Entries Tagged 'general cycling' ↓

The MCA is hosting a fund-raising event of BINGO Curling. This is a fun event….so the less experience you have the better! The Pembina Curling Club will have a cash bar open (no better place to sip your beer than on a curling sheet)! There will also be a 50/50 draw and great Silent Auction prizes from local cycling stores and other local businesses. The MCA board members have donated a gift basket full of wonderful edible treats as well.

If you would like to donate a prize for our Silent Auction please contact Moni at 261-3348 or email: mubouch@shaw.ca.

Registration is $20 per person (cash or cheque ONLY). Forms can be mailed dropped off at the shop.

(no need to register as a team, we can make teams up that night)

Registration forms here: http://www.cycling.mb.ca/Article.aspx?id=99

Please ensure you have clean footwear and a broom. The event will begin at 7:00 pm.

Alter Ego’s new club jersey and shorts kit for 2010

Click link to view:

Alter Ego Jersey-Short

How often do we we get to ride the same bikes that the Pro’s would use in the grand tours?

Well for the past two season I have been very lucky and able to ride and enjoy one of those Pro tour bikes, a Cervelo SLC SL. You can’t get much better than this, I have ridden this bike all over Manitoba, Northwest Ontario a week in Penticton, many group rides and It helped me win my first crit race in 7 years.  This bike is a unreal bike to ride, it is on of the lightest bike on the market and the most aerodynamic. Riding this bike you quickly get use to how torsionally stiff it is, you think where you want to go and your there. You can just rail the turns and know that the back wheel will follow the front end, just as you would expect with the level of engineering. One thing that most of my riding buddy’s got use to, is how stiff the bottom bracket are is, when the sprints started the frame wouldn’t let me down. The Power transfer from the pedals to the back wheel is out standing when you push down on the pedals the bike wants to rocket forward, and for me, often over 60Km/hr.

Dura Ace 7800 is the high end equipment that will not let you down, even in 2009 some pro teams switched back to it after using 7900. I did opt for different brakes on this ride, Bontrager Speed limit Brakes offered a lot of solid stopping power, with the addition of Jagwire Racer cables the stopping power is ample with out breaking the bank.  I also switched out the stock wheels for something nicer, the Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 carbon clinchers with a Powertap rear hub. And yes I trained, raced and road every ride on this wheel set. That alone shows how great these wheels are. Bontrager offers a 5 year warranty on them, and having a power tap with them is a dream. 5000 to 6000 km later I still have not trued them…. wow. The only other upgrade I added  was to the FSA SLK light cranks a Ceramic bottom bracket. And yes it does make a difference. The cranks will spin so easy and will not rob you of any power.

All summed up this was the best bike I have ever owned. I was a hard fought battle to put it out to pasture. I have had so much fun with it and it just looks so hot. It’s a bike that just stands out and some one will enjoy it as much as I have. A long as the next owner dosn’t beat me in a sprint, I’ll be ok in selling it. It will be posted up on our Used bike section and I will post it on the triathlon Web site if you know any one looking for a great deal on a Dream bike watch out for the posts.

Rick at the Cyclocross

It was an excellent course; fast, smooth; technical in sections; had great flow and the barrier placement was as challenging as it gets. The post race draw for jerseys, caps and those brakes while eating hot dogs, Euro weiners and sausages was a socializers’ dream. An excellent set-up with fine seasonal weather. Alas, this typers legs weren’t there but it was an excellent workout; fun was had by all; until next CCross race WHICH IS THE PROVINCIALS AT WOODHAVEN PARK on November 1 – a great venue and perfect to burn off those Halloween treats; see you then.
Thanks to all those volunteers for the course, feeding and cheers.

… was a technical mud fest. The course was fast and challenging – the snow and melt resulting in mud, slippery off camber grass; 180 degree turns after a descent with speed on the grass made the course a technical riders dream!! It was a blast – although my bike weighed about 4 kgs more at the end and my shoes about the same – cleaning of me, the ride and shoes took about 60 minutes; kudo’s to the organizers for the work they did before and after the event; the music and announcer; the course and ‘lack’ of a mud pit made it the Event as promoted. Next up is Altona and the Sausage Fest. Until then, quality.

My season began on my trainer in February.  I am always keen in the spring as I will have been cooped up all winter in my basement with the exception of the once or twice a week I xc ski in my back yard with my dogs.  I watched tour de France videos and spun till my heart was content.  From what I can gather not alot of people can sit on a trainer for 2-3 hours at a time, not a problem here.

My spin came back after 3-4 weeks as it always does and I was looking forward to the race season on my Mountain bike.  Living where I do I tend to only ride my road bike unless I’m racing in which case I am on my MTB obviously.  I did ok in the first few races of the year finishing in my usual mid-pack expert form and was not expecting to do any major damage with all the usual suspects looking fast as usual.

Being lazy and not wanting to drive  out to the hills (of which there definately are within 1.5-2 hours away) every weekend I tend to focus on the Wednesday night series at the bur oak trail in Birds hill park.  This for me has always been the most enjoyable racing  by far.  If you want to try mountain biking and don’t want to put your job, family, and life at risk riding some of the silly courses that can be set up at times , this is the series for you.  I spend my mountain bike days riding at the bur oak because its close, it’s dry and if its not challenging enough for you….go faster.

