Entries Tagged 'general cycling' ↓

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

I’ll start by saying  that this was my favorite race last year and judging by the mca polls it was also a favorite of many other riders.

This year did not disappoint .  Not a great turnout for the race with the forecast coming into the race being lots of rain, locusts, and several other plagues piled on one another.

The lack of riders did not dampen the spirits those who were not big wimps.  The course….All I can say is that this is how a course should be set up, finally a roseisle course with flow and a perfect balance of ripping fast flowy downhills and steady easily paced uphills.  Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

My race.

I was first leg with the incomparable Allan Robertson as my partner in the two man category.  I went out with the intention of riding a pace that I could hold for four hours.  Not too difficult with the rain we had had.  My snowboarding background came in handy as I slid down everything with even the slightest of angle (wet).  My first lap was  38 minutes .  Based on this we decided to do 2 hour stints.  The rain had stopped by the start of the event and every lap was getting faster, stickier, easier.  I then posted a 35 followed by a 37.

When I came through for transition to Allan…He wasn’t in the starting blocks (turns out Don Sissons had sprained his ankle and Al was making sure he was ok, excusable…I guess .  Al went out and held our position in third, first place was already out of reach due to some fast Morden locals who went untouchable all day.  We had Graham and Josh to worry about and with Graham doing 5 laps on his first stint we were in a bit of a hole.  Al filled alot of the hole , 1 beer and some idle chit chat  later, I was back up for my 4-5-6 laps.

I went out slowly and could feel my previous laps in my legs.  Anyone who has ridden at this amazing place understands that.  4th lap bang on 38 minutes, 5th lap a little slower, 6th lap…OH hello Mr. Crampy legs.  I maybe should have drank water instead of that refreshing malt beverage.  I had caught and passed Josh for second place on my 5th lap.  I was 5 minutes slower on my 6th lap… He was slowing as well.  We were down by two minutes.  As I came meandering into the transition for Al I told him to go catch the Gerolsteiner Jersey.  Apparently that was all the motivation he needed.

As he came through for his lap he looked right into my soul with the fires of hell burning in his eyes and said “You’d better be ready when I come through”.  Obviously with the assistance of Beelzebub himself he posted the second fastest lap time of the event.  when you dance with evil you will always pay the price,  For Al it was in the form of  a visit from Mr. Crampy legs.  When Al came through for transition He looked like he had been chased super fast zombies of some kind.  I was ready

While in the pits I had “accidentally” overheard josh mention to another rider that he had to stop on “Gilles secret trail ” climb to fight off vertical expulsion of his previous meal.  Hmmmm.  Graham handed the reigns to Josh just behind me as I went out for what was to be our final lap.  2nd and 3rd separated by 1 second after 7 hours of racing.  I did not want another visit from Mr. Crampy legs so I had to be reasonable about my efforts.  Immediately after our transition I let Josh go.  A draft is a wonderful thing.  I let him gap me by about 10 seconds hoping he would push a little harder.  He did.  I kept him within reach as much as I could.  My plan was to slowly reel him in by the time we got to “the climb”.  I slowly reeled him in by the time we got to the climb.  It was difficult sitting on his wheel up the climb as my top fuel does not have a granny ring (I wished it had).  Josh and I rode off the top of the climb and through an uber flowy new cut section along the top of the ridge.  When we got to the opening just before the descent I reached down ,got my can opener and opened a steaming fresh can of whoop ass.  I think I put 35 seconds on Josh by the bottom of the descent.  I love my bike.

Josh and Graham were awesome opponents and I thank them for making it such a close battle all day.

I thank Allen (or at least the person I knew as Allen before the possession) for keeping it real.

As I said off the top this is such a well run event,  Gobs of prizes courtesy of Norco,  Great trails and perfect weather for racing.  Again my favorite race this year.

BEEEAW!

Dave./D.J.

Click here to see the entry form

Alter Ego Sports Enduro Poster

Day 1

Longmont CO.

Dave and I got here early and got to borrow some bikes ( RS’s ). We road up from Longmont up to jamestown, and I mean UP. it took us 1hr 10 min to get up to Jamestown. then we went past Jamestown, and the road got f*&^ing steep….. for the next 35 min, it was a brute of a climb. but we topped out after climbing for 2 hrs total. Both of us wanted to turn around a few times, the lungs were burning and no gears left ( cervelo RS’s come stock with 50/34’s, and we both needed more gears )  and the road still when up and up. We both “paperboyed” accross the road a few times. Once we topped out on the climb we turned around and it took us around 10 min’s to get back down to Jamestown ( easly going over 90km/hr quite a few times ) and then working the rest of the down hill down lefthand canyon back down to Longmont.  My legs are so tired now…..
Beer and Pizza was so good……

now it’s off to lay down and rest for tomorrow, New toys and Sales meatings and a few more epic rides up in the “hills” here down in Colorado

Day 2

Well it was more about Work. Loking back over Cervelo 2009 and how the year was and what transpired.

The launching of the Test Team and what they have accomplished so far this year, both Men’s and Wm’s teams was a big undertaking. Looking back it was fun to see the underdog fight and come out on top for the month of June, and Having the top rider in the pro tour all in their first year. Hopefully Thor can take the Green jersey all the way to Paris.

We looked at Test Team Travel, and wow, if only I didn’t just do a Kitchen reno. You can sing up, fly to watch the team race, but you get a CTT kit, a chance to ride some of the Race route and then have dinner with the team after. I don’t think I could ride and hang out whiht Mr. Armstrong, But you could ride and hang out with Thor or Carlos…..

Then we got to see all of the new 2010 Cervelo’s, and wow. I might need / want a new ride for next year. That’s all I can say at this time, untill after interbike…..That afternoon Dave and I only had one and a half hr’s to ride, so we headed out for a hot 90deg F ride in the sun……Not as much climbing but we had a nice spin. That night Cervelo took 50 of us out for a great dinner in down town Boulder. Dave was all over the Mojito’s and I was enjoying the Wine ( our glasses kept on filling up)

Day 3

This was a free day to rome, on the RS’s. Once we sat down with our Cervelo Rep to go over what we might bring nito the shop for 2010. That was easy…. a few of these and some of thoes…. Then we got ready to Ride…. But we were all glued to the Lab tops watching Heinrich Haussler delivering a stunning solo victory. Very cool.

Dave and I headed up to Jamestown again in a group of 10, I watched Dave ride away up the road up with a bunch of Cat1 riders…… Dave held on and reached into his suitcase of courage for the next  3-4 miles, then he smartly stopped and then road with me…. I thanked him for stopping,  But he laughed and told me he was riding at 95% just to keep with them and they just kept dropping gear after gear. Dave and I then road up smartly to Jamestown, picking off a few riders that got spit out the back. We got to the top and then ripped down hill, both of us carving down the turns trying to get all the way down with out using our brakes.  What a great way to finish up a riding I mean Buying trip.  It was work trip…….

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.

A very interesting way that helmet usage is encouraged in Europe. An interesting way to be sure, and not one that I think we would see locally.

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.