Off the wagon....

I have apparently falling off the Blog wagon. I wasn't hurt, just couldn't catch up for awhile.

I also have had nothing to write about that anyone would have interest in. Or even want to waste time with.

Hopefully there will be something interesting to speak of soon. I find pictures always help. Perhaps a XC Ski this weekend will bring photos to share.

I do have a bit of a Beer update. I have come across another to add to the drink list. It comes from the Amsterdam Brewery in T.O. I'm liking the Big Wheel Deluxe Amber. Great taste and it has a Penny Farthing on the bottle. Two favourite things in one, Beer and Bikes. It's a little tricky to find away from the GTA right now. I have managed to find it in Waterloo though. Must get some for Xmas time I think.

Rody

Project Bike Progress

An update on the project bike. I managed to get the frame completely stripped and primed. Kind of looks like a bomber right now. The primer is a dark grey.

Still haven't decided on any painting options. I may try to mask off the lugs and do a couple of colours on it.

Anyone happen to have a 1 inch threaded fork for a 26 inch wheel lying around? If you recall I had to cut the old one off. Haven't found the replacement yet.

Rody

All Shined Up!

'Tis the season for people to sell bikes. I've decided this year to join them. I cleaned the Scalpel up and have it currently up for auction on eBay. Go have a look and tell your friends.



Super deal on a trusty steed!

Rody

Any Body Read This?

Just checking in to see if any one actually reads this thing. I'm putting my Scalpel up for sale starting right meow. (Quick Super Troopers reference.) Any one reading yet?

Sale Bike is like this. $1500 Buyer Pays Shipping Costs. Quick Bike Specs

2009 Cannondale Scalpel Aluminum Frame
Rear Shock: 2009 RP3 23
Fork: 2006 with 2009 DLR2 internals (Upgraded at Cannondale Factory)
Drivetrain: Crank, shifters and brakes 2006 XTR M960. Crank has full set brand new rings.
Cassette: XT
2006 Mavic Crossmax Disc Wheel Set
Brand New 2010 XT Rotors

Maybe it wasn't a good idea...

On the run training schedule Tuesdays are interval days. Things haven't been going so great with the run training. Got some bad shin splints a couple weeks ago so I haven't been running. I figured last night that I best keep at it since my next half marathon is only 2 and half weeks away. I can still can some kind of fitness before then.

Took the easy route and rode my bike to the track for a session of 4 x 1600m. Didn't think it would be too bad. First interval was okay. Didn't feel like I was straining myself to much to complete in the allotted time. Second, a little off the pace at for the first two laps. Finished only slightly outside my desired time. 3rd one slower again. 4th one again slower, but I felt like I was going faster. Done ride home. There's a good chance that the heat might have played a role in my diminishing times. My face was completely beet red when I got home. Not good. Chugged a bunch of water and then cut the grass.

I kind of wish now that I would have jumped on the scale before and after I went running. I'm guessing there were a few pounds lost. And I was only out for about 50 minutes!

Perhaps I should start looking at a thermometer.

Rody

R.I.P. CCM Quill Stem

Did some more work on the project bike over the weekend. I unfortunately had to cut off the stem to get the fork out. I'll likely be getting a new fork now. It was bent anyway. The bike will not be stock when it is finished. Too bad.

Restoration Project

I started to strip down the CCM last night. Wasn't planning on starting it so soon. However I thought I would just check a couple of bolts that I had soaked with WD-40. To my shock they all turned off with no problem. So I checked the seatpost. Another surprise. It came right out! Awesome!

Forgot to take any photos before I started. Here's a few when I remembered. Should be a fun project. Not sure how I'll build it back up though.

So far it looks like the chrome bits were covered by enough grease and dirt that they will shine up nicely.

Project Bike Arrived

I've been contemplating for awhile now about cleaning up an old bike that was hanging out at my parents.

When I got home from work yesterday it was neatly tucked beside my deck waiting for me. I had told my Dad about it and he managed to get it down from the garage and up here to me.

Now the fun will begin. The bike is a lot different then I remember. For starters it seems awful small compared to when I was 10!

I'll take a few photos tonight so I can start to document the process. Not sure what my plan is yet. I could try to build it back up to close to stock. If I can find out what that was. Or turn it into a fixxie. This will all depend on whether or not the frame is even ride able. There could be a few spots that are too rusty. In that case it could turn into a decoration for the garden.

No Life

I'm finding it really tough to come up with anything good to right lately. Having no life and no cool training stories, (Since I'm not really training) make me realize my life is a little boring at the moment.

Maybe something interesting will happen at Buckwallow this weekend.

Out.

Beer Post

Thought I'd give a little update while Kris has a nap. I've tried out a new beer for me last night and today. Others have probably had it.

Here's my opinion on it. If you're a fan of Traditional Wheat Beers this one is a good choice. Mill St. Wit. Local brewed in Ontario in T.O.

Good flavour. Not a powerful after taste. To me it's a good beer to have a few of on the patio on a hot summer afternoon.

She's awake! Time for dinner.. Oh yeah!

