race day dawns again

Perfect cross weather. Overcast and about 8 degree temperatures we're what we had on the ride to the site. Got a little warmer for the race, but only a few degrees. Long sleeve skin suit weather for sure. Went in pumped to ride/race and mostly have fun. Cross fro me this season is about having fun. No worries, no stress, no pressure. Just go out and ride. Possible make a fool of myself when ever possible and generally encourage people to have fun with it.
Either way, got up nice and early for my Belgian breakfast, crepes with brown sugar and fresh homemade jam (strawberry rhubarb!) and a nice big Bialetti. Threw on my many layers for the chilly cruise to the race (about 45 minute ride along the river at a nice relaxed pace) and headed out the door to meet up with Vipond, Keir and Ryan. Made the mandatory double espresso stop in Westburo, and then cruised on down to register. Apparently there are 200+ people registered this season for the whole season. And most of them were out to enjoy this perfect cross day and dry conditions. Massive field and slightly sketch start. Got a good spot, only to be cut off by my own teammate (not going to name names, but his name starts with S and ends with hawn Clarke, some other dude ate it hard on the other side of me (basically face planted himself into the grass) but I managed to overcome and move up quickly to a decent spot. the top 4 boys quickly gapped the rest of the field and in terms of racing for the win I was out of it. So instead I contented myself with riding a god hard tempo on my own and generally making a fool of myself yelling comments to spectators and mostly smiling like a tool. Wicked. Had to put in a good hard effort on the last lap with Nash coming up hard behind me and Boudreau just ahead. Ended up opening a bigger gap on Nash and closing in on Boudreau, but thats how she rolls. Generally had a wicked time, and there should soon be many a comical picture of me littered around the net. I'll try to post some as I find them. Ended the aft with a nice cruise in the Gats with Viper, Steve-O and the wonderful fan extrodinaire Jenny. Oh, and thanks to Jenny for the post race coke. Nice chill ride, oh wait. Not that slow. A "few" folks seem to feel like pushing the pace from time to time. Again, no names. They know who they are. Got home, showered, moved too much furniture, cooked dinner for the folks and then hit the road. Here we are, back in Perth, still procrastinating on this homework thing. I'm good at this. I work best under pressure I think. Or I'm just shortsighted. But thats my tale. Plus a top 10 finish should be in order. Next up, more cross and more long rides. 'Cause thats how I roll.

It's a Pre-Race

Yes, Sandy is racing again. But seriously just for fun. Its cross. Plus I'm gonna head out for some more nice long miles after the race. Belgian styles. Had a good day at work today, finally got around to cleaning my road bike after some serious rain this week and Belgium. Creak free on the way home for the first time in quite a while. Created a rain jacket for where my seat post connects into my frame as well to try and stop the water from getting into my bb. Went for an hour spin on the cross bike after work, just spin the legs along the paths and do a few efforts and dismounts in Strathcona park to open up the legs for tomorrow. Up nice and early for some pre-race pannakoken, gotta be done eating by 7am to stay true to the not-eating-3-hours-before-the-race rule of Doc Dag. Meet up with the boys at 8am for a nice bike path cruise out to the race. Maybe a little espresso stop, register, and then join the mayhem of 130+ people all starting a cross race together. Should be a nuts start. Plus the lapping of people should be good for some confusion. I hope I can still remember how to go for that hole shot. Homework in the aft, maybe some dinner, then back out to ol' Perth for another week of furthering myself educationally. Hopefully more news this week on the money making scheme bit, the wheels are in motion. They are just kinda slow wheels. Wheels slowed by homework that has been procrastinated on much too long again. Metaphorically speaking anyways.

Almost weekend. Common weekend!

