Thought I would get the crap part out of the season done first. I'll keep it to just the race season otherwise it will be a solid month of writing to talk about the year. So crappy things that happened.
Missed races, some for the right reasons, some just because. The just because ended up being Paris to Ancaster and the Uxbridge Icebreaker. I was disappointed but things were a little astray with timing and training that they just wouldn't work. Of course as really ling winter gives you the craving to race after riding the trainer.
The skipping of Buckwallow was just plain old Karma, when my seeing broken bone count and the trip to the venue balanced equal something was saying don't race. On the good side, Erin is back out riding. Bad side Jeremy is still on the mend with the broken knee cap.
Kelso, I just was tired of driving and opted to stay home and train. This of course dropped my points in the Ontario Cup. It happens.
Next off was the weather this year. It pulled crazy things and made for some interesting races. Summer Solstice was the hardest to deal with. That was mentally the hardest race I've done. I was still in race mood when things got confused and I was off the course with 4th hand information taking me from 2nd to 4th. This was also a learning curve, next season the pits will closer to the timing tent and we will only listen to information from timing or organizers. That's it.
The weather definitely wreak havoc on the trails and to the riders, Lots of changes done at many of the race courses this year because Mother Nature had this thought of screw you little cyclists. There were times when running was faster than riding. Of course the Mountainview OCup was a disaster to me. Home course, home advantage or so I thought. After a total down pour in the morning that tore into the first two races, the temperature went through the roof jumping 20 degrees in about an hour for our race. No heat training, physically demanding course my body shut down on me. I managed to finish the first lap but knew things were bad. By the end of the 2nd I called it. That course took out some of the best with, heat, mechanical and crashes.
My trip to Michigan was a bad and a good thing. The bad was the size, level of the event. It was a great experience and sometimes you need to step away from what you have to know how good you have it. New trails, new people. In hind site, which I'm always smarter with, I should have at least switch to the twelve hour. Instead I was north bound en route to a huge double burger with fries.
The summary of the 2009 race season, crap weather would equal crap races. We have random heat waves which pulled damage itself. Even training was interesting some days. I did manage to stay off the trainer and rollers all summer. Barely.
Summary of the bad races
Uxbridge Icebreaker Did not start
Paris to Ancaster Did not start
Summer Solstice, dazed and confused down to 4th
Buckwallow, no start to many broken bones
Kelso, Did not start
Michigan not really bad just different.
So that is the crap, that's out of the way, Fun stuff tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
The beginning of the end, of 2009 atleast
Yep, that's it folks for the official race season. Thought I would start the season in review this morning but as I look at the clock and look at how long a season it's been I know I won't have the time to even make a dent in it.
There were lots of highlights, a few low points, lots of reminders on what is important and what isn't. I'll start more of it tomorrow. Overall, I'm really happy with how this season went. Showed myself a few things made me think. Learned more on who has control of the a race more than the riders. Mother Nature you bitch!!!
Time to work, more tomorrow.
There were lots of highlights, a few low points, lots of reminders on what is important and what isn't. I'll start more of it tomorrow. Overall, I'm really happy with how this season went. Showed myself a few things made me think. Learned more on who has control of the a race more than the riders. Mother Nature you bitch!!!
Time to work, more tomorrow.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Busy, busy busy
The weekend was a blur, this is my first official weekend with no racing, no training, no schedule. Yep, you know what happens, I jam packed it.
Saturday morning was spent consuming more than needed amounts of coffee before putting the Molly Monster in the car and heading over to Duntroon to watch the Hillbilly Hustle cross race. Mr. Watson had his game face on took the win for the 3x time. Check out the story here.
Of course this was not with out a whole bunch of other things happening while the race was on. Got bugged my a few Mountainview CC member on my lack of bike on the car just after arrival. The other big thrill was the reminder on how fast Mother Nature can turn mad. A storm came in with a vengeance just as the Elite's were finishing. It went from rainbows and butterflies to hey is that a house in the air in a matter of minutes. Hung out with a few of the crew from Misfit and Bikesport along with the Vegan Vagabond who was making her cross debut. Lots of bikes, racing, venue etc talk. The best way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
The late afternoon was spent consuming beer and painting. Yes, they go hand in hand and one is shitty to do with out the other. Woke up with a bit of a funny feeling, not sure if it was the beer or the paint fumes. Hungover or stoned either way my body is not used to either so I gobbled down some food, chugged down some more coffee, loaded up the Blue single speed, the Molly Monster and headed to the trails off the 8th.
