Weather is not road bike friendly. Lighting, thunderstorms, rain and an aluminum framed road bike equal one very unhappy cyclist. I did catch a break last afternoon. The clouds split and there was actual sunshine and clear skies. Look to the left huge wall of black, look to the right it's little brother.
I headed out right up the middle heading towards Coldwater. I was prepped for two hours but the wall of black way off that I was pedaling towards was probably not going to let that happen. Every once in a while I was hearing a little rumble. Now here was the weird part. About 30 minutes into my ride I felt a whack on my helmet. No cars around, on my road bike so I can't blame it on the trees, what the hell. I felt it again. It wasn't just a whack but more of a scrap. Looked back, it was a bird trying to take me out. It was weird, it was squawking away and started to move in again. A couple waves of the arm kept it off and then it turned away.
What the hell??? Was it a bird that drank a little to much whiskey??? I didn't try and rob the nest, was it telling me to turn around away from the storm I was riding towards?? I started staring at the power lines at every bird. I had red wing blackbird start to move and fly just above me. Ya I started pedalling a little harder, what is there max speed? I was pushing mid 40"s km/h hoping that it wasn't that fast. No second attack. Of course I wish I would have had my camera, the rare time I leave with out it.
Kept rolling keeping my head a little lower for the next few km before heading north again. I was a little concerned as those walls of black seemed to be getting closer to on another. Managed to only see a few drops when I was 5 minutes from the house. Not the total time I would have liked to have seen but better than sitting on my ass eating potato chips and drinking a beer. Yes I did do that late last night.
Today is a great day off. Happy Canada Day.
Going to try and ride around the clouds again today, hopefully in that 3 hour range. Have yet to decide if it will be road, or a mix of road and trail yet. It's early, I've barely finished my first cup of coffee, my brain is still sleeping in. I won't forget my camera today.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sketchy bikes and riders
The infamous Monday Night Something has come again. The weather was right on the edge of agreeable. One of the challenges is coming out with the coolest singlespeed you can. With have the crew working at bike shops some of the bikes showing up are pretty interesting to say the least. Tristan stepped things up this week.
Yes that is a carbon spinergy front wheel and that is a retro carbon front suspension fork. Apparently it rides really well.
That's mounted to a Giant XTC. Could that be a 2010 prototype?? I hope not. Check out the wheelbase on it.
A few slide outs and the Molly Monster set up Jacob for a crash. Not sure what he said to her but she forced him over the bars. I wonder if he called her fat?? She is sensitive. A great ride and it was used as prep work for the 24 hour Hot August Nights team. This meant the apres beer. Yes we plan on having a few of these on that particular weekend.
I did manage to get a spy photo of the bike in question that got Andrew in trouble with the WWSSWC. Go here to learn more.
It's back to serious riding again. Still have the rest of this week with no real training schedule but I'll start adding in more miles. It's only halfway through the season, lots of racing left. More coffee, then off to work.
Later
Yes that is a carbon spinergy front wheel and that is a retro carbon front suspension fork. Apparently it rides really well.
That's mounted to a Giant XTC. Could that be a 2010 prototype?? I hope not. Check out the wheelbase on it.
A few slide outs and the Molly Monster set up Jacob for a crash. Not sure what he said to her but she forced him over the bars. I wonder if he called her fat?? She is sensitive. A great ride and it was used as prep work for the 24 hour Hot August Nights team. This meant the apres beer. Yes we plan on having a few of these on that particular weekend.
I did manage to get a spy photo of the bike in question that got Andrew in trouble with the WWSSWC. Go here to learn more.
It's back to serious riding again. Still have the rest of this week with no real training schedule but I'll start adding in more miles. It's only halfway through the season, lots of racing left. More coffee, then off to work.
Later
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Double Double
Not the coffee but that was the ride agenda for yesterday. First up was a few hours around the big chute with Watson. We set out a little later than than I though since Andrew showed up a little later than thought, he used some head wind line as the reason.
The ride up to the chute was pretty uneventful. Steady pace in the low 30's not to much traffic which meant side by side riding. When we came into the chute we saw a fleet of amphibian-cars. We just missed them coming out of the water. It's pretty cool seeing these things.