School. The stuff around here is fun, but its still school. Nothing beats riding. At least to me, and I'm sure many of my readers would happen to agree. The itch was so severe that I took off after class for 2 hours of riding in the rain. Ended up on a few backroads... maybe got a little muddy. But hey, at least I was riding. Nothing wrong with a little rain. I've actually missed it a bit after getting back from Belgium. Working on some homework now, but have a good meal of steak and couscous in my belly. Even have the 1 hour season premiere of The Office to keep me entertained. Wicked. One more day of school before back to Ottawa. First cross race this season on Sunday as well. Sunday morning should bring a nice pre-ride of the course and some work action. Sunday will be race day, quickly followed by a nice long ride. Should be a good training day. Perhaps some homework, cause I seem to have quite a bit. Woops. For now, I think its snack time. Cause thats how I roll.

Saddle time and chicken

Set out this morning, well late morning for a wicked training day. Had to browse the latest in cycling news and finish off my French press! Not quite epic, but things were looking pretty Belgian this morning as I packed my pockets with a rain cape, sandwiches and some music. Set off to met up with an old Belgian hard man, also known as Neil from the Wheelers who lived down the road in Carleton Place. About an hour and a half down the road actually. Windy, threatening to rain and some quiet open roads really made me feel good about the day. Needless to say, the sun did end up coming out. But at least the wind hung around. Made my way to Carleton Place, saddled up with Neil and then followed him around some really nice rolling roads out and about around the Almonte area. Refilled my bottles again at his place, and then set back out to make it home in time for dinner. Five hours, 130km later and I was home. Clean, and eating an omelette. Good start to the 2008 season if you ask me. Taken a good portion of the last while completely off the bike. A few shorter rides, but mostly as a rest period. Best part was my dinner, well actually my leftovers from last nights dinner. Indian curry chicken stuffed with fresh cilantro with a mashed chick pea side. Hit the spot perfect tonight, and plus it was already made. Stole this baby of a recipe (super easy) from another hard man from the Cycling Center, Mr. Krughoff. Gonna sleep well tonight, perhaps the final installment of the Bourne series of movies tonight, which I have been re-watching for the last few nights. Pretty wicked bunch of movies. Back to class tomorrow, and hopefully some more riding. But I for sure have some homework to get going on at some point. Nothing like a little procrastination. Time to recover and put the legs up before the next installment of Hardening Up With Sandy.

food

I love food. Plus found a wicked organic/fresh shop today with really good prices. Anything organic, healthy, local, whatever... they got it. Plus they charge you for plastic bags. I'm a huge fan of this, and it seems to be taking off in Perth (the others just take 10 cents off you bill for each bag you bring) and I think it's a great idea. Its quite the rage in Belgium, I even brought back my Del Haize bags I bought there to use here. Thought I'd be ahead of the curve (as usual haha), but instead here I merely stand out with my cooler foreign bags. Looking at getting into some Yoga for the fall too, seems to be a decent place here in Perth, so maybe I'll give it a go soon. First class is free! On a separate note, read the other day that the Canadian National team's bikes where stolen outside their hotel in Germany! This disgusts me. They cut the weather stripping around one of the van's windows and walked off with something like 9 bikes plus spare wheels. Not like they can get their families or teams back home to FedEx some new bikes in time for one of the biggest races of the year in a few days! Luckily, the Gerolstiner professional team stepped in within hours and gave our boys all the bikes and spare wheels they could need. Plus spare parts and tyres. This truly shows the character of cycling. I even bought myself some Gerolstiner Mineral water today as my own form of re-payment. Plus I love the water anyways. Planted myself some coriander today, bought a big fresh bunch from the organic shop, wayyy more than needed, but all the bits still have full root structures, so grabbed an old yogurt container and tried potting them. We'll see how it goes. The rest will be flavouring some Indian Curry chicken. More to report on that later. As well, 2 thumbs up for the Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw Dark roast. Made a big ol' french press of it yesterday, wicked. Also kudos to the GSI bodem from MEC: lexan instead of glass (unbreakable) and well priced at under $20. For now, back to my spinach omelette with Frank's and wasting an hour until glass.

