Yessum, finally I have a mountain bike....but oh my goodness, what an ordeal it was. After getting stuck at the boarder for a couple of days, it finally arrives in Abuquerque 5 days after the scheduled delievery with a bill of $716....WHAT!!!!! I am just about in tears as the UPS guy drives off with my bike that I've been waiting for for almost 2 weeks because I won't pay the tax. After some frantic calling, some more paper work, quick drive to find an expensive fax machine, $2.50 a page..yikes...I finally get a call saying that they've been able to reduce the charges to only $43 USD. I'm still trying to understand why I'm being charged a fee by UPS on top of the fee already paid to send the bike here....but I'm at the point that "I JUST WANT MY BIKE", so I agree to pay.
The next day, the same UPS guy shows up with my bike again :) But they only take check or money order...WHAT!!!!! Who doesn't take cash...geeeezzzz. I'm just about in tears again as he drives away with my bike for a second day. I quickly hope in my car and speed down to the nearest gas station and get a money...did you know there is a fee for a money order...crazy. Money order in hand I'm driving frantically around the area that the UPS guy said he'd be....finally my stalking pays off and I find him..yippee.
He tries desperately to shove the box into my car....for anyone who doesn't know I drive a 2 door Sunfire...and the trunk is full of gear, so he's trying to shove it in the back seat of my car...right. It takes a little begging..no, I'm not above begging whent he time is right, and he finally agrees to bring the box back to my brothers.
Yes, if you could see me I have a huge *&^% eating grin on my face. Last night my brother put my bike together, spend this morning tweaking a few things and took it out for it maiden voyage. Oh my goodness, I love it....don't worry, I'll post pic's...but it rides absolutely amazing...it's definitely a hot looking bike too.
Off now to make tacos for my brothers big 25 b-day. Ciao
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Monday, 6 April 2009
Change of plans
That's right, after Sea Otter I'm going to Europe..yippee...with the Canadian Team..yyiiipppeeee. There are two World Cup races, first one in Offenburg, Germany and the second in Houffalize, Belgium. Offenburg is a great course for me, not a whole lot of climbing and technical. Houffalize however, I have some demons that I must face with that course, lots of climbing and wet tecnical desents...what better way then face on.
Still no bike though :(
Still no bike though :(
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Picture updates...finally
Yipppeeeeee....heading out on a road trip...can you tell I'm excited???
Pie night in Tucson!!!
View from up Mt Lemmon...no, I didn't make it up that far riding, we drove this day.
Garrett's delicious chicken salad...yummmmmmmmy!
The new road rig, love it. But I'm even more excited for the mountain bike...supposed to be here this friday.
Ciao
Friday, 27 March 2009
What The .... snow in Albuquerque!!!!
Yeah, that's right ladies and gents, woke to snow in Albuquerque...yikes.
Okay, so I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Had a week of great training in Tucson, lots of sun, lots of miles, lots of climbing, lots of great company. The first outdoor riding days in shorts for the season I do have to say were a success. I ended up spending a couple of days on Mt Lemmon doing some very valuable work on climbing...something I know needs a lot of work. The first trip up was my legs were screaming, even though I was in my easiest gear and going as slowly as I could possibly go without falling off my bike, just trying to keep my heart rate in the "endurance zone", in other words...low. By the time I turned around at 8.5 miles, my legs were starting to cramp up.
Second trip up was better, legs were starting to slowly get used to the different angle of pedaling uphill versus on the flat trainer inside :) The third trip however felt really good. I had some hard race pace climbing intervals at the bottom, which surprisingly felt pretty good, then settled into a nice easy pace, making it all the way to the 11 mile mark...yippeeeeeeee. I unfortunately never made it all the way to the top of the infamous Mt Lemmon (well not on a bike anyways), I'll save that for another trip.
So after a week of burning myself and putting in some great miles, we packed up Alfonzo, completely stuffed to the gills this time, and headed east to Albuquerque. Holy moley.....the wind was crazy, my poor little bike was on the roof and was completely sand blasted. As we neared our destiniation you could see the big, ominous clouds overhead. I had heard that the weather wasn't supposed to be good in New Mexico, but snow, I just couldn't believe it.....
