It's nearing. Two weeks till the first of six days in the Trans-Savoie enduro race in France! Pretty pumped for sure. Now's the time to get ready! Tools, parts, food, flights. Check. It seems like not too long ago when I was counting the days down and I was at 4 months till race time. LOTS of time to get ready. Like most people I left a lot to the end. Still need to find a place to sleep while in Geneva before and after the race. Still need to do a bunch. And then a whole lot I haven't even thought of yet. Oh yeah, medical insurance might be a good idea.
This is the time that the race season is starting for me. Summer has been pretty busy with work and no races have happened for me yet. There certainly has been loads of time on the bike but no racing. I miss it. Well now's the time. France in two weeks, a 24 hour the weekend after I get back, a 6 hour, and there has been talk of Fernie's Tears and Gears. Always a good time. I've been training by being on the bike and also something new. Crossfit.
Crossfit has been awesome. Working on muscles that don't regularly get used. The first week was filled with a bit of pain. But a wise person once said it'll get better if you can battle through the initial pain. That person was none other than Steph McGregor-Jones. She was right. It's been great.
This whole France race has been pretty interesting to watch develop. Many of my friends and businesses in town have helped me out a ton! You might know that I have a raffle going on and there have been some pretty awesome people to donate to that and help me get to France. That help is hugely appreciated and I thank you a lot. You can get tickets at Favorit Cycle & Ski, High Country, and Max's Place.
Giant Bikes
Gore Bike Wear
Max's Place
Cranbrook Dodge
Cranbrook Crossfit
Favorit Cycle & Ski
High Country
Tim Hortons
Canadian Rockies International Airport
Snap Magazine
Sidekick Stickers
Thanks again to everyone who has helped out. Especially the people that convinced me that it was a good idea to apply for this race in the very beginning! It's going to be awesome.
I would assume you can keep updated of racers progression through the race on the Trans-Savoie website. I am going to try to update on my Facebook page as well if I can.
Ride on!
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Do I Smell Summer?!
This is the time of year that I can hardly wait for. It seems to take longer and longer to show up every year. It is finally happening once again. The snow melts to reveal the good brown stuff that has so much potential for endless summer entertainment on it. There is a new smell in the air and I'm starting to see people again that I have not seen since the fall. Testing of trails happens on the bike to see what is good to go and what should probably have a few more weeks. IT'S BIKE SEASON AGAIN!
The winter was long. Too long. I think an extra month gets tacked on every year to make it seem longer. I dislike winter. Things seem to move at a slower pace and outdoor recreating just doesn't seem as awesome. You may say, "Well J, that's just life in the Koots. Love it or leave it." And while this is true, I think I have so much fun in the summer that it gets me through the winter. But I could definitely see myself turning into a snow bird at an early age to get more sweet, sweet summer time in. Maybe winter isn't as bad as I am making it sound.
This spring has started off good. New bike, sweet Utah trip, and biking almost every day. I think it's pretty awesome how biking has so many health benefits, including mental, and it's crazy fun at the same time. What a great sport.
Racing season starts in about a month. First one is in my home town of L.A. The coulees are fast, and really fun. It should be an awesome one. I'll probably see some familiar faces and see how people weathered the winter.
This summer is sure to hold a few races, but none can be too much more exciting for me than the Trans-Savoie in France. 6 day stage race throughout the French Alps. Say what? Yeah, I think it's mostly true and definitely happening one way or another. The Alps have always had my attention but I never thought I would get to ride my bike there. Wow. It's like 140 days away or so.
This year I'll be on Giant rigs again. So good. Maestro for life. Can't go wrong with some Gore biking clothes either. They look sweet and I think I'm going on about 4 or 5 days without it stinking. If we ride in the future please let me know if I stink. You may be asking, "J, where can I get these items?" Favorit Cycles. 9th Ave. They have what you need.
Group rides are starting up again! Awesome people having fun on bikes. Sweet. There ain't too much better then riding bikes with friends.
Summer has it all. Warm temps, good people, bikes, and maybe a couple cold one's post ride. So good.
Just a FYI, I listened to 'Boy & Bear - Feeding Line' repeatedly while writing this. It's real good. Can't wait to get it on the Ipod and ride with it.
Have fun! It's summer time! Get out and see all that the Koots has to offer!
The winter was long. Too long. I think an extra month gets tacked on every year to make it seem longer. I dislike winter. Things seem to move at a slower pace and outdoor recreating just doesn't seem as awesome. You may say, "Well J, that's just life in the Koots. Love it or leave it." And while this is true, I think I have so much fun in the summer that it gets me through the winter. But I could definitely see myself turning into a snow bird at an early age to get more sweet, sweet summer time in. Maybe winter isn't as bad as I am making it sound.
This spring has started off good. New bike, sweet Utah trip, and biking almost every day. I think it's pretty awesome how biking has so many health benefits, including mental, and it's crazy fun at the same time. What a great sport.
Racing season starts in about a month. First one is in my home town of L.A. The coulees are fast, and really fun. It should be an awesome one. I'll probably see some familiar faces and see how people weathered the winter.
This summer is sure to hold a few races, but none can be too much more exciting for me than the Trans-Savoie in France. 6 day stage race throughout the French Alps. Say what? Yeah, I think it's mostly true and definitely happening one way or another. The Alps have always had my attention but I never thought I would get to ride my bike there. Wow. It's like 140 days away or so.
This year I'll be on Giant rigs again. So good. Maestro for life. Can't go wrong with some Gore biking clothes either. They look sweet and I think I'm going on about 4 or 5 days without it stinking. If we ride in the future please let me know if I stink. You may be asking, "J, where can I get these items?" Favorit Cycles. 9th Ave. They have what you need.
Group rides are starting up again! Awesome people having fun on bikes. Sweet. There ain't too much better then riding bikes with friends.
Summer has it all. Warm temps, good people, bikes, and maybe a couple cold one's post ride. So good.
Just a FYI, I listened to 'Boy & Bear - Feeding Line' repeatedly while writing this. It's real good. Can't wait to get it on the Ipod and ride with it.
Have fun! It's summer time! Get out and see all that the Koots has to offer!
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
The Fun Has Just Begun!
A lot of people would say that the riding season is coming to an end, and I guess technically it is, but there is still some great, if not the best, riding that is going to happen all year yet to come. The weather tones down a notch to a respectable level so losing massive amounts of sweat is no longer a factor. And the leaves. I don't get why, but riding my bike over fallen fall leaves puts a smile on my face. Every time. The race season is winding down which leaves more time for riding bikes for the fun of it with some good folks that I enjoy riding with. I think it becomes a bit more social. The best riding happens this season!
As for racing over the past little while, it has been pretty awesome as well. There was the Lost Boys Lungbuster way back on the 18th of August in Fernie where I placed 2nd and 17 seconds back from local legend John O'Shannasy. Sometimes I consider the 2nd a bit of a disappointment because I was setting the pace for much of the race. He caught up within the last km or so and it was neck and neck right to the end. I didn't want to let first place go but he ended up riding better than me that day, and I am okay with that.
Lungbuster Results
Two weeks back started a trifecta of weekends of racing again, just like the beginning of the season did. First up was the Tears and Gears event in Fernie. For this event I teamed up with the Cranbrook local legend Stephanie McGregor Jones to do the running portion of the race. She had to run 21km. I remember running 12 one time and not being able to walk properly the next couple days. She did crazy good! My portion held a 26km mtb ride in what seemed to be all of Fernie's uphills. Together we pulled off 1st place in our category. Riding fernie trails and hanging out with cool people? Awesome!
Mixed Enduro Team <80 Results
Last weekend brought the Six In The Stix 6 hour MTB enduro back to Cranbrook. This was the 3rd year of this taking place and it is pretty incredible to see where it has gone. From 45 racers showing up the first year to over 100 this year, some big name sponsors jumping on board to support, and people coming from far and near to ride in it, this event is sure to get even bigger in coming years. I like to think I played a small part in getting the first year of Six In The Stix together and I think the main idea was to showcase Cranbrook's riding and get the word out that CBK did have a lot of great riding that was underutilized. By seeing how the event went off this year, I would say mission accomplished. It's pretty awesome to see the community coming together to put on an event like this. People volunteering their time to help out in any way they can. And then peoples enthusiasm as they take part in the event. A 6 hour enduro is no easy task, but everyone seemed to have a good time. Sweet.
This year I rode the Six event on a team with young Tristin who I met at the beginning of this year when he started working at the bike shop. As far as I know he only started riding xc this year and has a background of bmx and dirt jump. And he's 15. My main reason for teaming up was to have fun and introduce this punk to the sport of xc-ing. I don't think he needed any introduction to it because he destroyed the course and was getting amazing lap times. This kid knows how to rip on a lot of different bikes. Pretty proud of him for giving his all. So for an event I just wanted to have fun with, we ended up getting 3rd place in our category. That's awesome.
Six Results
With that good of a weekend behind me, it's hard to think about the one coming up. There is going to be a lot of suffering. There is every year. I'm talking about the Kaslo Sufferfest. This will be its third year and my third year attending. They have crazy events like a 200 km trail run, 100 km xc, and many more. The whole weekend is about suffering. I'm signed up for the 100km xc bike but the monster enduro is also looking good. I know the event is going to be awesome but I am not looking forward to the 5am wake up and pain. This race also marks the end of my planned races for 2012.
