Missin Summer

Missing Summer from Regan Pringle on Vimeo.

Some old footage from a fun ride (as always) with Regan!! Definitely makes me miss summer...but it's on it's way. Thanks Regan for putting this video together.....my look how much your bike position has changed!!!!!!!

Red Velvet

I'm back up in the good old Fort Mac....and there's almost no snow!!!! Gnarly!!! Ya, I can sound like a biker bum sometimes. Ya, +4 today, never had I ever seen that growing up here in the winter, that might be the end of my cross country skiing this year :-( BIG FROWN

Yesterday was my 30 birthday, the big 3-0!!!! It's funny, I truly feel life is just starting at 30, kinda starting to get things figured out a little. It's going to be a great summer!!! I'm a little bummed about my shoulder still taking it's sweet time getting better, but it's really good news that the rotator cuff isn't torn. I was hoping to really learn how to swim this year (I'm going to take swim lessons I think) and try out this Xterra thing a little more.....but that's going to have to wait for a little while longer. But having cyclocross Worlds in North America has me really jazzed!!!!

Regan and Robin took me out for PIG, best pulled pork joint ever!!! and Marble Slab ice cream for my big day...thanks guys!! After sampling the Red Velvet ice cream, I've decided I really want to try to make some Red Velvet cake when I get home.....but I need a recipe. If anyone has a good recipe please send it to me!!! Gotta test out the my Kitchen Aid mixer!!

Really hope mine looks this good!!

Ever have tired sore hands after mountain bike riding?? Blisters?? Slippery grips?? Ya, big problem, and a lot of people actually don't realize that there is a really great, comfortable, inexpensive and easy fix for that!!! ESI Grips makes the most amazing, that's right, I'm calling these grips amazing, silicone grips. I was turned onto them when I tagged along with the Trek/VW team a couple of years ago, and I will not let another set of grips stay on my bars for more then a ride.

Trust me, this isn't a shameless plug!!!!!!! You really need to try these out for yourself. My larger hands prefer the Chunky 60gram grips versus the Racer's Edge 50gram grips, but both are a step above anything else!

So.....I want to thank ESI Grips and welcome them to my team of sponsors for 2012!!!! Trek Victoria carries them ;-)

Zed Wheels

Check out the new very cool website from wheel guru Brad Head of Zed Wheels

2012 Race License is ordered!!!!!!

February??

Definitely enjoying my last weekend of freedom!! The best possible week I could end up having as a surprise 2nd week off!! Sun and nice every day.

After somewhat recovering from the TNR, "easy" road ride up and over Munns Road and Ross Durance on Friday, I was definitely feeling my first big week of riding on a loooong time coming into the weekend. Saturday Regan and I headed out for a great 4 hour mountain bike ride!! Running into Mike Palmer on the ride out lit the fire under Regan's butt and I was dangling off the back of these two for a good 2 hours of trail. I stole the demo Trek Superfly 100 to ride...wow, I like that bike.....it would be so nice if Trek would come through and help me out for the year ;-)

Sunday we headed out with Trek World videographer Rob Parkin to shoot some promo video for the upcoming Trek Pro City Island Cup race in March. I've never had the opportunity to do any video shoots before and it was actually really cool. Couple hours of sessioning fun sections of the trail, and a couple hours of great riding lead to another great day on the bike. And the weather couldn't have been any better in February! LUCKY

Picture from Jamie Cameron

TNR #1189

photo courtesy Dave Mclellan

TNR #1189 by micaldyck at Garmin Connect - Details

Thanks Regan for the gentle nudge to get out and enjoy my 2nd ever Thursday Night Ride (TNR). I hadn't even thought of doing it, but it was a given that Regan was going to do it....I did tell him not to come home till he'd done at least a 3 hour ride :-) When he mentioned that I should come do it, I was like, hey, YAAAA, that's a great way to get in shape!!!

18 guys and me left the usual front yard and headed up the usual Cairn to hit some of the greasiest gnarly trail right in town. After 2 months off the mountain bike, I was a little sketched out to say the least...but the view at the top was worth it. Pink and blue pillows, overtop the mountains and the ocean...stunning if I do say so myself.

From there was headed through Esquimalt and out to towards Thetis Lake and some really great trails to ride in the dark when no one is out there......and there wasn't a cloud in the sky once things got dark. Winding through Thetis Lake, over to Francis King (which I cleaned a section of downhill that I've never had the balls to even try in the day time...funny what you'll do when you can't really see very well ;-), up to the Dump and out Executive, it ended up being a solid 2 hours of trail. Once we hit Interurban the pace picked up and we strung out in a beautiful mountain biker paceline.

I was feel pretty strong at this point and figured....."Hehehe, if I catch them buy surprise...maybe I can make these men suffer a little!!!" I know, that's what every woman thinks right...haha. I had to laugh when Robby yelled "You're pulling 400 lbs up this hill!"

The pack regrouped at the red light on the Goose by Tillicum Road. I look over and Carter Hovey gives me the '"wink...hmmm, what does the "wink" mean?? I'm gonna pull for you, or you gonna pull for me...haha. Light turns green...okay, I'm gonna work....so I hammer out and pull the pack as hard and as long as I can. Just as I'm starting to blow to pieces, Regan pulls by and tears the legs off of everyone. I've got nothing left, can't grab any of the wheels that pass me....then Carter comes up behind and gives me a little push saying "You're gonna win this one!!" Oh, that's what the wink meant....lol. He gets me back up to speed to grab a wheel, but that's all...lol...go for it!!!! Good sprint to the end guys, I'll leave that to you....for now.

Back at the clubhouse for a few tails and a quick beer, thank you Dave McLellan for the Phillips Chocolate Porter!!!! Clean the bikes at Pro City on the way home, then shower and wait for the pizza! Ya, nice little indulgence after an awesome night ride!