Entries Tagged 'Club Rides' ↓

We will meet at the Forks (in front of Johnson Terminal, by the winter skating rink) at 6:30 and determine a route form there. With the rain again yesterday likely not many river routes available to ride but we will do our best.

At Whittier Park there will be the option for a skills workshop. We’ll use some props and obstacles to practice slow speed technique, wheel lifts (over logs etc.), basic wheelies/drops, riding skinnies & teeter totters.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!

Their calling for 30% chance of rain so let’s cross our fingers and hope it holds off because the river trials should be in great condition. 

Location: Johnson Terminal, The Forks

Time: 6:30pm

See you there,

Allan

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Johnson Terminal, The Forks

See you there!

Allan

Last night was our first MTB bike ride of the season.  You’re probably thinking “first ride of the season?” well as you know the weather hasn’t been all that great, all the trails have been flooded and most of our ride leaders are involved in our Kids of Mud program.  That aside it was a beautiful evening with 8 members converging at The Forks to take to the trails of Wpg.  We took it easy for the first ride as we worked out some of the kinks, broke a chain and got up close and personal with the dirt (Rene never really did divulg what happened).  The ride lasted an hour and half and the pace was very comfortable with one rider using it as a recovery ride for her 2:01 half marathon time on Sunday (Great Job Carla).  Post ride we found ourselves enjoying the wonderful evening on a patio at The Forks munching on wings and washing them down with a cold beverage. 

Next week…same time, same place.

Thanks for the ride,

Allan

Okay I know this is a little late but here are the details.  We’ll meet at The Forks in front of Espresso Junction (Johnson Terminal) on Monday, June 22nd at 6:30pm sharp.  We’ll start and end the ride at The Forks as this is as central as it gets.  If you’re interested bring some cash as some of us may stick around for a coffee afterwards or maybe something a little colder as it’s supposed to be another pretty hot day.

Aright that should cover it.

See you tomorrow.

Allan

Yes it’s true, I attached a race plate to my Cerlevo, pinned number to my jersey and entered a road race. It’s been 5-6 years since I’ve road raced. The nerves were certanly getting to me, day’s before, and all after noon on the day of the race. The nerves settled down once I registered and started my warm up.  The race was a  week night Crit race at the formal gardens at Assinaboine Park. Short, Sweet and a lot of fun. 

The race started out by the Jr. Provincial team setting pace, so I hopped in 4-5 wheel. 3 or 4th laps in, and a Woodcock team member came to the front and set a high pace. I thought ok let see what you can do, I covered for 1/2 of a lap. Then on the east side he pulls aside and I pulled through and upped the pace. Coming around the long corner, I drifted to the west side to gutter him, and he didn’t like it one bit….. but I held my line and held pace. And that was the race line. The wind was from the east so easy to gutter people on both sides. Ah the old race tactics came back quick.

next few laps Rod V. worked with me and we got away, Dave p. caught us and couldn’t work. Rod and I worked, well he work harder. The two of them were killing themselves. then Matt caught and helped a bit. We got a 1/2 lap on the feild, then Matt pulled  through and told me to get on his wheel, He hammered, that killed Rod. I told Matt not to kill him self, but 3/4 of a lap later, he pulled off and told me that he was done. Then I was by my self and  less than 1/2 of a lap from catching the feild. Allen who got dropped helped me a bit and then I caught on. I sat in a litle bit and then pulled out front. 
I pulled away from the group, so Rod couldn’t close, ( I don’t think he was, but I looked back ever corner to check). and then with two laps to go I simply road away from the few other lapped riders that hung onto me.  Soloed the last lap to take the race proper. 

Over all I felt good and had more. the frist bit of the race I was sitting up front and leading a fair bit, I kept thinking, this is not what my coach want’s me to do. But I felt good, and I was going with the flow. 

Winer work pays off. but still room to improve. It was good to be back on the Start line, but it was better crossing the finish line .

More racing to come.

Sunday’s ride is a go!  I won’t be there but don’t let that stop you from coming out on Sunday at 9am.  Jeff, James and Dave are in charge this week as Dan is away on a wild adventure with the Provincial Team at Bikes on Broadway.  The forecast is looking up but with the way things have been going it could have changed by the time I’m finished blogging.

Anyway for those of you that ride this weekend…enjoy and keep the rubber side down.

See ya later,

Allan

We had a smaller group than normal with only 9 riders which was probably due the fact that it was Mother’s Day and everyone else was out with their mom’s for brunch. 

Mother Nature stepped up for all the mother’s out there and ordered up some fantastic weather.  It was a little cool when we headed out but it quickly warmed up and turned into a beautiful day.  All riders completed the round trip with only one casualty, Kathleen’s Polar monitor popped off and hit the pavement pretty hard but it still works. 

Here are the ride stats according to my trusty Sigma computer…

Distance: 53.47 km (add a couple of km since I forgot to reset my computer before leaving the shop)

Average: 28.89 km (keep in mind we had a pretty sweet tail wind on the way home)

Max: 50 km (Dan was showing off at the Formal Garden and I couldn’t let him have all the glory)

That’s all for now,

Allan

Although the Weather Network said -1C, an MCA event was going on at Bird’s Hill Park and our usual route was still flooded, 22 riders made it out for the Sunday morning stretch.  A good mix of returning veterans and newcomers made for interesting topics of conversation.  Personal introductions, bike/tech reviews, riding tips and my favorite of the day, “What was that dead thing on the side of the road?”  The group worked together all the way to Assiniboine Park, despite a rather stiff NW wind and the Clip in/Clip out training opportunites of stop signs and traffic lights.  Once at the park, the faster group continued on to Headingly while the slower group made the turn around for home.

The route to Headingly saw one casulty…Al’s rear tire tube will be missed, but was otherwise just a usual wind in your face Manitoba ride.  The pace ramped up a little and was by all accounts being driven by Dan on the front.  He could not be reached for comment but it’s rumored he was just trying to get to the Headingly Wind Generating Station ahead of the group so he could turn off the wind.  Very considerate… and suspect.

The ride back (wind assisted…I guess Dan never did find the switch) went quite smoothly.  The speed ramped up a little more but settled back down once we got back onto Grant.  (I have it on good authority that John was ready to start handing out tickets at one point).  We modified the route on the fly and managed to avoid alot of traffic and stops.  The stretch to the finish was marked by a time trial finaly as several riders soloed off in an attempt to catch the break.

In my opinion, the ride went very well and I would like to thank  Al, Dan, Dave and Jeff for being the Leads and Sweeps for the group/s.

Hope to see you all out again in the weeks to come.

Some of you may be aware that our club is hosting a individual time trial for the Kids of Mud this weekend at Birds Hill Park.  Volunteers are always welcome so please feel free to contact me at mubouch@shaw.cafor more information or check out www.kidsof mud.ca for more details.  After the event is complete the volunteers are invited to stick around and go for a group mountain bike ride.

Thanks,

Allan