There was a break in the weather, the sun came out so I had to get out for a good spin. The long range of the weather shows rain rain and more rain so I couldn't resist. As for the single speed choice. Both Anthem's are clean and will pretty much be put away for the rest of the year. Any potential races will either be on the cross bike or one of the single speeds.
My strained chest muscle is finally feeling close to back to normal, breathing is much easier, finally!!! I can still feel that my body is a little tired and seeing the numbers after the ride on the heart rate monitor is backed up my thoughts. I know stop looking, have fun, just ride.
Now the highlight and I will be expecting lots of thank you's. I put the winter wheels on the Element today. Why, because it was dry and I don't want to do this in the pouring rain. Second, last year in mid October we got that wonderful slushy rain and the Element is nothing like the Audi in those condition. Add summer tires and lets just say I was a hair bit nervous. It's a great work vehicle and sometimes I wish I would have bought the awd version. So why am I saying that you should say thank you. I'm over prepared, it's like when you buy a new snow blower and it doesn't snow much for the year. The tires are on, it's going to get warm and wonderful if Murphy's law can out whit Mother Nature.
Oh, the dinning room came out awesome, next up the living room
Saturday morning was spent consuming more than needed amounts of coffee before putting the Molly Monster in the car and heading over to Duntroon to watch the Hillbilly Hustle cross race. Mr. Watson had his game face on took the win for the 3x time. Check out the story here.
Of course this was not with out a whole bunch of other things happening while the race was on. Got bugged my a few Mountainview CC member on my lack of bike on the car just after arrival. The other big thrill was the reminder on how fast Mother Nature can turn mad. A storm came in with a vengeance just as the Elite's were finishing. It went from rainbows and butterflies to hey is that a house in the air in a matter of minutes. Hung out with a few of the crew from Misfit and Bikesport along with the Vegan Vagabond who was making her cross debut. Lots of bikes, racing, venue etc talk. The best way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
The late afternoon was spent consuming beer and painting. Yes, they go hand in hand and one is shitty to do with out the other. Woke up with a bit of a funny feeling, not sure if it was the beer or the paint fumes. Hungover or stoned either way my body is not used to either so I gobbled down some food, chugged down some more coffee, loaded up the Blue single speed, the Molly Monster and headed to the trails off the 8th.
There was a break in the weather, the sun came out so I had to get out for a good spin. The long range of the weather shows rain rain and more rain so I couldn't resist. As for the single speed choice. Both Anthem's are clean and will pretty much be put away for the rest of the year. Any potential races will either be on the cross bike or one of the single speeds.
My strained chest muscle is finally feeling close to back to normal, breathing is much easier, finally!!! I can still feel that my body is a little tired and seeing the numbers after the ride on the heart rate monitor is backed up my thoughts. I know stop looking, have fun, just ride.
Now the highlight and I will be expecting lots of thank you's. I put the winter wheels on the Element today. Why, because it was dry and I don't want to do this in the pouring rain. Second, last year in mid October we got that wonderful slushy rain and the Element is nothing like the Audi in those condition. Add summer tires and lets just say I was a hair bit nervous. It's a great work vehicle and sometimes I wish I would have bought the awd version. So why am I saying that you should say thank you. I'm over prepared, it's like when you buy a new snow blower and it doesn't snow much for the year. The tires are on, it's going to get warm and wonderful if Murphy's law can out whit Mother Nature.
Oh, the dinning room came out awesome, next up the living room
Friday, October 2, 2009
I did it
I rode my bike for the first time in 5 days. I know pitiful. I even road my cross bike, it's more that my road bike is still wheel less, my race bike is still Hardwood dirty, my second Anthem is way to clean and I just didn't feel like riding a single speed on the road.
I thought it might be important to work on a few cross skills to deal with that "What if" involving cross races. I reminded myself how much a running remount on a non suspension, thinly pad seat is just not the most enjoyable thing to do to yourself. Then there is that running thing, it's only a few steps but still. There is no coasting in running, well there is it's called stopping.
I'm pretty rusty at this point and I don't think it will get much better at this point. I was reminded how fun the cross bike can be as I jumped on some atv trails, and even single track that my road bike would be just crying with the first sign of dirty near it's tires.
My body is still a little mad at me, cold is still there, chest muscle still a little strained so the thought of me racing this weekend is completely out of the question. I'm digging out my pom poms for the sidelines of the HillyBilly Hustle. I just thought of something, I think I'll be leaving the cheering devices at home since I have a strange feeling that there will be a little bit of banjo music going and a potential scene out of Deliverance.
