The Monday night ride last night was perfect again. Even though there were severe thunderstorm warnings along with threats of the tornadoes, hurricanes lions and tigers and bears and sharks with fricken lasers on their heads,nope none of it would happen.
Small group out but still fun, unfortunately Tristan blew a chain about 10 minutes into the ride. SO with the years of racing and the years of each of us working on our bikes or others there wasn't a tool to be found on any bikes. It's not that long of a walk out. Just make the sound of a dying giraffe if you get into problems and we will start searching for you. I did hear a few noises during the ride.
The ride was finished off with the parking lot smack talk about the race Sunday but more on the biggest most important race of the whole world. The 24 hour of Hot August Nights. Of course the two battling teams were there. There were those shady flat pedal type from Norco (he was just one of them there) that are MNS members along with a few of us. I'm not sure if any of us will ever actually get on our bikes with the immature tactics that will be used. Scott has put the age limit at 14 so nothing allowed that anyone older than that would consider.
It's back to training this week. Recovery weeks suck, my legs don't like them. I don't want to go into this weekend feeling flat. The weather is actually looking perfect at this point.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Mountainview Ontario Cup
It was far from what I was expecting. So back track a day earlier. Weather, sunny and nice. Course dry, almost to dry. No worries, there is a little rain in the forecast. Perfect. If anything like last year it will make things amazing.
Fast track to this morning. Left here at 8:30 to cheer on club member, feed zone a few and drop off my Anthem. It's kinda sorta nice out. upper teens a little hazy, the sun looked like it was trying to come out. Got to the venue. I brought the Molly Monster with me so I had a few looks as she ran beside me down the road. So far so good. I have good coffee to drink, I'm happy. blah blah blah
One hour later, in the feed zone. Mother Nature turned into a raging bitch. Sorry but subtle went out the window when the ground started to shake. I think that everyone that was in the 9:30 race that road carbon bikes were all thinking that they might move up a few spots if lighting started to strike close by. Ya, it's making me think that aluminum is becoming a questionable material for Ontario racing.
The rain that came down was far from pleasant. Racers were not happy on their third lap. Hell feed zone people were not happy standing in the Mountainview Monsoon. I had Molly staring at me with that look (I'm going to shank him with a milk bone for this). Even with the shit rain the MCC destroyed it. Davis Ross destroyed the single speed field (I think they made him pee in a cup after the race he had that big a lead). Erin took third with a questionable forearm, watch out once she is healed. Ange took third in her division also. Dr. Bill rode his way to 2nd not being able to see (eye glasses/mud/rain not a great combination). If there was a mountainview rider in the field they ended up on the podium. I think there were 5 medals in the morning for the club. Great job everyone.
Alright, on to my shit show. The grand master pan was to end up with about 4.5 hours of riding today with a race mixed in. Hey O-cup is important but I still have a couple big fish I'm out to fry. Got home feeling good, had a small snack filled some bottles and headed back to Mountainview by means of the cross bike. Weather was still, well questionable. So I left the house wearing arm bands, knee bands and a vest and I felt comfortable. Legs felt great. The great I was hoping for. I've watched and I usually feel like shit at the end of a recovery week for some reason. Heather and I have talked about it
Riding in I saw some weird things, blue sky. Then it to warm. Then it got warmer. I still felt great though. A few intervals on the way in to get things firing. The route I took brought me out where I would have normally warmed up on the Anthem. Of course every other rider was out there and I got a few looks being on skinny wheels. Hit the club tent, a few things done and was on the Anthem for a few minutes before rolling into the start line.
SO first off, I like the heat, I normally do really well in the heat, I like to have a little heat training before hand. The start climb was typical and for me the worst thing. For those that are in the know I suck at blasting off the line. Always have and it's probably not going to change. Top of the first climb I was lucky if I was in the top 20. Thomas got pushed of course by a couple riders, it was a pretty shitty thing the way it happened. Lee was gone.