Over and Out.....

Why is this a chill week?

One thing lead to another and I haven't did a thing this week. Wasn't feeling super hot on Monday after the 75km ride in a head wind back from my parents on Sunday. So I chilled. Somehow a half a dozen beers found there way into my hand and stomach. Whoops! Tuesday was supposed to be a run day. Thunderstorm deterred me. Wednesday ditto.

Now I have a couple days off work that are planned chillaxing! Couple days away with Kris at a secret local. Should be good.

Who turned out the lights...

There's something about riding at night that just changes everything. Other than the obvious fact that it's dark!

Last night I had things to do after work so riding didn't happen right away. Then I didn't feel like going. 8 o'clock rolls around and I still don't feel like doing much. Then the sun started to go down! The brain starts to think about a night ride! Yeah that's the ticket. But I don't want to go MTBing. A little too much moisture for a night ride on our rocky terrain. A road ride will have to do.

There was still enough light when I left to not really need lights to see. I'll just turn on the one to be seen with. I really need to take a camera with me on these rides. It always seems that there is good photo opportunities. Oh well, someday.

I regretfully report that nothing exciting happened on the ride though. 50 km in the dark. Good fun. Oh yeah almost forgot. I had the joy of zero wind. That was the highlight!

For future reference. When road riding at night if you have two lights of different powers, put the high power on the handle bars. I rode with that light on my helmet last night and it wasn't really as helpful up there as it is off road. Just my opinion.

Rody

Baby Steps

Mountainview went down way better than last weekend! The sickness seems to be behind me now. And the head is starting to come around too. It even feels like there is a bit of motivation sneaking in. I might actually try some training this season! However I had a short conversation with Ben Dawson about training after the race. He summed up the effects of training quite nicely. If you are well trained it just means that you're going faster while racing. It still hurts the same and you suffer just as much. Unless you're winning. Then it doesn't hurt. That really opens my eyes. Maybe I'll just suffer at the back and keep enjoying beer and pizza.

I do think though that I'd like to at least be able to keep up with people on the double track. Being able to climb a little more efficiently wouldn't hurt either.

No racing for a few weeks now. Sounds like a lot of people are going to make time for some fun rides. The ones that you don't get to do while training. Perhaps I'll do the same.

Peace out.

Sometimes it's nice to just stop and check out the scenery. Hopefully by July I can get a new phone with a better camera. This photo really doesn't do justice to how nice this looked.

It was another good road ride though. I'm feeling much better now.

Hello Road Bike....I missed you.

Not much sense in a race report from me. Pretty simple, sick most of the week. Pulled out after two laps once I figured out that my lungs just were not going to be functioning.

Was supposed to run an 8km last night. Didn't feel up to it. Put my energy into riding my road bike instead. I realized that I hadn't been on the road in over a month! It felt really good. The lungs feel pretty good now. The sinuses seem to be clear too. Still no top end. But I guess you need to train in order to have that. Perhaps this weekend will go a little better.

Ciao,
Rody

Riddle Me this Batman!

Why is it that when the nice weather comes, I get sick! It really kind of sucks when you like the heat and riding in the sunshine. There I am lying on the couch with a box of Kleenex beside me and a garbage pail full of them. Not fun.

It kind of goes with out saying that this weekend at Hardwood is now going to be even less fun. I'll trying running tonight to see what the legs tell me. I don't expect them to tell me nice things.

Not much I can do though. I'll keep putting the sinus decongestants to me and go from there.

Hope no ones else has this....

Rody

Crashing Happens

The more time you spend on a MTB is kind of like the more time you spend driving. Eventually you're going to crash. Last night I went for my first crash in awhile. First part of the ride was wicked. Riding some of the really technical bits here in OS. Then we lost of member of the group. So I took it upon myself to quickly loop back around to find him. Well you know what happens when you decide to really hammer for awhile through the technical bits. The bike starts to handle a little different, so does the suspension! Especially when you find out that your fork is leaking from a possible blown seal! Damn. Mix those two things together and you find me on the ground.

Pick myself up, quick bone check. All good. Quick bike check. All Good. Start riding. All is not good. My right quad has made some serious contact with a very hard object. Most likely a rock. Today it is quite swollen. Ice, Ice, Ice. Then we'll see about riding any more this week.

Oh well. It happens.

Super Dooper Freakin Wicked Redonkulous Glutenous Weekend

Last week things were going really well. Got in a good tempo run. A couple of fun MTB rides. Then came the weekend that would resemble a train wreck in my gut! Damn. It would erase any chance of losing weight.

Start things off with a road trip to Sudbury. It was my weekend to make the trip. Good thing though I had some company for the trip. Brought Kris's cousin with me for her maiden trip to Sudbury. Which meant there was going to be some tourist action going on.

The driving on Thursday night was crap. Pouring rain almost the entire way there. Wildlife count = 2 Moose, 4 Deer. We got in pretty late, so straight to bed.

