Hey Rockstars!
The latest scoop.
The sweet sweet 2009 Alberta Race calendar is underway. Thought it was about time to provide some "on the job" reading material. ( ;) you know who you are )
I took some much needed chill time after worlds. Got back into work, coaching and super casual winter rides. Not to mention the loads of thankyou letters I had to catch up on. Yes, yours should be on its way soon if you haven't received it yet - and thanx again for the help.
The winter rides kept me on my skill game. Ice packed trails and snow drifts aren't hazards, they are trail features!! And a wired group of junior/cadet riders continuously endowing into the deep snow provides non-stop entertainment. Which was perfect. Winter rides shouldn't be workouts anyway, haha they are way too much fun.
I also had the opportunity to head out the the Okanogan for two weeks. The first week in for our annual spring road camp. I coach junior/cadet riders for Juventus, and we spend a week every spring in Penticton working the road skillz and putting on some base miles. Like always it was a BLAST. These kids are phenomenal! Were talking ages 14-17, rocking the climbs, the distance, the cold. No complaining, super-positive attitudes, full of energy and keen to learn.
I stayed an additional week in Summerland at my Auntie and Uncles house (who rock!!). We got to come home to amazing meals, and fresh coffee all the time. It was like HOTEL AWESOME for Cyclist. Mangey and another ride bud (Mike Steneker) stayed with me and we rocked out a couple good days of distance. Had an epic 209km day that was nearly perfect in every way. haha, even showed mike that A&W is the ULTIMATE long ride food - that fast-fast man hasn't looked back since. I love the Okanagan, and really appreciated the riding that can be found both on and off road. It's also one of my only opportunities every year to spend some good quality ride time with my biggest fan (MOM aka Mangey). This year for the first time we explored the okanagan MTB haunts (on cross bikes!!) and were thrilled at style and mix of trails available. It's great to have such sweet riding reasonably close to home.
Now it's pretty much summer... thats right, I'm calling it. Summer is here. Just finished a fantastic weekend of riding in Lethbridge. They did a combo MTB/Road race weekend which I thought was dang'fabulous. It was great seeing such a large turnout for Alberta's most southern race. I decided to bring only my cross bike for the mtb race, and road race. haha, it was SWEET. Plus Tara W. was ripping the mtb, and that was super-cool. The climbs in the mtb race were tough with the gearing, but there is nothing like railing sand dune single track with 700c wheels, and drop bars. It really is a super-awesome feeling.
The road race was fun too, but where are the trees? It's a sweet rolling course, but man was it open and windy. Christina S. from Bici hauled up the first KOM (king of the mountain – its a race inside of a race to the top of a climb for points, prizes or time bonus), putting some serious strain on the pack. It was only Christina, Myself, and a determined little Alison B. from that point on. We worked enough to keep the chasers off, and I think bici seen it's first organized women team lead-out in a longtime for a well deserved 1,2 finish.
Next up was the Velocity RR - which I opted not to do. I coach the Juventus junior women, and they were up for selection spots for Canada Summer Games, and I didn't want any political conflict. On the plus side it was fun to see the event unfold as a spectator for once.
I did race the Two-Up team time trial with my mentor coach/friend Tracy Shearer. It was a hilly course but a fun one. It suited our team dynamics. Tracy frigg'n steam trained the flats, and I paced the uphills. We hammered to a sweet two-up victory. It was such a good time. Nice venue.
This weekend I'm Stony Plain bound with the cross bike. A double header event. Mtb cup on Saturday "THE BACON BUFFET OF PAIN AND SUFFERING", and 6hr marathon mtb event on Sunday. Should be some solid mtb hours, and a good amount of GOOD TIMES!!! I will actually get to eat bacon as I ride through the feedzone on each lap. I LOVE MTB RACING. bacon and riding my bike at the same time..... life is sweet!