back

Decent enough weekend all in all. Lame Friday night, just hung out at home, fell asleep on the couch instead of heading out. Got up early to ride Saturday, only to discover that I really wanted to sleep in for the first time in a while and that it was looking pretty dreary out, and threatening to rain. Back to sleep and then into work. Quality day at the shop hanging with Vince and Jenny, quality times all around. Borrowed a set of tubular Campagnolo Shamals from David Bell of Euro Pro Sports for my ride Sunday and then hit the paths and parks for a quality chill ride with Nicky and Keir. Got home, showered and chilled around with Keir before heading out for a little bit of party action. Unfortunately, the parties where lame and the bars were packed, so called it a night. Wicked day Sunday, so met up with Steve, Jenny and Keir at the shop/coffee shop for a nice loop. I planned on doing more, but was a little tired from my lack of sleep. Plus the fact that we spent 6 hours with our bikes, doing one loop didn't help me time wise. One of those wonderfully slow and dawdling fall "training" rides where we all consumed more espressos that time spent on the bike in hours. Two hours and change ride time, if you were wondering. Stopped at Les Saisons in Chelsea, then stopped to lie in the grass on the way out, got caught in some conversations.... generally just enjoyed the ride and avoided becoming to angry with the wankers out "viewing" the fall foliage. I put my new technique of being painfully, sarcastically polite with the drivers, waving and yelling back when ever some one honked at us. I enjoy that, and it keeps me from stressing, and therefore happy. Had my first schwarma in months today too, as delicious as I remember. Plus got to hang out with my old friend Liz. So that capped off my day and weekend. Oh, plus got to drive back to Perth. No class until 12 tomorrow, so I foresee a nice easy spin, a test of my new bodem and new Grizzly Claw Kicking Horse coffee, and perhaps a visit with the local coffee shop for some super secret business meetings. Mabe some groceries after class too, I need some fruit and veggies. I got a hankerin' for an apple, but woe is me as I have none in the house. Enjoy your week, I'll see you Ottawa folk for the cross race this weekend. If you're not racing and looking for a good time, come watch a wicked 1 hour bike race! There should be several cheering sections complete with cowbells and Lion of Flanders flags! If you are truly adventurous and want the full Euro experience, you could bring beer and frites too! Britannia Park Ottawa, Sunday at 9 or 10 am. Contact Sandy for more info.

I love bike.

I should also mention I have many leather bound books, which cause my room to smell of rich mohhhgaaaany. On a separate non Anchorman related note, riding is truly the best thing out there. My construction safety class was cut short today when we all mastered attaching ourselves to a harness. Wicked. Plus, flippin 26 degrees out or something, so I rushed home changed and hit the road. Found myself a sweet little loop, mostly quiet roads, all either immaculately paved or completely unpaved (I'm fine with both as I'm now running the trusty Conti Gatorskin 25s). And was feeling so good about the weather that I continued on off my new loop and went exploring. Got home just as it was getting dark after a smokin 3 hours. The roads around here are wicked, twisting all over, constantly rolling, and pretty easy to find low traffic roads. And, most of the drivers seem so surprised to see me flaunting around in spandex that they leave me plenty of room. Not bad for a Thursday afternoon nearing October. Seriously, check your calendars. September is almost gone, and I'm not sure why this surprises me ever 30 or so days. Back into Ottawa tomorrow, hopefully another solid weekend of training and socializing. I'm feeling the Macgregor Lake loop (with a little extra distance?) or something similar... any takers for a long day on Sunday? Easy pace, the mandatory bakery stop/cafe... Nice day really. Got a few groceries today to, and I'm certain that food is for sure more expensive here than Belgium. At very least the meat is. Damn, I'm not paying that much for chicken! Luckily, being the shrewed individual I am, I found the "reduced" meat section, loosley translated into: "expires tomorrow, so eat at your own risk. But hey! It's half price!" I love that section. So bought a bunch of chicken drumsticks, cooked em' up with a boat load of spices, seared some fresh veggies and added some rice and BAM. We got dinner for 2 nights a la Sandy. To make things better, thanks to Keir, I am currently downloading more cross races than I can handle. As a giving individual, I will share this with you. But don't forget to thank Keir for the link. http://www.nathanspear.com/movie/default.htm
For now, its time for a cold beer to celebrate my day (I'm celebrating nothing ok?) and some wicked dinner. Ciao