We hit the first technical section. So yes Mountainview is technical and yes half the people in Senior Expert are not that technically strong. Now for me that sucks because I'm always coming from the back on the first lap. I was a bit of an ass and started to tell a few riders to start running. They were dead stop, especially in the rock garden. I'm normally really really nice when it comes to passing but this pissed me off. Dead stop and just staring as the pack rode away. Oh by the way at this point the sun started to come out.
Come into the first downhill single track. Not really ride able, regroup. The first thing that popped into my mind was Summer Solstice. Now the funny thing with all of this I have more running/dragging a bike time in my legs than anyone in my division. I should have been killing them up this section. Ya well my body had other thoughts. More on that shortly.
The big part of Mountainview is technical, my strengths, my weakness, flat double track. Well that seemed to be the only place to make up the time. I would pull a rider in and they let me pass them in anything sketchy to technical and for every two coming in one would rip by me on the flats. That was lap one came through 16th and already thinking.
Lap two started ok in the feed but I could already feel the dead weight in my legs, Came across the ski hill climb that I normally run in mid chain ring and a couple cogs down from the top. Ya well I started to shift up then ran out of gears. The next sound was clunk, yes that was my granny kicking in. Spun up the switchbacks far from normal. My body started to get mad at me.
Ok start playing control, that's what i kept saying. Normally it would be work your strengths maintain the weakness. Attack the single track and recover and hammer the double track and hills in a controlled manner. Well I lost my place to recover on the first half of the course. It was sketchy to walk let alone ride. I knew I was riding like shit at this point because Andrew caught me. Yes he is fast (scary fast) but I normally hold him off till mid/end of the third lap, this was not event the middle of the 2nd lap.
Even before this I could feel the heat starting to rip me up. I almost pulled the plug after the first lap but kept saying to myself road or trail you need to put the hours in. So from the time I left my house the temperature was 20.5 degrees. It went to 32 degrees and a crazy amount of humidity. Back to the thought. I love the heat but I like to have a few rides in it before I race in it.
Hit the lower single track. I was still catching riders which actually shocked me. Now the worst thing to remind me I was riding slow. Coming up the false flat I was riding with a Cycle Solutions rider. I'm normally ahead of him but where things were we ended up chatting. Yes talking during a race. This was right about the time Mike Garrigan came riping up behind me and all I hear was "Matt are you out for a leisurely ride?" Ya thanks Mike.
I finished up my lap and pulled the plug. I knew it was stupid to keep pushing. My heart rate wasn't dropping in areas that it should, it was still pushing mid 150's when I went to get my bottles out of the feed zone. Thank you again to Erin for throwing bottles at me.
My body was really mad at me today, of course I still needed to ride home. Ya my car was sitting in my driveway. It was actually good though. Spun home for an hour. Total time on the bike was about 4:15. Legs feel like shit right now even after the awesome MCC BBQ.
I have figured out that I'm going to ride indoors all week with the furnace on full blast to get a little heat training in. Ok maybe not but it defiantly gave a reality check on how crappy the weather has been to date.
Overall, ya I'm a little pissed. With out the rain I think this would have been a venue that I could have broken into the top 10. Let alone it being a home town event which is always fun. Shit happens, I've had a pretty good seasons to date and it will just keep getting better. This was my blow up race of the year.
No links added today, they are all to the right.
Later
Fast track to this morning. Left here at 8:30 to cheer on club member, feed zone a few and drop off my Anthem. It's kinda sorta nice out. upper teens a little hazy, the sun looked like it was trying to come out. Got to the venue. I brought the Molly Monster with me so I had a few looks as she ran beside me down the road. So far so good. I have good coffee to drink, I'm happy. blah blah blah
One hour later, in the feed zone. Mother Nature turned into a raging bitch. Sorry but subtle went out the window when the ground started to shake. I think that everyone that was in the 9:30 race that road carbon bikes were all thinking that they might move up a few spots if lighting started to strike close by. Ya, it's making me think that aluminum is becoming a questionable material for Ontario racing.