I saw a movie about the Leadville 100 recently that a friend lent me. Seems like a pretty neat thing to do. But what really struck me in the movie was a part where a guy was talking about how everything that he has or is doing now is a result of mountain biking. Hmmm. Yeah I think I can say the same thing. There have been people/shops that have made a huge impact on what I was doing ever since I moved here nearly 5 years ago. I came to Cranbrook for the forestry work but that changed pretty quickly. From jobs to bikes to friends, there has been a huge part of it related in some way to the insanely awesome sport of mountain biking. That's kind of crazy to think about, but it's the way it is. So I'd like to throw a thank you out to everyone who has helped make the way I am living my life now possible. It's been real sweet and somehow continues to get better!
One more thing before I wrap this one up. I was talking about how fall riding has just started and it is the best time to ride. Well lucky for you there is a group ride going up Mt. Baker on Sunday Oct. 7th. Talk to the guys at Favorit Cycles, or the guy at Sidekick Stickers (now conveniently located in the same building) about how to take part in it.
James from Favorit Cycles has been pretty solid with helping me get set up with everything bicycling related. And helping me see what the future of mtb-ing could offer. Thanks man. Thanks Colby from Giant for keeping the stoke going on riding the best bikes out there. Scott with Gore Bike Wear. This guys has a crazy love for riding bikes. And providing great apparel. Thanks again!
Peace out.
As for racing over the past little while, it has been pretty awesome as well. There was the Lost Boys Lungbuster way back on the 18th of August in Fernie where I placed 2nd and 17 seconds back from local legend John O'Shannasy. Sometimes I consider the 2nd a bit of a disappointment because I was setting the pace for much of the race. He caught up within the last km or so and it was neck and neck right to the end. I didn't want to let first place go but he ended up riding better than me that day, and I am okay with that.
Lungbuster Results
Two weeks back started a trifecta of weekends of racing again, just like the beginning of the season did. First up was the Tears and Gears event in Fernie. For this event I teamed up with the Cranbrook local legend Stephanie McGregor Jones to do the running portion of the race. She had to run 21km. I remember running 12 one time and not being able to walk properly the next couple days. She did crazy good! My portion held a 26km mtb ride in what seemed to be all of Fernie's uphills. Together we pulled off 1st place in our category. Riding fernie trails and hanging out with cool people? Awesome!
Mixed Enduro Team <80 Results
Last weekend brought the Six In The Stix 6 hour MTB enduro back to Cranbrook. This was the 3rd year of this taking place and it is pretty incredible to see where it has gone. From 45 racers showing up the first year to over 100 this year, some big name sponsors jumping on board to support, and people coming from far and near to ride in it, this event is sure to get even bigger in coming years. I like to think I played a small part in getting the first year of Six In The Stix together and I think the main idea was to showcase Cranbrook's riding and get the word out that CBK did have a lot of great riding that was underutilized. By seeing how the event went off this year, I would say mission accomplished. It's pretty awesome to see the community coming together to put on an event like this. People volunteering their time to help out in any way they can. And then peoples enthusiasm as they take part in the event. A 6 hour enduro is no easy task, but everyone seemed to have a good time. Sweet.
This year I rode the Six event on a team with young Tristin who I met at the beginning of this year when he started working at the bike shop. As far as I know he only started riding xc this year and has a background of bmx and dirt jump. And he's 15. My main reason for teaming up was to have fun and introduce this punk to the sport of xc-ing. I don't think he needed any introduction to it because he destroyed the course and was getting amazing lap times. This kid knows how to rip on a lot of different bikes. Pretty proud of him for giving his all. So for an event I just wanted to have fun with, we ended up getting 3rd place in our category. That's awesome.
Six Results
With that good of a weekend behind me, it's hard to think about the one coming up. There is going to be a lot of suffering. There is every year. I'm talking about the Kaslo Sufferfest. This will be its third year and my third year attending. They have crazy events like a 200 km trail run, 100 km xc, and many more. The whole weekend is about suffering. I'm signed up for the 100km xc bike but the monster enduro is also looking good. I know the event is going to be awesome but I am not looking forward to the 5am wake up and pain. This race also marks the end of my planned races for 2012.
I saw a movie about the Leadville 100 recently that a friend lent me. Seems like a pretty neat thing to do. But what really struck me in the movie was a part where a guy was talking about how everything that he has or is doing now is a result of mountain biking. Hmmm. Yeah I think I can say the same thing. There have been people/shops that have made a huge impact on what I was doing ever since I moved here nearly 5 years ago. I came to Cranbrook for the forestry work but that changed pretty quickly. From jobs to bikes to friends, there has been a huge part of it related in some way to the insanely awesome sport of mountain biking. That's kind of crazy to think about, but it's the way it is. So I'd like to throw a thank you out to everyone who has helped make the way I am living my life now possible. It's been real sweet and somehow continues to get better!
One more thing before I wrap this one up. I was talking about how fall riding has just started and it is the best time to ride. Well lucky for you there is a group ride going up Mt. Baker on Sunday Oct. 7th. Talk to the guys at Favorit Cycles, or the guy at Sidekick Stickers (now conveniently located in the same building) about how to take part in it.
James from Favorit Cycles has been pretty solid with helping me get set up with everything bicycling related. And helping me see what the future of mtb-ing could offer. Thanks man. Thanks Colby from Giant for keeping the stoke going on riding the best bikes out there. Scott with Gore Bike Wear. This guys has a crazy love for riding bikes. And providing great apparel. Thanks again!
Peace out.
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Shaved Legs
It's time once again to start shaving legs and racing bikes. I took a bit of time off over the last little while and rode my bike for fun. Went on a few good adventures with lots of good people. In fact, the last time I raced my bike competitively was on June 24, about a month and a half ago. And that was the Round the Mountain Festival in Kimberley, B.C. Pretty good local race. Results
But that was in the past. There are a hand full of good races coming up in the near future. One week from today is the Lost Boys Lungbuster in Fernie. This proved to be a fun race the last two years I've done it. 3rd both years but hoping to improve on my time and maybe my place this year given I have a new ride and new strategy.
Then in about a month from now on Sept. 15 there is the Fernie Tears and Gears event. I've never been to this one but racing in Fernie can't be a bad thing given their outstanding trails. I have been coerced by the ultra runner - Stephanie McGregor Jones - to team up and destroy the Fernie trails. Should be fun.
The always growing Six In the Stix will take place on Sept. 23 right in my backyard in Cranbrook. This will be the 3rd year in a row this event has went on, showcasing the awesome trails that Cranbrook holds. I will be teaming up with a younger punk who has just gotten in to xc riding this year but who's skills are developing rather quickly. It's going to be awesome.
One week after that on Sept. 29 there is the Kaslo Sufferfest. Some event names, such as the Lungbuster, lie in the names because the competitor doesn't actually bust a lung. However, the Sufferfest is a true sufferfest. This one will be the 100km xc ride with the potential of doing the Monster Enduro the next day. It's going to be a crazy weekend.
So there are still 4 awesome races left this season with a bunch of adventure mixed in.
It seems these days that it doesn't satisfy my cravings to go and do a couple loops of something in the community forest. There needs to be something more. That's where Baker Mountain comes in. This hill has taken me on a bunch of awesome rides this summer and there is sure to be more. All climb to all descend. So good.
Ride on!
But that was in the past. There are a hand full of good races coming up in the near future. One week from today is the Lost Boys Lungbuster in Fernie. This proved to be a fun race the last two years I've done it. 3rd both years but hoping to improve on my time and maybe my place this year given I have a new ride and new strategy.
Then in about a month from now on Sept. 15 there is the Fernie Tears and Gears event. I've never been to this one but racing in Fernie can't be a bad thing given their outstanding trails. I have been coerced by the ultra runner - Stephanie McGregor Jones - to team up and destroy the Fernie trails. Should be fun.
The always growing Six In the Stix will take place on Sept. 23 right in my backyard in Cranbrook. This will be the 3rd year in a row this event has went on, showcasing the awesome trails that Cranbrook holds. I will be teaming up with a younger punk who has just gotten in to xc riding this year but who's skills are developing rather quickly. It's going to be awesome.
One week after that on Sept. 29 there is the Kaslo Sufferfest. Some event names, such as the Lungbuster, lie in the names because the competitor doesn't actually bust a lung. However, the Sufferfest is a true sufferfest. This one will be the 100km xc ride with the potential of doing the Monster Enduro the next day. It's going to be a crazy weekend.
So there are still 4 awesome races left this season with a bunch of adventure mixed in.
It seems these days that it doesn't satisfy my cravings to go and do a couple loops of something in the community forest. There needs to be something more. That's where Baker Mountain comes in. This hill has taken me on a bunch of awesome rides this summer and there is sure to be more. All climb to all descend. So good.
Ride on!
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Cat UP!
Another weekend, another race. This was the final in a trifecta of races over the last three weeks. This time, Canada Olympic park in the bustling metropolis of Calgary, AB. The drive there was super nice. I went through Kootenay National Park this time instead of going south through Alberta on the 22 which proved to be really relaxing and helped to lessen the blow of having to go to Calgary.
With the last couple races in my mind and knowing that I did well in them, I decided to sign up for the Expert class for this Summer Solstice race. It sure is nice to be up there in terms of rankings but I didn't think my skill was going forward and I wasn't learning as much from races as I would have liked to. There was also the recommendation of some friends to try a higher category, see how it goes. So for this race I was in the Expert category, in the league with the big boys.
Signing up to a higher category without being told to by either the Alberta Bicycling Association or Cycling BC created some confusion as I was signing in for the race. In the end, one of the reps let me in the Expert class based on my previous results. This was good as now I did not have to drive back to Cranbrook without getting my tires dirty.