The day is Wednesday

Today is Wednesday, which means no class and plenty of riding for Sandy. Wicked. Made the trek into Ottawa due to the appointment with the doc and of course the morning cross ride with Keir. Wicked good sesh on the cross bike, paths out to Mooney's with some technique stuff and then paths down to Strathcona where we found Nick (who was supposed to meet us at 7:30 but now out cruising at 9) and the found St-John at Strathcona. Of course played some follow the leader with big man Derek (who won Magog last weekend, congrats) and then home for a bike swap/wheel grab. Grabbed the Kryriums for Nick, and the road bike to continue my ride. Went by the shop to peel the final tubular off the rear, stopped by Wag for a machiatto and some conversation with the coffee shop ladies and then off to the Park for a few loops. Wicked day out by now too, up to like 26 today - warm enough that I even took off my leg warmers! Rode a nice easy loop with El Presidente himself (David of Euro-Pro Sports) then headed off for another loop (who could argue with that on such a day!) and the mandatory stop by Les Saisons in Chelsea for a espresso on ice and a bottle re-fill. Finished my second loop, had to stop by the shop again for a new chain ring bolt which mysteriously disappeared from my ride and then home for a shower and some chillaxin time. Back to Perth now. All in all, 6 hours total ride time (100km road and 2 hours cross), and one happy camper. I love my bike.
ps-apparently I need to use the stupid inhaler every day. Then see the doc in a month if it still does nothing. I hate the stupid thing and that my body can't deal with this on its own. Damn drugs.

homework

Some tired legs here today, but no class until 12 which was wicked. Part way through, we learned that math for the day was canceled. I fully nearly broke out into dance. Man I hate math. So instead, I made my way home for some lunch, a little work, and maybe a ride. I Felt like it would probably be a good rest day considering yesterday's epic.... but really had that itch. But somehow instead started writing my paper for Architectural History and before I knew it, it was dinner. How time flew! At least I'm nearly done. Just have to proof it, and then.... on to drafting. Ouch. This homework thing may just kill me. On the other hand, life could be worse. But looks like I'm again back to Ottawa for Wednesday as I have another appointment with the doc, see what can be done with this asthma stuff. Really bugging me since I got back. Maybe a new puffer or something? Who knows, but I really want to just take care of it and be done with it. On the other hand, if Nick or Keir are reading - cross ride Wednesday? I'll be out in the morning! For tomorrow, more school, but at least I've nearly got my bigger assignments out of the way for the week... Basically just in the shop hittin' stuff with hammers on Thursday and Friday! For now, back to work! Cause apparently thats how Sandy rolls now.

ride info (cause I'm bored)

One sunny Sunday in September...
7:31 ride time
5485Kj energy used (1 bag Jelly Beans, 3 pb & j sammies, 2 Power Bars, 5 large bottles, 1 fruit juice, 1 fish a chip pub dinner, 1 banana and 1/5 a coke)
230.962km
avg 204 Watts (normalized power 247W)
avg 30.8km/h
Training Stress Score (Cycling Peaks) 503.7 (new record!)
Wicked way to start the training season eh?

quality weekend action

Busy weekend somehow. Spent Friday night out on the town with Keir and Derek. Hull is always interesting. Nuff said. Saturday was a sleep in day (kinda explained by the previous sentences) and then off to work at the shop. Good quality fun there as usual. Home, dinner, then off to Pook's for some bevies and board games. I swear it really is much more fun than it sounds. Though somehow I cheated like a maniac in the second game, and still managed to not win. But to be fair, before passing judgment on my board game ways, most of the table (the guys) were all doing so as well and its genetic. Watch my mother's family play a game sometime. That bank is empty before anyone rolls the dice. Up a little later than planned considering my 7:30am departure time for the Tour des Ponts. Had to ride from downtown Ottawa with Keir out to Carp/ The Cheshire Cat for the departure. Ended up being a wicked day in the saddle. Sunny, warm-ish, and great company. The old Wheeler boys are a serious riot. Plus met some others and shot the shit with some more still. 170km ride followed by some wicked pub fare (fish and chips in my case) compliments of the Cheshire Cat. Then the nice slow ride home again. Ended up coming to 231km with a ride time of 7.5 hours. Wow. Plus I won a homemade apple crumble pie (Johnny L.) which was promptly devoured. Can't carry it home in my jersey pocket!! All in all, a wicked way to start the fall training. Beautiful scenery to boot. For now, I'm wicked tired. With that in mind. Bed.

