even with their competitors all around. Fixed. Tore side wall. Fixed and on way again. Made up some good time and managed to squeak a stage win out of it.
Day 5
It all came together. Knew the course, paced it perfect, hit all the right feeds, rode strong, got 3rd overall!!!
Thought Travis and Houston were gunning me down together but ended up being Jon and Steph.May have burned some matches but when you you get to do that in life?
Day 6
The Cox Hill Curse, as Nicole calls it. It started raining last night, was raining this morning.
The professional staff at TransRockies knows what lay ahead and re-routed for everyone's safety. Be thankful they did. 2 years ago we went up and over Cox Hill in similar conditions and it was not pretty. Lucky to get out alive, no joke.
It didn't make it easier though, the road was a bit tacky, roots were slippery, glasses were dirty.
Was going a nice pace, holding off a charging Geoff Clark, you know that fine fellow from Day 4 who stopped to give me a pump. I wanted to get most of the elevation done before teaming up with him for the finish. i paused just before he caught me to put a little air in the front. Snap goes the valve stem. Told him i was good and started to put in a tube. Problem. Hands were so cold I could not get the tire un-seated from the rim. Pat Doyle and Craig Bartlett stopped both grabbed the tire and pulled it off. Then blasted off to catch up to their competitors who had passed while helping. All good sort of. Hands still too cold to undo valve collar. Took the 2 tire irons and used them as levers and there you have it. Back to racing. Jaun and Trish rode past, Juan turned around and lent me his CO2 for a quick blast then caught back up to Trish and they were gone.
3rd place John Gould had passed and a host of other, mud splattered, rain jacket wearing, hard peeps of the MTB world. Time to catch up. Was following plan when Lo and Behold Geoff is in the ditch?? Broken Derailleur. Pay it forward works. Together we managed to get it to a semi-functioning single speed and we were off. Myself a bit faster as I had gears to choose from.
Rain, blah blah, dirt blah blah, hills blah blah, My Jon Kraukaur best " and then when I thought all was lost I pushed on the pedal one more time and the bike sluggishly, lethargically, unwillingly, moved forward. I thought all was lost as I couldn't bear to push again, but something primal, sub-concious, instinctually took over then I pushed the other pedal with the same out come as before the bike moved! Blah Blah blah
It was a hard go and Jon had ??? minutes on me. Rode a good tempo and spirits were high as I was feeling the love and realizing how cool this sport is. Camaraderie abounds here at the TransRockies. Everyone, (except the guy right near the finish who didn't help, damn outlier) is willing to step out of "race" and help a "fellow rider". I think it's because of the honest and naked truth of mountain biking, that if the person is in front of you, they are faster then you, no excuses.
K, so heading in knowing there is no stage win and maybe not the overall having fun on the DH. FLAT, Remember there is a tube in the front? You did? Great! i didn't Pow right into the rock field. Thought I was only a km or 2 from finish so started running. Quickly realized 2 things, it was farther, and I am not a runner. Bought the Havens for the "no questions asked" warranty and rode in on the rim. Damn tough rim.
Started truck, blasted heater, grabbed shower and waited for Nicole and Alana to arrive so they would have somewhere stinking warm to go to.
This is what they looked like:
Jean Ann and Sandra met them at the finish line. This is what they looked like:
hmm if you look hard enuf you will notice subtle differences.
Jason and Deanne have most lovingly and graciouly allowed us to use their house in Canmore for laundry and beds. Yep staying here tonight. Didn't plan on it but once we got here it was all over.
Calls for rain tomorrow then clearing. Stand by
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