The rain that came down was far from pleasant. Racers were not happy on their third lap. Hell feed zone people were not happy standing in the Mountainview Monsoon. I had Molly staring at me with that look (I'm going to shank him with a milk bone for this). Even with the shit rain the MCC destroyed it. Davis Ross destroyed the single speed field (I think they made him pee in a cup after the race he had that big a lead). Erin took third with a questionable forearm, watch out once she is healed. Ange took third in her division also. Dr. Bill rode his way to 2nd not being able to see (eye glasses/mud/rain not a great combination). If there was a mountainview rider in the field they ended up on the podium. I think there were 5 medals in the morning for the club. Great job everyone.
Alright, on to my shit show. The grand master pan was to end up with about 4.5 hours of riding today with a race mixed in. Hey O-cup is important but I still have a couple big fish I'm out to fry. Got home feeling good, had a small snack filled some bottles and headed back to Mountainview by means of the cross bike. Weather was still, well questionable. So I left the house wearing arm bands, knee bands and a vest and I felt comfortable. Legs felt great. The great I was hoping for. I've watched and I usually feel like shit at the end of a recovery week for some reason. Heather and I have talked about it
Riding in I saw some weird things, blue sky. Then it to warm. Then it got warmer. I still felt great though. A few intervals on the way in to get things firing. The route I took brought me out where I would have normally warmed up on the Anthem. Of course every other rider was out there and I got a few looks being on skinny wheels. Hit the club tent, a few things done and was on the Anthem for a few minutes before rolling into the start line.
SO first off, I like the heat, I normally do really well in the heat, I like to have a little heat training before hand. The start climb was typical and for me the worst thing. For those that are in the know I suck at blasting off the line. Always have and it's probably not going to change. Top of the first climb I was lucky if I was in the top 20. Thomas got pushed of course by a couple riders, it was a pretty shitty thing the way it happened. Lee was gone.
We hit the first technical section. So yes Mountainview is technical and yes half the people in Senior Expert are not that technically strong. Now for me that sucks because I'm always coming from the back on the first lap. I was a bit of an ass and started to tell a few riders to start running. They were dead stop, especially in the rock garden. I'm normally really really nice when it comes to passing but this pissed me off. Dead stop and just staring as the pack rode away. Oh by the way at this point the sun started to come out.
Come into the first downhill single track. Not really ride able, regroup. The first thing that popped into my mind was Summer Solstice. Now the funny thing with all of this I have more running/dragging a bike time in my legs than anyone in my division. I should have been killing them up this section. Ya well my body had other thoughts. More on that shortly.
The big part of Mountainview is technical, my strengths, my weakness, flat double track. Well that seemed to be the only place to make up the time. I would pull a rider in and they let me pass them in anything sketchy to technical and for every two coming in one would rip by me on the flats. That was lap one came through 16th and already thinking.
Lap two started ok in the feed but I could already feel the dead weight in my legs, Came across the ski hill climb that I normally run in mid chain ring and a couple cogs down from the top. Ya well I started to shift up then ran out of gears. The next sound was clunk, yes that was my granny kicking in. Spun up the switchbacks far from normal. My body started to get mad at me.
Ok start playing control, that's what i kept saying. Normally it would be work your strengths maintain the weakness. Attack the single track and recover and hammer the double track and hills in a controlled manner. Well I lost my place to recover on the first half of the course. It was sketchy to walk let alone ride. I knew I was riding like shit at this point because Andrew caught me. Yes he is fast (scary fast) but I normally hold him off till mid/end of the third lap, this was not event the middle of the 2nd lap.
Even before this I could feel the heat starting to rip me up. I almost pulled the plug after the first lap but kept saying to myself road or trail you need to put the hours in. So from the time I left my house the temperature was 20.5 degrees. It went to 32 degrees and a crazy amount of humidity. Back to the thought. I love the heat but I like to have a few rides in it before I race in it.
