24 Hours of fun....

wow, what a weekend. Congrats to those who slogged through the shit and finished.

The first lap was great. I spent the morning preparing all my food and my pit area. Didn't want to bother anyone else as I had no crew. My guy was held up and couldn't make it. The weather was great, nice and sunny.

They lined us all up early, solos got to start 15 minutes before the teams. We also got a longer course, 5 more fun filled km for us. We took off in a run with all sorts of people cheering us on. My first Lemans start. I remember again why I don't run anymore. The prologue loop led us through town and then wound back up to the Nordic Centre. I felt pretty good actually. The first part of the course is about 5km of climbing. A long rooty section greets you at the 2km mark. Passed a few guys walking this section.

Next was a nice technical downhill. I love this part. Only touched the brakes a little, mostly just cranked all the way down. Then we come to an evil steep uphill section and the first checkpoint. Dumped some water on my head and kept going. Wound down a little more and cruised through my favourite section. It was a little downhill section off the pavement to a nice rock launch. There was a big crowd there every lap, I made sure to give them a little show even on my last lap there. A fun jump that sent me about 30 feet down the trail. Good times. Then we raced down into Georgetown, a quick downhill section that you needed to pay attention on, a very sharp turn at the bottom of the hill.

Then more climbing. The new section of trail they cut was a bit of a clusterfuck the first few laps as a lot of people were unable to stay on their bikes. I had to holler for some to get out of the way as I cleaned it the first two laps. Then we rode to the 3rd checkpoint and the extra 5 km for the solo guys, a nasty climb that was on soft, wet grass. It was extremely slow even when it was semi-dry. It got really nasty later on. After the climb was a neat whoop de do section that we ran backwards compared to other year's I've raced this course. The finish isn't as nice as it used to be as there is no longer a stadium area to ride into, but is fun nonetheless.

I was still feeling good on lap two. It was very warm out. I think steam came off my head again when I dumped water on it. And again I walked nothing. Had to trackstand on the new singletrack climb as the guy in front of me didn't hear me catching up behind him but I didn't dab. Stuffed some more food in my face at my pit area and headed out for #3.

My knee was starting to bug me on the climbs now. I promised myself a few months ago that I'd stop if I thought my ride was going to jeopardize my Transrockies race. I kept going. Some crappy dark clouds started creeping into the valley. Shit. I was racing the weather, trying to get back before my meager tent blew away in the wind and oncoming rain. I wish I had a pit crew to worry about that. It starts to come down just as I'm approaching the start/finish line. And it is mean. Wind is swirling, rain coming down hard. I get to my pit area and have to save my shitty tent setup. My sports drink container has been blown over and has spilled all over my clean riding gear. The tent has been knocked over, I think someone got nailed by one of the big supports from the timing tent as well. I sit in another pit area and stay dry, planning my next move. It looks like it might blow over.

I head out with my jacket on in the rain. Screw it, lets get another lap in. I don't need the jacket as I am way too hot wearing it. I throw it at a spectator asking him to take it to my pit area. He gets it back there, spectators can be very cool. My knee feels like shit now. The rain is now gone, but not for long. 5 minutes later, it pours even harder than the last time. Fuck. I can't pedal the climbs anymore, too slippery. Every descent turns into a bind gamble. We get teased again with a stoppage in rain. And then it pours again. Just in time for the last difficult climb. I'm freezing now. I stupidly took off my gloves and ended up putting them back on as my hands were being chewed to bits. The lap takes forever. My knee hurts, my hands are toast, I am colder than I can remember. No one is passing me, I think everyone stopped and I am all by my lonesome out there. I get to the transition area and I am finished. I limp in, filthy and dejected. My race is over. Someone takes a pic of me in the tent and immediately apologizes when he sees my hollow eyes stare back at him. I hope I can find a copy of this photo as I probably look absolutely awesome. Cyd Fraser sees me in the pits and tells me not to quit yet, to take some time and clean up. The mechanic across from my pit area agrees. I straighten out my tent again and head for my car to get a towel, time to hit the showers.

