I find the craving to ride can be a very interesting. Unlike a good meal which you always have a craving for no matter what or when it is, riding outside can vary so dramatically. In the early spring it could be absolutely horrible outside but after spending 4 months riding the trainer you will suffer in just about any condition just to get that feeling of forward momentum. As the fall sets in and there are huge miles in the legs there seems to be a little bit of a change in attitude. With the season slowing down and coming to an end that craving to go out in the not so ideal condition begins to take over.
Yesterday was one of those days. I'd considered getting even a short ride in but everytime I started to edge towards a bike the weather opened up the taps and the wind seemed to increase. It was also cold, so cold that I started a fire and closed up the windows in the house. After a few weak attempts I final gave up on the thought and spend some serious time bending and stretching the body back to normal. Making myself sit still long enough can be hard but the distraction of choice seem to work. I normally promote TV sucks ride your bike type attitude, there is normally nothing on worth watching. Until yesterday.
Settled in on the couch for both the Men's and Women's World Championships. Great race for the Canadians, the cheers from the crowds in Quebec were so loud I could feel them here. Some great results, I'm wishing more so now that I drove out to see it live. Andrew already has his run down of the race, check it out. Unlike yesterday though I'm not going to be watching cycling today but doing it first hand. Route is set sorta, cross bike is ready to go. Going to mix in a little barrier training today is possible. Going on some roads that I'm not sure fully exist. Should be fun!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Perfect??
Is it? I'm thinking that it's going to be the perfect weather for me to have a guilt free indoor day to watch World's. It's rainy and windy and I don't have much of a craving to be outside doing, well doing anything.
Good luck to everyone today, congrats to all the juniors and u-23's that raced yesterday. I'm almost wishing I'd jumped in the car last night and headed to Mt. St. Anne to watch first hand. I know Molly would have milked the attention of a few foreigners.
There may be a weak attempt at a ride this morning, possibly lots of stretching, and most certainly lots of coffee drank. Yep this is what holiday's are all about.
Good luck to everyone today, congrats to all the juniors and u-23's that raced yesterday. I'm almost wishing I'd jumped in the car last night and headed to Mt. St. Anne to watch first hand. I know Molly would have milked the attention of a few foreigners.
There may be a weak attempt at a ride this morning, possibly lots of stretching, and most certainly lots of coffee drank. Yep this is what holiday's are all about.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Finally??
I'm almost into counting seconds, I just don't have enough fingers and toes. Holiday's are almost here and unlike my spring holidays where I was invaded with a couple squatters for the week this time will just be the Molly Monster, Bob the cat and myself chilling.
There will be a return to riding as well. Actual official training is on the table but more so just riding along will be more of the agenda for a little while. It's funny that it's been 4 days and I did sorta ride two of them but it feels like it's been weeks since I've spun the cranks. My body is still feeling like a pile of knotted rope but there seems to be a little progress in the recovery. As strange as it sounds, I'm happy to see the heat disappear for at least a few day to help.
With 10 full days ahead the options are endless, some are limited but the thought of not turning the alarm clock on is putting a smile on my face. Time for some more coffee, the faster I work today the sooner I'm done.
There will be a return to riding as well. Actual official training is on the table but more so just riding along will be more of the agenda for a little while. It's funny that it's been 4 days and I did sorta ride two of them but it feels like it's been weeks since I've spun the cranks. My body is still feeling like a pile of knotted rope but there seems to be a little progress in the recovery. As strange as it sounds, I'm happy to see the heat disappear for at least a few day to help.
With 10 full days ahead the options are endless, some are limited but the thought of not turning the alarm clock on is putting a smile on my face. Time for some more coffee, the faster I work today the sooner I'm done.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Death avoided?
Made my way to Hardwood Ski and Bike last night to possibly watch the suicide attempt of two friends. I felt I should be there for support, also to make sure they didn't back out of their plan. Jacob and Tristan have continued to always risk their own lives, and the lives of some children for the entertainment of the crowd. In a world of UFC and reality tv shows you need to really step up your game to even stand out in the tame cycling world. This could have been it.
The tandem seems to be their new trademark and tonight would be no different. To take things to the next level of, well use your own words on that thought, the boys showed up with the fixie tandem that is minus suspension and brakes. Exactly.
