Updates Let's Start with BCBR

Sorry for the long pause in blogging. Trying to fit in 2 stage races and a house reno has taken a lot of time. I would not consider myself a good writer in the first place and trying to fit it in took the DFL spot on my agenda.

BUT....

BCBR

Another great year at the BCBR. The race itself took care of some of it's short comings from last year and made signifcant gains as a race. They seem to be getting the swing of things. The food was good, the course was great, the vollies helpful, etc... The only thing is the logistics, impossible to do anything about if you want to ride all the great trials they have.

Day 1 and 2 saw us racing up with Catharine and Geoff while running real scared of Wendy and Norm. Catarine Pendrel and Geoff Kabush were, and are again our National Champs, Wendy Simms and Norm Thibault have won countless stage races and own a clothing botiques supply of leaders jerseys.

Day 0 was a sub 10 minutes Time Trial to sort the field. Made for an interesting day then off to Naniamo. Our Friends Paul and Fazian won the open mens and have the jerseys to prove it**.

The starts were fast again this year due, in part, to the solo riders. They pace would climb and climb until selections were made and groups formed.

AS I am writing this 6 weeks after the event I will give the glossed over write up. The positions didn't change much, Geoff and Catharine 1st, Mical and I 2nd, Wendy and Norm 3rd. Wendy and Norm did beat us on Day 5 and Day 6 and took 2nd on the podium for the days. Our overall did not change but the battle was always on.

Mical was riding very strong and matched the intensity of the starts. I knew things would be diferent this year as she has been living in Victoria and riding lots. My technical ability came around again, "skills Camp With Mical".

I am signed up again for next year and will see how it goes again.

Alana and her Partner Kate won the open womens category in a fierce battle with 2nd. I will try to convince her to do a guest blog as some to the stories are awesome.

Lisa won the Masters Womens clear across. Lots of laundry now but not during the race.

I made the Papers

Here is a link to the Globe and Mail!!!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/only-the-grittiest-survive-long-long-race/article1673891/

Posts soon to follow.

Following the TransRockies 2010

The TransRockies starts this Sunday in Beautiful Fernie BC. Day 1 is a 40km course around Fernie with some sweet single track.

if you would like to follow along you can sign up for their NewLetter and get daily updates. Sign up at the bottom of the webpage.

http://transrockies.com/trc/

Alana is racing with Trish from the DeadGoats. Lisa is racing solo in the TR3. Mical and I are defending our Open Mixed title against Wendy Simms and Norm Thebault, 2 time winners, and Gretchen Reeves and Cannon Stockley, Pro adventure racer and sponsored rider.

The action will be good in all categories with a great course.

I found my camera-random shots

The Kid Sporting the Super Fast Side Burns.

























Jay staying warm at the Giver'ator.


























Believe it or not, it's the end of May in Southern California.




















Checking the purity of the Wooden Medal, Salty Dog 2010.

























Early Season training, Alana and Ryan.





















Nicole focused on the start of Salty Dog 2010.




























Paul focused, but in his own way.

Long over due update-Part 1-Salty Dog

Well it seems that I have not posted for a month now. Bad Jeff Bad.

Let's start with the Salty Dog. the "little" grass roots race had 400 people!!!and a competitive field. More and more people are enjoying this early season event to help tune skills and get a taste of summer.

Tons of Terrascapers were there along with the Goats, and Schmoos. Always good company. Craig Bartlett and a large Canmore following were there too.

As usual the start was fast for a 6 hour enduro. I paced beside/behind Brian Cooke, last years winner, to get a good position into the single track. It seemed that the longer road and pace made for a selection up front that would continue throughout the race. I was riding with Ryan Draper, Ron Ellis, and Leighton Podievin. Brian kept the pace high and was out of sight after 2 laps. It is interesting to note how close you can be to people in skill, and fitness. I have talked to Ron and he was feeling good and passed me. Later, I was feeling good and passed him back. After 6 hours it comes down to minutes.