Race time was at 1:00pm. The people in my category now looked even more serious and hardcore when lining up at the start gate. This, I knew, was going to be a true test of my skill. The whistle goes off and everyone is battling for position. The course starts out on an open lawn to a short stretch of pavement but quickly turns into smooth singletrack. I was keeping what I thought was a comfortable pace and staying about midpack. There was a few short, gradual climbs on this course but by lap four those same climbs turned into long, steep climbs of destruction. The rest of the course was surprisingly techy with quick turns, wet roots, and super muddy sections. This was a tough, yet fun course.
I stayed about midpack for the duration of the race, making a few spots on some of the climbs. Then lap 4 came. This course was 24km long, with 6km laps. Lap 4 felt great to get to in the position that I was in but it would have its share of problems.
The riders around me, and including myself, started to feel the effects of going hard for that long. Riding started to get sloppy and the pace started to decrease. For the first time ever riding my bike I had the craziest cramps I have yet to experience. Anytime I would shift to a different position on the bike my legs would start to lock up. This also took effect as I was set to pass a rider that had slipped on a wet root. Instead of passing him I pedalled right into his back wheel, coming to a stop. All because of cramping.
Lesson 1: Figure out how to avoid cramps.
I thought I might be able to catch up on a few of the riders towards the end of the last lap but everyone's pace increases right at the end. No one wants to lose where they are.
24km later I ended up in 9th position out of 15 in my category. Not too shabby. There were a great deal of things learned in this race and I have no doubt that it will progress my riding to be in a higher category.
Summer Solstice Results
Over the course of 3 weeks I drove over 1800km to get to and from races. Seems crazy but I guess if I'm having fun it's not so crazy. I think it is time for a weekend off though.
Next up? I'm not too sure. I know Round the Mountain in Kimberley is right around the corner and it would be awesome to defend my spot in that.
I went for a ride last night on the Hungry Hound with some friends. It got me thinking. What if I wasn't into biking? Life would be totally different. Much of my life is based around riding and people that I have met through riding bikes. If all of that were just gone one day, what would I do? Wow, that is way too deep to think about right now.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Peace out.
With the last couple races in my mind and knowing that I did well in them, I decided to sign up for the Expert class for this Summer Solstice race. It sure is nice to be up there in terms of rankings but I didn't think my skill was going forward and I wasn't learning as much from races as I would have liked to. There was also the recommendation of some friends to try a higher category, see how it goes. So for this race I was in the Expert category, in the league with the big boys.
 |
| COP - Calgary, A.B. |
Signing up to a higher category without being told to by either the Alberta Bicycling Association or Cycling BC created some confusion as I was signing in for the race. In the end, one of the reps let me in the Expert class based on my previous results. This was good as now I did not have to drive back to Cranbrook without getting my tires dirty.
Race time was at 1:00pm. The people in my category now looked even more serious and hardcore when lining up at the start gate. This, I knew, was going to be a true test of my skill. The whistle goes off and everyone is battling for position. The course starts out on an open lawn to a short stretch of pavement but quickly turns into smooth singletrack. I was keeping what I thought was a comfortable pace and staying about midpack. There was a few short, gradual climbs on this course but by lap four those same climbs turned into long, steep climbs of destruction. The rest of the course was surprisingly techy with quick turns, wet roots, and super muddy sections. This was a tough, yet fun course.
I stayed about midpack for the duration of the race, making a few spots on some of the climbs. Then lap 4 came. This course was 24km long, with 6km laps. Lap 4 felt great to get to in the position that I was in but it would have its share of problems.
The riders around me, and including myself, started to feel the effects of going hard for that long. Riding started to get sloppy and the pace started to decrease. For the first time ever riding my bike I had the craziest cramps I have yet to experience. Anytime I would shift to a different position on the bike my legs would start to lock up. This also took effect as I was set to pass a rider that had slipped on a wet root. Instead of passing him I pedalled right into his back wheel, coming to a stop. All because of cramping.
Lesson 1: Figure out how to avoid cramps.
I thought I might be able to catch up on a few of the riders towards the end of the last lap but everyone's pace increases right at the end. No one wants to lose where they are.
24km later I ended up in 9th position out of 15 in my category. Not too shabby. There were a great deal of things learned in this race and I have no doubt that it will progress my riding to be in a higher category.
Summer Solstice Results
Over the course of 3 weeks I drove over 1800km to get to and from races. Seems crazy but I guess if I'm having fun it's not so crazy. I think it is time for a weekend off though.
Next up? I'm not too sure. I know Round the Mountain in Kimberley is right around the corner and it would be awesome to defend my spot in that.
I went for a ride last night on the Hungry Hound with some friends. It got me thinking. What if I wasn't into biking? Life would be totally different. Much of my life is based around riding and people that I have met through riding bikes. If all of that were just gone one day, what would I do? Wow, that is way too deep to think about right now.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Peace out.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Hammer Time
The day began early. 5:30am early. That's too early. But it's okay if you're going out to ride your bike. That's what happened today in the awesome riding area of Herron Park, near Kalispell, Montana. The trails are super smooth, and blazingly fast.
About this time last year I headed to the same event not knowing at all what was going to happen as it was my first year racing and that was my first race. I ended up placing 8th and learning a lot about racing.
This year the course was completely changed up, but still had a lot of the same characteristics of last years course. Smooth course, tight switchback climbs, and a great crowd.
I was in the first row lining up to the start. Horn goes off. Everyone wants it so the speed right off the bat is a bit quick but now is not the time to get left behind. I stayed within the first 3 spots as the rest of the group also settled into their spots. There was a climb within the first km and 3 of us broke away from the rest of the group. The pace at this point was not as fast as I would have liked it but I didn't want to haul ass too early as I had no idea what the rest of the course had in store. There was no way to gauge my speed to see what I needed to save for later. So I tagged along in 3rd spot until the first downhill section came. Wow. I think it might be that I started off DH-ing when I moved to Cranbrook which is what gives me the skill on the way down. The two I was following were not going nearly as fast as the course allowed. The next extended hill climb came and I decided to make a leap to start the pace a bit faster. One of the racers amongst us three started at the same pace that I was now doing. At this point I thought we were pretty equally matched. The top of the climb came and now was the downhill right to the start/finish area. I made up a lot of time on the other two racers on this section. I thought I had it. The first hill climb was under way for lap 2 and the guy that was following me made up a bunch of time and apparently has mad climbing skills. He passed me at a good pace on the way up and I didn't see him again. I thought I might be able to catch him again on the way down but he was just too quick of a climber. The rest of the race was filled with harder hill climbs as energy was decreasing. I think I might have given 'er as hard as I ever have in this race cause my legs were aching by the end of the 30km course. In the end this course was super fun and I would end up with 2nd place, and a nice prize bag to top it off.
The race made me realize that Cranbrook must, and does, have a lot of talented riders. We have such a variety of varied terrain here. Most of us riders would laugh at the rock section they set up and power way harder on the downhills.
It was awesome that a good friend came along who also rode the course and ended up with 2nd in his category. Way to go Colin. We both ended up with some pretty sweet shwag and it was a great day for riding bikes. Results
Next up? The Deadgoats in Calgary are putting on The Summer Solstice race at COP this weekend. Time to take out some Deadgoats. This will complete a trifecta of weekends racing my bike. Maybe a weekend off after that is in order...
About this time last year I headed to the same event not knowing at all what was going to happen as it was my first year racing and that was my first race. I ended up placing 8th and learning a lot about racing.
This year the course was completely changed up, but still had a lot of the same characteristics of last years course. Smooth course, tight switchback climbs, and a great crowd.
I was in the first row lining up to the start. Horn goes off. Everyone wants it so the speed right off the bat is a bit quick but now is not the time to get left behind. I stayed within the first 3 spots as the rest of the group also settled into their spots. There was a climb within the first km and 3 of us broke away from the rest of the group. The pace at this point was not as fast as I would have liked it but I didn't want to haul ass too early as I had no idea what the rest of the course had in store. There was no way to gauge my speed to see what I needed to save for later. So I tagged along in 3rd spot until the first downhill section came. Wow. I think it might be that I started off DH-ing when I moved to Cranbrook which is what gives me the skill on the way down. The two I was following were not going nearly as fast as the course allowed. The next extended hill climb came and I decided to make a leap to start the pace a bit faster. One of the racers amongst us three started at the same pace that I was now doing. At this point I thought we were pretty equally matched. The top of the climb came and now was the downhill right to the start/finish area. I made up a lot of time on the other two racers on this section. I thought I had it. The first hill climb was under way for lap 2 and the guy that was following me made up a bunch of time and apparently has mad climbing skills. He passed me at a good pace on the way up and I didn't see him again. I thought I might be able to catch him again on the way down but he was just too quick of a climber. The rest of the race was filled with harder hill climbs as energy was decreasing. I think I might have given 'er as hard as I ever have in this race cause my legs were aching by the end of the 30km course. In the end this course was super fun and I would end up with 2nd place, and a nice prize bag to top it off.
The race made me realize that Cranbrook must, and does, have a lot of talented riders. We have such a variety of varied terrain here. Most of us riders would laugh at the rock section they set up and power way harder on the downhills.
It was awesome that a good friend came along who also rode the course and ended up with 2nd in his category. Way to go Colin. We both ended up with some pretty sweet shwag and it was a great day for riding bikes. Results
Next up? The Deadgoats in Calgary are putting on The Summer Solstice race at COP this weekend. Time to take out some Deadgoats. This will complete a trifecta of weekends racing my bike. Maybe a weekend off after that is in order...
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Wheelie
It's good to get the first one out of the way.
