The East Infection Spreads

After a few set backs last week, I managed to take my first win of the year at the Vancouver Island Cup #3 in Parksville. There was about 21 guys in the Expert/Elite who raced on a totally different course from the year before. I knew going into the race that I was lacking a little bit on the intensity, but I would be one of the best in the technical from riding in the rough and tough trails of the Comox Valley. It was in the woods I was hoping to make up the most time.

The course had about 25-30% of climbing of all different types. The problem was is that it was all back to back to back, so you couldn't get a break for the first part of each lap. Off the gun I stayed with the lead group of about 4 guys. Taking my own advice from the week before and trying to learn a lesson, I stayed in 4th, drafting as much as I could up the very long, double track climb. It then went into singletrack which was super dry and loose, and very steep. I had to sit and spin for most of the single track, and even then I was slipping on the loose trail.

Coming out of the singletrack, the course went up again. But super steep and loose again into a gravel access road. On the first lap I still stuck in 3rd and tried to spin. I wanted to see what the other guys in the pack would do. It was the type of climb where you had to find the sweet spot on your bike. You couldn't sit because it felt like you were falling backwards, and you couldn't stand because of slipping on the loose rock, so it was very slow and painful. On top of that it was super hot, the first time I wore just a jersey and shorts all year. You could definitely feel the heat on the exposed roads.

(Ripped the new shorts in the process)

From that part of the climb it went into more climbing into another single track. Part of what makes the Island Cups interesting is that often they lead the course through hike a bike sections. On this course there were a few sections where it was too steep and rocky to ride, it was where I made my move into first.

I tentatively road the rest of the lap in 1st, It was my first time riding the course and to my pleasure the rest of the course was mostly gnarly singletrack with little intense climbs in the soft loamy woods to get your heart rate up. The trail snaked through the woods, much like an intestine so I could see anyone who was near and sometimes on the first lap it was a little nerve racking. Another interesting part of the Island Cups is that you often ride over ladder bridges and through super nice flowy DH courses. Sometimes you really have to have your tech down not the take serious diggers. Toward the end of the race I found it hard to hold a solid line on the super tech parts of the trail as fatigue set in.

I kept at it, taking my own advice and going for consistency and managed to hold on for the win. It was a good confidence boost to lead from the start all the way to end, and this race was the first Island Cup XC I've won. So its good to get back home with a good racing feeling.

Andrew B had a self-described rough day, but managed to hold onto 10th. The East Infection is spreading!

Just as one race finishes, another starts. I just finished packing my bags and am ready to head to the airport. I fly all night and reach the Maritimes somewhere around 9am. Back to the old country.

(Thanks to Cory Jay for loaning me his double bike box for about the 9th time.)

Japanese Dream

I'm about to pack it in this evening. Tomorrow being the second MTB race of the year. All I can really ask for is a constant race. Its all I can hope for being that I barley rode this week because of the combination knee injury and sickness, whatever happens will happen.

Racing and training are all about routine. If you ask any cyclist, I'm sure they would tell you some ridiculous routines and schedules that don't make sense to most people. Me especially, I'm a bundle of nerves before a race and have the weirdest habits, which I will not speak of here for your children's safety.

However, one of these routines is eating pancakes before a race. Man, I hate pancakes. At first they were good, who doesn't like Pancakes? But every weekend, wether you want them or not. On top of that you have to eat a lot of them for a big race. After awhile, its the last thing you want to eat.

I've also now started to associate Pancakes with a whole hell of a lot of pain. My body knows, every time I eat the fuckers that it better get ready to suffer, long and hard. Not a good combination. Waffles are better. I'm not sick of waffles and they are pretty much the same thing, but they are hard to find in restaurants in the middle of no-where sometimes. Remember, you have to stick to the routine....or else!

Soon old Girl.

That Award Winning Rabbit

(New tire day from NRG/Maxxis!)

I went for my first ride after a solid 2 days of rest. It was only going to be an hour of easy singletrack. Of course 20 minutes in a fell directly on the ol' banged up knee resulting in much swelling and and nice red trail of blood onto my very shiny new shoes. Back to square one.

