Dark Cross 2012

It's been some time since the last time, but it's like riding a bike...right?

Dark Cross took place tonight. It was bleeping awesome, even if I sucked balls big time. Thank you for all those in attendance and let's one up this one next year.

I'll come up with something better soon.

1974 Honda CB 360

Getting old (slow). Need all the help I can find...

Tour of White(s)hell

Today's program, checking out the vacant lots. First was a shorter loop of just 8 km this morning, but I kept my eyes open and spotted the lot 1 that is for sale. This afternoon there is a bit longer cruise to see some bit more remote property along the 307 highway.

The road ride was less productive as there was only swampland as far as I can see. It was a nice friendly cruise for 85 km and much better training than sitting on my couch geeking bike gear and pro races.

Suitable reward for the days effort was a Michelob Ultra semi-beer because Lance would drink that if he would drink beer-like beverages. I did get some tasty stuff in form of Oso Negro coffee from BC as a souvenir from good friends. I think it's actually just coffee...seriously.

Racy Races

Time to pin the numbers again after skipping the first start of the season this morning at bleeping 7:30 AM. There's nothing like TTing in sub zero temps. I am trying a new warm-up for the afternoon start called concrete demolition. Large sledgehammer and hauling chunks of conrete are the core parts of this new method.

I did receive my license just yesterday and noticed that it didn't go quite as planned because there was no option for UCI category in online registration, but the license of course needs to list a UCI cat. So my UCI cat says elite instead of old fart, that can pick and choose in which cat to race. Doesn't really matter, as my racing plans will probably fall through again this summer.

I was looking at some training camp options this spring. Those who do stuff such as training around here travel down to Tucson. Apparently they really like it there, but based on the photos it looks like Spain off the coast, so not really that appealing option. The flights are also bit pricey at $800-900. Other option I was looking at was a camp in Mallorca, flights are same price or even cheaper, hotels are cheaper and lets face it, the island is almost as good as it gets for road riding. The downside of Spain is the long flight and jetlag. I need to put some more thought to this for next spring. Too bad any option costs an arm and leg when you live in Winnipeg.

Any jobs open in Holland or Belgium? Riding is not too bad all year round and flights to Mallorca or Italy cost next to nothing.

Addition:
 That was a productive day. First this in the morning...
 

 And then this in the afternoon...

Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er 3

As the years pass, riding gets less epic and bikes get more expensive (sometimes nicer). When the riding is something not to tell kids about, one needs to talk about bikes. My latest addition is a Cannondale big wheel. Not much to say yet...except that I don't like all the adapters for brakes and all the white paint hurts my eyes. And it needs to loose the tubes. Test riding this weekend in the bush, so we'll see how it runs.

Took the bike for a first real ride.

Cyclist's Christmas Came Early

What else could a cycling geek hope for than +20 weather on March 16? Apart from probably 876 pieces of cycling gear that is...Here in Manitoba we got the perfect early spring cycling weather and just need to keep saving for the new wheelset. All the snow is gone in the city and the trails should be ridable soon. If this is the climate change, this sure as hell is nice for cyclists at least until it gets +35 with 95% humidity.

It's the classics season!

Better late than too early right?

The real racing season started last weekend in Belgium with Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Some Belgian guy wearing Estonian champions jersey won the Omloop het Nieuwsblad and K-B-K was "made interesting" by Team Sky. The most amazing thing was that you could download Omloop in HD 2 hours after the race, so this almost takes the exitement out of peering into that stamp sized pixel soup at ungodly hours of your weekend.

But seriously...what's up with Garmin jersey?

This weekend is the Tour de France of classics, meaning a three day long stage race that is Driedaagse van West Vlaanderen. There's also a spring race, not a classic, but more of a climber squirrel's spring race, and that would be Strade Bianche. Strade is definitely the favorite race of any hipster and for a reason, the race is in Italy...

Talking down on the Strade. Looks like my wife's boyfriend is doing pretty good against the more obvious competition. Can't be all that bad if amazing Fabian is going to win the race. I told you guys that Fabian is loosing weight and will become a contender in hilly classics as well. Wonder if they are still claiming that Fabian weighs 80 kg?