Hit the lower single track. I was still catching riders which actually shocked me. Now the worst thing to remind me I was riding slow. Coming up the false flat I was riding with a Cycle Solutions rider. I'm normally ahead of him but where things were we ended up chatting. Yes talking during a race. This was right about the time Mike Garrigan came riping up behind me and all I hear was "Matt are you out for a leisurely ride?" Ya thanks Mike.
I finished up my lap and pulled the plug. I knew it was stupid to keep pushing. My heart rate wasn't dropping in areas that it should, it was still pushing mid 150's when I went to get my bottles out of the feed zone. Thank you again to Erin for throwing bottles at me.
My body was really mad at me today, of course I still needed to ride home. Ya my car was sitting in my driveway. It was actually good though. Spun home for an hour. Total time on the bike was about 4:15. Legs feel like shit right now even after the awesome MCC BBQ.
I have figured out that I'm going to ride indoors all week with the furnace on full blast to get a little heat training in. Ok maybe not but it defiantly gave a reality check on how crappy the weather has been to date.
Overall, ya I'm a little pissed. With out the rain I think this would have been a venue that I could have broken into the top 10. Let alone it being a home town event which is always fun. Shit happens, I've had a pretty good seasons to date and it will just keep getting better. This was my blow up race of the year.
No links added today, they are all to the right.
Later
Saturday, August 8, 2009
UMMMM not enough coffee
Never ever is there enough coffee. It's 6:30am, the sun is out, it is chilly though. It's not raining!!!! I'm currently staring at the two different weather reports and scratching my head. What was I expecting for tomorrow? Rainbow and butterflies and rivers filled with chocolate?? I'm done complaining. On a good note my bike will be easier to clean after this mornings final pre ride of the course.
Legs are feeling as good as they should with a couple days of easy training. Today will be a better judge on what I expect for tomorrow. Recovery weeks are boring aren't they???
May have some photo's up later of the venue. That's it, go get more coffee!
Legs are feeling as good as they should with a couple days of easy training. Today will be a better judge on what I expect for tomorrow. Recovery weeks are boring aren't they???
May have some photo's up later of the venue. That's it, go get more coffee!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Predictable and unpredictable
The next block of racing is about to start. Yes this is very predictable. I'm getting anxious. I love racing more than training for racing. So what are we looking at that is very predictable?? The weather. Looks like it's going to be perfect 2009 race conditions. Rain.
Was up at Mountainview again last night. Honestly a little bit of rain will be a good thing. With the increase in traffic from the last two weekly series along with the extra club rides and the fantastic sunny days of the last two weeks the course is dry. There were dust clouds.
I'm feeling pretty confident on the course. I'll spend one more session first thing tomorrow morning. Legs are feeling as Olympic as they should. The next 6 weeks are nuts so this is a good thing. 4 weekends in a row of racing, one week off then the last 24 hour for the season. Don't think, just pedal.
In other interesting news. The Hot August Nights team. Some strange things have been happening. More random injuries. First we lost Jeremy to a rock that should have never moved. HMMM??? One random crash is one thing but now there was another attempt to take out a rider. Jacob is now nursing a few cracked ribs. Apparently the lake just reached out and punched him in the chest. As much as I would like to believe that these are completely unrelated I can't. Even back to Erin's broke wrist, maybe that was supposed to be setup for me but I was leading and not following at that section of the course.
There is this really shady team that I'm thinking is 100 percent responsible. Most of you know who the team is. They try to look like cross country racers but deep down we know they are that shady freeride type. I've seen at least one of them wearing baggy shorts and a downhiller's jersey. I won't name names here but we all know there continued attempt to bring down the Monday Night Something. Now rumours are flying around that they are all scared and have even attempted to bring in riders from other factory teams. I'm guessing that this is cheaper for them than hiring a hit man to take us out.
