Not gone, just quiet

I have been doing a little blogging on a new blog lately and leaving this one quiet. As it is CX season I have been working with others in the area to start up a practice night. I am new at this sport and this little initiative over at KWCX Blog has brought out some more experienced riders to learn from. Follow our fun over there during the quiet time here. 

I do however have my last 8 hour SSMTB race of the season next weekend and will likely post a post race report here. Wait for it...

I'm out... 

Sometime I ride slow Sometimes I ride quick.....

Sometimes I ride slow sometimes I ride quick
I'm sweeter and thicker than a chico stick
Here's an ice cream cone honey take a lick
I go to Bay Plaza and mash sum shit!
Wore my Sidi shoes so I can stomp sum clips
Scandalous get a wiff of this mist
Just like the Yar Boys now I'm blissed
I feel good per say good state of mind
Ride a Red Kona and I makes it mine
I love it when I ride my line!
Go to Tavern on the Green have a glass of wine
He say, she say I heard it through the grapevine
No static, got a SS kinda like an automatic
Too much of anything makes you an addict
Smooth B Greg Nice Slick Nick click
Sometimes I ride slow sometimes I ride quick...
Sometimes I ride slow sometimes I ride quick
I was on 125 and Saint Nick
Waiting on a cab, standing in the rain
Screw it all ride my bike no pain
She got the best of me
What was her destiny?
Maybe she should ride to her destiny...
My mind is in a blur
Cause you could never pay me to think this would occur
Me and this girl Jane Doe was living together
We were inseparable, noone could sever
At least that's what I thought
But later I fought with her cassette
And almost ended up in the next heat
When I was on the road racing shit getting wins
She was on my ride getting cranky with her friends
And even when she crashed my whip I didn't flip
My man Slick Nick said Smooth you're starting to slip
Time went on I started noticing weight loss
Then I had to ask her was she riding the bike more
At first she said no, then she said yo Smooth I'm sorry
But I keep having to ride mo!!!
I need speed!!
And I said woah little hottie
I'm not Trek, Kona or Specalized
I don't ride , and furthermore you're making me broke
I'll send you to training and I won't tell your folks
And what do you know
In 18 months she came home and I let her back in
And now riding faster again... and again.... and again...

A week of challenges, food and fun...

Started to post this last week and got caught up in life and it was left with only photos and a title... The last couple weeks saw a couple of new challenges for me. Challenge one was highlighted in my last post (Mi first road century). It wag good times but already talked about at end so on I move.

Saw an acquaintance's FB profile pic of a ridiculous burger contest in town and wanted to try it. Thursday (week before last) my wife asked if I wanted to go there for dinner. The guy in who tried it and posted to FB had failed to finish the beast BTW.

 So we went over to Mel's Diner and I toyed with the idea of the challenge. A 3 pound burger with all the trimmings on what seems to be a loaf of bread (I generally don't eat bread or buns on my burgers except after a long ride/race. I went to town on the burger and in just under the allotted hour it was complete. I was not the owner of a big t-shirt that tells me I can eat a whole lot of food... All in all good times and no requirement of food for a couple days...

Next was Tour de Creemore, a ride I was doing with a friend who is training for LeTape Du Tour stage 11 - Albertville. The 100km would have been my longest ever road ride had I not decided to do Tour de Grand on a whim the Sunday before. It did however have a challenge built into it. Scenic Caves road up the Blue Mountain was like nothing I have climbed before. Like most things in life and cycling though it only hurt until 5 minutes after it was over.

It was a great ride and a beautiful day on the bike. Hard to believe his coach had him ride 78km to the start line of the ride and then an additional 2 hour ride later in the day.Good luck in France Willie!!

That's it for now... I'm out...

Last minute ride - Tour de Grande

Saturday evening I was sitting on the couch with the laptop trying to decide what was on the schedule for Sunday. More just comfy on the couch with TV and laptop. I remembered Pat at Brauns Bicycles had told me I should do Tour de Grande as a good weekend ride. "Sunday is supposed to be an awesome day". I opened the page and read the info and that was it. I shall ride.
 The odd story here is my little-no road riding experience. I have pedalled bikes on pavement yes, but never ridden in a proper group road ride with all of the intricacies. I just installed slick tires on my CX bike on Thursday so this was a good way to test them out. The closest I have done is the Paris to Ancaster race twice. I know little about pulling or riding in a group who are pulling you. I am just amazed at how a strong guy can bridge the gap between groups and all you have to do is get in behind (oh and take your turn every so often too).

I was lucky to ride with an awesome group of strong riders who helped me ride faster than I would have expected I could. There was an unfortunate bail around 50K though that got in my head. The guy beside me wiped out on a water bottle and a nasty chain reaction from there. A few of us stopped until we knew things were under control. We then started back up not thinking we would find the pack again. Someone then took the lead and pulled us back up. I was amazed that this was possible. Later in the ride I found myself falling off the back of the group and was perplexed by how difficult it was to just make up a couple bike lengths afterwards. I fought back on and made sure not to do that again. In the end I was happy with the time on my cyclocomputer of 4:28:05 for my first century. The Blackberry GPS is slightly off this time and I am ok with that too :-). What a great day on the bike!!

I could ramble on all day but that's all for now... I'm out...

Modifications required

Even after an above average (non competing) week of riding and little running I am up a couple pounds. Looks like it's time to focus on this engine's input. Maybe putting it out there will help me gain focus again. I have slacked on some of the "I don't eat that any more" type commitments and I feel heavy and bloated. Probably would not hurt to jump back into a better regiment of weight and core training. Boxing is great but availability is not there through spring and summer in usual timeslot. Guess coach takes some time for himself sometimes too...

Well that is all for now, I'm out...

Planning a Lunch Ride...

Yesterday I knew I wanted to go for a ride on lunch. I just felt like a ride and not a run as it seems has been my choice most days lately. I was not sure which loop I wanted to do. I decided that I wanted to do this loop based on just a feel for a "road ride".

I had ridden in on a mix of road, gravel trail, and very little singletrack on the Cross bike. This gave me the options of pretty much riding any surface on lunch but I just wanted to push out on the road. The ride was good but I just wanted to go further. I want to plan a longer ride today but with fixed length lunches I am not sure it is a good idea. Paul was able to do a decent job of keeping a strong pace on his Fixie but noted some leg stress on certain sections of the ride.This had me spinning slowly (recovering) and waiting up a bit. I think it's time to convince him to get a CX or Road bike for longer faster lunch loops. I think today I will stretch it out a couple KM's but keep it within the 1 hour including prep and shower time...

Anyway babbling on about nothing... I'm out...

Morning Commute

Not really related to this mornings commute but last evening we snuck photos of some little birds through the deck board cracks.
Today on my morning commute I was able to enjoy riding this. But first I had to climb this!!
And then I climbed it once more just for good measure ;-)

Good times... I'm out...