Epic

Not really full blown epic actually. I didn't get lost, no bonking, no emerg pastries consumed (too cold to stop really) and no particular stories worth mention. But hey, 5 hours in riding outside in subzero end of December is pretty decent. Especially with the amount of snow we've gotten. Just enough time to ride the rollers for 30 minutes when I got while and while eating my recovery sangas (cheese and jelly). I actually had to ride the rollers. It seemed like the simplest option to regain feeling/circulation in my feet. And it worked. Felt really good and solid anyways. Waited until about 10 to head out, let it "warm up" a bit. Cruised east for a solid 2.5 hours zigging and zagging, and then turned around and attempted to repeat my route. Success. Had the ol' water bottle shuffle rocking out with 3 bottles cycling between cages and my warm pockets, some good tunes and plenty of good spirits. Plus, I had my new "ghetto-budget" booties. Forgot my booties in Perth and then forgot to pick up some new ones at the shop yesterday. Basically stuck plastic grocery bags on my feet over my socks and then put the shoes on top. Worked surprisingly well until my feet began to sweat. Then the sweat socked my socks. Then the socks basically turned to ice. Hence the roller ride and long shower. Felt like a bit of a Euro riding the rollers in leg warmers, jacket, and tuque (all fresh and non sweated in). Plus my sammies helped out. Quick dinner with the fam then out for a hard ass hockey game. Played forward on a team with only 2 subs. First time skating in a while too. And I was the only back checking forward. Ouch. Needless to say, I'm knackered. Quasi early ski tomorrow morning with JS. Should be a decent one, P10 to the fire tower and back. Then New Years. No plans. If anyone has any good ideas, call me. Otherwise, I'm sure a suitable shitshow of an evening should arise anyways. Sandy out.

hockey, riding and relatives

Up early for 2 hours hockey with the boys. Traditional christmas time hockey. Good game, good times. Back home for a wander around Ottawa with the relatives. Did the tour of the Parliament buildings, wicked cool architecture and detail work. Got home, and hit the rollers for a solid 3 hours before dinner while the fam continued their tour of downtown. Watched Shattered with Pierce Brosnan for the first hour and half or so of the ride. Wicked thriller of a movie I must say. Pretty gripping. In to work tomorrow and Saturday. Got a call to play nets early tomorrow morning, but also have limited time pre work and the need for a long ride. We'll have to wait and see on this one I'm afraid. New Year's approaches, and I need a plan. Unfortunately plans and I don't gel all that well, so it will most likely be another 'flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants' affair. No worries, New Years is always a shit show. Been busy playing with my new mobile. Pretty wicked sweet, except for the fact that I currently can only respond to texts, not compose my own. Plus, I'm sick of being stuck on hold with those wankers. I'm going to the source.

Post christmas ramblings

Parliment Hill in the mist around dark. Cool. Call me tourist.

Christmas has come and gone again. Made more enjoyable again not only by good times with the fam, and some wine, but also with the christmas day outdoor ride. Managed to sneak in a solid 2 hours outside this afternoon out towards Manotick and back through downtown Ottawa. Solid road conditions and pretty warm temperatures allowed this and I was only kept to a maximum of 2 hours due to many food related commitments. Spent a solid evening with the grandparents in church Christmas eve enjoying the religious aspect and other charades accompanying the church experience. An overall entertaining experience in watching my grandfather sing his heart out in his off tune and off note type of way and watching the small children (like really young) perform the nativity. Though due to their age, the performance was interrupted by some new features such as: the tossing of the baby Jesus, the sword fight of angels vs. shepherds and one wayward donkey (?) wandering off stage after getting smoked by a "sword". Entertaining to say the least. After our arrival home for the traditional family feast and "entertainment" we discovered our stove had exploded so we're forced to cook our hors d'euvres in a toaster oven. Ate dinner eventually, relaxed for the evening and hoped the remainder of my newly created gift's varnish had dried. No such luck so took the hairdryer to them in the morning. Gift time went well, the meals were wicked, and got a good ride in. Now, time for coffee and the traditional stay up all night with Pook to attempt to be first in line at the Future Shop Boxing Day sale. Not sure if I even need anything. But tradition is tradition. Happy Boxing day to all. Or something like that. Fill in your own non-offensive cheer perhaps.

