The Problem with Racing

While out for a ride today was thinking of what events I want to race next year. There is the Uxbridge Icebreaker I want to do for example.

Yet even though I was interested in doing some races I also realized that I could careless if I did. It's not about the politic's and the costs though they are a severe pain. It's just that it's more fun to go out and ride hard. To see how far I can go in 4 hours of riding. I guess I just love the training aspect more then the racing aspect

To me it's almost more fun to ride with others and show them how it's done of the race course. It's more rewarding to look at a map and think I wonder if I could ride that. Some of this thinking seems to be missing in this day and age. This is pretty much in line with what I call Warren's Law. So named after endurance legend Tom Warren.

Warren's Law is a theorem of 2 axioms set against each other.

Warren's Law #1. Racing is like taking an exam. If you went to school and never took an exam then you'd never really know where you stand.

Warren's Law #2. Racing gets in the way of training.

Right now I'd like to start setting some creative training challenges. More to come.

Wet Rock

Today we had a trace of snow. This should make today's trail ride interesting. As anyone who know's tires will provide traction on any known surface, except sno covered or wet rock.

Archmolds 400km Review

Have been testing a set of insoles from Archmolds from the crew at Runningfree.com. So far have put in about 400km of offroad mileage on them. When it comes to mountain biking shoes they definetly help. Especially when it's tough to make stiff soled shoes comfortable for long periods of time.

So far they have been comfortable and had no annoying irritation to date. They fit into my shoes with only the standard trim. One good thing is that the insoles do increase the stiffness of my shoes which when trying to waste less energy on a 5 hour ride is important.

Next phase of testing will be to see what happens in winter. I ride year round in some of the toughest conditions at times so we shall se what happens next.

Cheap and Waste

Over the last few years I have been trying hard to save money when it comes to sport. It's funny ho we make choices. And through those choices how much we waste.

It's amazing to me how mtbers seem to always want the new part. Then will toss or bury their old cast off parts. In a day and age where we are encouraged to recycle and such how little is done.

I make an effort to be different. At least half of my bike is parts from others who either don't want them or are bomb proof old school parts. My shifters are old school thumbshifters that cost me $85 back in 93. Well still running them into 2008, definetly got my dollar for them.

Come on, there is a whole market of still good old parts out there that we can use. But do we? No we go buy the new shiny part while adding more shit to the landfill.

Salsa with A Side of Tree

Just got my new Salsa Qr this week. Works great except for one problem. I just figured out that I bent my seatpost in the last 2 months. Oh, well it's bound to have happened. Now to get a new one.


Was out for a ride on the trails. The pic below is post crash after coming down a short DH and bunny hopping a rock and root.

I missed the tree with my head by about 2 inches. I hit a rut on the right and basically had my front wheel spin out. Good thing I was wearing my Fox System pads as I put a good dent into the ground.

Things are going well with the plan to turn all my jersey's into fullzip's. They work very well.

Now am working on my next plan. Looking to get either a Gravity Dropper or a All Mountain Post. The riding will be smoother with on the fly adjustment.

Mud and Bogs

Got some new parts. Hopefully will install after the weekend. Can't show pics as the blog site for some reason won't allow uploads of pictures again.

Riding Collins Bay on Friday.

The Quarry

Took a road trip to Napanee to visit Gabby's Grandpa. Packed the bike and went to play in the old Quarry area. Ended up taking it a bit easy. But tomorrow will be playing in Collins Bay.

Time for bed.