Survived my first week of work as a so called 'big girl'....I miss my bum life already!!!  Okay, it's not that bad, but it's definitely going to take some getting used to.  But I did manage to pull off a 17 hour training week, no too shabby.  Work will be my recovery time :-)  Lots of after work riding Regan!!  Get ready

Post Monster Drag
photo by Stuckylife

Started my work week off recovering from a wicked 150 km with the Stuckylife crew on Sunday....first time over 140km.  It was supposed to be the triple ferry ride, but we cut out the first ferry and just went up and over the Malahat (first time this season).  I have to admit that I actually really enjoy this climb, actually to tell you the truth I'm starting to enjoy climbing!  Crazy!!  Dragged up and over the Malahat by super strong Dan Leonard, thank you for letting me grab your wheel this week unlike the Monster Drag last weekend where I sat 20ft away for the entire 20 mins.  Awesome little coffee and apple strudel in Cowichan Bay, then boogied on over to Crofton to grab the ferry over to SaltSpring Island.  Loved watching but did not partake in, the 4 up downhill sprint into Crofton!

Coffee while waiting for the ferry in Crofton

Took the long loop around SaltSpring from Vesuvius to Fulford Harbour.  Managed to hang with Parker and Jon who where for lack of a better term, hammering, for a little before I dropped off to ride a much more civilized quick pace with Clay and Haldor.  Making it to Fulford with about 45 mins till the ferry, we all chowed down on burritos and chocolatey goodness from the bakery there.  Totally lucked out with the weather, riding literally around the rain, and actually had some nice warm sun while on SaltSpring.

Once back on the Penninsula it was an easy straight shot back into town on the Lochside trail....I was loving the flat trail at this point.  Hammering out 150 very hilly km (almost 2000m climbing) in under 6 hours, but ended up being almost 9 hours in the chamois.  I'm thinking if I'm going to be doing more of these I need a nicer chamois.  Thank you boyz for letting me tag along, that was a fantastic day!!!

Thursday night I decided I needed to punish body again and geared up with Regan for my first post work TNR!  With really gnarly crappy weather all day, it ended up being an amazing evening ride, even stripping down to bare arms for the first time this season.  22 guys made for a mellow but rather exciting mountain bike ride.  5 flats (one was mine), one broken handlebar (with the best ghetto fix....and Thor actually decided to finish the ride despite multiple exit points.....and decided to compete for the sprint!!!), one broken chain, and one mystery mechanical that caused John Taylor to be thrown from his bike on the road like he was smacked with a 2X4.  Despite all of this it turned out to be a really fun challenging ride.

photo by Dave McLellan

My flat was the last one of the day, exiting the last section of single track....no pressure changing my flat in front of 22 dudes!  It did give me the advantage of putting as much pressure as I could in my tire for the road sprint home....hehe.  The group stayed together for most of the race back in, feeling sometimes that I have to somewhat prove myself to these men, I did a big pull into the bridge sprint (I even saw 40km/h) only to blow to the moon and have everyone leave me in the dust on the bridge...lol.  Thanks again guys for letting me tag along :-)

photo by Dave McLellan

Friday night was a great ride with the Sistas....wow, lots of group rides this week....followed by some Harbour Road drag sprints.  Thanks Jenn and Sylvia for the races!  And a delicious PIG supper!  BEST pulled pork place!!

4 hours of riding on Saturday with a 30 min swim...so happy my shoulder is finally feeling better!  Left Regan and I with a Mt Tzouhalem date on Sunday.  A great day in the sun exploring and getting lost and yes, riding with out leg and arm warmers!!  Summer is coming.  Absolutely loving my Trek Superfly 100 now that Regan put all my XTR from last year on it!  Big girl wheels ladies, watch out!!  Followed by a great Sunday afternoon Tea with Sylvia and the girls....lots of cakes and goodies....and laughing at the chickens.


 Thanks for cooking me supper tonight Regan!  Now recovery for next weeks adventures!