I was riding in the top 3 and found myself in second going into lap 8 of 9. Right at the tight uphill switch back i glanced over my shoulder to find Leighton coming on strong. I had not seen him in a while and thought that he had faded. We rode together up the double track climb and discussed some things. He informed me we were away by a bit and that Brian was 10 minutes in front. We knew we might have time for a 10th lap but it would be tight. We made a gentlemens' agreement that we would settle things on lap 9. So it looked like a battle for second. I thought I was strong on the road but Leighton started to turn up the screws. He gapped me on the down hill and went hard on the second road climb. i did not see him in the feed and thought I was relegated to third. i kept up the pace though and I saw him again in the same spot he caught me.

Thoughts on Thoughts: Always race to the finish line.

It was 5 hours into the race and I did not think I had enough in the tank to race Leighton for second. We rode together on the road climb and I took my turn for the pull just as the hill got steeper and turned left. I attacked. i don't know how but i did. I didn't shift down, I didn't look back, I went face forward at high threshold until the top. I had put about 45 seconds into him before the downhill.

I kept saying in my head "smooth is fast, get to the road". I did. I kept the pace up again and did not look back until the top. i could not see him. I was 4 minutes from the finish and 45 seconds would be near impossible for Leighton to make up. Just don't crash!! i was a little tentative and gave up some time but rolled through the finish line in second.

I had enough food and water to go for another lap and we would have to throw down a comparable 10th lap by 90 seconds. Doable?? Probably, but as Leighton came through the finish line. I yelled back to him "Done?" and "Done!" was his reply.

At the awards i had been duped. Leighton had turned 40 and won his category. We were only competing for the overall. After almost 6 hours of riding we got to battle recover, and battle again. That is why I like racing.

Thought- Enjoy the race within the race. I was able to race and battle for second place but I have also had some of the most intense battles for 7th. Race day is the one day that everyone, without saying it, says " I am here to give it my best". It is not the placing but the effort that defines the day.

My Babies all Growd up

Well last weekend was not about me. Jay and Alana had break throughs.

On Saturday, Alana went for a road ride with myself, Pat, and Edward Roddy. Alana stuck with the pushes on the uphills and grabbed wheels on the sustained attacks. She made it all the way to Big Hill springs road and Lochend!!!!Over 1 hour of riding. Things got a little crazy after that but she shouldered on into the wind by herself. We called her the 400 meter queen. By the time we turned around to go back for her she was only 400 meter behind. She even kept going once and beat us all to the Shell station.

Nice work Alana!

On Sunday we went for a MTB ride in Canmore. Jason not only did the Benchlands with Pat, Craig, Tima and I but continued on to Highline trail to get in a 3:30 ride. Jay was noticable stronger and faster after a winter of riding the rollers and watching the portion sizes. As The Kid has said " watch out this year, Jay will be dangerous".

Spot on Jay!

Back to Back

Two weekends ago I got to have a great ride with some great people. We met at Cadence and a gaggle of Deadgoats were there to enjoy the sunny weather. Tom, Tim, Pat, John along with Lisa, Alana and myself headed out to Bragg Creek.

The wind was strong out of the West, Wow was that rhetorical, but the temperature and skies were awesome. I spent a good amount of time riding with Tom. These group rides really allow you to get to know some other riders. We talked about family, riding weather, lots of stuff. The hills got attacked, the tempo pushed, but we still found time to chat it up. Good guys those goats.

We got to Bragg and had a quick coffee stop and socialized with the other roadies out for the day. Toma and Tim had to head back for other commitments but the rest of us decided to head to the end of Hwy 66 and back. With no cars past Elbow Falls it was like riding in the Tour. The scenery is awesome and stunning and we had more then enough time to look around as |Lisa had 3 flats due to some worn out tires. Note to all-training tires get pretty thin after a winter of indoor riding-change them up before you get stranded.

Sir Patrick Doyle was a gentlemen and offered tube after tube and just as it looked like Lisa may have to walk back Sir Patrick offered advice that only one of his extensive background could. Change the good front tire to the back as 60% of your weight is over the back wheel. This allowed Lisa to "ease" it back to Cinnamon Spoon for a treat. The boys carried on for a testosterone filled charge up and down the long hills.

Back to CS for a coffee and brownie before heading home.


The next day was the Prairie Roubaix hosted by Speed Theory. A 14km course with 3 km of gravel road thrown in to simulate the Spring Classics in Europe. All in all there were 9 Terrascapers there but only myself in the A race. The other riders had a great day as this was one of the first road races they had ever been in.