I would also like to mention how much I enjoyed The Alter Sunday morning shop rides.  This was our second summer running them and for most who attend they seem to become a regular.  Our pace is quite casual relative to the paces that I’ve been told many other group rides  are performed at.  We do not consider these rides races by any means so much as a casual conversation pace gathering of like minded cyclists.  Having said that, for those who have been on these rides know there are a couple of areas where the speed will jump up considerably for a short period of time for a few of the riders before settling back down and re-compressing the peloton.  These are not sprints of course as this is a “casual” ride .  Merely a chance for those involved to create a platform from which to brag aloud post ride.  Hope the bridges are repaired by spring.

I really had a great summer of riding despite the great farming weather.  I do have to say though (and I may be a bit biased here) my favorite race of this year, as it was last year had to be the 8 hour race held at the birch bike park, put on by the alter ego club. Shawn, Moni, Al, Team Seier and others laid out a great course for the event (true flow).  Mother nature took the opportunity pre event to ensure that the number of racers who came out were limited.  Despite that the comradarie and attitude of all who attended just seemed to be about having fun.  The keg of beer may have aided to that end as well.

All in all a great season of riding bicycles.  I now need to change my focus and pull out the misery sticks for another season of xc skiing.  We had tried to have a regular night of skiing at windsor park nordic center in the past but have been very hit and miss.  We’ll see this year I guess.  I need to learn to like classic skiing.  It’s tough to strap on the shufflers when I know I can go skate skiing where I may be a little more proficient.

I did manage to win the Wednesday night point series in The Expert men category somehow.  Perhaps due to all my mtn bike riding being done there.  I guess I’ll have a bit of a target on my back next year….oh well (maybe next year Steve ).

For those who are of similar stature to me [5 foot 8 ish] .  I have a couple of bicycles that need to leave the comfort of my home.  I have a gently used  Specialized 2009 Tarmac SL2 with world champion Paolo Bettini colors (special edition) with full Sram red groupo, Roval fusee star wheelset and schwalbe ultremo tires for sale.  Size 52 cm.  I have a new bike on the way (yes we’re very spoiled at Alter).                                                            dave@alteregosports.com

I also have My beautiful hardtail for sale.  A 2007 Secialized stumpjumper comp frame 17″ in arctic cat green with full XT components and an XTR rear derailleur.  FOX rl 90 fork.  The wheels that will be sold with it have not been used with the exception of the rear that was used for one race by a member of Team Seier.  Obviously mechanic owned and maintained.  $2500.00 retail approx.  $1200.00 price                          dave@alteregosports.com

The wheels I put on that bike as soon as I received it are going as well.  Stans olympic ZTR rims laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs 6 bolt via DT swiss revoloution 1.8-1.5 stainless spokes with blue anodized aluminum nipples.  I built these myself and have not had to true them.  Max rider weight is around 190lbs.          dave@alteregosports.com

Don’t need to sell this stuff however with my current ride being a Trek top fuel 9.9 ssl I haven’t been using much else.

Again ,Thanks to everyone who was a part of one or all of my adventures this year and we’ll see you next year.  Rumor has it I may have access to a coach for the winter .

Dave.

The Belgian CCross event is just that – an event that s/b on your calendar even if only to come watch. THIS IS A MUST DO EVENT, EVEN IF IT RAINS OR SNOWS; it has grown each year as a showcase cross event. The course is always fast challenging and fun; plus the frites avec mayo are worth the trip; guaranteed appetite builder for the turkey and pumpkin pie later on in the weekend. Don’t miss the fun! C U THERE!

A true cyclocross course; great rider turnout; great spectators; late start but that was the only issue; fun and challenging; AE club members should dive into this late season riding; it is a great intense workout if nothing else; you will also get some great bike handling skill practise in less than an hour; cyclocross is an awesome workout.  Hope to see you out for some barrier hopping good times.  There is a category for you.  So there is no excuse.  Besides, the snow will be falling soon enough.  CG

As a part of our regular sunday road rides, this upcoming Sunday we will be diverting into more of an urban setting – heading downtown to take part in the Ciclovia event.

Still start at the same time at the shop, but we will be heading north instead of south.

More info about the event here: Ciclovia Winnipeg

Manitoba Cyclocross Race #1

The season starts off on Sunday, August 30th with Manitoba Cyclocross #1, brought to you by the Olympia Cycling Club. We’re trying an new venue at Crescent Drive Park which should be a fast course.

For those who do not have an MCA license and want to give cyclocross a try all you need to do is buy the MCA citizen license and we’ll let you into the race for free! For that matter, you will get into all remaining races* for free (excluding the Provincial championships) with a citizen’s license. To help you get ready for your first cyclocross experience a group of experienced racers will be offering a free clinic on the ins and outs of cyclocross at the race site starting at 2:00.

For more information go to: www.olympiacyclingclub.ca  or www.cxmb.blogspot.com. Registration forms available at: http://www.olympiacyclingclub.ca/?p=1304

Date: August 30th
Location: Crescent Drive Park
Times: races start at 3:00 for the kids, 3:45 for B and citizen, and 4:45 for A
Cost: Citizens and 15 and under free, all others $10

*all participating organizers