East Cup Cornwall May 11th

Saturday was the Cornwall edition of the East Cup put on by Dan Marshall of Substance Projects.

 And those of us in the Comp race, the three of us car pooled up to Charlottenburgh Forest. The drive up wasn't looking promising as it alternated between heavy rain and no rain. So it kind of felt like heading into a repeat of the Kingston race...mud festivus. But when we arrived it was just wet grass and instead of mud we would be having fun with wet roots. Being a BC raised rider wet roots are fun.

  After Dan's usual low key call up. It was off for the 3 laps of 5k.  First first bit up the quad track and small hill went well. Actually started out a little faster this time and by the hill was clear further up the field. Then into the singletrack which was fun and had some good flow. Pace was good and despite the usual small hiccups as those who get squirrelly in the tech cause the accordian effect. Unfortunately one of these incidents at about the 10% through the course cased me to get my bar caught in a tree. Which caused my left brake lever to pop off.

 Discovered this on a bit of downhill and stopped to fiddle for 15 seconds. Gave up and tried to catch back up to what turned out to be the 3rd place guy. Which became a chore as I found it challenging to find the flow with only a rear brake. Mental block. Took the rest of the 1st and second laps to finally get it.

  Negative split the 3rd lap. Even caught the third place guy but lost him again as we lapped a 12 year old kid still on his second lap as he got hung up on some roots and went down hard. Made sure he was okay then tried to catch back up. Never did and it turns out missed the podium by 15 seconds. Ironically the same amount of time I fiddled on the first lap with my brake.

This is small mechanical cost 15 seconds.

Zee Beaver

Just another weekend of spring and sunshine. And trying out a new pedal system as I have officially filed for divorce from Shimano when it comes clip pedals.

 Saturday rest stop at the Beeratorium post work on Saturday. Bit of lunch and sunshine.

 A buddy lent me his Time Alium pedals to try out as I decided it was time to dump the Shimano of fail. After they clagged up nicely in the East Cup I decided it is time for a change as they came up a bit wanting.

Sunday ride out at the farm with nothing but trails and sunshine.

And the company of the local eager Beaver .

Smorgasbord

It's a delivery from the UK's On One Bikes that arrived via the always entertaining services of Canada Post.

 I needed to get another tire so I could save the 2.2 Mountain King for the more muddy times of year. But as is always the goal of Team NFI cutting costs is the big deal. After reading the reviews in Singletrack Mag and 29 Inches . While yes it is a 29er site Guitar Ted does a good job on reviewing stuff. Plus the bonus is the soil is much closer to what I have here in Ontario. Claggy clay that when it is wet and muddy really doesn't fall away like BC type dirt. So that is a good thing.

For the Mistress of course it is in 26" size and is of the folding bead variety and in a 62a compound for your pleasure.  Initially when I looked at it at I kind of thought it was a little small. But after mounting and inflating it to riding pressure I was happy to see I was wrong. 

So far only one ride tonight on it and no problems at this point to report. Though will have more later on after a few weeks more of riding and the East Cup Cornwall race on it.

East Cup #1 Kingston

Sunday April 21st was the inaugral East Cup Series stop in Kingston. The   East Ontario Cup
is being put on by Dan Marshall who organizes the Ontario Marathon Series .

 Spent the evening on Saturday getting all the gear ready to go for the morning.  And of course deciding 10pm the night before is the night to mount a new rear tire in the 26x2.2 flavour.In hopes of it maybe making up a bit for lack of training. Bike doping if you will.

 And woke up to minus 4 and there having been a frost. Hmm... maybe the mud will be less. After a quick load of gear and a bit of dawdling it was of to the Sangers Silo to see if I recall how to race or should just go back to slacking again like Dicky.The only thing of the day was ...no expectations.

After the mandatory stop at Tim's for the usual pre race Breakfast sandwich and Ice Capp..large of course. Everything that would have the pre race nutritionist Stasi having fits about it causing some form of weakness. Though I let myself down a bit as had no Guinness for post race rehydration. It was park and get the race number while catching up with Dan of Substance Projects. And kind of meander around a bit and make some half assed effort at getting ready. Because when you aren't taking it seriously it can be difficult choosing vest or no vest for racing in.


 Keep in mind Team NFI Racing is not of the Sausage Suit wearing fraternity or is that cult??

 So after much delay it was finally to the line and off we where sent by Dan. Since I wasn't really race ready this was more of a good hard ride that eventually evolved.  Evolved thanks to the conditions. Because with it warming up the frost thawed and everything turned to mud. So the no race plan or expectations became the plan as the claggy mud...it's more like what one finds in the UK. Or so I have been told.  So the whole plan of trying to be smooth and keep the flow became the way to go.