The A race started fast up the climb and I was positioned well all the way around until the gravel section. Then it just blew up. Riders got strung out and the pace was manic. I was alone starting lap 2 going up the hill when an old race acquaintance came up on me. i grabbed his wheel and by the top of the climb I had settled in and was able to take a turn pulling. We caught a few more stragglers and were soon an pack of 5.

This was one of the first races were i was riding with other people over 6 feet tall. i must say that it was nice to actually catch a draft behind the big men. I had to fight like mad on the down hills and pace properly on the ups. I was the only one on a cross bike with full cross tires. The good old 35cc, not quite so snappy. I hung tough and on the last gravel section before the finish an attack happened that I was able to cover and A BICI rider took me down to the paved part were he accelerated and I was 800m from the finish. I thought that would be it but I looked over my shoulder to see a Speed Theory rider coming on strong so had to bear down and go! I stood foe all of 30 meters and had to drop back into the seat. i got the cadence up and never looked back until after the finish. Man that hurts but good training.

I got the race fever and can't wait until the next one!!

The Water Valley 200!!!

I have heard the CFC talk about this one since last year. The goal is to start at Cadence Cafe, ride to Water valley for a hearty lunch, then head into the wilderness for 60km of dirt road riding to pop out on the Waiporous access road then cruise home. Over 200 km on cross bikes.

Met at Cadence 8:30AM with Craig, Dallas, Ken, Thomas, Jon, Devin, and Myself. The wind was high and the temperature cool, we headed up the normal way to the NW. Nothing major to report except the dam wind.







There was nowhere to hide nothing like starting the day into a leg burning NW wind, heading north west?? Everyone took there turn up front and as we crossed Big Hill Springs road we got the wave from Lachlin driving his car. He had missed the start but was determined to catch up and have a ride. Lachlin caught on and helped pull the train forward into the unrelenting wind. The wind stole Dallas' bottle cap and jammed it into his wheel creating some brief but hilarious sounds. It also picked up Jon, at a slight 110lb??? and took him to the ditch for a great display of "WTF" and "how did he do that".

At the left hand turn to Water Valley Dallas finally admitted he was have some troubles.....with his wheel that is. The beast had been riding with a seized front bearing that barely made one rev!! We hid in the ditch while he tried to fix it to no avail and had to carry on with no front brake.

West into the wind again with the promise of a warm, calm place to eat a good lunch. 10 minutes in and Dallas had to pull the pin. The bearings where gone and his wheel was wobbling dangerously. We would have to shoulder on without him. ****update-Turns out Dallas turned around and his bearing completely fell apart, leaving him to start to walk home until a friend could come out and pick him up.

The pace ground out and the only safe place was Lachlin's left hip and it was occupied by Craig. had to be a bit of a road hog and grab Craig's left hip as the road climbed to the Saloon. Ken and Thomas worked together in a two man battle to the Saloon. As we arrived we could not see Jon? Where had he gone?? Was he just down in the dip. Craig and Lachlin turned back to see if the could help him with the final stretch.After watching them ride 4 of the 8 km back to the turn Ken, Thomas and I knew he had called it a day. Craig was worried that Jon had a flat and no tubes and kept on. ***update-Jon wass out of food and did not know how close he was to salvation. He turned around and made his way home.

The three of us entered the Water Valley Saloon, which was empty but had all the makings for a fantastic Saturday night of Jack and line dancing. We ordered up some lunch and enjoyed the ambiance and great service from the Bartender. Craig and Lachlin showed up, sans Jon. We hope he is good and not blown to a place where there is flying monkeys and a man behind the curtain.

Burger and fries and a hot chocolate to place in the groin for heat and all was good. The saloon was the turn around point and Ken and Thomas devised a plan to go south and hit up Horse Creek road for a great day out.***-update the boys hooked together a 100 miler, nice. Lachlin carried on with Craig and i for a short while on the gravel until turning around and picking up his car somewhere on the back track.




Now here in lies the adventure part of the ride. 76 km in, still heading away, no facilities, gravel roads. We left and decided to take a half notch off the pace that was happening with the group. Craig said he was not feeling all that great, something about his birthday, good wine bad cheese. As would prove the case he stowed it away and was kind enough to carry on with my initiation.