There were 7-8 of them. No more than a minute later there were a at least 20 old British sports cars coming into the chute. It was one of those perfect days that everyone was out touring.
Just as we came into Severn Falls the next pack of old cars came by. Unfortunately I was a little to slow with the camera. Back out into the flats I got a little taste of the wind, still not that bad.
The one thing about the Big Chute loop is the variety that is packed in such a short distance. In the 68 km loop there are fast rolling roads, short punch climbs, long open flats etc etc. Same with scenery between cottage areas on small lakes to farm fields. I never get bored of this ride.
The next pack of people touring happen to be triathletes. I apologize now for those I'm about to offend. Why are you even bothering riding together??? They don't pack ride. It was funny seeing them spread out to stay out of each other's draft while being in the areo bars. To far apart to hold a conversation, to close together that people know its a group. We were tempted to spin around catch the pack and start up a conversation while sitting up straight. I train alone a lot but when I'm in a group ride I want to actually be in the group ride.
Finsihed with the climb up Vasey line before turning north towards home, Andrew still had about 1.5 hours left to get back to Barrie. It was a great ride. I finished up with 2.5 hours and 80 km. My day was just getting started. Quick clean up and it was off to the lumber yard, again. I've cleaned one of the local build center's out of mini ties and I'm attempting my second. A couple hours spent on the frame work. The dump trucks of fill come this week. Getting closer. I was under the gun to get things done because of the text from my coach.
I don't get to see her to often since her move to Milton but she was heading north to teach a skills camp on Sunday so the chance to go for a ride is something I can't turn down. The plan, get the Molly Monster out for a good run, see how the shoulder feels on the mountain bike and just have fun.
We met up at the 8th line grid where Molly started to get wired as soon as she saw Heather's car. Of course the surprise when a little Australian Sheppard bounced out of the back seat. Heather and Jason's new child. Maggie did great on the ride. She still has to learn a little trail etiquette, like not coming to a dead stop n the middle of the pack just because.
The pace was pretty low key keeping it in low zone 2.
Of course what is a good day of riding without a meal that you don't have to cook. A trip to Kelsy's patio where the beer was cold and the waitress was great getting the dogs water and a big plate of vegetables. Maggie was spoiled and got the chicken fingers off the kids meal.
Today is going to be low key, a little more work on the yard but the rain is going to set in so I'm thinking a comfy afternoon on my ass watching a couple movies in the sunroom. I haven't done that in a while.
I'm pretty happy with where my legs are at. Considering I'm supposed to be toasted from last weeks 24 hour, ok 12 hours of mountain biking, ok 12 hours of pushing my bike. My legs are feeling really strong. Could there be an event added in the next couple weeks. Maybe.
The ride up to the chute was pretty uneventful. Steady pace in the low 30's not to much traffic which meant side by side riding. When we came into the chute we saw a fleet of amphibian-cars. We just missed them coming out of the water. It's pretty cool seeing these things.
There were 7-8 of them. No more than a minute later there were a at least 20 old British sports cars coming into the chute. It was one of those perfect days that everyone was out touring.
Just as we came into Severn Falls the next pack of old cars came by. Unfortunately I was a little to slow with the camera. Back out into the flats I got a little taste of the wind, still not that bad.
The one thing about the Big Chute loop is the variety that is packed in such a short distance. In the 68 km loop there are fast rolling roads, short punch climbs, long open flats etc etc. Same with scenery between cottage areas on small lakes to farm fields. I never get bored of this ride.
The next pack of people touring happen to be triathletes. I apologize now for those I'm about to offend. Why are you even bothering riding together??? They don't pack ride. It was funny seeing them spread out to stay out of each other's draft while being in the areo bars. To far apart to hold a conversation, to close together that people know its a group. We were tempted to spin around catch the pack and start up a conversation while sitting up straight. I train alone a lot but when I'm in a group ride I want to actually be in the group ride.