Happy Festivus or whatever you celebrate

As far as I'm concerned, politically correct can kiss my buttocks. All this about no longer putting up Christmas trees or whatever pisses my off sometimes. I'm no offended if someone wishes me happy Hanukkah or something. Tis the season to be happy and stressed. Nearly finished all my gifting related activities, and cooking demands. Training has been somewhat week for the last few days. Bothers me a bit, but hey. Family is around only a few days. I'll be back in the saddle soon. Back to serious hours and serious business. For now, I'm busy praying that the varnish I applied for a few gifts dries by tomorrow morning. For the rest of you, happy/merry festivus or applicable holiday season.

Ride?

More hockey and "work" then riding lately. Something like 3-4 hours of hockey in the last 2 days. No riding. And about 5 hours of hand tool wood working today. Stupid carpentry. Apparently people expect "handmade" wooden gifts now. Saves me on the cash, but causes a lot of work. Coming along pretty decent though. Nothing wrong with a little respite from the riding, especially since judging from how sore I am after this cutting and carving I could probably have worn a heart rate monitor and called it "cross training". Real work tomorrow. Hopefully a few hours on the rollers in the evening. Going is getting tough in the next few days with the arrival of christmas and therefor relatives. Nothing wrong with that, love hanging out with family. Just cuts into available training time. Maybe some early mornings. Hopefully finish off several of my "projects" tomorrow and then have one less thing on the go. I'll report more later after I find something interesting going on and some spare time. Odd that now without class, I seem to have less time available...

Wednesday update

My internet situation around here blows. Forgot about that. Got pretty accustomed to good, high speed out in Perth. Come back to Ottawa, no internet, drivers are tools, and as a general rule I hate most of the people around here. Not you all, you're mostly ok. Just the rest of this town. Good couple of training days, 3 hours on the rollers yesterday, 3.5 hours today followed by a pretty wicked skate ski session at Mooney's Bay. Straight up anger on the way home with traffic's lack of movement. Realizing that I kind of miss cooking my own dinners. If I can find time, I may have to start cooking some dinners around here. We'll see. I still promise some Christmas pictures to come, just need to get access to some decent and dependable internet. We'll see. Christmas is approaching. And I need to get on that.

I feel a white christmas

Seriously? 37cm of snow? This is ridiculous. Cyclery party was its usual self. No disappointment there. Vipond may be regretting the couple extra martinis he consumed. No one seems quite certain how he got to that point, but big up to Tomsic who partook in the cab ride home to carry big Nick to bed. Poor Jenny. Still somewhat fuzzy on the details of how or when I got home. Woke up about half undressed about 1 or 2 in the aft. Managed to both not lose my camera and even take 139 pictures. Wow. Though, after looking through them, I don't think I had the camera in my possession for the duration of the evening. Maybe Brian's $100 a bottle "sipping" tequila had something to do with that. Overall. An excellent evening/night/morning and a complete write off of Sunday. Did manage to sober up and suit up for my first hockey of the season at a well attended (me and 5 others) game. Operation snow removal is in full swing here. Was trying to bust out for a ski with Keir this aft, but after an inspection of the snow situation, I rode the rollers for a solid 4 hours. Basically, my car parks on a lane way. The snow plows have now passed the main streets, which means that these gigantor snowbanks along the roads are blocking my car in at either end of the lane way. Seriously tough to get a Civic (even with winter tyres) over a 5 foot tall embankment of snow. So, more shoveling. Nice easy evening ahead I hope, generally martini and Bailey's free.

Quick

Quick update:
-Christmas Party stache. Check
-Christmas party suit (can you say pink and argyle?)
-Little something extra for the coffee. You know it.
-Watching Norm on New Yankee Workshop with my coffee. Check. I'm I'm closet case old man apparently.