The roads were passable with some sections of soft wet gravel. Lots of deer and few cars as we took in the splendor that is Harold Creek road. All that way but worth it. The remoteness and views as we headed to the ever increasing elevation of the foothills have to be seen. Erik has talked about starting from the Saloon and I would be all over that. I had a flat that we fixed in good time but under no stress, ate a touch and carried on.

We didn't talk much at times, and others we were chatting like mad. 4pm and knowing that we would be return after dark still could not take away from the fact of what we were doing. We hit the forestry trunk road and caught some breaks on some packed gravel.

As we hit the pavement you would think I would get recharged but that sure didn't happen. The 100km between stops depleted my water supply and I could not digest any food. Big mistake taking in half a protein bar to find out my H2O stores were low. Craig reached deep and took his fair share of the pulling. I could pull through but not for long. I had no idea that Cochrane was that far!!!!

I had to pee but did not want to break Craig's tempo. Hold it and go. 3 weeks ago I had not felt that bad in the legs, now I had not felt this bad systemically in a long time. In fact since the XC8 where Craig and I did battle for 8 hours. Funny that!!

Oh did I mention the wind had changed direction. Of course it did.

We cruised to Starbonks, which I am told is the place to recharge in times like this. Here was the menu-an organic blueberry date square, apple fritter, tune melt panini, and Grande dark roast-7:30pm and that was just me.



We sat in the comfy chairs and started the feast. Knowing we had to climb the Cochrane hill and still return home. We both down another dark roast and headed out-8pm.

The summit was close at hand and the weather was windy yet stable.






Now was the time. The sun setting to our backs we choose the well travel south route hoping to avoid the avalanche of cars down the main chute. Gaining the first plateau at Glen Eagles, we proved that not letting the excitement of what we were doing get the better of us. Skirting the house sized houses, we looped onto the main track. Soon we could see it, the intersection of 1A. We steadied the nerves and pushed for the summit. It was ours. We only now had to cover the upper plateau to the down slope at Stoney trail.

After a day of struggle we both felt good and the pace was high and we covered the pavement well. We had to part ways at Stoney trail and I had nothing but down hill Bow Cycle and my car. Arrival time-9:29pm. 9.5 hours of riding and a 12 hour day, 210km, 60 km on gravel.

Thanks for the ride!!!!

A great weekend of riding

April 3rd I had the pleasure to ride with Steve and Jerry. These guys have it going on. The ride their bikes and love it. They go for beers and eat delicious Jamie burgers and order Guiness. They can ride hard into the ever present wind and still have breathe to talk to you. A few attacks and I had to part ways and head home via hwy 22.

Next day was a ride with the Terrascpae boys Jason and The Kid. We brought along our Bike Trip bud Robb for his first ever road ride. The intermediate pace was very civil but Jason's aka is Flint. The boy likes to start things. Right off the start Jay attack the first hill. He has done a great job of getting down to fighting weight and it shows. I had trouble matching the pace and he threw a top of the hill attack that I could only watch.



Throughout the day The Kid and Flint kept things spicy. Robb did quite well and was able to gain a stop sign sprint victory with a well planned lead out.

All in all and great follow to get in 2 good days.

CFC Revisited

The post is three weeks old but has to be done in order to get you up to date.

After relentless prodding by Alana to go riding with the Calgary Fast Cats, I found myself at Cadence Cafe for the Saturday DeadGoat ride. Craig, Gabor, Ed, Jerry, We started out and the plan was to head south of the city and hit up some of the coffee shops.

I grossly over estimated my ability at this time of year and seem to have overlooked the small, wee, little fact that I have not been doing any long ride/exercise for months. I felt my legs right off the first hill to 16. It didn't get better as I thought I would test things out up the COP hill. That was my one and only effort for the day.

Into a vicious head wind that would prove that it could shred my legs more. Out of no where cam Pat Dodge and 50+ increased the pace until we had to let him go. We stopped at Cinnamon spoons and then head south again. Beautiful rides full of leg pain and lack of endurance. Awesome. TO end this comeback day was the the road to Nepal. I had 4 row seats to the show as the boys cranked up the hills.

We rode within 4 mins of my house but i did ride all the way back to Bow Cycle to get my car. Day 1 of my goal to stick with these guys.