When I woke up today I was surprised that the knee was much better and I decided to forgo the horrible climb up Mt. Washington, and just put in the time into a solid MTB ride. Sometimes you have to give your mind a rest from intensity and relax by doing your favorite pastime......that being banjo pla.....umm mountain biking.

Until the knee bang, I had been doing so much structured riding that I think I needed to take a lesson from last year and simply ride trail....hard. Its easier on the head, and more fun. In this case with another race in a few days, its what the brain needs.

On top of that, its $1 day at the Salvation Army. I scoped that sucker out a couple days ago, hiding all my goodies in the bin of kids teddy bears, so they'll be waiting for me when I throw down some bills today. Especially if you plan on ordering some Oakley Racing Jackets, the glasses I've wanted since I was 12 years old. They don't come cheap.

Down Time

I'm in rough shape folks. On top of the swollen knees, I also got the sickness. I think its the big fellas way of telling me to take a few days off. Its weird because when your day revolves around riding a bike, then you suddenly take that out of the equation..... your left with not much else to do.

I often catch myself thinking about trying to squeeze some quick intervals on the trainer.

"It'll only be like 45 minutes, c'mon, it wont make you sicker."

Then I stop myself and realize what I'm thinking. Its like some sort of habitual addiction.

Everything seems to be coming together for the Canada Cups. Booking hotels in Quebec is a nightmare. Who has someone at a front desk who only speaks one language(being french)? I'll be travelling with Matt Hadley, a very fast fella and fellow Maritimer. Hes hooked up with Rocky Mountain Bikes this year, which made me smile as he has been ripping it up independently forever. Good to see the system works if you put in the time.

Tough Love

I raced my first MTB race of the year yesterday, in Naniamo on Vancouver Island. Part of the Island Cup MTB Series. It was a strong field, with the Experts/Elite having about 30 guys. I managed to pull out a 3rd place, which I guess I'm happy with, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going for the win. Andrew rolled in rocking consistency and feeling good at 11th.

So much of mountain biking is about minimizing your mistakes during a race. Its very rare that someone can have a "perfect" race, but I guess its something to continue to shoot for.

The race started off on a long climb, probably about 2km's, and it offered just the right amount of pain. The type of climb that kept twisting around a corner, making you wonder when the goddamned thing would end. This was my first mistake. Right from the gun, I charged the climb being overconfident, and pretty much blew my load within the first 20 minutes. It was hard to recover from that. Old habits die hard as I was pushing much too hard of a gear(single speed legs) which contributed to the burn. Its funny how patience is something always learned the hard way.

Either way a third is still respectable considering Drew Mac, and Matt Hewitt(1 &2) are both ranked top 20 in Canada.

The race didn't leave me without some memento's though. Mid-way through the race I bit it hard over a soaking wet wooden bridge(muddiest race ever!) and managed to rip a pretty solid gash in my leg(slept in a leg warmer last night to keep the yellow pus out of the sheets) and ripped my hip all to hell with a bruise that's the size of my hand. Later on in the night, my other knee swelled up and I couldn't walk on it.It feels like there is a golf ball in the middle of my knee. Also on top of that I woke up sick again. So the next few days are going to be pretty easy for me to say the least.

I've decided(depending on how I feel tomorrow) to cut back from 3 interval days this week to 2. With the Canada Cups looming around the corner, it makes me feel nervous. Yeesh

Kickstart My Heart.

After 2 litres of Grapefruit juice, 5 hits of oil of Oregano, and 10 solid hours of sleep, I woke up this morning feeling better than I had the night before. The sniffle seemed to be gone.

I realized that after I awoke that today...yes, would be the day to climb Mount Washington. Mount Washington is the venue for the 2007 National MTB championships. I however would be working on the climb to the top of the resort. 20kms of pain. Lance has his Madone, and Vancouver Island has it Mt.Washingmachine. Its the one true test of fitness around. The first time I attempted it 3 years ago, I broke my chain on the ascent. How often to you break a chain on a road bike?

Anyhoo, as I began the climb I shifted up into my 39 x 21, the highest the chain has been up the stack all year. It hadn't even had any grease on it and still gleamed factory new. All new finish vanished after today. I groaned and pushed like no other climb could offer. It was the type of climb that if you stop pedalling.....you start to go back words. Your arms hurt from pulling back on the bars so hard.