Couple hours on the rollers yesterday. Had to cut the ski out of the sched to allow for helping my mom out with a bunch of stuff. No big deal. Still got a couple hours in. Plus, the full on training doesn't restart until after tonights festivities. My camera should be in attendance. Sober camera operator, yet to be seen. Sunday should be for the most part a write off. Sent off my South Carolina stuff last night. From what I see, most seem to be working in advance. Not really my style, but hey. I can adapt. Enjoy your Saturday.

At last

Here we are. 1 hour from the final of the finals. Construction Safety. I don't really even care that much any more. My "exam beard" is gone. Replaced with something a little odd and mildly entertaining for the Cyclery bash. Just gotta get the outfit to go with it. Even nearly packed. I impress myself. I really just need to get this exam over and done with so I can get onto non-school life. Just gotta toss all my crud in the car and get rolling. Not much riding going on today I fear. Not necessarily a bad thing, recovery is technically the key. That and focus on these exams. Solid day planned tomorrow, ride Saturday morning, work, party. And Sunday should be mostly a write off. Thats what happens. I'll probably get itchy to do something in the aft. We'll see how I feel. Sandy out.

Road map

This saddle represents my riding. As you can see, what was once a nice white saddle is now become a road map of the hours my butt has spent planted in it. You can see exactly the width of my sit bones and where they rest. You can see that my inner thighs rub the saddle, and as extra proof of that hair no longer grows there on my thighs. Apparently this is what must be done to make it. Long days, and years of imprinting your buttocks into a new saddle. Then, come spring... replace it with a shiny new map and start from scratch. Me, I have my sweet new couch of a saddle waiting. Figure, me and the ol' Turbo here have been through so much, why end this relationship now? Heck, maybe I'll mount it on my wall after. Kind of like the cyclists version of hanging antlers or fish above your fireplace.
In other news. Three exams down, one to go. Only problem, my mind has given up. According to it, school is done and riding is back. Its going to be a serious mental challenge to get some studying done. Then, packing, writing the actual thing, and making a break for home. Friday should be a good solid training day as we ramp up the hours for the next 3-4 weeks. Already dreaming of the mountains of South Carolina... Time to get some testing done soon chez Nick and maybe pick up some fat xc skis from Kiwi. I figure it could be cheaper than busting up my race skis on some of these back country excursions. I'll see what has been sitting around the shop and needs to move for the starving cyclist/student budget kinda price range. Drafting exam went pretty bloody well today, got a impressed thumbs up on my drawings. So to celebrate, I rode the trainer for a solid 3 hours with a whole wack of 1 legged drills. Ouch. Minimal easy spin tomorrow morning. Maybe study while riding? Then a final 2 pm exam. I'm so close. I'm starting to get excited to race. Its getting tougher to keep the intensity down. Gotta go burn off some of this excitement at the Christmas partay. woot.

Nearing completion

Ten page architecture paper with 2 pages of references. Done.
Carpentry projects completed. Check.
Regain pre-exam period sanity levels. Debatable.
Math exam, no worries. Didn't stress. Just skipped over the few questions giving me headaches and came back to them later. Spent many an evening hour sipping a beer and hammering out 10 pages of architectural insight. Quick dinner break, re-heated some wicked pasta made for just that purpose. Gonna need a few groceries today I think. Up early again today, into the shop. Ripped through my remaining projects, made sure all were marked or checked off. Took a bit of time to sharpen my tools in prep for the oncoming work over the holidays of christmas gift creations. Back home now. Quick respite from the work before reading over my Carpentry theory stuff before this aft's exam.
Best news of the week: my Friday English for Retards exam was apparently a figment of my imagination. Checked the exam sched yesterday. Looks like I can make the break for home on Thursday eve instead of Friday. Wicked. This is important on several fronts...
a) I have only 4 exams, and now Friday off.
b) Friday can and will be a good solid training day instead. Pow.
c) I will have time Friday to head to Value Village to compile my Cyclery Christmas Party suit 2007. I have to outdo '06. I have a reputation to uphold.
I'm so excited I think I'll ride tonight. That's how I celebrate. Cause' I'm just that cool. My food reserves are currently on Defcon 5 as I don't want to leave much behind here for the weeks I won't be around. Looks like eggs in toast for lunch. And maybe every other meal until I leave. Or run out of bread. Otherwise I'm pumped for a solid three weeks of simply training tons, sleeping and maybe a little working. Bam.