The Monday Night Something will survive. As mentioned in previous posts. The team strategy has changed slightly. We are not 100 percent concerned on winning but we will make sure this unnamed team loses even if it means childish behaviour. For most of us this won't be to hard.
Off to work.
Was up at Mountainview again last night. Honestly a little bit of rain will be a good thing. With the increase in traffic from the last two weekly series along with the extra club rides and the fantastic sunny days of the last two weeks the course is dry. There were dust clouds.
I'm feeling pretty confident on the course. I'll spend one more session first thing tomorrow morning. Legs are feeling as Olympic as they should. The next 6 weeks are nuts so this is a good thing. 4 weekends in a row of racing, one week off then the last 24 hour for the season. Don't think, just pedal.
In other interesting news. The Hot August Nights team. Some strange things have been happening. More random injuries. First we lost Jeremy to a rock that should have never moved. HMMM??? One random crash is one thing but now there was another attempt to take out a rider. Jacob is now nursing a few cracked ribs. Apparently the lake just reached out and punched him in the chest. As much as I would like to believe that these are completely unrelated I can't. Even back to Erin's broke wrist, maybe that was supposed to be setup for me but I was leading and not following at that section of the course.
There is this really shady team that I'm thinking is 100 percent responsible. Most of you know who the team is. They try to look like cross country racers but deep down we know they are that shady freeride type. I've seen at least one of them wearing baggy shorts and a downhiller's jersey. I won't name names here but we all know there continued attempt to bring down the Monday Night Something. Now rumours are flying around that they are all scared and have even attempted to bring in riders from other factory teams. I'm guessing that this is cheaper for them than hiring a hit man to take us out.
The Monday Night Something will survive. As mentioned in previous posts. The team strategy has changed slightly. We are not 100 percent concerned on winning but we will make sure this unnamed team loses even if it means childish behaviour. For most of us this won't be to hard.
Off to work.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Mountainview and the people who ride it.
Recovery weeks always have me digging for something to yap about. This time it was really easy. This was posted on a MTBR forum a couple days ago after another rider came up to our weekly series which is using the Ontario Cup course. A few club members have seen this and end up having huge smiles on their faces.
Here is the description of Mountainview and the MCC as described from a first timer.
I went up to pre-ride last Thursday. Here are my impressions from my initial visit to MountainView.
No, it's not on "the escarpment." It's on a small ski hill about 70km across the bay from "the escarpment."
Yes, there is a ton of climbing. The kind that hurts so good.
No, don't leave the granny gear at home.
Yes, the climbing is tough.
No, it does not resemble any of the other O-Cup courses. It's much tougher. It's actually a mountain bike course.
No, it's not a ROADIE course. Roadies will be crying, and asking for Albion. This is for mountain bikers that race.
Yes, it's rooty.
Yes, the locals are fast. They wear bright blue jerseys. Find them. Make friends with them. Ask them where the good lines are.
Yes, I raced the course on Thursday night.
No, I didn't see any of the locals after the first climb. They were gone.
Yes, there are some faster lines that will make big time differences. Study the course and figure them out, or follow a local on the pre-ride.
Yes, I need to get up there again and pre-ride.
Yes, there are switchback climbs.
No, I do not envy the singlespeeders.
Yes, there is a guy in the bush yelling "GIV'ER!!!"
No, we don't see that type of thing at Albion.
Yes, you will be breathing hard.
No, it's not "somewhat technical." It's very technical. Roots, turny, off-camber...good stuff.
Yes, it's got flow - if you ride it fast. Brake gently, and carry speed through the turns and up the climbs.
Yes, you will actually need technical skills. Remember what those are?
No, I don't mean technical repair skills.
Yes, it's got some big rocks in the way. Learn to ride over them.
No, you don't want to just "wing it."
Yes, it's also got a kick ass rock garden. Ride it. Love it. Find the fast line.