So up, and up I went. The road turned from pleasant and dry, to a little bit of snow with gravel, to sopping wet, covered in gravel. A few times when I stepped out of the saddle my wheel washed out on the gravel, and as I ascended. It got steeper, and I rode into deeper and deeper snow.

Toward the top, I was surprised to encounter god damned snowstorm. Jesus. No matter how hard I try to escape the Maritimes, they keep having a way of lingering in these legs. The snowstorm was pretty rough actually, but I couldn't stop climbing only doing 3 quarters, so on I pushed. All the horrible pain is almost worth it, seeing the looks on the drivers faces as they go by.

As I rounded the last corner I pulled on my gloves and a vest that I was carrying and started to eat. as My legs were pretty shaky. Looking down at my heart rate monitor it told me I was at 87% average for over an hour, with a new max for the year at 94%. Meaning only a few beats more and my heart wouldn't physically be able to pump any more blood. It takes a lot of time in the pain train to get that high up.

The decent going down Washington is worse than the climb. Your soaked with sweat, which freezes you for 20 minutes going down at at least 50km's an hour. And in this case dealing with a snowstorm. As I reached the bottom, I had a bad case of frozen fingers, where you cant move your fingers as fast as your willing them to go. Grabbing onto a water bottle or zipping up a jacket is like trying to wrestle a bunch of lesbians in a bathtub full of Vaseline. Its tough.

So I made it home, with a final riding time of 3 hours and I'm pretty wrecked. The cold takes it out of you like no other, and for tonight, I think I'll have a beer.

Charming thoughts forgotten

"I hear old man Luke got a new bike."

"A new bike eh?"

"Yeah, some sort of MTB with.....road wheels."

"Road wheels?"

"Yeah, I've never seen the likes, what a buffoon."

"Hmm"

"Its a one gear thing too eh? "

"That guy. Ya never know whats going on with him."

"Goodness, riding some sort of monster bike. Jesus."

Well, the sniffles have held me indoors today. Since I'm in between intensity days I figured it would be best to stay in and rest up. Tomorrow being a very long day. That long day being a climb up Mount Washington. 20km straight up(10-16%) for a good hour...through the clouds and into the cold. I haven't decided whether to do it on my mountain bike, or on the roadie. If I was tough I would do it on the mtb.....interesting. This is the Pain Train at its best folks.

First mountain bike race this weekend, we'll see how it goes. I don't know how I'm doing on the mountain bike since I barley ride with anyone. I'm looking fore ward to a couple days of "rest" after the Washington climb before the first race of the year. "Rest" being just a few hours of simple down to earth mountain biking, with no routine or structure. Yee haw.

Harris Roubaix

I completed the "Hell of Pitt Meadows" race the past weekend. That race being of course the Harris Roubaix. I read on the course profile that there was only about 2kms of gravel path per lap, for a 100km race. I didn't think that was too bad, but when I rode the sections on gravel and realized that one lap was only 5km long(meaning 35-40km of rough riding), it would make for a long day.

The Roubaix is the first race of the BC Cup series, meaning, that all of the big Pro teams would be coming out with guns a' blazing. Symmetrics especially. I noticed the pace was defiantly a lot faster than the EV Spring races I've done before.

So, the gravel section. Picture a ATV trail about 4 feet wide all gravel, some 2 inches deep, in a pack of 60-80 guys, with 4 foot drops on either side. Once you've made it through the barriers(about 4 feet wide) after a 90degree turn on gravel(where some guys went to the hospital for hitting the barries at 50km/hr) the only thing you can do is put it in the 53/14 and push as hard as you can. Holding a line is hard as hell because your usually washing around on the gravel, and a few times there were guys who just washed out taking 3-4 guys into the ditch directly in front of me. My heart rate monitor said my max was 94%, I think it was in one of those instances.

Through the gravel, I just bit my lip and pedaled as hard as I could. The whole time dealing with little bits of rocks and grime grinding in my mouth and eyes, and a few times, golf ball size rocks hit my shins and face. I can remember after riding into a pot hole dead on, that if the ol' Opus held up to that walloping, it can probably hold up to anything.