Mother Nature and my coach must be talking to one another. Both seem to want to keep me off the bike as much as possible. The next 6 days are rain and cold, spring and summer this won't stop me. I may actually get stuff done around the house.
Gotta walk!
I thought it might be important to work on a few cross skills to deal with that "What if" involving cross races. I reminded myself how much a running remount on a non suspension, thinly pad seat is just not the most enjoyable thing to do to yourself. Then there is that running thing, it's only a few steps but still. There is no coasting in running, well there is it's called stopping.
I'm pretty rusty at this point and I don't think it will get much better at this point. I was reminded how fun the cross bike can be as I jumped on some atv trails, and even single track that my road bike would be just crying with the first sign of dirty near it's tires.
My body is still a little mad at me, cold is still there, chest muscle still a little strained so the thought of me racing this weekend is completely out of the question. I'm digging out my pom poms for the sidelines of the HillyBilly Hustle. I just thought of something, I think I'll be leaving the cheering devices at home since I have a strange feeling that there will be a little bit of banjo music going and a potential scene out of Deliverance.
Mother Nature and my coach must be talking to one another. Both seem to want to keep me off the bike as much as possible. The next 6 days are rain and cold, spring and summer this won't stop me. I may actually get stuff done around the house.
Gotta walk!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I feel dirty
I talked about it, I joked about it, I thought about it but I had not yet done it. Until last night. My plans for the first two weeks after racing. I'm still a little disgusted about it. Dinner last night consisted of 2 beers and one big bag of potato chips. I'd joked saying that I would live on chips, sausages and beer for a full two weeks, I don't think I could do it. My body would rebel so badly. Well at least I know.
I have still not touched a bike since the 8 hour, I haven't even cleaned my race bike. It's still hanging on the stand. Weekend project since I will have lots of energy because I will not be racing. Spectated more than likely. My cold is still lingering but the strained muscle in my chest is taking it's sweet ass time healing. Who would have thought that coughing could pull a muscle.
So now that I've laid the ground work for the O-cup series what is going to be my focus for 2010. Pretty simple to figure it out, more than likely it will be the 8 hour format. I will still do at least one 24 hour solo, I will just not peak for them. Solstice will of course be the Ontario 24 hour race and their is talk amongst a couple of us to head to the the southern states in the fall to go play at a major 24 hour. It's still talks at this point but my talks on heading to races usually end up happening.
Of course the Mountainview 9 hour will be a highlight for me again next year. I need to win my sandbox title again next season. The return of the Monday Night Something for one race will also be one of the most talked about events, what competitor will we try and take out next year, what schemes will our immature minds come up with? Maybe we will even ride our bikes in between beers.
The 2010 season seems so far away right now but this years list of races looked so long but yet it just flew by. The leaves are changing, the temperature has dropped, summer has still not shown up. Maybe the winter will go by as fast as the summer did. Better yet maybe winter won't show up this year either??
Time to head to work, no apprentice with me today maybe I can stop for a coffee mid day?
I have still not touched a bike since the 8 hour, I haven't even cleaned my race bike. It's still hanging on the stand. Weekend project since I will have lots of energy because I will not be racing. Spectated more than likely. My cold is still lingering but the strained muscle in my chest is taking it's sweet ass time healing. Who would have thought that coughing could pull a muscle.
So now that I've laid the ground work for the O-cup series what is going to be my focus for 2010. Pretty simple to figure it out, more than likely it will be the 8 hour format. I will still do at least one 24 hour solo, I will just not peak for them. Solstice will of course be the Ontario 24 hour race and their is talk amongst a couple of us to head to the the southern states in the fall to go play at a major 24 hour. It's still talks at this point but my talks on heading to races usually end up happening.
Of course the Mountainview 9 hour will be a highlight for me again next year. I need to win my sandbox title again next season. The return of the Monday Night Something for one race will also be one of the most talked about events, what competitor will we try and take out next year, what schemes will our immature minds come up with? Maybe we will even ride our bikes in between beers.
The 2010 season seems so far away right now but this years list of races looked so long but yet it just flew by. The leaves are changing, the temperature has dropped, summer has still not shown up. Maybe the winter will go by as fast as the summer did. Better yet maybe winter won't show up this year either??
Time to head to work, no apprentice with me today maybe I can stop for a coffee mid day?
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