That Was Fun

Today was another hill climb day. Decided that that some overclimbing was the ticket today and went to Ben Trash to settle the account.

The goal was 10 intervals up the acces road. The road takes about 5.5 minutes to climb. Kepr a good cadence through out with only some minor difficulty in the middle.

When I got home you could see the salt stains on my shorts and jersey. Signs of a good session.

The only downside was the fact my helmet which is a dirt jumper style does not breath at all. Still waiting for some more money so I can buy the Fox Flux I want.

Anyone got a Handlebar Weed Wacker

Did a 3.5 hour ride. Checked out a couple of trail areas I haven't checked before.


Nice meadow



Last time I was here there was a path.

Taller then my forks.

Time for Some Changes

Today was thinking about if I wanted to do some races again. I have come to the conclusion that I do want to do some races again.

So after meeting with the team and support staff, whom have agreed that the time is right. So since I have been given the green light, woo hoo. The plan is to only do select events only for fun and one's that offer a bit of a challenge.

So have called the coach back on board and will be meeting during a ride tomorrow.

Also will be working on a couple of secret projects to go along with this. The secret team will be gathered shortly.

Let the pain begin.

Riding With Friends

Hooked up with my buddy to show him the trails near the house today. He had never ridden the area yet lived in Toronto all his life


Part way on our journey up.

Looks so peaceful

Almost back.

Jersey's and Riding

Today saw Nelson at cyclesolutions. today just to say hi and to pass on the birth of little Gabby. Handed me a free team jersey for my work at the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice. Can't wait to use it for a ride tomorrow as I have never used a full zip jersey before.

A couple of day's ago was wishing I had another sleeveless jersey to ride in but of course don't want to pay stacks of money. While looking at bad idea racing a couple of days ago saw his modified jersey. Gave me an idea to use with an old MEC sleevelss jersey I have. but will also be adding 3 rear pockets.

Today was supposed to be a day of hill work. But after a mere 3 intervals was debating whether to keep going as my knee was being weird.

Well the situation was quickly resolved when my buddy Tweek from the www.cycle-solutions.com crew appeared. He had already ridden for something like 4 hours. Went riding with him to show him some of the other trail areas that are in the Rouge. Always good riding with Tweek as he is a guy who truly loves to ride his bike.

It's funny if one looked at a pic of us and the bikes together. Tweek runs a Kona Kula 29er that weighs something like 17lbs while my Chromag Stylus weighs in something like 30lbs. It felt good cleaning one hill that he couldn't with the heavy bike. The 29er reminds me I need to get the Cross bike back up and running.

So tomorrow I'll visit the guys at Cycle Solutions and try to get that jersey I want.

Purple Haze Festivus

Lee at Poisonfrog Promotions has organized a MTB Festivus hat is old school style. 2 days of fun and riding.

purplehaze

It's to bad my schedule won't allow me the fun this year.

It's Not Easy Changing Gears

In the last couple of day's since the birth of my daughter Gabby some things have run through my head.

In the last year due to life changes I had to make the decision to downsize my endurance training and racing. Since getting sponsored by the great crew at Running Free 3 years ago who supported not only my racing but also continue to support what I do.

Sometimes it hasn't been easy changing the mental gears to not race and to focus on things like trail work and helping the kids get better at trail riding. But it has been all worth it.

Plus by not racing in the last year I have returned to my endurance sport roots, the roots being mountain biking. That as much can be gained from just riding trails with others as can be gained from racing.

But yet again I have the desire to change gears back to racing, at least a little bit for now. I can thank Gabby for this changing of gears again. It's something about her that makes me want to ride more now.

Now to decide what race.

Music Motivates

Today got my CD's from the guys at Gripped Films- 24 Hour Solo and Off Road To Athens soundtracks. Some good stuff to ride to on it.

http://www.grippedstore.com/

Spent a couple of hours riding the trails of the Rouge. Didn't beat the rain but if it isn't raining it isn't training. Been thinking of somethings about riding and the present view of the world. Will post it up later though.

The Van Does Exist

So the little van that appears in the Reactine ads is real.



Rode in the Don today, good 3 hour ride not counting the time at the DJ's. The climbing intervals seem to be helping my riding alot. Much stronger on the hills plus it is taking a little less effort to ride other sections.

Also rode the Ridge backwards. Noticed that some sections where I have had problems riding have become a bit easier.

So now will have to keep doing these sessions to continue improvement. And in that regards received the watch handlebar mount in the mail today. Now just need to replace my watches batteries and will be up and ready to go for more pain.

Check out this ladder bridge.

See Colours and Puke With a Side of Sunset

After going out to see Transformers with Joely earlier geared up for a ride.

Headed out to Ben Trash for some hill intervals. But first had to take a mandatory breather for a train.



Did 3 repeats of a hill I call See colours and Puke. It's a tough granny gear climb that requires one to be on the whole way up.

