Albion Night Ride

Awesome night ride with D-Rock. Did Albion frontwards, backwards, daylight and nighttime. All tired out. My kind of Saturday night.

Race Report: Ocup #2, Albion

All I can say is at least it didn't snow on my race. The 8:30s and 9:30s weren't so lucky. Nonetheless it was coooooold. Too cold. So cold in fact, I was already excited to go home as I was packing up the van to leave.

As I was walking down the street with the last of my things, I had that "I'm forgetting something" feeling, which later turned out to be lunch. Doh. Great start! could have been worse though ... at least I remembered my shoes (close one, on that tip).

So, with minimal Sweet Pete's presence, upon arrival I had an extra mission on top of deciding whether or not I needed to switch to mud tires (no) -- find a feed. CycleSolutions was an amazing help in that department and offered to do the same "anytime" which is such a nice thing, and one less thing to worry about. So thank you CycleSolutions, and especially Barry. Much appreciated.

The course was in excellent shape, although it had been re-routed and I'd only pre-rode half of it, of which only half was on the race-day course. Which is a long way of saying I had a couple course issues. Seems silly to say because the first two Ocups are really just road races, off-road. Can't wait for the first "real" race, Hardwood.

The biggest challenge was deciding what to wear. Ashley's parents were kind enough to be there at the start to collect my layers, but which ones?? I threw caution to the [biting] wind and gave up everything, racing in just shorts, undershirt and jersey. Wrong. Choice.

I was too cold I think. I had a good start, but quickly fell to the one of the last wheels. And so, it was a race from the back. As I gradually warmed up, I started making up positions, passing my final mark just past the dreaded Green Monster. For those who don't know, the Green Monster is a stupid grass hill that's steep and long and stupid. It hurts so much. But luckily, I'm a Green Monster Monster and I think that's where I ended up making up most of my time.

So I ended up crossing the line in 8th place (again) and freezing. My toes were very cold especially. And somehow my shoe-strap became unvelcroed and was flopping around irritatingly. Not sure why that sticks out, but there you go.

Luckily, the chocolate milk people were there. Normally pounding a 500mL bottle of chocolate milk would make me vomit on the spot (lactose intolerant) but after a race it is EXACTLY the thing that keeps me from vomitting on the spot. Go figure.

I rushed back to the car and bundled up, despite the sun shining and drove on home, where i am now typing this before eating everything we have left in the house and then passing out with a movie. My favourite part of racing ;)

May the Fourth Be With You

Great Tuesday, including an early-out at the office to beat the traffic up to Albion for the Tuesday night fun series!

Turned a pile of laps on the course, most of which will be on the Ocup adventure this weekend, but ended up having to pack it in before the race thanks to a tweaked knee (wtf?).

So hanging around the chalet as the waves headed out, we got to chatting with Chico. Turns out he's bumped into Hayden Christiensen recently, who's building a house for himself and his girlfriend Rachel Bilson up near Uxbridge. Chico introduced himself as the amazing trail builder and mountain bike promoter that he is and the next thing you know, he's handing over a b-card to facilitate Hayden's request that he take him on a tour! How cool is that?! Mountain biking with DARTH VADER!?

Anyway, since it's "Star Wars Day" I thought I'd share that with y'all. Ask Chico if anything ever came of it.

PS - Hayden, if you're reading this, and Rachel wants to go too, she's more than welcome to use my bike. I already let Chico know. ;)

Last Dance At Albion ... with Special Guest, Aoife!!

My birthday is coming up Sunday, but I already got an early gift! Aoife is in town! I picked her up from the airport on Tuesday, and we gabbed about girl stuff with some pink drinks until it was time for bed.

Wednesday morning we decided to celebrate our freedom by rolling up to Albion for what I am sure must be some of the last mtb-ing of the season. Started with a green smoothie featuring melon, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, kale and spinach, packed up the minivan and then it was off to Jeff's place.

Jeff is the only other person I know that's as tall as Aoife so it was very fortunate that he was willing to lend her his beautiful can't-get-em-anymore Santa Cruz Blur 4X. As he promised, it climbs great and just looooves the downhills. Huge thanks to Jeff!

After 2 minutes of silence, we set about basking in the glorious weather and miles and miles of trails that we had all to ourselves. It didn't take long for both of us to reach a zen-like state. I think it's called bliss.

On an occasion like Remembrance Day, or even a birthday, it's a good idea to look back and take stock; to remember the ones who've had a positive impact on your life, even if you've never met them.

It strikes me that I am very lucky. My health has returned and I am stoked to get started on 2010 (training is now underway!). I've got great friends and a loving and supportive family. I spend most of my time with an attractive young man who makes me want to write schmoopy things (but I'll spare you). I have a rewarding career and work with colleagues I'm lucky to also consider as friends. And by accident of birth, I'm Canadian. And that's no small thing.

Life's pretty good.

Here are some photos from our day ...

Race Report: Ontario Cup #2, Albion

The start: nice and clean, sunny skies and eager to get out on the course

The finish: Just happy to be done. Kisses from Tessa who liked the dried Clif Shot stuck to my chin.

Happy Mother's Day first of all. I was lucky enough to get to spend the weekend at my parents' house in Port Elgin. For the first time in a long time, I hand-delivered my mom's card. This was largely enabled by the minivan, as I have had a race on Mother's Day Sunday for years and years, so travelling has always sort of been at other people's mercy.
Anyway, back to the race, my mother always told me that if i didn't have anything nice to say, then I should not say anything at all. Which means this blog will be a short one. Yup, it was that kind of day.

Facts:
* Saturday (the day before the race) the course was under water ... and Albion doesn't drain well. At all.
* The original course was thrown out, and a rain course adopted instead
* It was qualifier day for Juniors and Cadets hoping to make it to the Canada Summer Games, so our category was nice and full
* It took me a long time to finish the race. Sufferfest.

The first half of the course was tacky and beautiful. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and I started to wonder if the worst of it had been worn-in by the earlier start times. Then reality came crashing down with the first of the mud bogs on the second half of the course. Deep, soupy, poo-smelling mud sucked up our wheels right over the hubs. You come roaring into a “puddle” only to be stopped oh-so-suddenly and then you have to put your feet in it too. The bike weighed more than I could carry, and my feet made sucking sounds that reminded me of cow hooves in the feed pen with every laborious step. The mud collected to gears making shifting a luxury. It got stuck between the frame and the wheels, so they couldn't turn until you dug it out with your gloves. Just before the lap ended, there was one last lake to cross that washed off the mud, but left your feet cold and wet to start your next lap, and the whole muddy process over again.

So ... that's all I have to say about that. My only comment is that I've never wanted to quit a race more. But I didn’t, and that to me is a victory in itself.

Thanks to Liz for the photos above, and for taking care of me in the feed zone!