Fontana XC

Fontana California, the NMBS season opener is going on this weekend with the XC taking place today. With 90 pro men starting it was crazy fast, probably moslty because I don't have my race legs yet but they are coming!
For call up since I have never raced in the U.S. before I was called up 80th and when the gun went rode like crazy trying to move up through the single track. The crazy thing that I am also liking and starting to get used to in the US is that it doesn't matter where you are in the group you need to work hard and attack every climb to stay in that position. So with the first lap being over and four more to go I was feeling pretty good riding right at my max and strong on the climbs (still working on the technical) this continued on for the next 4 laps with me gradually moving up to 45th by the end. Although its not that impressive of a result it means I will be able to start in the 45th position in Phoenix next weekend so hopefully can spend less energy moving through the pack. Right now though the goal is to get some quality races in and be fast when I get back to Canada in May to start the Canada Cup Series.
Tomorrow is the Short Track and I've never raced one before so we'll see how it goes!

Raced in Gainesville Florida yesterday on a pretty much flat course with a lot of corners. The course wound its way through an old rock quarry with lots of tight singletrack and the climbs consisting of either dirt hills or the old roads used to haul out the rock. Lots of fun to race it. In regards to fitness I am pretty good, it is after all only mid march. The race started super fast (I had forgotten how fast a pro race starts) and I found myself in the lead group of 7 feeling great and definetly strong on the flats and short steep climbs. I just didn't have all the cornering down, which is something I have been working on this year. I ended up in 12th position which is decent but I was definitely wanting better. One thing about racing here is that it's 100% effort the whole time if you ease up for a bit you get passed. The finish came down to a sprint for me with another guy where we both had throw our bikes across the line and I just got him. A good race though and a good way to start the season before heading out west in just over a week for the NMBS season opener at Fontana.

Rode in Dahlonega GA today on some super nice roads. They had everything, big climbs fast cornering descents and soem flat and rolling terrain to keep things exciting. Exciting was definetly up there today when on the first big dowhnhill Thomas went down in a corner after a hitting a bit of gravel and busted up his helmet got a little road rash and most unfortunetley having his frame come to stop against the guard rail crushing the top tubeThe good thing was that he slowed down enough on the pavement and little bit of grass to not get seriously injured when his body came to a stop against the guard rail. Needless to say its been an expensive weekend for him! After finishing the loop Matt and I continued on for a second loop to complete our training, while Thomas understandably decided to go home.

The training is going well for me and I have my first race in a week so I'm excited for that!

Not the greatest day for Thomas (but funny for the rest of us)

The weather was a little chilly this morning at +1 with flurries when I set off for my training ride. Today was a training day with a long mtb ride and I was going to ride with Matt Hadley and Thomas Turner for 4hrs. Evrything was looking good and the sun was trying to break through the clouds when maybe 1 minute up the trail Thomas's SPD pedal fell off the spindle, pretty funny stuff. We went to the shop he got a new pedal to borrow and we continued on our way. Then say 2hrs into the ride were cruising down a section of singletrack when one of the many sticks gets caught in Thomas's deraileur and brakes the bottom metal tab of the cage. Still rideable as long as there are no majour bumps. We continue on to stopping once in awhile to put the chain back when it bounces off but this time goes in the spokes and tears the whole deraileur off. No problem, turn it into a single speed and get that all set up when 10 more minutes down the trail the chain decides to jump into a bigger cog and were all impressed because the chain never broke. Thomas puts it back onto the correct cog does two pedal strokes and the chain falls off again. This time when removing the rear wheel we all notice that the wheel is pretty loose so he pulls back the chainstay protector and we see that instead of the chain snapping when it jumped into the bigger cog it crushed the carbon chainstay in on itself! needless to say the bike wasn't really rideable! Matt and I helped him on the way out by Matt pulling (using a spare tube) and me pushing him on the flats and uphills back to the car. The only thing is none of us had brought a camera with us for the training ride so we don't have any pictures...
Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be a little warmer and were planning a road ride. Maybe that will be easier on the parts..

Blue RC 4 Ultegra groupo

first race-I'm riding well

Had my first mtb race today, a 34 mile point to point on a pretty technical and challenging course. The drive out to the start was interesting since all the riders were shuttled and the first thing the lady driving the car I was riding in did was turn around look at Matt and I then tell me "I like your jersey, my daughter likes boys she's 19" I didn't really know how to respond to that one, fortunately the guy sitting next to me covered by saying "you mean she ain't no lesbian" Anyways it was an interesting 40min shuttle.
The race started off with a long gradual climb varying from between 5-8% grade on some forest service roads then hitting the single track to continue climbing until the first descent and then back up another fast descent and fire road climb then a super rocky technical 8miles to the finish which sucked the last bit of energy out of my legs. It was super fun though and I was in 2nd with just over 1min on 3rd position until about 10miles to go when my chain broke. I guess I made a bad shift, but then afterwards I was told that the prototype I was riding had a chain that was too short (which I had realized part way in) and that it had also been broken twice before. So it was just a bad chain. But I was able to fix it and was sitting in seventh a couple of minutes back when I was able to get going again and close it in to finish 4th. Not bad for my first race of the year!
Everyone here is super friendly and the riding is pretty decent!
The bike I was riding today is a prototype full suspension full carbon. It climbs really well. Considering I had never ridden it until the start today I didn't really know what to expect. But it handles well in the downhills and technicals and is snappy for accelerating. So it seems like a pretty sweet bike so far.

Tomorrow is an easy 2.5 hr recovery ride for me on the road bike. Should be good!

Maybe Monday I'll try and find a camera cable so I can actually put some photos on here!