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.

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

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!

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

TR 3 Race within the race

Check this out:

40+ men Final

8	Lonn Bate	346	2:36:56 (12)	2:50:05 (8)	2:44:26 (7)	8:11:28	+1:18:49.0
9	Mike Johnston	310	2:28:34 (10)	2:54:16 (9)	2:56:20 (8)	8:19:10	+1:26:31.0
10	Jesse Mong	342	2:23:26 (8)	2:59:15 (13)	2:56:49 (9)	8:19:31	+1:26:52.0
11	Steve Walsh	309	2:28:22 (9)	2:57:34 (10)	2:58:33 (11)	8:24:29	+1:31:50.0

4 guys battling for a position in the top 10. NASCAR calls this "The Chase".  Lonn Bate came down with his wife and 2 kids and put in a great day 3 to move up a spot or two. Jesse Mong won the Go Pro cam for best story-Day 1 got stung by 15 wasp and wne tot hospital, Day 2 broke something on his bike, Day 3-went for a ride after the stage was done. Steve Walsh has drank a "mistake beer" every night. Sorry Mike don't know your tale. The number in brackets de-note their position in the GC at the start of the day. 

You can bet these fellas know exactly who each other are and mark them all day. They know how many seconds down or in front they are and try to exploit their strengths and hide the "areas of opportunities".

Pretty cool to see this kind of competition. If these guys were the top four the media would lose their minds for such a good race, so keep an eye on the full results and watch the shuffle.

In saying that I am remiss for not mentioning  3rd place John O'Sannassy. Very solid efforts each day and with his knowledge of the trails flew the DH. Very nice guy and won the fastest Fernie Rider.

Men's open

9	Shawn Bunnin	321	2:01:21 (8)	2:20:49 (9)	2:29:55 (13)	6:52:06	+50:06.0
10	Sébastien Cadieux-Duval	323	2:04:15 (10)	2:30:32 (14)	2:17:52 (5)	6:52:40	+50:40.0
11	Peter Watson	394	2:07:09 (15)	2:23:57 (13)	2:23:40 (10)	6:54:47	+52:47.0
12	Travis Hauck	315	2:06:53 (14)	2:22:25 (12)	2:26:40 (12)	6:55:59	+53:59.0

 Women's open

1 Second????? Really 1 Second!!!!!!!!

9	Linda Green	396	3:19:34 (8)	3:52:07 (10)	4:13:12 (12)	11:24:54	+3:32:56.0
10	Carthy Chan	324	3:19:35 (9)	3:52:07 (9)	4:13:12 (13)	11:24:55	+3:32:57.0
11	Lisa Kalischuk-Tymensen	373	3:24:55 (12)	3:57:55 (11)	4:10:16 (11)	11:33:07	+3:41:09.0

Day 3 -TR3 The Fat Lady has Sung

C'est Tout, C'est Fini!!!


3 times going head to head with Ian in Fernie. Shut out like the un-cool guy in Vegas by the bouncer.

I begged ( my legs), I bribed ( my head with treats), i lied (and said I felt good), I cried ( in private of course-not like This guy), but to no avail. 2nd again. Ian and I went back and forth more times than a ping pong ball today and I think I gave him a good race. I tried, I tried.

I am reading this book called The Procrastination Equation. The first 40 pages spoke heavy to me. Yes, it's about work and stuff but if you hold it in the right light it reads like a how to race book. Goal setting!!!!! I have used this in the past but it brought it to the forefront with some new angles.

GOALS: Day 1- ignore all else and try for a personal best, if I had a good one ya never know.
Day 2- up Gorby road in middle ring 2 over
Day 3-attack 3 times. First attack off the start to see if i could catch a good train on the flatter sections. Attack 2-the Downhills Megasauras and Verboten to see if I could make the break. i was able to hold a good gap with Travis setting a pace for me all the way to Island Lake lodge and then again near the summit. Attack 3? well didn't really plan that one. attacked a rolling portion of the last climb but my bad. It lead right into the bottom of a very steep climb and then hike a bike. Ian rode away with the beautiful Bow Vally watershed as his back drop.