sore & stiff

Woke up bright and early this morning to discover just how stiff the majority my body is after that round of bushwacking yesterday. Really actually impressive how many muscles cycling really doesn't use. And how many of those nordic skiing DOES. Not helping was the fact that I felt the need to be in school (in the shop more specifically) to join the rest of my class in attempting to finish off the dozens of projects that were technically supposed to be done last Friday. I indeed finished a few, better have considering I was there for 4 bloody hours, and even managed to get some work done on a few specific christmas gifts. Not bad. After that, had to run to the store to buy a calculator that actually has Trig functions, found it mildly stressful last test attempting to use my current calc which does not. Also picked up a sub on the road for lunch, now learning a semester worth of math in approximately 1 1/2 hours. I'm confident. I mean hell, all I need is a 60% to pass the exam. Next step, finish the world's most massive architecture paper for tomorrow and figure out what exam I am to attend tomorrow. I figure that bit of knowledge could be useful. Needless to say, its not looking promising for squeezing in a ride today. Hopefully back on the bike tomorrow for a nice easy spin. It is a recovery week after all. At this point, I feel that I have wasted enough time. Time to get some coffee in me and get to school. Maybe learn to use my new calculator. All in all, I just want to ride my bike.

weekend update

Friday: nothing. Basically it. I was tired. So basically, got home, watched a bit of a movie with a beer and then went to sleep.
Saturday: work during the day, then went out for a few beers with Sarah Coney. Good to see one of the summer cyclist crew members back in Ottawa. Next up, baking. More on that escapade after the fact.
Sunday: early awakening for a ski with the old man crew, plus me and Vipond. Wicked fun. Basically beat around in the bush, on our race skis (except fancy boy Nick with some back country) skis, for about 3 hours. Seriously intense 3 hours. Mostly trudging through 20cm if fresh powder. Breaking trail, and generally careening around down the hills out of control. It commonly, ok every hill, seemed to end with me tangling myself around trees, not sticking the landing, or eating a lot of snow. I also got a lot of snow down my pants. To be fair, it was voted that I made the day fun. Everyone would go down the hill first, then let me know when I could drop it when they found good vantage points. I also took home prizes for going the fastest (though fully without control) and most air of several jumps. I need to learn to land next. No I find myself back in Perth, attempting to
a) study. math exam tomorrow.
b) write my massive architecture paper.
Unfortunately, both are not currently happening. Though I will change that. Right after I brew some coffee. To prove my commitment, I will now sign this post off. Serious.

Home

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best
I've been gone for a week
I've been drunk since I left
And these so-called vacations
Will soon be my death
I'm so sick from the drink
I need home for a rest

Take me home....

Not actually drunk. But I am going home. Hopefully some rest, though I do have a fair amount of work to get done this weekend I'm afraid. Plus the usual skis and bikes. I really should have put off downloading 4 new movies until after exams. This could, and most likely will, cause me some problems in the studying department. So close to 3 weeks of no class.... And after that, so much closer to spring....

No Chain

1. A feeling of effortless pedaling, as to not feel the chain on your bicycle.
2. A great day in the saddle. Good legs / form.
What is, a no chain day on the bike.

I like that. Hard to have one of those days on the trainer, but lets be honest. That is the reason why so many of us put in all the hours and sweaty hours. While others stay out late, or sleep in - we pedal, and pedal more. All in hopes of another one of those days. Another feeling of elation as you ride at your best. Most important is to focus not on a victory itself, but to focus on pushing yourself beyond your preconceived limits. And perhaps, if you are lucky, find yourself pedaling away from those around you (as if you indeed did not have to grind away that chain on your gears), effortlessly dropping down a gear and flowing across the line with your arms in the air. A salute to all of the work you have done. PVP once said, "no one wins (Roubaix) with luck alone, you must have put in the miles to be in that position."

