Calabogie and beyond

Made my way down to the Calabogie Classic yesterday at the Calabogie Speedway. A fairly simple 5km closed race course, rolling and flat, with some decent wind and a bit of rain to make things interesting. The main problem with this course is that it is incredibly easy to just sit in the group, as seen from last years open race. The course itself is a fast rolling course which has proved to be quite difficult to get away on. As for race day, I made my way down fairly early to register and watch the Senior 3/Junior race where I had a teammate racing.
After lining up at the start with the 17 other Elite men for the 2:30 start, yes there where only 18 of us, we got underway. I made my way to the front with a few others to try to at least make the race into a hard day for as many people as possible. After a few laps of becoming angry with people's unwillingness to do any work, I attacked and bridged up the road to a single RWR rider. After closing the gap, I saw another RWR rider coming across the gap, so slowed up on the throttle for a few seconds to allow him to make it across. From there, we turned on the steam and quickly opened up a gap on the pack, which eventually grew to over a minute. With some good work being done by all (other than being hassled by one of the riders for both soft-pedaling and going too hard on the hills, which was an oxymoron considering the constant rolling nature of the course) I continued to drive along ignoring him to ride my own race. We ended up staying away for 70+km of the 111km race, being caught by a small chase group lead by a certain Calyon rider (who would go on to take the win). After we where caught by this group, I managed to latch on to the back of that group while my breakaway companions decided to call it a day. Eventually we were again caught by the main peleton, where I, being quite smashed from my efforts, managed to score a gel from a teammate and then promptly inserted myself into the group to try and help my teammate Steve in the sprint. As for usual, no one wanted to work for the last few laps, so they where marked by hard accelerations until a Jetfuel and Calyon rider managed to open a gap and the rest of the peleton decided to sit and wait for the sprint for third. In the sprint, I managed a 8th place overall anyways, so a good day in the saddle. Good to see my legs are coming along. And Steve managed a 4th place, after a photo finish put him inches out of 3rd.

Taking the advice of a wise coach friend of mine, I decided to opt out of the Ste-Martine race, and instead put down a solid endurance day today. With some longer races coming up (possibly the Jiminy Peaks Road Race and Belgium) I agreed that it made sense to take advantage of the weather to put down some more miles. Making my way up through the Gatineaus, I rolled through the hills North of Ottawa on the Quebec side. Beautiful quite roads and climbs abound as far as the eye could see, and mostly sunny skies, other than a quick shower up by Macgregor lake, left me with some excellent additions to my tan lines and odometer. 6 hours and 170km later, I arrived home to one of the more refreshing beers that I've had in quite some time. On to next week, with some possible motor pacing for the first time. And to be honest, I haven't even looked at the calender to see what races I may find myself at this weekend, but I'll keep you updated on that front.
Ciao

Almonte-Roubaix and beyond

So Almonte-Roubaix has come and gone. And as expected was dominated by the ever strong Cyclery boys, taking 3 of the top 4 positions. On the other hand, my teammate Steve managed to pull off a strong 5th place. As for myself, I made a grave tactical mistake entering the first tight forest sections mid pack instead of at the front where you must be. I was then promptly run off the path by a misguided rider, sending me careening off into the woods. After re-attaching myself to my steed, I launched myself into what would end up being a 65km long solo chase. Fun times on the gravel. To be fair I did spend about 15 minutes trading pulls with a angry and flying Mr. Aaron Fillion until being spat off his wheel on a soft sand climb. Finishing up some where around 40th place or so, and being only about 1-2 minutes down on the remains of the main pack and 10 minutes down on the solo winner (Osman Bakker) left me feeling a little better about my day, if only they could make it a little longer! Now with my brand new Stevens Vuelta, it is time to back down to business! First up, tonight's Seenite crit. Hopefully I can work this new position out by the weekend for the first double-header of the season. Calabogie Classic on Saturday and the GP Ste-Martine on Sunday. Stay tuned for results and pictures as available from the weekend. Ciao,
Sandy

Ottawa, the best place to be a cyclist

So, as a further update on crusher Sandy and his need for a new bike, I looks like I will now be piloting a new Stevens Vuelta. I have been fully overwhelmed with offers and help, both from my employer The Cyclery and many other reps and individuals. There is seriously no better group of experienced riders and wonderfully helpful cyclists anywhere than here in Ottawa. This season continues to surprise me and no matter what obstacle I seem to encounter, there are people there waiting to give you a hand getting rolling again. As for me, I will finish off my stint on a beautiful titanium Bianchi tomorrow racing in the local "hard man" race the Almonte-Roubaix under beatiful weather. Thanks to my co-worker Steve for this steed and the 25mm Conti tubulars I will also be racing on while battling the worst gravel roads in the Ottawa area. Hopefully a good result, a good day, and some fun in the sun will ensue. Results and pictures to come soon after hopefully. Ciao

