breaking news in America!

" Cops pull gun on Diddy's possie ". Apprently they thought it was Obama?.

Not sure if you have time to check out VeloNews online?. Velo meaning Bicycle.

http://www.velonews.com/article/81778/legally-speaking-with-bob-mionske---bikes-v-cars

But I found this great article, in continuation with previous stories, about Driver Rage. In this particular write-up, there's a great piece about the 2 cyclist guys driving, who beat up a Courier who keys his car!@. awesome. The courier actually drops his U lock in the fight and the one guy picks it up and craters the courier dude in the head!. haha!!!. Causing the courier to realize he's just a courier, and he deserved it.

weekend Pass

Yesterday was a great day to take on some early Autumn fitness that involved a little hiking in the Rockies. Mical was eager to join me for some cx Pre training that took us running and hiking on the Galatea Creek Trail, with an added extension of the ascent up to Guinns Pass. Overall we were gone for 5 hours, including lunch, and managed to get up to some 8000 ft elevation. Micals gonna need that prep for Brian Head Race next weekend @ 10000 ft plus. And that was actually the first time I've ran in a year and a half, since the broken knee. And It felt good!.

Then today, Sunday. We rocked out to the K-Country again for some more Rocky Mtn way. Best part about Sunday drives is the Black Sabbath marathon every Sunday morning on Serious Radio. Mical likes Ozzy :0).
We opted for some additional post TR recovery by driving to K-Country Village and departing from there on our road bikes. Destination; Highwood Pass. This was actually Micals first time ascending to the Pass from the North, and boy did we earn it, battling head wind the whole way.
After a brief re-fuel at the top and a couple photo ops, it was all downhill with a push back to the Village. And just a hint if you've ever ridden the Evan Thomas Trail of 10km or so?...It has all brand new pristine black top that just rips. Check it out.

wow

Awe man was the Olympic Mtb race awesome, the girls. So much drama!. The mens was on too late and I was toast out cold @ 1-3am? But it looked like Mical coulda shredded the girls course too from what I saw on CBC. And maybe me as well if only I'd been in Beiijing?. don't they have expert class?... no?.

Holy cow did Catherine Pendrel crush it!. winning 4th!. so amazing. Way to go everyone there!.

We won these cables here at the Trans Rockies. So cool, let me tell you.

I'd used the GORE cables previously in time, one set that lasted yonder until I crashed and wrecked the housing. But they last, over a year of hard service or until you wreck em. I knew first of their wickedness immediately after installing them and riding with them in 2001. I installed the cable system before training, and racing with them: up to the Death Race, 2001. { While others were jamming up in the mud, seized cables and blowing shifters, in the extreme conditions of snow and rain. } My shifting was still XTR showroom at the finish line. It was THE difference. Finishing 1st in my Cat, 20-30 yrs, and 5th Over all. With near 18,000 feet of climbing and as much downhill, in a 125km loop, in Chuck Norris bad weather.... ordinary cables didn't last. The GORE did.

http://www.canadiandeathrace.com/home.html

For the Death Race, I'd been off the bike from Elite racing for nearly 2 years competitively, but had done some training and scouting leading to prep for it. I mean I'd never done 125km off-road before. What was I signing up for, La ruta North?. So I'd visited G.Cache for 5 days in June, the wettest June ever, and pre road some of the course. After that I knew it was going to be huge/. I was scared.

In the race Pat Doyle had realized, upon reaching Check station 1, that he had forgotten his Skull Coin race token at the start of stage 1. Therefore his passing of check point 1, was disssss. allowed: or face's penalty. What could he do? ; ~ * . Pat was lucky enough to have a volunteer drive back to town!, go to his hotel!, and have the guy go into his place! and get his race token for him, then return.

Once the friend had returned near 30min later, and yes, with Pat's coin, Pat was now able to continue in the event past checkpoint 1. Pat was in last place, onto the 1st climb, to the first of 3 summits.

Look at the casualty list, look at how many DNF and cutoffs. It was insurmountable. Imagine these kinds of numbers in the Nordegg XC, or Terwilleger Park?.

110km per hour winds + rain + snow on first 2 mountains, and 17,000 +ft of climbing overall. No checkpoints for 45-50km at a time. Mt Hamel, the 3rd summit and climb, claimed many of my friends, some helicoptered to safety.

But my littlest friend Penny Thompson went up and over the 8000ft Hamel wearing a black garbage bag for rain gear when I had 2 racing coats on plus a toque and mitts?, very Hardcore. Penny was 7th there, from Grande Cache, top girl.

That was the first time I met Pat Doyle, he passed me in the netherworld after Hamel Mt, with his Coin, and was rafted by Death across the Smoky river...ahead of me, then finished 3rd. Nearly passing the entire field, on his return from last Place.

R.I.P. Penny, I still miss you babe when I think of those fun times. Penny was hit by a motor vehicle and killed last year while out riding.

And I think I'm gonna give those cables to Shredder for helping me at the 24 :0) he'll dig those for sure. Ya

Sunday Road ride. Aug.24

Mical and I are riding from K-Country Village main lodge parking lot/ tomorrow. The plan is to ride up to Highwood Pass and return trip @ 90km or so. Recovery pace. Leaving for 9:45am ish/ 10 for departure. Everyone welcome. Then maybe a beer and nachos afterwards.
Any questions?.. 689-3147.

Pump up the volume

So I was blasting some Testament, The Evil has Landed, in the Sony. Deep into my 4th of a few interval hill repeats out on Retreat Rd. I feel weird. Under the pain of my legs I feel some sort of strange power?. Like the rest of me was lifting off... like the space shuttle blasting off against the foundation of the Mother. The rest of my body is completely apartized, Wheeeee...
i only rode for an Hour but I think I averaged around 900 watts.

Trans Rockies 08

The 'E' and 'w' seams to be malfunctioning on my computer keypad?. So try to make those sounds hen you think you need too ok.


#1. Dallas' essential race equipment.

#2. Micals essential race equipment.

Poor girl came down with a really bad stomach type sickness/flu that hit full blast on Friday night/ Saturday morning. 'Butt sneeze' and dehydration seemed to be the theme for her as our small support team tried to comfort Mical for nearly 7 full days of her ordeal. we all tried hard to keep her moral up, and hoped each day would bring her closer to being able to keep in some nourishment. She made 2 trips to the hospital for IV.

Overall I knew she was wanting to hit the start line with 500 other riders from around the world, despite being ill. But try participating in a world class hardcore cycling event without getting down a complete meal for a week straight?. So unfortunately Mical had to make a tough call and not participate in Days 1 and 2. ( I rode Solo and with Deadgoats Erik and Craig). However there was no question her overall health and well being aren't worth a days riding (even though she tried). we did ride as Team Beauty and the Beast for days 3 to 7, and Mical got better as each day went by as witnessed by our two Podium placings on Days 6 and 7.

I still can't believe it she rode over 100km on day 4... after no square meal for 5 days. ? To me, that was our most successful day. You got a lot o heart kid. I have so much respect for you.

I also had a great time as well. There were a few challenging moments, but once again I earned a Finishers Medal alongside my Team mate who also earned hers.

Special thanks to Brenda and Dave for all your amazing hard work and support, and for sleeping on the ground with us for 7 days.

Day 2. Bear Creek.... somewhere B.C.

YUP

Trans Rockies Challenge 2008 is underway tomorrow. Looks like a mixed bag of weather forecast to keep the field honest. I had recently tried to setup a 'mobile' Blog setup but it just won't work, so talk to ya later.

Should be a good time. Mical is very excited and I'm definitely looking forward to 7 days in the back country.
cheers.