class vs. riding

No those of you who know me will assume from the title that I "missed" class today to ride. Wrong. I debated it for a long time during my "English as a 12th language" class this morning. Sunny, nice, and here I am learning to use quotations. Odd, wanting to be a cyclist, but instead sitting around in steel toed boots learning conversational English. Went through my credit card statement the other night and bank balances... all I know is payday better come soon. So, with that in mind, keep your ears and eyes peeled (mostly to this site, unless you are driving cause that could end badly) for Sandy's make money and provide people with something scheme. The wheels are in motion. Hopefully should figure out the rest this weekend. The fun part is done (aka using Paint to make a logo). Now actual work.
Heading into town this weekend, out with some friends to re-develop that missing social life, work and cross ride on Saturday (perhaps a visit and "shoot the shit" with John L.), and then the 170km Tour des Ponts on Sunday. Life is mostly ok. Other than the sitting in class part. I really believe I am not made for school life, some like it, a few love it, and then I don't. Just makes me want to work at this cycling thing that much more. Also have to work out my details for next season, cause according to the way my bank balance is looking, I will need some help. Donations welcome! Think of it like when some one is getting paid to sing, but they are no good, so you pay them to stop. A donation now can keep you Sandy free for the summer! For the time being, anyone interested in a Saturday morning cross ride? Chill on the paths and parks... I have also decided to start a small edible garden in my room to make use of my large window and window sill. So far I have a donated Basil plant growing for pesto. I would like to keep most of the plants edible, so welcome some suggestions... On a separate note, Seinfeld is hilarious.
Oh, I had fish and chips for dinner last night sautaed with Frank's Red Hot sauce. Steve.

First cross'in & some cash money making

Headed home last Tuesday evening after class, nice mother-made meal. Got up nice and early Wednesday for a wicked first cross ride of the season. Got some tubs glued up the night before and put my single ringed cross crank back on. Met up with Vipond and Keir at 7:30 and spent 2 hours cruising paths, traversing parks and playing the ever cool cross version of follow the leader. Didn't even bring a watch with me, let alone a Power Tap or Polar. Felt wicked to just ride for fun. No particular goal for the ride training wise. Just out for a ride and some company. Even brought the cross bike up to Perth with me tonight to start exploring some more of the town and its parks and back roads. I have received word from an nameless individual whom I happen to work with, that I am to revert back to my old ways of describing my meals. And, as is asked, I will comply. Mommy made me some super wicked pesto spaghetti tonight, and upon arriving back in Perth I microwaved myself a spicy burrito. They were both delicious in their own way. I also am currently craving some tea and a bowl of cereal for some reason, but may skip those as it is already 10pm. On a separate note, built Keir up his new ride today at work, an wicked sweet Isaac Impulse piece of art. I'm not afraid to say it is without a doubt one of the sexist rides around. I may even post a picture of it I'm so proud. At very least he better. Follow the link on the side bar to his blog for that hopefully. Back to class tomorrow, and hopefully another cross ride between classes. I have the bug. No traveling this weekend too, other than in to Ottawa. Not gonna lie, a little excited. Work Saturday and the West of Quebec Wheeler's Tour des Ponts ride on Sunday. Should be about 200km for Keir and myself as we are also riding to and from the start location. Maybe I should make myself some food to ride with...