The race went well for me. I'm like a fish out of water in a road race, but I managed to stay toward the front the whole race, never leaving the chase group. Symmetrics has 3 guys in a break so chasing after them was like pulling teeth. The Red Truck/Trek team was giving 'er shit toward the end so I worked with them to try to bring it back, but it was too little, too late, and I rolled in with the chase group at the end. Probably a top 20ish. Good in my mind considering I do about 3 road races a year.

I'm hoping a few pictures arise somewhere as there was about 15 photographers around the loop. One, who was standing around the entrance to the gravel section I almost took out, when I slid into him as the rocks gave way. Yeesh.

More Propaganda

Rainy Days

I've come accustomed to living out of a suitcase. I think going back and forth between parents houses when I was young was good training for being a cyclist. Pack, unpack. repeat. The week isn't dictated by a Friday, or the weekend. Its dictated by when you have to pack, and the longest time in the week where you can settle in.

This week its back to Vancouver for the Harris Roubaix Classic. A road race over gravel roads and cobbles. Not super long, but very brutal I'm told. Slap on the training slicks and crap wheels we're going racing!

In 2 weeks I'll be heading back to the old country. 5 races between then and now, and after that, I'm home for 9 days before I head to Quebec. It's the perfect time to see everyone then head off for a new adventure. Pack, unpack, repeat.

Since there is a god dammed hurricane outside today, I did all of my training on the trainer. Which makes it about the 5th ride on it this year. Pretty good. If I had to put in monster miles on the trainer like I did when I was a Jr. I would be crazy. It actually felt good to get the super specific training I planned down to the second and the exact percentage of heart rate, with no extra miles or mumbo jumbo.

I tried to change my ticket to a week later going back to PEI on account of the horrible winter storms. But, dealing with Air Canada proved to be too much of a hassle, so I'll take what I'm dealt I guess. On that note, time to turn up Elliott Smith and watch the rain.

BackWords

"I can't support bike lanes. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day."

-Rob Ford, Toronto City Councillor
Email: councillor_ford@toronto.ca

Smiley Face

This week is the first week where the main goal is intensity rather than mileage. I chose to work on my lactate threshold as I noticed it needed some work. So, I picked the longest logging road climb I could find, which was to the top of Forbidden Plateau.

Close to the top of the Forbidden Plateau Road is the entrance to one of the best trails I've ever ridden. I wanted it to be my desert after 2 hours of pain. That trail being of course "2 Sheiks." Like most trails in the Valley it has the most rough singletrack you'll ever ride, but somehow manages to pull a deadly flow out of all the mess. We're talking drop offs, with jagged rock. Climbing over rockface and though streams, around cliffs. Deadly.

Along with that though are some of the most amazing views I've ever seen in my life. I have to stop and stare at the mountains for a few mintues every time I ride the trail. Something like that never gets old. Its funny how much you miss sometimes while ripping down a trail focused only on the trail itself.

After about an hour of sold singletrack, I reached the bottom of the abandoned ski hill and proceeded back toward home. The ride was a little longer than I wanted comming in at a little over 3.5 hours. But it was good to re-unite with some trail I was missing.

I just finished my first beer in awile, and I'm pretty much in the bag. Its funny how your body changes in only a few months. I have a pretty solid reputation at the bike shop as being a cheap date. Usually when I put a couple beer back after work at the shop on Saturday(boss buys), I can barely make it home on my bike without narrowingly missing the ditch or going into traffic.

Dancing Shoes

I went to the Hospital today. I've been having problems breathing when I get to 80% of my max heart rate. I figure I must be coming down with a cold or something, but I thought I should check it out just in case.

I went in and talked to the nurse, and told her what I was doing, and what was happening etc. She seemed to take it pretty seriously, more so than I was at least. She asked me if I was able to walk down the hall to fill out some forms, I surprisingly said I was. I did just bike 15 km to get there.

Anyhoo, she put me into the doctors office with a gown and said she would be back in a few minutes to check me out. I wasn't really nervous, but I couldn't get the ideas of doctors office porn out of my head. She was cute gal to tell you the truth.