 As 5 riders in my age group on the first lap where taken out simply by the mud. So while I admit I was worried that running a 2.2 instead of a 2.3 as I had made an error in ordering turned out to be the right choice. As being slightly smaller gave the rear wheel more mud room to function. 

Unfortunately no podium pic of me on the 3rd step. Maybe it is for the best as I wasn't exactly following the Dicky podium rules.  Due to the failure to plan there was no Guinness for the podium.

In the end the Mistress V2.0 did well. I was impressed at every turn how it rode. The tires did their jobs despite the conditions.

The only thing that let me down on the day was the Shimano SPD's which no matter what could never really be unclagged. SO the only equipment change will be switching to Time clipless pedals as everyone I know who uses them has no problems in this type of mud.

 Now to begin actual training for East Cup #2 in Cornwall on May 11th.

Spring Thaw Gravel

Last sunday planned a ride via the K&P rail trail to Harrowsmith and back. Put it out on FB on a whim to see if others wanted to come. Only one came out for the little ride. Kurt came down from Verona to join in. So after a bit of waiting. Well, more like waiting for me to finish breakfast at Starbuck's which was the start point and I admit I do dawdle a bit.

 We headed out. I decided to skip the gravel section that goes behind the Crappy Tire which makes the Dalton ride time about half. You know, less time for Arsehat drivers to try see if they can clip you without spilling their Double Double.

 The trail surface was good. Not to soft with the only areas with issues was closer to Harrowsmith on the new addition. Run off had cut mini ditches in the trail. Unfortunately Kurt had his rear wheel pop out of the rear drop outs when be bunny hopped one.

  I was thinking that maybe this would make for a little Gravel Grinder in the future. Maybe something in Spring. Not like the Tour De Buttertart my buddy Marc puts on in Dundas.  Which while I would much rather be doing the reality is that this early in the year it's hard to plan to travel to events unlike later say in the fall. So this was more of an experiment this year to get an idea. I think next year with a bit more planning we can have a little Gravel Grinder in the spring..........kind of a Test of the First Gravel.  The cycling version of the first ski race of the FIS World Cup.

 Since I don't have a GPS or a bike computer right now it was the old school timing system of the wrist watch stop watch. So the time was ,

To Harrowsmith turnaround...1:49:49
Back to Stabuck's on Division...1:32:29
Total..3:22:19

 Really I think it is doable as a event. now I think I'll make a go of trying to do this next spring.

Spring A Delic

With 2 weeks out from the race here in Kingston headed out to CB to refresh myself with riding trail. Don't want to show up on the 21st still rusty as that would decrease the fun factor.

                 Sheesh.. You think it would have melted by now.

 Bridges are showing their age and starting to come apart.  It will need to rebuilt so the line can continue to be enjoyed.  Another project of course.

 After much delay and putting of. Finally got around to rebuilding my front Hope Mini. New master cylinder piston seals, a modded Hope Moto lever to fit, and a nice cleansing bleed with my Epic Bleed Solutions kit. And the Mistress has the Hope's returned to her.

And have something new ans well as being something old on the way. Hopefully Canada Post won't feel like dawdling excessively.

Ice Thaw Weekend

Last weekend was a road trip to Scarborough and a oppurtunity to ride in a couple of different places thanks to Joely having to work at Durham College. The Saturday afternoon was a trip to Greenwood where i have yet to ride. Well it was more of a packed snow ride then anything else.

                                  The creek on a winter day.

                           The Mistress taking a wee rest.             

  Thanks to the dog walkers for doing all the boot packing.

                      Time to drop a layer as it was getting warm.

 While it looked like a luge track the reality was other wise. As there was a thin layer of soft slush that allowed traction.

 Sunday's ride was to an area I have been before but always with a group. And when with a group you end up going at their pace not at yours. Which leads to less checking things out.



                  The CP Rail line to the bridge over the valley.

  Been at this look out a few times. Though this time missed by about 15 minutes actually seeing a CP train come over the bridge.

                  Just like Saturday the conditions where like.

               Still better then sitting at a busy cafe in Scarborough.

                       Next time will ride the rocks. But not today.

 Nothing spectacular for a weekend of riding. But have 2 places to return to later in the year as want to ride it more. Plus there is a trail following the CP rail line and an abandoned one that connects the Rouge with the Seaton Trail area.