Home

Home for the night/day. Drove home after class, and yes I still hate the driving. Finally began slash almost finished unpacking. Got my clothes out at least. Still a little messy though. My legs are also getting the itch to ride again, time to start training again I guess. Though I know I should keep taking it easy. Finished re-assembling my cross bike tonight in preparation for my first cross ride of the season tomorrow morning with Keir and Nick. Should be sweet, nice and chill along the paths with some technique stuff. Keep it easy and fun. No Power Tap, no heart rate, no worries. Ride for riding's sake. No class tomorrow, so heading into work. Gotta make some grocery money. Perhaps even some beer money. Either way, feeling a little odd from being in a confined space with copious amounts of tubular tyre glue for the last few hours. Time for a snack and a movie... Maybe some homemade food not made by me!

Plans, disorganization and realizations

First, I still hate math. But at least the math we do is actually used. Same stuff most of us learned long ago, and many in the class actually make me feel slightly better about my math deficiencies. All I know, I better remember my calculator next time. On the other side, the lazy Sandy that has mostly lay dormant through cycling season (yes, I realize this is not entirely true) has resurfaced with this the end of my season. Even with my best attempts to stop surfing the net and watching Seinfeld, my room is still a disorganized mess. I have some space for my work area set out, and have even made some attempts at homework and studying eske activities. But, my room still looks like a hurricane rolled through. And then dropped some large livestock who further messed stuff up in their attempts to leave. Going for the first cross ride of the season Wednesday morning, I'm really looking forward to this! Hopefully make it home Tuesday night to install my single ring crank, and glue up some tubulars. Did my first grocery run today, handed over my plastic realizing that I had better get working and get paid! Pretty sure I'm into the red, little afraid to look though... Held off on many items and just got basics (while still healthy) to last me a while. Made a huge batch of pasta and fresh sauce tonight to last me a few meals. Wicked good too, added a healthy dose of Frank's Red Hot sauce for a little extra kick. And of course some new espresso beans to get me going for those 8am classes. I think I like what I'm learning, but not the actually attending a class thing. Weird, I know. I'll close up with a few pics of the weekend's adventures... Also know as the last Echelon Project road trip for the season. Sad, I know...

At the start line. Felt ok then. How things change...

After the finish. Coughing up lungs and discussing beverage plans.

Let the drinking begin, or continue. Cutie pie Kelly with the nice tan lines haha. At least
I brought my A game with the pink socks.

Steve with his creation! He wasn't drunk. And by not drunk I actually mean really drunk.

highs and lows, and the end of a season

So, this random assortment of my thoughts and life has now spanned one full cycling season for me. Not much cross this season, more for simply training and fun. Nothing like last season. My legs need some time off. I had intended to end my season on a high note, didn't quite work out as planned. Apparently a lack of racing in humidity and smog all season with asthma means that when you suddenly throw yourself into these conditions, stuff goes wrong. And by stuff, I mean my lungs. I have never had such a terrible race experience in my life, nor wanted to quit so badly. I knew that I would hate myself more for quiting, so gritted it out and rode it in. Instead of the 1st I dreamed of, I dropped 10 places further. Very disappointing. Lost my gel 3 pedal strokes into the ride, and the coughing started about 15 minutes in a just got worse as the ride wore on. Felt like I was breathing through a straw, all made more difficult by being unable to get into any kind of rythym on what proved to be a very demanding, rolling course. Got caught by a few guys near the end, just to worsen my day. Nothing to be done. Put it behind me and headed out on the town for a night with the Echelon Project and others in downtown Hamilton. That is the rest of the weekend that was fun. Met some wicked people, had a wicked time and very little sleep. For the most part I will not print many more details as this page is viewed by minors. Made the long drive home with the help of several mugs of coffee, some tunes and the company of Tyler. Apparently it was only raining everywhere I drove until I hit Ottawa. Something is not right with that. Tomorrow, back to school. No riding. Time for a little break and to get some actual studies and such underway. Thats my news, next project - ready the cross bike for some sweet cross rides. That is quality fall training. Hopefully some nice parks and trails around Perth to be discovered. Ciao