I can't even open the door of the shower facility as my hand is shaking too much. Fuck it's cold. I walk in and strip off the filthy riding gear and have the best shower of my whole life. I feel somewhat human again. I am going to rest and see if my knee improves. In the mean time, I make the best of things and go see some new friends in the pit area. Brad, team mechanic for Barry Lyster from BC is awesome. We yap away for awhile about bikes and assorted stuff. He tuned my bike for me when I was getting cleaned up, just in case I wanted to go for it again. I chat up Dallas Morris' pit guy Shredder, what a character!! And I headed over to talk to brand new 24 Hour hall of famer Steve Fassbinder. He's flying out there. Other hall of famers Ed Hunt, Roy Wallack and Brett Wolfe are there as well. Great bunch of guys. Wolfe is one of my cycling heros, very cool to see how down to earth he is. Bummer that John Stamstad isn't there.

I go sleep in my car for 5 or so hours. It rains again. My knee has not improved so I do not head back out. It's tough to not feel like a total failure. I really wanted to hit my goal of 160km on the dirt. It'll have to wait until another day. And I know it was the right move with the Transrockies 2 weeks away.

Thanks to all that helped me. Brad in Barry Lyster's pit area, Shaun Taylor and his wife were a huge help, Dennis Smaggus' crew were great, and Allen Lane was there for me, too. Congrats to all the Deadgoats and Dallas Morris for their great results.

Jumpingpound/Cox Hill

I haven't done this ride in years. Shame on me. Probably the most spectactular trail in the area. I can never talk anyone else into riding it with me. Too damn hard.

It starts with a 15 or so km ride on the Powderface Trail fire road. Good warm up. I feel like shit today. First one knee hurts, then the other. Then my ass. Just can't get into a rythym. That changes in a hurry when we get to the first climb. Damn, it goes up in a hurry. And steep. Did I mention technical, too? It's my turn to get burned, a woman who ran 45km yesterday passes me on the uphill. Damn.

The climb is never ending. Toughest 3km ever. And it's worth every bit of pain and suffering. Nothing like genuine alpine meadow to make you feel like a million bucks. What a view. I feel like kicking my own ass for not bringing the camera.

The other fun thing about this ride is that you get to experience the pain and suffering twice. Yippee! After a fun descent, it's back to grinding uphill. Wow, this hurts a lot more than I remember. I get to the top and check out the view. You can see Moose Mountain, Yamnuska, Baldy, even Mt Assiniboine is showing today. Fantastic.

The downhill is just as tough as the climb. Ultra technical, fast, my hands hurt from braking. It's over before you can blink, back at the car. Gotta do this ride more often.

some real mountain biking, baby

Oh yeah. This is the stuff I live for. My Transrockies partner had a special treat in store for us today. We were going to tie together what would be three rides for most people. I couldn't wait.

Spent last night with my wife and my parents at the Mark Knopfler concert at Jack Singer concert hall. Man, what a show. Amazing band, amazing guitar. And I got to hear the full version of Telegraph Road live. All 14 minutes of it. Awesome. It also meant I got to bed late. Shit.

7:00 came early. I was a dumbass and didn't have my best bibs clean. So I stayed up late to make sure they went through the wash. This became a total waste of time, I'll explain later...

The Calgary Marathon was run today. This made it a lot of fun to get from my house in Harvest Hills to Bowness. We finally get there. And of course, the bag with my bibs my jersey and my digital camera is lying on the floor of my garage. Fuck.

Niall has extra stuff I can wear so we get moving. We drive out to West Bragg. We warm up by spinning up the fireroad (Tom Snow). We drop down on the bottom of Moosepackers for some fun singletrack descending, then climb up a steep pitch and head back down to Station Flats. Before we hit the parking lot, we hang a right and start on Sulfur Springs. The first part is climbing, climbing and more climbing. The Deadgoats ran the Summer (Suffer) Solstice race here a week ago and the trail is in excellent shape. The endless up finally gets us to the Moose Mountain fireroad and we stop for a snack and some much needed water.

We continue upward. Ugh. Niall is flying today. I am not. Well, I'm doing ok, I guess. He's just friggin fast!! We finally head down and take a shortcut to the highway. More spinning: we're headed for the dreaded Powderface. Powderface is one of our longer, steeper climbs. most people take the half loop. We're going all the way up. I can't remember the last time I did this one. No one is usually fool enough to want to come with me.

The trail is in decent shape. The upper part has always had some erosion issues. Did I mention this bastard is steep? Ugh. I actually pass two couples riding up, the only other riders I see going our way. I pull to the side of the trail to let a horse traverse a tricky rocky downhill. I'm impressed at the skill of horse and rider. But I still think they should be required to wear bags out here. I hate horseshit on the trails.