Today's post goes out to procrastination. Such as the wonderful job I'm doing at putting off my English "reflective" essay, which may or may not happen to be due tomorrow. So far I have procrastinated by spending my afternoon riding the trainer, made myself a pretty wicked pasta for dinner, watched an episode of Scrubs and now ranted and raved on the logic of training. But hey, its only 500 words. I can pump that sucked out in a solid 30 minutes if needed. Which is good, as I plan on being under the covers in a hour. Back home again tomorrow for the usual weekend, with the addition of homework. Hey, exams next week and a pretty solid architecture assignment to be finished. At least next week will be a scheduled recover week bike wise. Hard to believe its already December, and I already have this many miles in on a trainer. I miss last winter. I fully did a 3 hours bike path ride on Christmas day while the rest of my family napped before dinner. Not that I won't do similar this year, it'll just be a roller ride.

Turbo rollers?

"Now I know many of you watch our videos by sitting on your turbo rollers and get inspiration"
God, I love you Phil and Paul. I love yelling at the screen when you get some information wrong. For example, I saw Stuey close the gap on Wesserman in Roubaix 2006, these two were still debating how Stuey got across the gap after he won the race. I had a few hours to vent on that one tonight. Luckily, that is done for today, and I have just finished enjoying a spot of Pinot and some wicked pasta. Oh, other than the snow tyres today, one other important purchase. Old man slippers. These puppies are wicked and only ran me $10 plus tax. I may have to buy several. Perhaps even a formal pair to wear with my plaid golf pants. Notice the classy carpet in my room. One level below (or maybe above?) shag on the classy scale. Hope you all are enjoying your "turbo rollers". Just remember, spring is near.


ps - check out this website! Some of the most wicked bike related clothes ever! I'm soooo close to just handing them my credit card.
http://www.opsalsport.com/modules/gallery/t-shirts.html

Official and whatnot

Celebration Belgie styles. Notice the new Stella Glass. Classy.

http://www.canadiancyclist.com
http://www.pedalmag.com

Its official. Team announcement. And apparently I'm the official French to English translator. Busy day off today (school that is). As reported on yesterday. Some more long hours on the trainer, no real surprise in that respect I guess. I have a few mildly entertaining pictures to share as well. Mostly cause I'm pretty excited and have had a little too much coffee this morning so far. The twitch is back. And this current music choice is not helping matters. Damn Thunderstruck.

Some celebratory Vino this morning. While writing the blog and talking to
my baking companion, the one and only Sarah Coney. Whos blog is faltering.

This is the true secret to how to ride inside for hours. Ride until you fall off.

Phil & Paul

These clowns get us through the winter. Cyclists will know exactly who I'm talking about, the rest of you will scratch your heads and wonder what I'm smoking. (The answer is nothing, mom.) Trainer time today. Took the afternoon off school, nothing happening as its the last class, with no exam forth coming. Felt like taking it easy. And by easy I meant ride. And then relax. Watched the 2006 Fleche Wallonne, hence....
word of the day: quack
Paul & Phil's translation: A bonehead move involving swerving your bicycle.
Use it in a sentance: Oh, Asterloa has quacked Bettini. (Asterloa swerved and nearly clipped Bettini).
No school tomorrow, but busy nonetheless. Winter tyres to be installed at 11, gotta get into school by 1 for a math re-test. Apparently myself and the rest of the class did so dismally on the last test we are being giving a chance at a re-test. Not that I failed like a good portion of the class, but I did make a number of bone headed, rushed calculations that left my mark with something to be desired. So I'll take this chance to allow myself to not have to work quite so hard on the exam. Somewhere after that, I may just ride my bike as well. Who knows, I'm just crazy like that. One more big architecture project to go this weekend, and then the infamous exam week. Then freedom. Should be a fun weekend. I may even try to study. We'll see what exam comes on Monday. If its English, I'm going out to the bar instead.