I was slightly disappointed when a 50-something man-doctor walked in with a very hearty lumberjack beard. I was hoping for something more exciting to say the least. He checked my breathing and did some tests and said that my lungs did sound kind of rough, and asked me if I had asthma.

Holy Crap I thought. Inhalers and all that business. Being an athlete having an inhaler is practically like wearing a prison uniform. If you have one, its a pain in the ass. I didn't give up pot to show up positive from an inhaler.

So, the lumberjack doctor left and returned with a simple test for asthma. It was a little device that I breathed into that gave a rough estimate of lung capacity. I blew in it, and got about 80-85% of the devices max. "Whoa! you don't have Asthma" the doctor said after I finished.

He said for someone my size that was way above average. He said the only person to max it out was about 8ft tall. That however, didn't stop me from repeatedly trying it over and over again to max it out. He pretty much took it away from me.

So the lungs are fine I guess. He confirmed my thoughts that I am crazy and a hypochondriac. After he saw the tests he basically said it was either sickness or allergies. Anyway, I think I needed something to put the nerves at ease.

Opus Twins

Living in one of the best places in Canada to ride a bike, you often have a lot of interesting(and quick) training buddies. Today I rode with Olympian, team relay World Champion and also Courtenay resident(for 3 weeks of the year) Kiara Bisaro. Let me tell ya, she can definitely put the pepper on a ride when she wants to.

We stuck to the tried tested and true trails of Cumberland and managed to rip though the pouring rain. I wanted this ride to be a good test of how the legs felt after a rest week, but they seemed to have let me down as I now think I am harbouring some inner sickness. I must have caught some of the death cold that is going around the Valley. Either way, maybe a bit more solid rest is in order. I would rather take a few days off now and get a solid few weeks of intensity than have to stop mid way from sickness and being worn out. The Canada Cups aren't far away.

Kiara is also sponsored by Opus Bikes. She however is on the full meal deal. That's what happens when your ranked high in the World. It was pretty cool comparing our bikes. They look pretty much the same but on closer inspection, her frame is a 2008 model with some little tweaks here and there for Kiara. I found it neat seeing that some of the little things that had been changed for 2008. They are always one step ahead.

It was pretty cold today, and the rain didn't help matters. I rolled in with a total ride time of just over 4 hours, and I'm definitely feeling the weather. Cold days seem to eat you away, without you even realizing it.

I tried out my new Maxxis Advantage tires today for the first time, and I'm super happy with them. I railed them into the corners just as hard as the 2.35's I was running, and they stick like glue in the greasy mud. I was pretty surprised actually because they are a pinner race tire. I think they might be the tread pattern of choice for the mud usually encountered in the Canada Cups

Today was the first day of the year without full leg warmers on.

Slow Days

Not much going on. Rain, work, and relaxing. Good job Hadley, your the man cool guy. Anyone going to Sea Otter from the West Coast?

(more time for relaxing)

(Eric and I didnt get into SingleSpeed Worlds this year...so I'm trying to get in through the back)

Changing Gears

I finished up my first real race of the year yesterday. A stage race in Langley. Things went well for being the first race of the year, and the first major road race(over 100 guys and 140km) in a long time. I felt stronger than I thought I was, which is good to know this time of year.


Last week was the biggest week I'll put in probably all year. It was the final phase of my base building(long slow rides). It ended up being about a 22 hour week, 10 hours on the Opus Mtb. With every 3 building weeks comes a rest week and I'm loving a little bit extra time to put my feet up and have a beer. Its Tuesday and I'm all ready getting antsy to get going again. So much work to do.


I needed some sort of recovery ride today and I also needed to get a new electric ass razor. Since there is no ladies in the picture right now, that area doesn't get the maintenance it should, but it still needs to be done either way. Being the son of a Sasquatch isn't always a good thing. I decided to get 2 birds stoned at once, and make the 10km(ish) ride to Wal-Mart to take care of business.
Every time I go there I get a lecture from Andrew Brown because shopping there contributes to Wal-mart employees not getting a dental plan. I can justify it though because I'm living about $8000 below the poverty line.

On that note, not much else is going on. I fly back to old country in a few weeks, then off to the big races. My knees are all ready shaking.

Oh, all those lonely nights

Does anyone find this as funny as I do?