No, I don't feel sympathy for the singlespeeders. They choose that way of life, and they will face adversity on this course
.
Yes, the majority of riders will be in for a shock.
No, it's not a bad shock. It's more of a reality check.
Yes, you will figure out quickly whether you are a good "technical" rider or not.
Yes, it is mostly singletrack, so you had better know the course so you know where to pass.
No, there is not a lot of passing opportunity in the singletrack. It's constantly up, down, left, right, rooty, etc. Know the passing zones. Be one with the passing zones. Because like Cadboury mini eggs, they are there for a limited time only.
Yes, it starts with a lungbusting climb straight up the ski hill.
No, the climb is not a big ring climb, but you can try it and see what happens.
Yes, the course is a welcome change from the "roadie" courses that seem to be taking over.
Yes, the course kicks ass. It will most likely kick your ass!!!
Yes, it's worth the drive up for a pre-ride or two.
Yes, MountainView should remain on the circuit as a standard stop.
And yes, I hope the guy in the bush yelling "GIV'ER" is there on race day. He's freakin awesome.
I'll be up there again tonight listening for comments from more newbie's.
Here is the description of Mountainview and the MCC as described from a first timer.
I went up to pre-ride last Thursday. Here are my impressions from my initial visit to MountainView.
No, it's not on "the escarpment." It's on a small ski hill about 70km across the bay from "the escarpment."
Yes, there is a ton of climbing. The kind that hurts so good.
No, don't leave the granny gear at home.
Yes, the climbing is tough.
No, it does not resemble any of the other O-Cup courses. It's much tougher. It's actually a mountain bike course.
No, it's not a ROADIE course. Roadies will be crying, and asking for Albion. This is for mountain bikers that race.
Yes, it's rooty.
Yes, the locals are fast. They wear bright blue jerseys. Find them. Make friends with them. Ask them where the good lines are.
Yes, I raced the course on Thursday night.
No, I didn't see any of the locals after the first climb. They were gone.
Yes, there are some faster lines that will make big time differences. Study the course and figure them out, or follow a local on the pre-ride.
Yes, I need to get up there again and pre-ride.
Yes, there are switchback climbs.
No, I do not envy the singlespeeders.
Yes, there is a guy in the bush yelling "GIV'ER!!!"
No, we don't see that type of thing at Albion.
Yes, you will be breathing hard.
No, it's not "somewhat technical." It's very technical. Roots, turny, off-camber...good stuff.
Yes, it's got flow - if you ride it fast. Brake gently, and carry speed through the turns and up the climbs.
Yes, you will actually need technical skills. Remember what those are?
No, I don't mean technical repair skills.
Yes, it's got some big rocks in the way. Learn to ride over them.
No, you don't want to just "wing it."
Yes, it's also got a kick ass rock garden. Ride it. Love it. Find the fast line.
No, I don't feel sympathy for the singlespeeders. They choose that way of life, and they will face adversity on this course
.
Yes, the majority of riders will be in for a shock.
No, it's not a bad shock. It's more of a reality check.
Yes, you will figure out quickly whether you are a good "technical" rider or not.
Yes, it is mostly singletrack, so you had better know the course so you know where to pass.
No, there is not a lot of passing opportunity in the singletrack. It's constantly up, down, left, right, rooty, etc. Know the passing zones. Be one with the passing zones. Because like Cadboury mini eggs, they are there for a limited time only.
Yes, it starts with a lungbusting climb straight up the ski hill.
No, the climb is not a big ring climb, but you can try it and see what happens.
Yes, the course is a welcome change from the "roadie" courses that seem to be taking over.
Yes, the course kicks ass. It will most likely kick your ass!!!
Yes, it's worth the drive up for a pre-ride or two.
Yes, MountainView should remain on the circuit as a standard stop.
And yes, I hope the guy in the bush yelling "GIV'ER" is there on race day. He's freakin awesome.
I'll be up there again tonight listening for comments from more newbie's.
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