Reach the Beach Tomorrow

So tomorrow I will be doing the infamous Reach the Beach MTB race. Race starts from Beausejour and heads north to Grand Beach and the distance is roughly 100km. Due to heavy downpour a week ago, the swamp section (in Grand Beach Provincial Park?) had to be taken out of the race so there is bit more road than normally. Not that I know how this race is normally because this is my first time.

Should be good training and hopefully a good race too. Race course follows the route on this map http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2974303 . It's flat but I think that the distance will do the trick for most guys. This is good way of kinda testing how my legs work in longer MTB races.

And I also did very MTB thing and got myself a Camelback so that I can carry enough water tomorrow. Now I just need to train how to drink out of that thing. Maybe I should fill it with beer for training purposes.

Actually I just found this cool tool. http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx/ This program will translate google maps data to GPX so you can use the data on your GPS device. Need to see how this works with my iPhone.

Team Woodcock Riders Rule Canadian Nationals

Team Woodcock riders are ruling the Canadian Nationals.

Yesterday Karlee Gendron won bronze in a very close junior women ITT and today Marian won gold in Masters 50+ road race.

Karlee won the bronze and at least I'm surprised because I always considered her as a road mass start rider rather than ITT machine. This promises good for the road race for her and will definitely help with getting a spot for worlds. Good to see that she was able to carry her speed skating power over to cycling. Congratulations Karlee.

Marian has been telling everybody for at least a month, that he will win the nationals...I guess he eventually started to believe this himself as well. Marian has been riding strong for the past weeks and it was clear, that if he makes it to the finishing straight, he was going to take the gold. Second place finisher and brand new ITT national champ, Charlie Squires supposedly tried to bump Marian a little in the sprint, but apparently he didn't know Marian too well and tried to protest after Marian answered his bumping.

FGBC Fantasy Tour Pool

Just entered mine and wifeys teams to Fort Garry Bike Club's Tour Pool. The teams are the following.

My picks.

Lance Armstrong
Kim Kirchen
Mark Cavendish
Steven De Jongh
Jussi Veikkanen
Vicenzo Nibali
Filippo Pozzato
Yaroslav Popovych
Anthony Geslin

Melissa's picks.

Alberto Contador
Sandy Casar
Thor Hushovd
Tyler Farrar
Fabian Cancellara
Vicenzo Nibali
Kurt Asle Arvesen
Sergio Paulinho
Yaroslav Popovych

I wanted to pick both Cancellara and Veikkanen, but sneaky game master had put them in the same "basket" as TT guys so I was forced to choose Jussi over Melissa's favorite Fantastic Fabian. Now I have three week long holiday ahead of me with Tour starting tomorrow. It'll be training and travelling packed three weeks of summer...nice...

I just need to figure out where to get a scooter for motorpacing.

Another Weeknight Crit'

So yesterday we had another weeknight criterium race. And it was another frustrating stroll around the park. It's not good if you need to set-up your own counter attacks by attacking first. Then your teammates chase you down. Go figure I say.

Maybe I should stick to MTB and Cyclocross.

And seeing provincial team in action was "interesting" as well.