To make it interesting the twins lined up with what would be equal competition. Notice the 6 year old that is totally smack talking them. He called them out, more on that later. Rolled to the line with a slight head start of the mad pack of kindergarten kids that would run them down if they made a bad start, the countdown, GO!!! They grounded to a halt before one full pedal stroke, complete catastrophic failure.
Something about a combined wattage well above the metal fatigue point of a recreational level chain ring. After a little bit of gasping in shock and dodging of that mad pack the boys man'd up and opted to run the 6 km course.
There is a very distinct sound that carbon soled mountain bike shoes make on dirt, it's called painful. I did my best not to tease them to much as I coasted beside them spitting out random comments.
30 minutes later to make it official they needed to cross the line the same way they started it. The push drag pull across the line got some cheers. So the kid that was smack talking them at the line, yep he took them just before the finish line.
Was the mechanical done intention by the bike gods? Probably, the Fun course is not overly challenging but no brakes and a few tight spots were almost guaranteed collisions with non moving objects called trees. I was pretty certain I heard the air ambulance hovering around.
Yet another part of the race season has come to a close as the weekly series is now done. A few of us made our way over to the bar at Horseshoe Valley for some recovery drinks and stories. It's a time of play.
The tandem seems to be their new trademark and tonight would be no different. To take things to the next level of, well use your own words on that thought, the boys showed up with the fixie tandem that is minus suspension and brakes. Exactly.
To make it interesting the twins lined up with what would be equal competition. Notice the 6 year old that is totally smack talking them. He called them out, more on that later. Rolled to the line with a slight head start of the mad pack of kindergarten kids that would run them down if they made a bad start, the countdown, GO!!! They grounded to a halt before one full pedal stroke, complete catastrophic failure.
Something about a combined wattage well above the metal fatigue point of a recreational level chain ring. After a little bit of gasping in shock and dodging of that mad pack the boys man'd up and opted to run the 6 km course.
There is a very distinct sound that carbon soled mountain bike shoes make on dirt, it's called painful. I did my best not to tease them to much as I coasted beside them spitting out random comments.
30 minutes later to make it official they needed to cross the line the same way they started it. The push drag pull across the line got some cheers. So the kid that was smack talking them at the line, yep he took them just before the finish line.
Was the mechanical done intention by the bike gods? Probably, the Fun course is not overly challenging but no brakes and a few tight spots were almost guaranteed collisions with non moving objects called trees. I was pretty certain I heard the air ambulance hovering around.
Yet another part of the race season has come to a close as the weekly series is now done. A few of us made our way over to the bar at Horseshoe Valley for some recovery drinks and stories. It's a time of play.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Next week and next year.
With all the time in the world to do anything and everything non cycling yesterday what do I find myself doing. Yep, spent some quality time in a bike shop. A visit to Bike Stop had me spinning my head around like a kid during Christmas as I stared at the 2011 bikes and attempt to figure out what I will be riding next season. That said, I tentatively had 2 Giant Anthem's x1 and a Blue XC Carbon for sale. All are medium. Send me an email if you are interested. Make you good deal!!!!
With a semi off season started I've been looking at what to do with my time including holidays starting next week. It's funny how when your life is focused around being activate it's hard to plan things with out it. My original plan of a few days in the middle of Killarney with my canoe has gone out the window. It would be very difficult for Molly to deal with a portage at this time. Plus if I happen to come across some wild animal which always pray on the weak and injured both Molly and I are pretty much screwed. Currently a road trip is possibly in the works. Of course this is all weather dependant.
There will be a bike ridden tonight, injury or no injury I won't be able to miss the potential life ending feat that the Shake'N"Bake twins are attempting. No they will not be trying to jump over 12 burning school buses but it's at that level.
With a semi off season started I've been looking at what to do with my time including holidays starting next week. It's funny how when your life is focused around being activate it's hard to plan things with out it. My original plan of a few days in the middle of Killarney with my canoe has gone out the window. It would be very difficult for Molly to deal with a portage at this time. Plus if I happen to come across some wild animal which always pray on the weak and injured both Molly and I are pretty much screwed. Currently a road trip is possibly in the works. Of course this is all weather dependant.
There will be a bike ridden tonight, injury or no injury I won't be able to miss the potential life ending feat that the Shake'N"Bake twins are attempting. No they will not be trying to jump over 12 burning school buses but it's at that level.
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