It’s been a while

6 years, really?? 6 years since the last time I spent some time here. I used to be here typing daily for years giving little insights to my life and the fun I have with bicycles. So what changed? Where did I go? Why did I stop? Honestly I really don’t know. I was still racing, still adventuring, still ticking of a few of my bucket list goals. There was lots to write about. Maybe it was the change in social media mediums, again I really don’t know. What I know is I kinda missed this place and have found a renewed craving to write.


What’s the plan? Hopefully a lot of the same fun tongue in cheek type blurbs like what I posted doing the Quebec single track experience this past summer. Training and racing as I make a whole hearted effort returning to ultra endurance races at my previous fitness, this is going to hurt a little.  There will be things about the mountain bike race team that I am involved with running with my friend Andrew, helping a couple racers way faster than us make their way on the World Cup.   My life on the other side of the handle bars as a coach, passing on 15 years of knowledge (technical term for making every mistake and learning from it).      A splash and dash of adventures with my wife,  she is to root cause of my return to racing.   Add in either a lot of coffee or a beer and a slightly twisted sense of humour and hopefully it becomes amusing.

Buckwallow Ontario cup

Round what ever in the Ontario scene brought us to the land of rocks. Had some simple plans for this race, survive the double track and pin it in the singletrack. Basiclly work my strength and try and cover my losses where I'm weak.

The start was intense, long double track. It seemed longer than I remember and with random rocks and roots on there it was tough tucking in the pack. The first lap felt pretty good, rode the technical well and when I came up on riders I got a chance to recover. Then we hit the double track and I suffered. was still semi fast though.

Lap two had Mr. Holmes join me, we worked together for a bit but couldn't keep his pace on the double track. I was also stressing a little, my bottle decided it didn't like my bike and removed itself early in the lap. No worries,I can suffer it out till the feed. Again the lap felt pretty good, strong where I should be etc etc.

Came through the feed and took a huge gulp, turned left into the single track feeling relieved and good, pick it up a little. When I exited upon the double track I reached down for my bottle. "Are you shitting me?". No bottle, this is going to start taking its toll. I tried to stay positive and keep pushing hard but I could feel the legs craving a bit a some sort of calorie intake. I started to watch for my previously dropped bottle on the trail. I also got tempted to just grab some random bottle but everyone I spotted I was travelling to fast to make it worth stopping.

Lap 4, I was feeling it, that hint of cramping. Trying to bring in fluids as quick as I can but not bloat myself. Damaged was done,this lap was going to be survival. I also panicked a bit about losing this bottle. That's when one of my strategically dropped bottles appeared. Dam right I stopped and picked it up. You know, just in case.

By the midway part of the lap I knew I was going to survive without cramping, attempted to raise my pace a little. I could hear some bikes in the distance and wasn't sure if my fading was allowing someone in my division to gain, ended up being Watson lapping through for the win in elite. Crossed the line a few minutes later.

A couple things, the 1.5 hour kayak Saturday nit may have not been a great idea but was enjoyable. I really missed my dualie yesterday, need that baby fixed before provincials. I was happy with my results, considering the lack of training etc etc. I'll be changing out that bottle cage this week.

I need coffee, a lot of it

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avoiding it

I rode my bikes, woohoo. Nothing out of the ordinary but I found myself in the hills and of course a conversation that came up on the MNS ride popped into my head. This hill is on there. aww so is this one. Hmmmmm. Don't do it, don't be a follower, don't be weak.

I'm talking about strava, yes I know it's cool but I'm going to avoid it like I avoid twitter. I do have a twitter account, I forgot the password a couple years ago. As for strava, I just can't do it. Maybe it's because I'm not as strong this season as previous years, maybe I like keeping my training, or lack of it top secret, maybe I don't want big brother knowing where I am.

Don't get me wrong, I'll chase a few of the times on that sight, I kinda know where I'll rank knowing the company that I keep. I will mention that I hit 74.4 km/h on a certain downhill which was the fastest to date. I won't share what my times were going up the different hills, that's top secret.

Good weekend coming, it's longer. Buckwallow trip planned and potential another one of those "I've wanted to do this ride to see if it can be done" It's on the map.




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It's on the map

Great weekend, almost training like rides but the views became distracting. Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the view. Especially when they are this ice.



A short stop at Severn Falls



Followed by a stop at Laughlin Falls. Yes I did ride not just sight see. Saturday wasn't bad but Sunday I stepped it up.

I've seen what looks like a road on the maps, even satellite images online show there is a road there. I had to try to get to the big chute with as minimal regular roads.



Notice the very small line that connects E Shore Rd. a that was my concern. Took the do anything bike (29er), I'd attempted this once before on the cross bike but was shut down quickly with a flat tire and mud. This time I was going to make it. As I rolled into what was supposed to be the start I now see how some people get totally screwed when they follow a gps. This so called road was not something I'd recommend taking a car or truck on, you might get about 20 feet. Of course the 29er was perfect.

Great Canadian Sheild type riding


I wanted to take more photos but my ride became more of a survival than enjoyment. The deer flies were almost unbearable. Stopping was not an option and even slowing down in technical sections became a fine line decision. Slow and get bite, go fast and potentially flat or crash. Ya I slowed a little .

45 minutes after I started the trail I rolled out on to upper big chute road about 100 feet from the bridge. I'll be planning for another run through there again but I'll wait till the fall when the bugs are dead.



A few more random trails mixed to the loop including a tunnel under the 400 turned it into a 3 hour tour. Followed up the ride with a 2 hour paddle in the bay, attempting to screw up my cycling tan lines.

Coffee is needed today, oh coffee how I love the.
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Livin

Life just keeps rolling along, some great road rides over the last couple weeks. Been pretty must forced to ride road after I shredded my hand and braking became questionable. I sometimes forget how many great roads there are here, including a couple that were just paved yesterday.

Slowly starting to feel stronger, having the later start of somewhat structured riding this year has me feeling happy to not have small hills hurt as much. My main focus for this year, the house, is coming along, the big jobs are done giving me more time to play on the bike and now with the new kayak. 13.5 foot day tripper is perfect for Georgian Bay adjust gives me one more Toyota play with. The Molly monster does give me a dirty look when I leave with it instead of the canoe and her.

Looking like a nice day, no rain again today. I feel it will be a ride then paddle type day. Coffee first


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