Friday = Science North. Dinosaur exhibit is pretty cool! It's way too easy to scare people when you are surround by moving dinosaurs! *Insert evil laugh* Other highlights, slow motion replays from sprint starts, the snakes under the seat in the motion theatre. The best though Kris being the only one to complete the magnetic globe. It was a lot harder then it looks. I swear!

Friday Night, Bring on the Drinking.....nuff said.

Saturday morning...Hello? Nope missed that! Oh well.

Saturday afternoon and evening we just kind of chilled. Some would call it recovering.

Sunday was off to Dynamic Earth. They have some neat additions since we were there last. Mine tour is still worth it. Travelling exhibit was Strange Matter. Have you ever looked at your hand under a microscope! Kind of gross!

All good things must come to an end though. And so does all the eating. If your in Sudbury and want some good pizza or a panzerotti, go check out Tony V's Pizza (46.465200,-81.009443).

Final Calorie Count = Don't want to know!

Trail Building

It always nice to get a compliment. I managed to get one this week on some short sections of single track that I have recently built.

It's a nice feeling to work hard on building trails, then getting to ride the, and they actually flow nicely. Perhaps I have found a new calling. Maybe next week I could scout out some new locations to build.

Hasn't been much happening on the riding side of things. Still letting the legs recover. Ran once this week. Not too bad.

Best of luck to everyone racing today.

Half Marathon

There's a first in the books. I finished my first Half Marathon on Sunday. All things considered, I think it went quite well. Did have the best preparation for it. I missed out on doing a few of the longer runs that I needed. I ran with a couple of people for most of the race. The only real climb in the race came at about kilometer 14. I kept my same pace up the climb and dropped my companions. I decided that it was a good time to just keep the pressure on. My original plan was to make a move with 5km to go. I was feeling pretty good so I thought an extra 2km would be alright.

It worked out that it was the perfect time to go on that course. The climb was followed by mostly downhill to the finish. With one short little climb for good measure.

I was quite astonished by the number of people that I started catching and passing! From the climb to the finish I was only passed by one person. I might have been able to stay with him if I had know that the last 2km wasn't marked! So 3km to go was the last marker I had. Oh well, rookie mistake I guess.

My thoughts are turning now towards MTBing again. O-Cup #2 coming up this weekend.

Half Marathon Approaches

This week is going to be spent putting in a few short runs. With a little bit of intensity. The hamstrings are a little tight after racing on the weekend. Therefore a lot of stretching is in order before Sunday. Forecast for race day at the moment is rain! Hurray. Not! I shall now cross my fingers for sunshine. It will be a little foreign for me to run for that long in the rain. Not too sure how I should dress for that one. Perhaps a little embrocation will happen for the legs. I won't think about it too much until Thursday night while I'm packing.

All for now.

Blasted for not posting...

As you can see I haven't posted in quite some time. My excuse was there is nothing exciting going on with me that other people would want to read about. There was no secret training going on. Other than some running to try and prepare for a Half Marathon next weekend. With a goal of simply running the whole thing. I don't think you need to know anymore details than that.

Last season I managed to race one O-Cup thanks to multiple casts on my arms through the Spring time. Now I have one in the books for this year. All I need is one more and it will be an improvement. I pre-rode Mansfield on Saturday. Good course, some fun single track makes up for the crappy single track climbs. Hooked up with JK for a lap, he informed me that I hadn't updated my blog in a long time. So now it's updated. Happy?

Race went as expected for me. Lined up at the back were I belong right now. Watched a crash happen about 20 meters in. Pretty funny! Chilled my way to the top. Chilled for the whole first lap really. Then just tried to ride a little faster for the rest of the race. Anything that is flat right now for me is not a problem. However the extra weight I have acquired from beer drinking is very noticeable while going uphill.

Once the half is over next weekend, I'll try to start paying attention to some training for MTBing.

See everyone at Albion.

Rody

Slacker

Best laid plans, I had every intention. What ever you what to call it or say I haven't been keeping up with my blog. Now if you cruise around to other cyclists blogs or Twitter pages you will notice several of them not being very frequently updated this time of year. There are some who have been diligently posting. Others only every now and again. Then there are those of us who have just left it lay dormant. In my case the blog activity closely matching my activity. Which means I have did much since December. True. Trying to change that now. I've made it three days in a row now with a workout. Things are looking up.

Trainer ride on Saturday morning. Catching up on watching the World Cup cross races. I have five more to watch. Should get me through till I can ride outside full time again. I did make it outside for a ride on Sunday. Not till about 6 though. Which was fine by me, hooked up the lights and I was off. About 35km. Good fun with the lights. I think I will do that again. I also tried out putting foot warmers in my shoes. Man I wish I would have done that years ago! Now it wasn't very cold last night. About 2 degrees. My feet were warm though. I almost would like it to go down to freezing again just to try them out in colder weather. Even left them on once I was home. Kept me feeling warm while I was getting all the gear put away. The best part is they only cost me a dollar! So even if I rode with the warmers in my shoes 50 times a year. It would still cost less than buying the battery operated food bed type. They have a shelf life of about two years. So when I find more I think it would be best to stock up.

All for now.