There were a lot of things to prepare for leading up to my first race of the season, especially since there were a lot of changes from the beginning of this year to the beginning of 2011. I was losing some weight, getting better endurance, and having more fun on my bike then I ever have. But probably the biggest change to 2012 is the bike. I was a little hesitant to jump back on a hardtail after not riding one for a whole lotta years. But thinking about how the bike would work in certain situations for the better, and seeing many racers on hartails last year, I knew it was a good idea. Throw 29er into the mix and you have a fast, climb like a billy goat sorta bike.
The stage was set. Race: Coulee Cruiser. Location: Lethbridge, Alberta. My old stomping grounds. Where I grew up and pretty much fell in love with mountain biking. A lot of riding happened in these coulees, and now I wanted to see how I could do in race pace on a rig so different then the one I grew up on, a Norco Kokanee.
I arrived a couple hours before my group was set to go so I took the road bike out for a couple k's to warm up the legs. In doing so I saw a lot of racer types doing the same thing. The nerves started to go a little bit but I figured I was also starting to be a 'racer type' so it should all be good.
Our group was set to go at 11:34am. The family was there rooting for me and I was feeling pretty good on this 27 degree day.
The course was smooth, so smooth. Filled with wide turns and long straight sections, I knew it was going to be a sprint for the whole thing. Just the way I like it. The course was about 6.4 km long and we had to do 3 laps. Game on.
After a sufficiently steep descent into the valley right off the gun, the first hill climb lay ahead of us. Ahead of me was Kevin, a racer that I met at the Edmonton Canada Cup in 2011. He organized the Coulee Cruiser and was also racing in it. But then he dropped his chain on this first climb of the race, not more then 5 minutes in. This was an issue as I was following him closely as I knew his skill and wanted to stay with him. He came to a stop and I had to think quick and try to get around him without running into him. In the process of doing this, somehow my rear axle dropped out of the frame. I have narrowed it down to only one cause. I did not tighten it enough that morning after cleaning my bike. This has never happened before and I am sure it will never happen again. I didn't realize what was going on right away so in the end I probably lost half a minute getting it all geared up again. After all the racers passed me I was on the trail again giving it as hard as I could to regain some spots.
There were 3 decent climbs on this course. All of which were smooth and still fast. I made a lot of time up on them and passed people, which was a bit of an issue everytime as there were no good passing spots so I was forced to go into the grass not knowing if a cactus was right beneath my tire. Luckily enough there were no flats.
The rest of the race went smooth. Really smooth. The bike felt great and my legs were just givin 'er. I threw back an energy gel and forced on. The dude that dropped his chain on the first climb came into sight. I knew I had to pass him.
After passing him I had no idea where I lay in the pack. I just kept pressing on thinking about the finish. Nearly 20 km later the finish came and I was pretty stoked on how I did.
I ended up passing 13 racers to gain a position of 4th, 2 minutes off the leader. Pretty decent I think for my wheel falling out.
This was an awesome course and I am thankful to Kevin from the Lethbridge Headwinds for putting on a spectacular race.
Coulee Cruiser Results
What's next? There are a couple things lined up. This next weekend there is a race in Kalispell, M.T, the Herron Hammer. Not too far away but still takes gas to get there. It was an awesome race last year and I'm sure my new hardtail would haul ass on that course. Maybe take a weekend off and do the Summer Solstice XC #3 in Calgary on May 26th.
There were a lot of things to prepare for leading up to my first race of the season, especially since there were a lot of changes from the beginning of this year to the beginning of 2011. I was losing some weight, getting better endurance, and having more fun on my bike then I ever have. But probably the biggest change to 2012 is the bike. I was a little hesitant to jump back on a hardtail after not riding one for a whole lotta years. But thinking about how the bike would work in certain situations for the better, and seeing many racers on hartails last year, I knew it was a good idea. Throw 29er into the mix and you have a fast, climb like a billy goat sorta bike.
 |
| The new ride, on the stickered up ride |
I arrived a couple hours before my group was set to go so I took the road bike out for a couple k's to warm up the legs. In doing so I saw a lot of racer types doing the same thing. The nerves started to go a little bit but I figured I was also starting to be a 'racer type' so it should all be good.
Our group was set to go at 11:34am. The family was there rooting for me and I was feeling pretty good on this 27 degree day.
 |
| The start of it all |
After a sufficiently steep descent into the valley right off the gun, the first hill climb lay ahead of us. Ahead of me was Kevin, a racer that I met at the Edmonton Canada Cup in 2011. He organized the Coulee Cruiser and was also racing in it. But then he dropped his chain on this first climb of the race, not more then 5 minutes in. This was an issue as I was following him closely as I knew his skill and wanted to stay with him. He came to a stop and I had to think quick and try to get around him without running into him. In the process of doing this, somehow my rear axle dropped out of the frame. I have narrowed it down to only one cause. I did not tighten it enough that morning after cleaning my bike. This has never happened before and I am sure it will never happen again. I didn't realize what was going on right away so in the end I probably lost half a minute getting it all geared up again. After all the racers passed me I was on the trail again giving it as hard as I could to regain some spots.
There were 3 decent climbs on this course. All of which were smooth and still fast. I made a lot of time up on them and passed people, which was a bit of an issue everytime as there were no good passing spots so I was forced to go into the grass not knowing if a cactus was right beneath my tire. Luckily enough there were no flats.
The rest of the race went smooth. Really smooth. The bike felt great and my legs were just givin 'er. I threw back an energy gel and forced on. The dude that dropped his chain on the first climb came into sight. I knew I had to pass him.
After passing him I had no idea where I lay in the pack. I just kept pressing on thinking about the finish. Nearly 20 km later the finish came and I was pretty stoked on how I did.
I ended up passing 13 racers to gain a position of 4th, 2 minutes off the leader. Pretty decent I think for my wheel falling out.
This was an awesome course and I am thankful to Kevin from the Lethbridge Headwinds for putting on a spectacular race.
Coulee Cruiser Results
What's next? There are a couple things lined up. This next weekend there is a race in Kalispell, M.T, the Herron Hammer. Not too far away but still takes gas to get there. It was an awesome race last year and I'm sure my new hardtail would haul ass on that course. Maybe take a weekend off and do the Summer Solstice XC #3 in Calgary on May 26th.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
2012. The year to be sweeter then all other years. If the world doesn't end.
2012. What are you going to do before the world ends? Here is a bit about what I have done, and what I am hoping to do. It kind of seems weird writing all about me, as if I like to talk about myself, but it is a blog and I guess that's what these are about.
After a pretty sweet year in 2011, being the first year that I planned to race bikes and tried to do the best I could, I thought I might as well go at it again after having tons of fun last year and pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do. There was a bunch of descent results and I got to travel to some really cool places to ride and meet a bunch of cool people.
As last years racing was coming to an end, I needed to think about what would give me a good start on the 2012 season. I did get into a bunch of trainer riding, as well as a considerable amount of ski touring, xc skiing and yes, even running. Running's cool. I even started to eat WAY healthier and I think that has brought about the biggest change to my overall health. Though there were a host of activities to keep me busy ,especially living in the Kootenays, this winter seemed to be the hardest to stay away from a bike. It seems that every year it gets harder and harder to put down the bike for the entire winter. This might mean I need to move to a warmer destination in the cold months.
Summer riding was being planned. What was I going to ride? I have been on a hand full of different bikes and the ones that always stuck out to me were Giant's. They just have the feel, you know? Different companies do things differently and I like how Giant does their thing. I've been on their Reign X, Trance and, until recently, my favourite was the Anthem. Getting racy for sure. There is a new bike in town for 2012. The XTC 29er composite model. This thing hauls! I needed a few minutes on it to get used to it since I haven't rode a hard tail since I was a kid, but once the Giant feel was back, it was game on. This is sure to be a favourite. Who hooked me up with this steed you ask? Well, I don't shop often, but when I do I prefer to shop at Favorit Cycles, right here in Cranbrook, B.C.
After a long and cold winter, finally the time came to ride bikes. To start off the season an awesome group of friends and I headed down south to Utah/ Arizona. We rode a bunch of great trail. Gooseberry, Bootleg Canyon, and Jem Trail to name a few. It was a great way to spend 10 days on an awesome bike with a good group. It wasn't nearly long enough though. When we came back to Cranbrook there was still snow on the ground and temperatures were not as high as I had hoped. Oh well.
So what's planned for 2012? Well I am not too sure yet. I know there are a few key races I want to attend and a lot of other ones that sound really good too. Here is a list of potentials for this year:
May - 13th - Coulee Cruiser - Lethbridge, A.B.
20th - Herron Hammer - Kalispel, M.T.
26th - Summer Solstice - Calgary, A.B.
26-27th - Round and Round 24Hr. - Spokane, W.A.
June - 2-3- Kananaskiker - Canmore, A.B.
17th - North Face 6Hr Enduro - Kamloops, B.C.
24th - Round The Mountain - Kimberley, B.C.
July - 14-15 - Canada Cup XC - Canmore, A.B.
August - 3-5 - Great Northern MTB Stage Race - Whitefish, M.T.
18th - Lost Boys Lungbuster - Fernie, B.C.
September - 9th - Kootenay Krusher - Nipika, B.C
28-29th - Kaslo Sufferfest - Kaslo, B.C
October - ? - Six In The Stix 6Hr Enduro - Cranbrook, B.C.
The stoke keeps building for the spring and summer months to get here. It is not far off now.
Stay tuned. This is sure to be one awesome year.
Thanks for reading my blog. Peace out.
After a pretty sweet year in 2011, being the first year that I planned to race bikes and tried to do the best I could, I thought I might as well go at it again after having tons of fun last year and pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do. There was a bunch of descent results and I got to travel to some really cool places to ride and meet a bunch of cool people.