Chapeau Mr. Auld, Chapeau

I have heard some grumblings about today's stage and i have to ask, did you look around? Today wasn't about the sweetest single track you have ever ridden it was the VIEWS. It is pretty cool to ascend thru a mountain pass and have the world's biggest painting in front of you. Also, to know that the water that falls on the south side runs south to the Elk and then  the USA and the north to the Bow and Calgary's drinking water. Peeing only allowed on south side. Reaching the summit of Mt Baldy you can see all the terrain we have been riding the last 3 days. Cool!

It's a bit of foreshadowing for the TR4. I'm biased but think the views are even better.  Wait till Jumping Pound/ Cox Hill. hehe I wrote Cox.

Pray we don't get this again. hahaha

Kidding This may be the best year for weather ever!!


Congrats to Mical Dyck for wrapping up the Solo Women's Category in style. That make 4 years at TR and 4 first places. Wow!!!!!!!

Keep an eye on the 100+ category on theTR7. Top 3 teams are only separated by 15mins and they are jostling stage positions!! More coverage to the "real people" riders of the world.

Open men's team close but I think will open up when Big John and Steph get on home turf.

And me??? well, I get to battle someone new. stay tuned dear reader, stay tuned.

TR3 Day 2-More of the good stuff

Start line 14C, perfect. So with the "peleton" all sorted we rolled out for a nice mix of TR of old and new.

Out of town turn left Power Line Climb. At least it sorted the crowd. Had Ian in the sights, thought of making a move cause I was feeling okay. Glad i didn't, soon I was breathing out my ears.

I know we all have our opinions on climbs. We all think we would like them a little shorter, a little less steep, less rooty, a little less exposed. Yep, if you got your wish you be a triathlete. ( owwww big dig, i will hear form Luke and Cal on that one) Again, were do they sit. Well the first and biggest climb was at the start when we had at least some energy. The rest of the day I found to be manageable.

On the low angle climbs I feel like this:

But more likely look like this:

Could have been the new Acai Pomegranate Honey Stingers, or the residual giddiness from BrokeBack but I truly did feel Hedonistic on Hedonism. There comes a time in each day of racing when I know exactly where i am and how far I have to go. Coming down Hedonism I realized I was going to make it and was feeling good. That was my day, I just got comfortable being uncomfortable and rode. Big Smile, fast descents, Peter from Balanced point as a rabbit that flicked in and out of view.

Thoughts go out to victims of some serious crashes today. Evan, Felix and Devon heal well, heal fast.

21 seconds separated 1st from 2nd in the 80+ men. Unfortunately, Devon crashed hard and was unable to finish. Pat and Craig take first, who knows how it would have turned out but man that would have been exciting to watch. Pat and Craig will have to ride hard to keep 1st.

Alana and Nic had a good ride. They are having fun and there is fast in fun.

Looks like the weather is going to hold. Of all years it is perfect. In 2003 it was 30-32C and we rode the exposed power line and avoided wild fires, not kidding. 2009 I rained every day but the last into Fernie.

TransRockies 2005 Hydro Therapy:

Worth the Pain!!!! Thanks for the first hit Evan!!

TR3 Day #1

I was going thru my phone photos last night and was having a blast remembering all the good stuff since last year. I have been training on a pretty dedicated program for over 6 years now. It was time for a break. I just wasn't excited about any races or events.
The same season for 3 years in a row brought on stagnation. It was time to shake things up. No BCBR, Salty Dog as a team, Deadgoat Giver 8tor as a team...... oh now that's a good one.

 i paired with My old buddy Paul Robertson after days of hard negotiation that the 8 is too long. I was to do the first 4 hours and he the last. Simple. Alana was away so I had to take care of myself, not good. Beers Friday. Lazy Saturday, sleep in for start of race Sunday, WTF. Yep!! woke up 30 mins before the start of the race. Phone calls, texts, mad driving, screeech to stop, Ted Anderson valet parks car, drop jeans, saddle bike, GO!!!! Fun to see everyone, lots of taunts from crowd. ( don't worry I know who you are and I will be the one with the Mic at Beans and Barley). Paul arrives and has a good laugh, throws down some seriously good lap and leaves one lap on the table so he can drink a beer with me. you dont's have to start early or stay late to have a good time.