The reward for my effort was a view of the sunset.

Bidding on a solution

While searching for some stuff found this,

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/iraq_us_auction_offbeat

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150141399174&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D150141399174%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Do It Yourself

So, here is the the homemade tool for headsets.


It's basically a half inch threaded rod cut to length with two nuts and washers. It's important to use rougly 7 washers aside. I say this as if you have less the washers will bend and twist.


After crashing a couple of times and ripping chunks out of my saddle I took Duct Tape to the problem. So I now have maybe another 6 months of life out of it before I need to replace it for real.

Bad Air

Hooked up with my buddy Marshall, the owner of Madman Tours. Only his second ride after being doored in April, $4,000 of bike damage. He's back and riding ok. Just needs a couple more rides to get his flow back.

After riding for 3 hours enede up at the DJ's and hung out. Tried some riding of the Rythmm Section and just wasn't feeling it today.

Was a bit down with the fact that wasn't feeling the flow but what was worse was the feeling of bad air from the rest of the guy's there. There was no energy or motivation from the whole bunch. It seemed very negative and draining, like a funeral. What a waste that is. Why go to a place that makes people feel good and have fun to sit miserable and unhappy?

That is a waste of life. I left as I realized that it was bad and would mentally drag me down. My goal has been to let less of that happen around me.

And so far it is working.

Dirt Bag Tools

Well, installed a new WTB Momentum headset. The old Race Face bearings are shot and need to find replacements.

So checked out the Blue Collar MTB site,

http://bluecollarmtb.com/

And found this do it yourself headset tool,

http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/09/14/homemade-headset-cup-press-for-under-6-bucks/

It took a bit of work to get it to work. Had to get out the round file and remove a small amount of paint from inside the head tube. One thing I discovered is that you need about 7 washers aside to limit bending of the washers. I say this as depending on how the headset fits it may be a bit tight.

Macgyver

Have come up with a solution to the headset problem. Going out to get in a ride and a stop at my local Home Depot for parts. this should be fun.

Why is it that something so simple as a headset swap becomes such aa exercise?

Stupid Headsets!!!!!

Had a fun day evening of DJing after doing a moving job. All was good and great till on the subway home noticed my headset was a little stiff. No panic as I know I have another sitting waiting at the house.

Well, after 30 minutes of work I discover that for some reason the headset won't fit. WTF! I specifically odered an inch and an eighth headset. It's a good WTB one and it don't fit. Yet the old race face one fits no problem. The only thing that I can think off is that the paint on the headset is getting in the way.

Guess it's another day with a shitty bearing.

Kids Are The Future

Saw this yesterday while running around doing errands. Made my day.

Another day of riding and working on the skills. Though have come to realize that I need to get a new helmet to replace my old XC style lid. Right now looking at the Fox Flux,

http://gallery.mtbr.com/showphoto.php/photo/35084/cat/851

From some people I know who have used them have good things to say about them. Plus they are cheaper then the Giro versions.

Right now waiting for some parts in the mail to add to the ride.

Dirt Jump Progress

Took advantage of a nice hot and humid day. Built up some a berm and did some riding. According to the guys have improved today big time. Now to add a little DH riding tomorrow plus going to check out the new stunt built by Vince Vindaloo.

Hopefully won't be as hot tomorrow.

Ebay is A Wonderful Shopping Tool

Well, that was painless. Have the handlebar mount on order and in the mail. This will allow me to mount a watch to make timing intervals easier. Will post a pic after it's here and mounted.

Well today was a hot one. After doing some chores finally got out for a ride. Did 2.5 hours, included was 3 repeats of Ben Trash.

Watering the tarmac with sweat.





Cooked rider

Look a Bunny Wabbit

So have realized that I need to find a mount for my handlebar to mount a watch on. Time to go searching.

Crazy Canucks

Today got my hands on the new issue fo MBUk. Had some stuff on DHing on a hardtail. Interesting to think of guy's DHing on hadtails with flat pedals. Very old school in style.

So today headed into the Don and ended up hitting the Rthymm Section for most of it. Starting to get a feel for the new bike on it. Still having some problems stiffening up at certain points. Kind of sucks as I then regress untill I take a break. My buddy Jay mentioned trying to think about what comes next so that I will progress. We shall see.

Tomorrow's plan is to ride stunts and the DH run a few times.

Summer and Friday

Woke up feeling sore and tired from yesterday. Rode about 55km plus add 6 hours of loading a construction bin. Maybe I'll go by Jetfuel and watch the world go by before the moving job.

Work and life

Have been putting in some work hours lately. So have been a little lax in posting for the last 3 days.

Should be back to normal tomorrow.

Passing on What You Know

Today went up to Durham Forest with a buddy and his friend Jean. So Jean is a newcomer and this was her first trail ride.

It was fun showing her how to do some stuff and to see her face light up when she got it.

It's something we all seem to have forgotten how to do. It's the old school way of learning to ride from others.