As last years racing was coming to an end, I needed to think about what would give me a good start on the 2012 season. I did get into a bunch of trainer riding, as well as a considerable amount of ski touring, xc skiing and yes, even running. Running's cool. I even started to eat WAY healthier and I think that has brought about the biggest change to my overall health. Though there were a host of activities to keep me busy ,especially living in the Kootenays, this winter seemed to be the hardest to stay away from a bike. It seems that every year it gets harder and harder to put down the bike for the entire winter. This might mean I need to move to a warmer destination in the cold months.
Summer riding was being planned. What was I going to ride? I have been on a hand full of different bikes and the ones that always stuck out to me were Giant's. They just have the feel, you know? Different companies do things differently and I like how Giant does their thing. I've been on their Reign X, Trance and, until recently, my favourite was the Anthem. Getting racy for sure. There is a new bike in town for 2012. The XTC 29er composite model. This thing hauls! I needed a few minutes on it to get used to it since I haven't rode a hard tail since I was a kid, but once the Giant feel was back, it was game on. This is sure to be a favourite. Who hooked me up with this steed you ask? Well, I don't shop often, but when I do I prefer to shop at Favorit Cycles, right here in Cranbrook, B.C.
 |
| 2012 Giant XTC Composite 29er. Hell Yeah! |
After a long and cold winter, finally the time came to ride bikes. To start off the season an awesome group of friends and I headed down south to Utah/ Arizona. We rode a bunch of great trail. Gooseberry, Bootleg Canyon, and Jem Trail to name a few. It was a great way to spend 10 days on an awesome bike with a good group. It wasn't nearly long enough though. When we came back to Cranbrook there was still snow on the ground and temperatures were not as high as I had hoped. Oh well.
 |
| Jem Trail |
So what's planned for 2012? Well I am not too sure yet. I know there are a few key races I want to attend and a lot of other ones that sound really good too. Here is a list of potentials for this year:
May - 13th - Coulee Cruiser - Lethbridge, A.B.
20th - Herron Hammer - Kalispel, M.T.
26th - Summer Solstice - Calgary, A.B.
26-27th - Round and Round 24Hr. - Spokane, W.A.
June - 2-3- Kananaskiker - Canmore, A.B.
17th - North Face 6Hr Enduro - Kamloops, B.C.
24th - Round The Mountain - Kimberley, B.C.
July - 14-15 - Canada Cup XC - Canmore, A.B.
August - 3-5 - Great Northern MTB Stage Race - Whitefish, M.T.
18th - Lost Boys Lungbuster - Fernie, B.C.
September - 9th - Kootenay Krusher - Nipika, B.C
28-29th - Kaslo Sufferfest - Kaslo, B.C
October - ? - Six In The Stix 6Hr Enduro - Cranbrook, B.C.
The stoke keeps building for the spring and summer months to get here. It is not far off now.
Stay tuned. This is sure to be one awesome year.
Thanks for reading my blog. Peace out.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Boo Yeah!
Edmonton Canada Cup. Can't say enough about it. It was short and sweet. It was short because the course was only 7km long, and sweet because it was so muddy that I had to laugh as the whole course was slop. Good times. It was a really nice day for a ride that day, but apparently the day before there was a crazy downpour.
The course was good. It would have been smooth and fast but there was mud which made it slippery and slow. I would say a good 40% was spent running as the terrain did not allow for my tires to grip and make progress on the course. It was good though. I can't say I have ever raced in that much mud, good experience.
I ended up getting first in my category, I think. I had a pretty good lead over #2 but went through the wrong gate on lap #2. Long story short, I may or may not have been disqualified for going through the wrong gate, thus giving up my win. Regardless of that, I destroyed my category. I originally signed up for a category that I was not allowed in with the license that I have. I learned a lot about how the whole point system works and what I need to do for next year, which is good. Here are the results ->http://www.edmontoncanadacup.com/2011/07/2011-kecc-results/
Edmonton was good. It was a great event and if it was dry, it would have been a screaming fast course. Going to races is cool. I get to ride my bike in new areas and meet new people. What's better then that? I also got to visit some great friends in Edmonton. If I think about it a certain way, I would not be living in B.C. or riding bikes if it were not for them. They are pretty cool people!
Since Edmonton I have been taking it a little easier. The first half of summer seemed pretty intense. Races almost every week. Now things are starting to slow down, and it's cool. It gives me a chance to hang out with friends from Cranbrook, and go out and do some new trails that are yet to be discovered. That might also be one of the greatest things about biking. There are so many places to go ride bike that I am never going to get the chance to do them all. Just keep exploring, keeping things new and exciting! To add on to new and exciting, I just received an Opus Avro rigid single speed. Wow. That thing is something else. The lack of creature comforts on it is awesome. Going back to the basics. A totally new, or old, way to ride a bike.
Riding bikes is awesome. In pretty much any mood, at any time of day, in any weather condition, with or without people, I can get on my bike, rip, and have a good time. There are still times where I am heading to the trail head and I get goosebumps as the stereo blares out a jam. It's so good.
What's next? Well let's see. There is a 6 hour enduro coming up in Kamloops, some races part of the Alberta circuit, a hill climb, and a 100km race in Kaslo. But you know what? Those are pretty small when you consider how much fun I am going to have riding with friends around Cranbrook.
I just want to thank the sponsors again. They keep me riding my bike. That's all there is to it! Opus Bikes, Favorit Cycles, Northstar GM, and High Country Sports. You guys are awesome and I am having a blast this summer because of you.
Peace.
 |
| Edmonton Canada Cup course. Greasy. |
 |
| Super greasy. |
I ended up getting first in my category, I think. I had a pretty good lead over #2 but went through the wrong gate on lap #2. Long story short, I may or may not have been disqualified for going through the wrong gate, thus giving up my win. Regardless of that, I destroyed my category. I originally signed up for a category that I was not allowed in with the license that I have. I learned a lot about how the whole point system works and what I need to do for next year, which is good. Here are the results ->http://www.edmontoncanadacup.com/2011/07/2011-kecc-results/
Edmonton was good. It was a great event and if it was dry, it would have been a screaming fast course. Going to races is cool. I get to ride my bike in new areas and meet new people. What's better then that? I also got to visit some great friends in Edmonton. If I think about it a certain way, I would not be living in B.C. or riding bikes if it were not for them. They are pretty cool people!
Since Edmonton I have been taking it a little easier. The first half of summer seemed pretty intense. Races almost every week. Now things are starting to slow down, and it's cool. It gives me a chance to hang out with friends from Cranbrook, and go out and do some new trails that are yet to be discovered. That might also be one of the greatest things about biking. There are so many places to go ride bike that I am never going to get the chance to do them all. Just keep exploring, keeping things new and exciting! To add on to new and exciting, I just received an Opus Avro rigid single speed. Wow. That thing is something else. The lack of creature comforts on it is awesome. Going back to the basics. A totally new, or old, way to ride a bike.
Riding bikes is awesome. In pretty much any mood, at any time of day, in any weather condition, with or without people, I can get on my bike, rip, and have a good time. There are still times where I am heading to the trail head and I get goosebumps as the stereo blares out a jam. It's so good.
What's next? Well let's see. There is a 6 hour enduro coming up in Kamloops, some races part of the Alberta circuit, a hill climb, and a 100km race in Kaslo. But you know what? Those are pretty small when you consider how much fun I am going to have riding with friends around Cranbrook.
I just want to thank the sponsors again. They keep me riding my bike. That's all there is to it! Opus Bikes, Favorit Cycles, Northstar GM, and High Country Sports. You guys are awesome and I am having a blast this summer because of you.
Peace.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Go Time!
So it's halfway through summer already and riding can't really get any better. It's been a while since my last post on here and some pretty cool things have happened. A couple more races under my belt and some trips that surprisingly enough, didn't involve biking.
First up - Gatorade BC Cup XC in Panorama, B.C. This event was not what I expected it was going to be. It was super fun, but the lack of people and poor course marking caused it to be something a little different. There was very high hopes for this race to be huge, maybe even seeing some pro's that make it in the magazines! But no such luck. It was the smallest event I have been to yet with a total of 28 riders. Maybe this was because it was the first year the BC Cup was held here? Maybe it was because the course was brand new and people did not know what to expect? Whatever it was, there is no other option but for next year to be bigger and better. With it being only a 2.5 hour drive to Panorama, it would be nice to see this event take off.
First up - Gatorade BC Cup XC in Panorama, B.C. This event was not what I expected it was going to be. It was super fun, but the lack of people and poor course marking caused it to be something a little different. There was very high hopes for this race to be huge, maybe even seeing some pro's that make it in the magazines! But no such luck. It was the smallest event I have been to yet with a total of 28 riders. Maybe this was because it was the first year the BC Cup was held here? Maybe it was because the course was brand new and people did not know what to expect? Whatever it was, there is no other option but for next year to be bigger and better. With it being only a 2.5 hour drive to Panorama, it would be nice to see this event take off.
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| Panorama BC Cup |
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| Panorama BC Cup, 2nd Place |
Whatever my opinion on the event itself, it was still a race and a lot of learning was taken from it. It's good to see events in my area and I hope more will follow. Results -> http://www.panoramaresort.com/sites/all/assets/images/content/summer/PDF/Gatorade_BC_Cup_XC_Results_-_Panorama.pdf
Another awesome event that happened was the up and down race in Nelson, B.C. This was put on by the riding club and it was good to see a race like this. One team member rode up the Mountain Station hill XC style, and the other member rode back down the hill DH style. This was an awesome bit of fun on a weekend and hope to see more like it!
 |
| Nelson Up and Down race. Nelson, B.C. Cool sight to see! It's not like I needed a break from biking, but this next sweet adventure is certainly what summers should be about. I had the opportunity to go to one of the last remaining ski-able areas around here for it being this far into the summer. It was a long hike in (especially if you go the wrong way) to access a snow patch that is called the Ladies Leg. |
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| The Ladies Leg |
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| Climbing the Ladies Leg |
After 3 runs down the patch and a couple beer it was sufficient to say that a good day was had.