After what seems an eternity, I finally reach the top. That one hurt. I was close to bonking and had to scarf down some food to keep going. I eat a piece of cold pizza at the top. I hate pineapples and this thing tastes delicious. Our reward is a fun descent down to the Powderface trail, which is a fireroad.

We hit some good speed and head for, you guessed it, more climbing. Yay! Up we go, back through the half loop of Powderface via Prairie Creek trail. I don't think I've ever climbed up the half loop this way. It's a good, steady climb. I feel pretty good. Niall is cranking pretty good and isn't waiting too much (I hope). We get a fast downhill back to the parking lot. Niall has some hidden water, we replenish our supply and head back to the highway. A tailwind pushes us toward Moose Mtn fireroad. And more climbing.

My legs are feeling it now. I'm saving an energy gel for later on up the hill. We've got about 8km to get to the top. I think Jon Nutbrown can do this thing in just over 30 minutes. I really need to ride more. Niall kicks it into a gear I just do not have. I keep cranking along, enjoying the occasional dirt bath from the freedride shuttle assholes (ok, they aren't all assholes, but get a clue and slow down when you see someone riding up, ok???). Real mountain bikers ride up, too.

I blast an energy gel, refill my water bottle and get back on the bike. ALmost there, I just passed the 6km mark. There are two last evil pitches and I am finally there!! No more climbing. I like this ride because it saves a nice 14 or so km ride downhill back to the truck. We encounter Ryan Probert at the top, he's the guy who sold me my bike. He is also training for the TR. I also called him Mr Nugent as I was so tired, I couldn't remember his name. Sorry, Ryan. He's never ridden Moosepackers before and is in for a serious treat.

Moosepackers is a wonderful, downhill switchbacked treat. I encounter a second wind and head down. YEEEEEEHA!! Lots of blowdown on the trail, it's been cleared up nicely. They get some nasty winds on Moose Mountain. You know, I've never seen an actual moose here. Maybe they hate the switchbacks. Ryan enjoys his first experience on the trail, we head down Tom Snow and toward the end.

Whew. 74 km, 10,000 or so feet of climbing and 5 hours later, I'm all done. Great ride. Perfect weather. Is anyone else as glad as I am that chocolate milk is an acceptable recovery drink. MMMMMMM!

Roads under construction and fun with the weather

Wanted to get used to spinning flat fireroad type stuff on the mtb, so I figured the now under construction Stoney Trail ring road would be perfect. Yeah, it's marked as closed, but what harm could I possibly do? I throw on the iPod and head north from my place.

It's a nice downhill grade to start as I head west. It's very strange as they already have all the exit signs up. "Shagganappi Trail 5km.." etc. I wish I had brought my camera. I pass a worker in a truck (it's about 9pm) and he pays no attention to me at all. Not a really exciting ride, but I didn't have a lot of choice getting out this late. I turn around on the already paved portion near the NW Costco and head back east.

I pedal all the way to the unfinished bridge over Nose Creek. There are 2 old farmhouses here that I have never seen before. Just far enough away from highway 2 that they are hidden from view. I spin around on some gravel road and decide to head back before my wife gets too worried about me. I've been riding for 2 hours and said I'd only be gone 1.

Packed up the crew Friday and headed for K Country. Highway 40 was calling, figured I'd get some good spinning on the road bike there. I was dropped off at Barrier Lake and off into a glorious headwind. Nice day, for the most part, but I was about to find out that you can't really count on weather in the mountains to be stable.

Just over an hour into the ride, I round the bend and see a huge black cloud. Great. I was hoping to avoid this. It always happens when you happen to drag your wallet with you on the ride that you're bound to get soaked. No jacket, of course. I do an about face and shift into the big gears. 30 seconds later, I'm in the middle of a nice shower. Not too bad. I keep going.

I see a sheet of water in the distance and know immediately that I am fucked. Torrential downpour 1 minute later. Awesome. I try to keep forward momentum, which is easy since I have the world's best tailwind. I am soaked to the skin within seconds. I'm actually enjoying it. 5 minutes later, the rain has passed, the clouds have moved on. 10 more minutes and there's no sign of rain at all. And I'm totally dry. My wallet survived nicely between the spare tube and the energy gel in my pocket.

I wait at the predetermined pickup spot and watch a mountain goat eating and a bald eagle soaring in the distance. Humans weren't meant to be boxed in cubes in front of screens, we were meant to be right here. My wife and son pick me up. David smiles at me and says "Daddy loves mountains". I most certainly do.