 That's the kind of season I was looking for and have just gone with it. I have labeled it the Summer of Fun, Jon Firth the says " the summer of Jeff". i may not be as strong but i feel fresh.

Gluten free beer that tastes like beer!!

TR3 Day 1-the 40min uphill TT

 I would like to dis spell a inbred cycling myth. The TransRockies is just long road riding on your MTB. WRONG!! The TR has morphed, changed, evolved, while still being the TR.

When I saw last years course layout I was giddy. Tons of quality single track, cow shit bypasses, epic Bragg Creek single track and of course 3 days in Fernie!!!But how to explain that to others. I tried and will try again.

 I like the idea of the Day 1 TT right up to about 28 minutes into it. Don't get me wrong the course is great, it's just...well 28 minutes into any TT sucks. It also coincides with where Ian Auld passed me, within 30 meters of where he passed my in the F3. i think he has magical powers and is able to quantum flux the space-time continuum.

 i won't make you sit thru the course profile but it goes up for a while, down for a while and then across. Some pleasant surprises: the dry trials, the great fans and volunteers, the weather, and Coal Discovery-East to West. Single track climb to ST descent, to great cross country, to road, yes road.

Let's pause and talk about this. Come on, what's your first reaction to my use of the word "road" in a MTB race?? ah geez, come on, really???
 Here's the thing, you don't think you want it but secretly you do, like that powder blue terry cloth leisure suit you have been eying up at Value village. If you did 32km of non-stop ST you would be a bag of shit. Where would you eat, where would you drink, where could you take a break, phyicaly and mentally???? 2 hours of ST would be like 2 hours of championship timed puzzle making. you would be fired. So remember that and think about it's placement in the race.
Today it was perfect. about 2/3 of the way you got 3-4 km of road. I ate, I drank, I stretched out the lower back that was killing me. and just as I got my poop in a group. BAM!!! back down Coal Discovery Trial(East to West) the way it should be ridden. Lovely Day 1 TR, simply Lovely.
 if you are too lazy to go to the Site-. The fast guys were fast, and us old boys were relatively fast.

Random Pictures: Where I get the good stuff before the race:

Really Aaron, you haven't hit them up for sponsorship??? Gels make good tire boots in a jam:

Nipika XC skiing I was going to drop into this tight chute but didn't think the skis would hold up to it.

A Little back story and thenTransRockies 2012

New Moon, New Bike, New TR Course, New Post! This is going to be good. "So be a long time since I left ya With a strong rhyme to step ta" Thought I would actually try this again. Going to try the short and sweet angle and maybe keep up with it. Been a good spring and summer. Training volume way down, fun factor way up, good head space, and the new ride is well......after 20 min it felt like "my bike"

Finding there is a lot of fast in PHUN. Started the year with a boys trip to Sedona. My brothers first bike trip and it was awesome. For a flatlander he sure can descent well. Andrew and Jason were perfect compadres for this. Lots of laughs!!!

Went back south to Phoenix and met up with the girls. They were riding awesome and it's so fun to see other people on our little "camps" Took them to Los Favritos. Best burritos ever.

Rode a lot for fun and even had my first shuttle run ever!!! Was my bday weekend and Zeech, Lance, Di, Rob, Marty, My Bro Mark, and Alana of course. it's in June so of course it rained. Didn't affect us one bit.

Race season has been very very good to me. Alana and I did a team for Salty Dog. good for the head and got to watch and support those who have helped me over the years. I think i will back story each day and update as well. Already have the thoughts but it's time to go for ice cream. Happy Cow here we come!!!

Posted by demand-Maz's Chochlate Almond Balls

Here's the chocolate almond ball recipe:

2 cups ground raw almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 tsp sea salt
1 cup shredded coconut (1/2 cup goes into dry ingredients, other 1/2 is used to roll the balls in)
3/4 cup agave nectar
2 tbsp melted coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet. Mix & form into small balls. Roll in shredded coconut. Put in freezer. Enjoy directly out of the freezer! Yum.