Lost Boys Lungbuster 2011! This is an event I was looking forward to for much of the season. Last year I bagged 3rd place and I really wanted to see what I could do this year knowing that I was a much stronger rider. The morning started out great. I was camping with a few friends in Fernie this weekend so the mood was good and I put on some tunes to start getting stoked. This was going to be an awesome day.
I was able to keep a good pace the whole climb, staying in the lead position. On the last switchback the two competitors that had been right behind me the whole time started to inch past me. I could keep up for a bit but soon realized that they were the smarter riders by letting me set the pace for much of the climb and all they had to do was trail me. I tried with everything that I had to keep up with them but they were older riders with more experience. The pace got faster and faster as the finish grew closer. I was able to keep my pace but not speed up to theirs. At first I was a little chapped that I didn't hold on for first. But then I found out that I beat my time from the previous year by around 5 minutes and was stoked for that! Results>http://ferniesummer.skifernie.com/2011/07/lost-boys-lungbuster-results/
All in all the day was great and I learned even more about racing, this time - pace setting.
The rest of the weekend turned out great as I rode Fernie trails with some good friends.
Life is good when your on your bike!
Next adventure - unknown!
New bike arrival? - SOON!
Peace
Lost Boys Lungbuster 2011! This is an event I was looking forward to for much of the season. Last year I bagged 3rd place and I really wanted to see what I could do this year knowing that I was a much stronger rider. The morning started out great. I was camping with a few friends in Fernie this weekend so the mood was good and I put on some tunes to start getting stoked. This was going to be an awesome day.
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| Lost Boys Lungbuster, Fernie, B.C. |
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| Lost Boys Lungbuster, Fernie, B.C. The final 3. |
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| Lost Boys Lungbuster, Fernie, B.C. |
All in all the day was great and I learned even more about racing, this time - pace setting.
The rest of the weekend turned out great as I rode Fernie trails with some good friends.
Life is good when your on your bike!
Next adventure - unknown!
New bike arrival? - SOON!
Peace
Monday, 27 June 2011
The Mountain
Yesterday it happened, it finally happened. Round the Mountain Race in Kimberley, B.C. http://www.roundthemountain.ca/ This was going to be one of the closest races that I would have all year to where I live. This means knowing the trail. This means knowing my competitors. This means a healthy amount of stress going into the race. And stress there was.
A couple of days before the race the nerves started going. Home turf is a pretty big thing. There aren't very many races that are this close to home so the pressure was on. A quick pre-ride the night before in the Community Forest gave me the chance to test my skills changing a tubeless tire for the first time, something that hasn't been a problem since I started with them a few months ago. So at least I got that out of the way. But I still knew that the course the next day was going to be rocky, it was going to be rough. This was something else that I worried about the night before. A single flat or bike problem could mean getting on the podium or not. Whew, pressure. I wasn't too sure that podium was an option judging by how big the event was going to be, drawing people from all over the Kootenays. But podium would be sweet. Bragging rights. Yeah!
The morning of the event was good. Just like any other Sunday race morning but sunnier. It was going to be a good day. After getting the last things ready for the race, I headed out to Kimberley not knowing what was about to happen.
The scene was set. I arrived to the registration area with a huge amount of people gathered already. The Round The Mountain crew put on an insane event! There was music, there was beer gardens, there was food, all providing a great atmosphere. Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers for putting on a great event and bringing people together in the biking community in the Kootenays!
The start was called. A couple of minutes until the real deal was going to go down. By this time all the nervousness was gone. It was now or never so why even be worried about it? The countdown came, 5,4,3,2,1. Fifty racers were off to see what the 20km Round The Mountain would hold for them.
Right off the bat I was side by side with one of my main competitors. This was a person that I had the sights set on for quite some time now. Someone who has been part of the riding scene for a while and competed in many events. Someone who has beat me in previous races. This was the next person on the list to try to beat. I started to pull away from him on the first climb. YES!
This race seemed to be broken up into three different sections for me. The first being a long steady climb starting out on a dirt road and breaking into single track. I think this might have been my strongest section because I couldn't hear anyone behind me or see anyone during a few peeks back. The second section brought the rough stuff filled with plenty of roots and rocks. This was the toughest section for me by far. In this area I didn't hear anyone and may have not been putting 110% forward because of that. I remember getting to the halfway mark and still not hearing or seeing anyone near me. But they were not far.
During one of the rocky climbs another racer caught up to me struggling to get up the rocky hill. I figured it was a way better idea to run it rather then bike it, making up a bit of time. Seeing another racer behind me brought all the adrenaline back and I thought to myself that I didn't make it that far to lose it now! The finish line was right there right?! It wasn't. The race started to get really tough and interesting just over halfway through the 20km course.
There were two rock slide sections that had a trail busted through them. A perfect spot to rip a hole in the sidewall of a tire. Momentum was key here, just keep the pedals turning and keep the tires off the sharp edges! This slowed me down a bunch and other competitors started to come into view behind me.
Finally came the third section. I was pretty tired by this point after giving the previous 17 km all my strength. This section brought us back onto smoother trails where I started to feel back in my game again. It's pretty easy to start doing stupid things out there purely from a lack of energy. And I definitely had a couple stumbles because of that. On what I thought was the final kilometer, the trail was covered with wood chips. This made it seem like I was biking through mud and took the remaining energy from me. There were a couple of small climbs in here which is where I think I made up some more time giving me a strong lead for the finish. Who would of ever thought that I might podium? And by this point I was leading! It felt really good and I rode that wave right to the finish line where I finished 25 seconds faster then the next competitor! There was a huge gathering of people and the announcer called me as the fastest person to go Round The Mountain. Yes. So good! Results -> http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=17720&categoryId=0
The finish was great. After a couple of beer, a burrito, and many conversations with new friends, it was time to pack it in and take the 30 minute drive home. Today was a good day. Today didn't go anywhere near how I expected it to and I was okay with that. Very okay.
I probably don't thank the people around me enough that help me and keep me stoked on riding my bike. Opus Bike www.opusbike.com has provided me with a sweet rig that keeps amazing me on it's handling abilities and the new terrain that it can conquer. From the smooth singletrack of the Spokane 24hr race to Kimberley's tecky, rocky, rooty Round The Mountain race, the Opus model that I ride, the Stakh, has yet to let me down. And I don't think it will.
Favorit Cycles www.favorit-cycles.com has been an awesome job and has allowed me the time to get in the training, and of course the races. Thanks boss!
And all my friends. Keeping the stoke going is what it's all about. Pushing to the next level is what it's all about. And the support I get from all of you is what it's all about. Boo yeah!
That kinda sounds like some corny Hollywood speech. I don't think that actors mean it, I do!
Next up, the BC Cup XC on July 2nd in Panorama. This one's going to be big. I bet there will be some pros there that I might be able to take some tips off of.
On another note, Cranbrook is getting together a new riding club. Name? WILDHORSE riding club. It's about time this area jumps to the next level and gets a designated riding club that brings a base to the mountain biking that happens in the area. Keep an eye and an ear out for the club. Things are just in the making but are ramping up quickly.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Peace out.
A couple of days before the race the nerves started going. Home turf is a pretty big thing. There aren't very many races that are this close to home so the pressure was on. A quick pre-ride the night before in the Community Forest gave me the chance to test my skills changing a tubeless tire for the first time, something that hasn't been a problem since I started with them a few months ago. So at least I got that out of the way. But I still knew that the course the next day was going to be rocky, it was going to be rough. This was something else that I worried about the night before. A single flat or bike problem could mean getting on the podium or not. Whew, pressure. I wasn't too sure that podium was an option judging by how big the event was going to be, drawing people from all over the Kootenays. But podium would be sweet. Bragging rights. Yeah!
The morning of the event was good. Just like any other Sunday race morning but sunnier. It was going to be a good day. After getting the last things ready for the race, I headed out to Kimberley not knowing what was about to happen.
The scene was set. I arrived to the registration area with a huge amount of people gathered already. The Round The Mountain crew put on an insane event! There was music, there was beer gardens, there was food, all providing a great atmosphere. Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers for putting on a great event and bringing people together in the biking community in the Kootenays!
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| Start of the Round The Mountain event in Kimberley, B.C. |
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| Start of the Round The Mountain event in Kimberley, B.C. |
The start was called. A couple of minutes until the real deal was going to go down. By this time all the nervousness was gone. It was now or never so why even be worried about it? The countdown came, 5,4,3,2,1. Fifty racers were off to see what the 20km Round The Mountain would hold for them.
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| Start of the Round The Mountain event in Kimberley, B.C. |
Right off the bat I was side by side with one of my main competitors. This was a person that I had the sights set on for quite some time now. Someone who has been part of the riding scene for a while and competed in many events. Someone who has beat me in previous races. This was the next person on the list to try to beat. I started to pull away from him on the first climb. YES!
This race seemed to be broken up into three different sections for me. The first being a long steady climb starting out on a dirt road and breaking into single track. I think this might have been my strongest section because I couldn't hear anyone behind me or see anyone during a few peeks back. The second section brought the rough stuff filled with plenty of roots and rocks. This was the toughest section for me by far. In this area I didn't hear anyone and may have not been putting 110% forward because of that. I remember getting to the halfway mark and still not hearing or seeing anyone near me. But they were not far.