Busy life

So I truly hate commuting. But almost everything has been moved, just a few more bikes. I think. Drove in to Ottawa again last night after class to do a final tt tune up at the OBC 15km tt. Nice new pavement was a welcome surprise, I feel it probably helped smooth things out more for some of the heavier riders. haha. Went well. The bike worked flawlessly, my position feels comfortable, and I think I'm ready to rock. Held what I felt should be about my 40km pace for the 15km, coming in pretty fresh in a time of 21:52. A personal best non the less. Definitely could have gone faster, but gotta keep the legs fresh for tomorrow. Kept a high cadence throughout, worked on keeping my breathing steady and keep a smooth pedal stroke. Kept my mind focused and in the game for the duration. My head seems to be in the right place at least. Basically worked and my weaknesses and did some extra practice drinking in the aero bars and eating. All that's left now it to empty the old body one more time for the season. But first, some food, and the drive back into Kanata to pick up my partner in crime: Shawn. I can't count the number or races we have traveled to together, and he will be moving to Australia soon, so I look forward to one last shenanigan filled road trip with him to end the season. Pictures to come. I will try to post results quickly, but am undecided as to whether to bring the computer. See you all next week when I try to re-develop a non-cycling social life. I may even be up for beers...

ps - if any members of the Orange family are reading this, thanks for the moving car to bike light hand off last night. I was for sure a little sketched out being caught riding home after dark.

Busy

Busy times for me currently. Mid move, starting school and of course the usual training. Though, to say the least, the training has suffered the most. Which should be ok, trying to attain some sort of taper/form for this Saturday's big time trial. Soon back to nice long base mile rides... Classes are pretty sweet so far, and I must say I am quite glad to not be commuting every day. I hate driving. Well not really, but it feels like I could be doing something much more productive. Rode the crit the other night and it went ok. I was a little tired, but it felt good to get some efforts in and see some familiar faces. Early morning of moving and a super secret tt workout between classes left me with a little less in the tank than would have been ideal. But good training none the less. More packing this morning, then the afternoon back at work. Fun to be back, but at the same time my body feels a little odd to be standing all day and not riding or recovering. Spent the evening prepping the tt bike (borrowed a Zipp disc from the Cyclery) and making sure all was running clean and smooth. Hopefully test all out at the OBC 15km tt tomorrow evening. Nice dinner and some wine tonight while working and of course more packing of stuff to bring up to Perth early tomorrow morning. Really don't think I even knew how much stuff I had. Especially bike stuff, go figure. On a similar note, I should hopefully be trying to part myself with some of these piles of schwag... stay tuned for more info on that. For now, to bed. 'Cause I have a ridiculously early day again tomorrow packing with way to much stuff to do. Then Friday just a morning class, pick up Clarke and make the drive down south to Hamilton, home of our weekend accommodations. Ciao.

down time... and maybe a little training

First weekend in a while with no racing. No worries. Opted out of Green Mountain, felt I earned a cottage weekend plus I really wasn't that excited about having to climb for longer than a couple of minutes. Belgium is not well know for its long alpine ascents. Actually went into the shop to make some money Friday and Saturday, then up to the Bourn's cottage. Wasn't quite as relaxing as planned, but I knew they would put me to work eventually. Did some forestry work (clearing out some dead trees with Brian's rented chainsaw) and a bathroom reno. On the other hand, got in some good rides on tt bike - really actually starting to feel comfortable on it, and of course the usual water sport activities that have left my cyclist upper body quite stiff and useless today. Some how "learned" to wakeboard too. I am by no means proficient, but I did get up. And then fall down and ingest a large portion of the Ottawa river up my nose. Some good bbqs, plenty of wine and beer flowed freely at night and many a card game was had. I feel refreshed. Which is good, cause I both have to move and attend school tomorrow. I also have a new goal for the short term. I will win the Espoir tt championships coming up. I want a sweet Provincial champ jersey to hang. Plus the team needs a win, and Clarke needs a very solid wupping. Might as well wup the rest of them too. Should be a busy week for Sandy, but I'll try to keep you all posted. I think I need some beer to help with this packing stuff. That might make it better.