Intersting/painful day on the bike

So after a day recovery from the Mosport beating, we began the weekly criterium series here in Ottawa (www.seenite.org). With a cool day threating rain all day, we headed out from the shop to the race. Arriving late after an unfortunate flatting of his tubular for Hawksy, we arrived late and jumped in on the second lap. The pace immediately picked up and several of us established a very solid break quickly opening up a gap with most of the 6-7 riders working hard. With about 15 minutes to go, feeling good, I stood up to accelerate out of a corner only to tear my shoe of the cleat, leaving the cleat neatly still attached to my bike. To add to the fun, this sudden movement caused my crotchal region to contact the top tube of my poor bicycle with some force. Actually, more than some, enough to crack my carbon top tube nearly all the way around. I shit you not. By this point I was rolling through the grass, swearing. As I attempted to accelerate back up to the break, I hear the telltale noise of cracking carbon. Needless to say, I made my way back to the start finish and attempt to figure out how best to make my way home. As I said, an interesting day on the bike. More news as available on me getting a new bike. Time to re-pimp mon char.
Sandy "granite balls" Fulton

Mosport pictures

Suffering on the cold wet Mosport Speedway

108km, rain, wind and 3 degree temperatures. Mix that together and you have pain on the bike. And it did not disappoint. The race started off dry, with the air cold and the wind blowing, but comfortable enough while riding. In order to fix this comfort factor several riders decided to cause an early split in the peleton by breaking away early (on the 3rd lap to be exact) and decided it would be wise to stay away for the duration of the race. Cool with me, with my teammate Steve up the road working away in this break. Unfortunately, as the rain clouds began to cover the course, poor Steve found himself dropped from the break like a dress on prom night. With this new development I found myself desperately attempting to find any riders willing to work enough to get across this now large gap. With my efforts proving solo and the group happy to simply chase me I sat up for a period to eat and regroup and mostly hope that those in the break would tire as the conditions worsened and the skies open up on us. As we approached the halfway point the pack again split with my teammate Steve making his way up, realizing too late that this split would prove crucial I was forced to attack on my own and attempt to close down the 1 minute gap to the chase group on my own. Never have I been so cross eyed for what felt like such a long period of time required to close that gap in the wind. I still cannot believe I made it. Unfortunately this effort also took a lot out of me and forced me to cling to this chase group through sheer determination for 10 laps as we chased the lead group. With 5 to go, 1 too many gaps opened up and I was left on my own, holding a 15 second gap to them for a lap and a half. Unable to close this in the wind, my legs began to cry out that I should throw in the towel and re-gain feeling in my extremities. With some loud words of encouragement from several well placed spectators (thanks out to Scott K and Robbie O), my frozen brain decided that not finishing would make me a wuss and I must continue this lactate crazy march to see how many more riders I could catch and drop. Six was apparently the answer, though I may have been hallucinating as I also believe that the lap sign showed 2 to go at least twice and I'm pretty a treacherous leprechaun offered me a donut. Who is to say? None the less, a good day of suffering and after some serious heated seat enhanced re-warming, I am now pumped again to ride my bike. Even in these terrible conditions. Screw it, it beats riding the trainer. Next up, the hard man's Almonte-Roubaix. Maybe some of the snow might even melt. Hopefully that whiny leprechaun stays away.
Ciao
Pictures and an actual result will be posted when I find them.

Good Friday

Well the first road trip of the season for the Echelon project is completed. Armed with a Speedpass for gas, some bikes, some Rockstar, and some warming balm, Steve, Shawn and myself made the trek down to smoggy Hamilton for the Season opening Ontario Cup race. With frigid conditions and snow forecast for the race, the organizers decided to prepare by salting the course to avoid ice. Great, new bike and some salt. Either way, we awoke to some wicked snow and frigid temperatures as promised and proceeded to stay in the car until Shawn's start at 10 am. At this point we left the venue to allow Shawn to suffer in the Senior 3 race (apparently not for very long) and drove to Timmy's for some coffee and breakfast sandwiches. With some grease and caffeine in our bellies we drove back to the race site to find that poor Shawn had dropped out. After learning that our race would be cut down by 2 laps, Steve and I begin to bundle ourselves up to prepare. As the start began, the race quickly picked up speed with many riders trying to break away and others hoping to split the group up in the wind. Staying near the front, I attempted to find some racing legs. After 2 laps my legs began to come around, just in time as I found myself having to work at the front to attempt to bring back the break and trying to cover moves and initiate others to bridge up. With few riders willing to help, I sat back a few spots and allowed others to chase and I continued to work to make all the selections and preserve a good field position for the sprint. With both my bottles frozen solid after 1 lap of racing, I jettisoned the full one and kept trying to suckle a few more drops from the other to find a little better energy for my legs. After covering a late attack, I found myself stuck on the front of the pack leading out the sprint, so quickly sat up and waited for the imminent attacks. As they came, I followed the trusty wheel of Dan Maggi and found myself finishing in 15th position. Good enough for a point to keep me in the Senior 2 category for at least another year, and that much closer to a Senior 1 liscence. With a good hard day in the saddle, it was time for a hot shower and a few beers and appletinis with the boys (and girls) at Crabby Joe's. A thanks to Scott for some beers at the bar and of course the team for making an awesome start to the season. Now time to find a top 10 and then some podiums. Maybe even some warm weather, next stop - Mosport Speedway!