During one of the rocky climbs another racer caught up to me struggling to get up the rocky hill. I figured it was a way better idea to run it rather then bike it, making up a bit of time. Seeing another racer behind me brought all the adrenaline back and I thought to myself that I didn't make it that far to lose it now! The finish line was right there right?! It wasn't. The race started to get really tough and interesting just over halfway through the 20km course.
 |
| The gnarly rock sections brought the tech! |
Finally came the third section. I was pretty tired by this point after giving the previous 17 km all my strength. This section brought us back onto smoother trails where I started to feel back in my game again. It's pretty easy to start doing stupid things out there purely from a lack of energy. And I definitely had a couple stumbles because of that. On what I thought was the final kilometer, the trail was covered with wood chips. This made it seem like I was biking through mud and took the remaining energy from me. There were a couple of small climbs in here which is where I think I made up some more time giving me a strong lead for the finish. Who would of ever thought that I might podium? And by this point I was leading! It felt really good and I rode that wave right to the finish line where I finished 25 seconds faster then the next competitor! There was a huge gathering of people and the announcer called me as the fastest person to go Round The Mountain. Yes. So good! Results -> http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=17720&categoryId=0
 |
| My friend Steph who ran Round The Mountain and kicked ass, and me. |
The finish was great. After a couple of beer, a burrito, and many conversations with new friends, it was time to pack it in and take the 30 minute drive home. Today was a good day. Today didn't go anywhere near how I expected it to and I was okay with that. Very okay.
I probably don't thank the people around me enough that help me and keep me stoked on riding my bike. Opus Bike www.opusbike.com has provided me with a sweet rig that keeps amazing me on it's handling abilities and the new terrain that it can conquer. From the smooth singletrack of the Spokane 24hr race to Kimberley's tecky, rocky, rooty Round The Mountain race, the Opus model that I ride, the Stakh, has yet to let me down. And I don't think it will.
Favorit Cycles www.favorit-cycles.com has been an awesome job and has allowed me the time to get in the training, and of course the races. Thanks boss!
And all my friends. Keeping the stoke going is what it's all about. Pushing to the next level is what it's all about. And the support I get from all of you is what it's all about. Boo yeah!
That kinda sounds like some corny Hollywood speech. I don't think that actors mean it, I do!
Next up, the BC Cup XC on July 2nd in Panorama. This one's going to be big. I bet there will be some pros there that I might be able to take some tips off of.
On another note, Cranbrook is getting together a new riding club. Name? WILDHORSE riding club. It's about time this area jumps to the next level and gets a designated riding club that brings a base to the mountain biking that happens in the area. Keep an eye and an ear out for the club. Things are just in the making but are ramping up quickly.
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| The up and coming Wildhorse Bike Club |
Thanks for reading my blog.
Peace out.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Race Pace
Wowzers! Just came back from an awesome trip to Kamloops. And just finding out how I did in the race I went to out there, The North Face Dirty Feet 6 Hour Enduro!
The weekend started off poor. Missed the alarm clock Saturday morning by a hour and a half, which in turn meant a hour and a half less riding in Kamloops. Terrible. When I did finally wake up at 6:30 in the am, Colin (a good riding buddy from Cranbrook) and myself started the 7.5 hour trek to Kamloops. It was a good drive up there until we got to the Rogers Pass. Near the top the car started to overheat so we pulled over, popped the hood and realized we were low on coolant. Perfect. Any coolant in the car of any kind? Nope! Wait a sec. Colin bought a Nestea at the last gas station. That should work! It is still keeping my car cool this very minute.
We got into Kamloops in the early afternoon, just in time to check out the local bike shops. Very cool stuff out there and lots of friendly people in the shops. But we didn't come to Kamloops to shop, it was time to bike. First up, RIO!
Rio is a downhill trail located just outside of Kamloops. I used to be into downhill riding a lot more then I am now, but this trail is the one that keeps bringing me back. It winds down the middle of a gully and is crazy fast. This 6" Opus is perfect for it. So on the Saturday before the race we got in some more gravity rides as well. The other trail network we played around on was the Bike Ranch. http://www.city.kamloops.bc.ca/bikeranch/index.shtml This is a crazy cool network of trails that brings both beginner and more advanced trails together within city limits! Lots of fun was had there. We had to shuttle everything as there was only the two of us. Check out this guy next time your in town - Mostly Mental Shuttles. Good rates and good times.
Sunday Sunday Sunday. Sunday was to be a good day. We woke up early again to get to the park where the race was being held. Start time was 10am. The nerves definately go off waiting for the start gun to go. Checking out all the competition, wondering what the trail is going to be like, making sure my rig is in perfect running order, and so on. If there is something to worry about before a race, I probably worry about it.
Then the start gun goes off and everything changes.
Right off the bat everyone is trying to prove to everyone else that they are better then them and trying to jokey for the best position. Laps here were 12.7km long and the course was smooth, dry, and fast. Nothing too technical, but some nasty short steep hill sections. Average lap times for me were around 45 minutes. There was this one young punk that was probably 6 or 7 years younger then me that I kept duelling with. He was fast for his size! Just as I would start letting off the gas a bit because there was no one around me to let me know what my pace was like, he would pass me. This angered me. How could such a young kid be such a good rider already? Anyway, this made me realize that I can't let off the gas at all. Go until I can't go anymore. He slowly passed me on a hill climb, I looked over and realized who he was, and I was on the gas again, and didn't let go until the end of the 6 hours. In the end I only beat him my just over a minute. Oh well, good lesson learned.
There was a wack load of learning in this race. Another thing for me was to stop being stupid and drink more. During the first 3 laps I only drank 1 water bottle. That's stupid. I don't even really know what my reasoning was. I just get racing and don't think about things too much, including how rehydrating is going to affect me in the laps to come. Bring lots of bottles, drink lots. Easy. After the 4th lap I drank a bottle every lap and my times increased a bunch. And I felt a whole lot stronger in each lap.
Another thing I learned was to shut off a certain portion of my mind. During the race the first couple laps were easy because I was still at full strength and times were fast. But as the race continues and energy decreases, it's really easy to start thinking negatively about a lot of things including things outside of the race. This can't happen. It brings a person down and starts affecting their performance. Focus on the race, focus on the outcome. Do what I want to do. Simple right? Not so much. I got into this state of mind, just focusing on the race and next thing you know I am layed out in one of the high speed corners and my derailleur hanger is bent. Perfect. A simple tweak and it was all good but maybe a person can focus too much on a race. I don't think I am there yet.
Lessons Learned:
1) Put on the gas the whole time, don't go average pace. Max it out!
2) Stop being stupid - drink lots.
3) Be in race pace mode in my mind
Overall I was really happy with how I raced this race. Somewhere during the last lap I looked at my computer and realized that when this 6 hours was all said and done I was going to do over 100km. YEAH! That gave me even more stoke and my last lap was one of my faster ones. We couldn't stick around for the results as we had a 7.5 hour trip home. I had to wait a couple days for the results but in the end it was worth it. I ended up 4th in my category and had the 3rd fastest lap time of any of the solo competitors. Yeah.
Big news! Yesterday I went on my first group road ride to get some cross training in. Awesome. So fast. Good group of people. Roads could be a little smoother for sure. I kind of feel a bit responsible for 3 flat tires during the ride (none were mine), but I was the newby, how was I to know I was supposed to be pointing out the holes in the road?
Next mission, Round The Mountain in Kimberley. Excellent trail, excellent riders. Going to be a tough go but there is some home terf to defend here. I bet lots of people are going to be in it to win it. Training is well underway, we shall see what happens.
Over and out.
The weekend started off poor. Missed the alarm clock Saturday morning by a hour and a half, which in turn meant a hour and a half less riding in Kamloops. Terrible. When I did finally wake up at 6:30 in the am, Colin (a good riding buddy from Cranbrook) and myself started the 7.5 hour trek to Kamloops. It was a good drive up there until we got to the Rogers Pass. Near the top the car started to overheat so we pulled over, popped the hood and realized we were low on coolant. Perfect. Any coolant in the car of any kind? Nope! Wait a sec. Colin bought a Nestea at the last gas station. That should work! It is still keeping my car cool this very minute.
We got into Kamloops in the early afternoon, just in time to check out the local bike shops. Very cool stuff out there and lots of friendly people in the shops. But we didn't come to Kamloops to shop, it was time to bike. First up, RIO!
 |
| This picture is not taken on Rio, rather it is the bike (2010 Opus Clutch 2) that made short work of Rio! |
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| The Opus Stakh 1 right after she was built |
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| The loaded Focus. 4 bikes, 2 riders |
Then the start gun goes off and everything changes.
Right off the bat everyone is trying to prove to everyone else that they are better then them and trying to jokey for the best position. Laps here were 12.7km long and the course was smooth, dry, and fast. Nothing too technical, but some nasty short steep hill sections. Average lap times for me were around 45 minutes. There was this one young punk that was probably 6 or 7 years younger then me that I kept duelling with. He was fast for his size! Just as I would start letting off the gas a bit because there was no one around me to let me know what my pace was like, he would pass me. This angered me. How could such a young kid be such a good rider already? Anyway, this made me realize that I can't let off the gas at all. Go until I can't go anymore. He slowly passed me on a hill climb, I looked over and realized who he was, and I was on the gas again, and didn't let go until the end of the 6 hours. In the end I only beat him my just over a minute. Oh well, good lesson learned.
 |
| The North Face Dirty Feet 6 Hour Enduro - Kamloops, B.C. - Kenna Cartwright Park |
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| Boo Yeah! |
Another thing I learned was to shut off a certain portion of my mind. During the race the first couple laps were easy because I was still at full strength and times were fast. But as the race continues and energy decreases, it's really easy to start thinking negatively about a lot of things including things outside of the race. This can't happen. It brings a person down and starts affecting their performance. Focus on the race, focus on the outcome. Do what I want to do. Simple right? Not so much. I got into this state of mind, just focusing on the race and next thing you know I am layed out in one of the high speed corners and my derailleur hanger is bent. Perfect. A simple tweak and it was all good but maybe a person can focus too much on a race. I don't think I am there yet.