Finsihed with the climb up Vasey line before turning north towards home, Andrew still had about 1.5 hours left to get back to Barrie. It was a great ride. I finished up with 2.5 hours and 80 km. My day was just getting started. Quick clean up and it was off to the lumber yard, again. I've cleaned one of the local build center's out of mini ties and I'm attempting my second. A couple hours spent on the frame work. The dump trucks of fill come this week. Getting closer. I was under the gun to get things done because of the text from my coach.
I don't get to see her to often since her move to Milton but she was heading north to teach a skills camp on Sunday so the chance to go for a ride is something I can't turn down. The plan, get the Molly Monster out for a good run, see how the shoulder feels on the mountain bike and just have fun.
We met up at the 8th line grid where Molly started to get wired as soon as she saw Heather's car. Of course the surprise when a little Australian Sheppard bounced out of the back seat. Heather and Jason's new child. Maggie did great on the ride. She still has to learn a little trail etiquette, like not coming to a dead stop n the middle of the pack just because.
The pace was pretty low key keeping it in low zone 2.
Of course what is a good day of riding without a meal that you don't have to cook. A trip to Kelsy's patio where the beer was cold and the waitress was great getting the dogs water and a big plate of vegetables. Maggie was spoiled and got the chicken fingers off the kids meal.
Today is going to be low key, a little more work on the yard but the rain is going to set in so I'm thinking a comfy afternoon on my ass watching a couple movies in the sunroom. I haven't done that in a while.
I'm pretty happy with where my legs are at. Considering I'm supposed to be toasted from last weeks 24 hour, ok 12 hours of mountain biking, ok 12 hours of pushing my bike. My legs are feeling really strong. Could there be an event added in the next couple weeks. Maybe.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
It's Saturday morning, it's 5:30 what the hell am I doing up???? This is my first real weekend off from training, racing, schedules etc etc etc in 2 months. Hell this is the biggest break from training I've had since the winter. I guess I want to make the most of it. I have a road ride planned for late this morning with Watson. I'll be fighting to hold a wheel.
So what have I been doing besides not really riding a bike. Well the damage control has been taken care of. That meaning both Anthem's are pretty much back to normal. My brake lever's are finally returning to their normal positions. I was still finding dirt in strange locations.
Next up is trying to get an excessive amount of landscaping done in a minimal amount of time. Since I hate cutting grass I'm working on getting rid of it in the back yard with new gardens and a patio. Of course doing the grunt frame work has taken longer than I thought and I don't even want to start to add up how much has been spent on lumber at this point. Anyone want to come and help move some big dirt piles???? I have beer.
Sun's up, coffee is hot, dog is still sleeping, the town is quiet. 5:30 in the morning is not all that bad.
Later
So what have I been doing besides not really riding a bike. Well the damage control has been taken care of. That meaning both Anthem's are pretty much back to normal. My brake lever's are finally returning to their normal positions. I was still finding dirt in strange locations.
Next up is trying to get an excessive amount of landscaping done in a minimal amount of time. Since I hate cutting grass I'm working on getting rid of it in the back yard with new gardens and a patio. Of course doing the grunt frame work has taken longer than I thought and I don't even want to start to add up how much has been spent on lumber at this point. Anyone want to come and help move some big dirt piles???? I have beer.
Sun's up, coffee is hot, dog is still sleeping, the town is quiet. 5:30 in the morning is not all that bad.
Later
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Keep on rolling
I opted to skip the Unofficial underground single speed world championships tonight. My shoulders and upper back are still bothering me so spending time on the mountain bike is not a great thing. That and the fact that it's 90 degrees outside and I have not done much intensity at that temperature so I really don't think that this was the right time to start.
Instead I went for a nice zone 1-2 road ride. Legs opened up nicely and I felt pretty strong even on the hills. I'm still planning on taking things easy over the next two weeks and get some much need yard work done. Until my shoulders get all the knots worked out of them I think it's mainly road riding for me over the next couple weeks.
Not much else happening in my twisted little cycling world.
Instead I went for a nice zone 1-2 road ride. Legs opened up nicely and I felt pretty strong even on the hills. I'm still planning on taking things easy over the next two weeks and get some much need yard work done. Until my shoulders get all the knots worked out of them I think it's mainly road riding for me over the next couple weeks.
Not much else happening in my twisted little cycling world.
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