Thoughts on the trainer

I have received many a question and comment regarding the amount of trainer riding going on in my life. Mostly revolving around, how I survive long boring rides inside. To be fair, I didn't used to just hop on and spin out 4 hours +. I as well used to be like most of you, basically ready to throw the damn thing out the window after say 1 hour or so. I've slowly built up over the years, to the mentally unstable individual you see writing before you. Basically, I have developed an ability to basically shut down my brain for hours. This comes in handy in many other situations such as: talking to women (maybe why I stand as so unsuccessful in the long term?) and attending class. Other than my obvious turn something on, aka music, movie, race, tele... I have a few other pointers that help get me through some long hours.
-The first and last hours always suck. Always. The key is to break it down. I go by 10 minute and 1 hour sections.
-Eat regularly. Doesn't really matter much, what ever you feel like. Make it also a reward of some kind. Some like cookies. I mix it up. Anything from fruit, to hot dogs. I like to make it a rule to eat every 45 minutes.
-Drink even more regularly. I go through 2 bottles an hour. Think about it, you are sweating without any true wind. If you are dehydrated when you get off, you will not recover well and therefor the next session will suck more than it should. Plus it gives you a reason to get off and re-fill the bottles every hour. These breaks can be just what you need to keep your head in the game and your mind motivated.
-Set reasonable goals. If you are used to 10 hours a week, don't suddenly jump to 15-20 hours a week on the trainer. Sure fire burn out recipe. We still got a way to go to the real season. Maybe work on 1 long ride a week. Slowly build up as your body adapts.
If all else fails. Try something else. And by that, I mean go for a ski one or two days a week. Go for a run (I can't fully suggest this one wholeheartedly as I hate running) but the basic idea is to mix it up. Some cross training can do wonders for the brain and brake up the monotony of the trainer. I know the skiing is pretty wicked right now.
Oh, and please shower directly after finishing your ride. For all of us.

Disapointing

I think I was expecting (from the warnings from my mother) some kind of snow fall resembling one of the "powder days" I experienced in BC. The kind where you try to open the door, but there is too much snow, so maybe you crawl through a window. Cars don't move, everyone just starts running/walking to the hill. I mean, I did see an ATV/snow mobile thing driving down the road today. But hey, I do live in a hick town. Thats not all that unusual. The weather claims more snow still, but all is calm for the moment with only a light powder fluttering down. I may even be able to drive myself to the grocery store later on. Much needed. Dependant on whether the ol' Civic can make it out the driveway. Potentially no class today. Here's hoping no one can make it in! Otherwise more trainer time to fill out the final week of classes.

First ski

Snow storm coming. So I rushed out for a ski late morning (had to fit in a few hours on the rollers first) with Keir. Strapped on the ol' skate skis and hit the park. I must say, for the first of December, conditions are pretty wild. And should only be getting better for the next bit, with this 20-40cm of snow for cast by tomorrow eve. Dang. That's a lot of powder. Almost wish I was closer to a ski hill to go rip some powder tomorrow. How often can you say ski and fresh powder in the same sentence around here. More like ski and "glare ice". None the less, a good quality 1.5 hour ski with Keir along the parkway and Ridge road. Plus I only ate it once. Stupid Penguin and my insistence on tele turning my way through it. I blame the tourists who keep snow plowing through all the corners. Made a brief stop at Les Saisons for a nice warming cafe on the way home and a stop at the dep for the kid to buy some vino. Silly underager. I picked a sweet bottle of red up at the LCBO on the way home instead. Went quite nicely with my leftover pasta and fresh homemade pizza. I'll leave this informative session off with a glimpse of how I bring style to the cross country world. Picture credit to Giro de Keir. Ignore the jacket. Its all I had around my closet in Ottawa.

Official: winter is here

Yup. You heard it here first. How is this only now official you may ask? Sandy is strapping skis to his feet for the first time of the season. Thats why. Its a sign that I am temporarily giving up on the outdoor riding for at least a few days. First, a couple hours on the rollers, cause we all know the first ski of the season is painful and short. Me an Keir intend to keep it around the 2 hour mark. If we last that long. In other news, according to my mother, some storm of epic proportions is blowing up this way from Toronto. The crazy Toronto folk (wankers) are claiming 20cm of snow AND freezing rain. What gives? And of course, my winter tyres are not being put on until Wednesday. Should be a fun drive home today. For now, the rollers are calling me. In some sort of odd, anti social way. Did I mention I am the prank war king for the weekend? Just ask the girls at wag what was in the box...