Lessons Learned:
1) Put on the gas the whole time, don't go average pace. Max it out!
2) Stop being stupid - drink lots.
3) Be in race pace mode in my mind
Overall I was really happy with how I raced this race. Somewhere during the last lap I looked at my computer and realized that when this 6 hours was all said and done I was going to do over 100km. YEAH! That gave me even more stoke and my last lap was one of my faster ones. We couldn't stick around for the results as we had a 7.5 hour trip home. I had to wait a couple days for the results but in the end it was worth it. I ended up 4th in my category and had the 3rd fastest lap time of any of the solo competitors. Yeah.
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| The North Face Dirty Feet 6 Hour Enduro - Kamloops, B.C. - Kenna Cartwright Park |
Next mission, Round The Mountain in Kimberley. Excellent trail, excellent riders. Going to be a tough go but there is some home terf to defend here. I bet lots of people are going to be in it to win it. Training is well underway, we shall see what happens.
Over and out.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
2011 Season. So far...
Still early into 2011, it has already been a kick ass season.
I spent a bit of time training throughout the winter, mostly doing outdoor things like backcountry skiing. I knew I wanted to ramp up my game for the season to come and racing my bike even more this year was definately a given. There was handfull of times that I tried to get on the bike trainer, it's just too boring.
I always just imagined being sponsored by a company and getting to ride my bike all over the world. That came a bit more into reality when we searched for a sponsor this past winter. Due to a couple of awesome people (you know who you are) I got hooked up with a sponsorship from Opus Bicycles. http://www.opusbike.com/ . This was pretty insane. This only happened to far luckier and talented people then me right? It took a while to get my bike, but that was okay cause there was snow on the ground still anyway.
So, when the snow finally started to melt this season I did feel a bit groggy because of the lack of training, but that was cured by getting on my bike, a lot.
Before the snow melted in Cranbrook, a bunch of us planned a trip down to Moab, where the snow was long melted. The trip was crazy good! I have never been that far south and just too see the landscape and meet the locals was great. The biking was unbelieveable as well. We did all the local favorites (Porcupine Rim, Slickrock, etc.) and I was stoked to be riding my bike in such a foreign place and getting a head start on the riding season.
Then came the first race.
This year I put together a race schedule and on the top of the list was the Herron Park XC down in Kalispell, Montana. The day called for rain, and lots of it. About a half hour before the race began, the clouds cleared and the light broke through. I knew this was going to be a good day.
The course was smooth and not a lot of elevation gain, not at all like what I am used to in B.C. It was fast and a lot of double track. Many good riders. I found myself in a pace that I was not used to right off the start gun. I guess this was a result of it being the first race of the season and wanting to show Opus what I can do. There was a longer climb right off the bat, not too steep. Somewhere near the top I found my pace and settled into a groove after giving up a couple places. There was a longer descent right after that eventually breaking into a shorter uphill back to the start line. I did feel a lot better on the second and third laps after finding my pace and hauling ass as much as I could. As a result I finished 8th out of a field of 27 riders in Cat 2. Not knowing what to expect in a race such as this, I was pretty happy with the result.
It was a great weekend not only in that I was biking which might be my one true love, but that a bunch of good friends came out to support and also race. Results are posted here: http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2011-1740
Then came the second race of the season.
With a bunch of training leading up to this next race, it is always easy to say that I did not train enough or hard enough. But it was a go none the less. This one was in Spokane, and again I found myself doing a race that I have not done before, a 24 hour race. We had a great team, all of us were mainly out for the fun which soon turned into a small competition between us.
Again, the course was smooth and fast. Laps were 23km long and got completed in about 55 minutes. It sure was a different thing to be riding my bike at 2:30 in the morning with all sorts of lights attatched to my bike and helmet. But it was sure worth it. Our team "Dusty Bottoms" ranked 4th out of 16 teams in our category which was 5 person CO-ED. But what was even more awesome was that I pulled through with the fastest times on our team. OH YEAH! Here is a list of the results, look under 5 person Co-Ed: http://www.cadencesportsonline.com/pdf/371_overall.pdf
Now it is time to prepare for the next task on June 19th. The North Face 6 Hour Enduro in Kamloops, B.C. I have done a couple of enduros in the past and they are different for sure. Not really about speed, more about endurance. 6 hours can be a really long time if I give it all right away. Whatever the case I am stoked for it. Here is a video to stoke you!
I spent a bit of time training throughout the winter, mostly doing outdoor things like backcountry skiing. I knew I wanted to ramp up my game for the season to come and racing my bike even more this year was definately a given. There was handfull of times that I tried to get on the bike trainer, it's just too boring.
I always just imagined being sponsored by a company and getting to ride my bike all over the world. That came a bit more into reality when we searched for a sponsor this past winter. Due to a couple of awesome people (you know who you are) I got hooked up with a sponsorship from Opus Bicycles. http://www.opusbike.com/ . This was pretty insane. This only happened to far luckier and talented people then me right? It took a while to get my bike, but that was okay cause there was snow on the ground still anyway.
So, when the snow finally started to melt this season I did feel a bit groggy because of the lack of training, but that was cured by getting on my bike, a lot.
 |
| Moab riding |
Then came the first race.
This year I put together a race schedule and on the top of the list was the Herron Park XC down in Kalispell, Montana. The day called for rain, and lots of it. About a half hour before the race began, the clouds cleared and the light broke through. I knew this was going to be a good day.
The course was smooth and not a lot of elevation gain, not at all like what I am used to in B.C. It was fast and a lot of double track. Many good riders. I found myself in a pace that I was not used to right off the start gun. I guess this was a result of it being the first race of the season and wanting to show Opus what I can do. There was a longer climb right off the bat, not too steep. Somewhere near the top I found my pace and settled into a groove after giving up a couple places. There was a longer descent right after that eventually breaking into a shorter uphill back to the start line. I did feel a lot better on the second and third laps after finding my pace and hauling ass as much as I could. As a result I finished 8th out of a field of 27 riders in Cat 2. Not knowing what to expect in a race such as this, I was pretty happy with the result.
 |
| Herron Park XC - Kalispell Montana - May 22nd 2011 |
It was a great weekend not only in that I was biking which might be my one true love, but that a bunch of good friends came out to support and also race. Results are posted here: http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2011-1740
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| Herron Park XC - Kalispell Montana - May 22nd 2011 |
With a bunch of training leading up to this next race, it is always easy to say that I did not train enough or hard enough. But it was a go none the less. This one was in Spokane, and again I found myself doing a race that I have not done before, a 24 hour race. We had a great team, all of us were mainly out for the fun which soon turned into a small competition between us.
 |
| Spokane 24hrs Round and Round - May 28th 2011 |
How I Got Here
After spending 20 years in small town Coaldale, A.B. I figured it was time to make some changes in my life, you know, go somewhere, do something. After taking an environmental sciences program at Lethbridge College, I got a job offer and place to stay with some great friends that had already been living in Cranbrook for a while. I packed up all my belongings and made my way 4 hours from home to grow some new roots.
Cranbrook was interesting at first. It was the dead of winter and I barely knew anyone and I definatly didn't know what to do out here. I recieved a job at a resource company doing forestry work which was really cool and a lot of time was spent outside discovering new areas to play. That job was just a short term though and soon I found myself looking for new work. But there was something else that was coming into the scene with the summer months approaching, mountain biking.
I was trying to fit in somewhere in Cranbrook. I didn't look too many places before I found a newly opened bike shop, Favorit Cycles. I started hanging out there more and more and met some really cool people who are still really great friends. While partaking in one of the cases of beer I would bring by the shop on weekend nights, I found myself buying a new rig to get ready for the summer.
From then to now is history, literally. A lot of really great things have happened developing my riding. From many biking trips to places far, far away (Moab, Seven Summits - Rossland, Kamloops, Golden, Panorama, Salmon Arm, Transrockies - Southeastern B.C to Southwestern A.B.) to riding in what is now my backyard, I have put in many kilometers and loved almost every moment of it.
Over the past couple of seasons riding has meant more and more to me and becoming more a part of my life. In the 2010 season I entered a handfull of races (Transrockies, Kootenay Krusher, Salty Dog, Sufferfest, Lungbuster) and have really enjoyed them and didn't do to shabby. Winter came way too soon that year and once again it was time to find something different to do for the winter months.
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| Self Loader - working on one of the blocks I would layout |
I was trying to fit in somewhere in Cranbrook. I didn't look too many places before I found a newly opened bike shop, Favorit Cycles. I started hanging out there more and more and met some really cool people who are still really great friends. While partaking in one of the cases of beer I would bring by the shop on weekend nights, I found myself buying a new rig to get ready for the summer.
From then to now is history, literally. A lot of really great things have happened developing my riding. From many biking trips to places far, far away (Moab, Seven Summits - Rossland, Kamloops, Golden, Panorama, Salmon Arm, Transrockies - Southeastern B.C to Southwestern A.B.) to riding in what is now my backyard, I have put in many kilometers and loved almost every moment of it.
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| Seven Summits - Sept. 2008 |
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| Riding in my own backyard - Cranbrook, B.C. |
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