After a morning of procrastination, I bundled up and headed out for a 4 hour tour of Albuquerque.....really, my arms could use a couple of days without sun. Group ride tomorrow, Sea Otter is less then a month away, but for tonight, steak and no-bake cookies...hehe
Okay, so I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Had a week of great training in Tucson, lots of sun, lots of miles, lots of climbing, lots of great company. The first outdoor riding days in shorts for the season I do have to say were a success. I ended up spending a couple of days on Mt Lemmon doing some very valuable work on climbing...something I know needs a lot of work. The first trip up was my legs were screaming, even though I was in my easiest gear and going as slowly as I could possibly go without falling off my bike, just trying to keep my heart rate in the "endurance zone", in other words...low. By the time I turned around at 8.5 miles, my legs were starting to cramp up.
Second trip up was better, legs were starting to slowly get used to the different angle of pedaling uphill versus on the flat trainer inside :) The third trip however felt really good. I had some hard race pace climbing intervals at the bottom, which surprisingly felt pretty good, then settled into a nice easy pace, making it all the way to the 11 mile mark...yippeeeeeeee. I unfortunately never made it all the way to the top of the infamous Mt Lemmon (well not on a bike anyways), I'll save that for another trip.
So after a week of burning myself and putting in some great miles, we packed up Alfonzo, completely stuffed to the gills this time, and headed east to Albuquerque. Holy moley.....the wind was crazy, my poor little bike was on the roof and was completely sand blasted. As we neared our destiniation you could see the big, ominous clouds overhead. I had heard that the weather wasn't supposed to be good in New Mexico, but snow, I just couldn't believe it.....
After a morning of procrastination, I bundled up and headed out for a 4 hour tour of Albuquerque.....really, my arms could use a couple of days without sun. Group ride tomorrow, Sea Otter is less then a month away, but for tonight, steak and no-bake cookies...hehe
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Road Trip Deluxe
I'm so happy to report that I've got a tan..yessir...well, right now it's more of a burn. But I've ridden outside without leg and arm warmers ..... oh how sweet it is.
Wednesday morning my little Sunfire, aka Alfonzo, was loaded to the gills but ready for the road trip of it's life. I was extremely fortunate to have a good friend willing to make the drive with me, keep me company, keep me awake....actually, he ended up doing most of the driving.
3 days of driving and here we are, beautiful, hot Tucson, Arizona. I've been talking about doing a training camp down south for a while but school has always been in the way, but I'm finally free!!!!! So what better thing to do then spend a month training and playing in some hot sunny weather.
I actually did my first ride outside in just shorts and a ss jersey, and lets not forget, first ride on the new road rig....Trek Madone 5.2 (aweosome bike, I'm so excited with it) while passing through Phoenix. Stopping to enjoy the full Apache Junction experience, I was able to steal away a couple of hours on the bike and it was great. In my haste to get riding though I managed to forget a couple of really cruicial things. Number 1....tighten handlebars....had a really good near miss while crossing a busy intersection. Number 2....chamoix cream....this actually didn't work out too bad, the new Trek Toronto Team kit is awesome, super comfortable and very sexy, just wait for the photos. Number 3....sun screen...I think this was the most important because dang it's extremely sore. I can't seem to lather enough aloe vera on to quench the thirst. I was really excited to start getting some color, slowly work up the tan, but not I've just got crazy burn line. Lesson learnt the hard way :)
We arrived in Tucson late friday night and managed to find our accomodations with the help of Sally. Sally is my new GPS unit and although she gets pissed off when you miss a turn and sometimes is completely way off in left field, I have to admit, she's been very handy. We are staying with Emily Batty (who is down in Chile with Catharine Pendrel, Amanda Sin and other Canadians competing in the Panams today...good luck ladies!!!!), Adam Morka, Mark Batty and Stef Widmer......cycling house extrodinaire.
Yesterday, being my first full day in Tucson I pulled off a big training day. Early in the morning I headed out to do some intervals, ended up going in completely the opposite direction that I was intending, getting very lost, but still managed to find my way home in just under 2 hours. After a grocery shopping trip and quick trip to the mall, I headed out in the evening for a 3 hour endurance ride, and I thought it would be a great idea to head up Mt Lemmon. In my easiest gear I was having a heck of a time keeping my heart rate low enough to be considered endurance pace and my legs were cramping (you have to remember I haven't done hills, especially like that, in a long time), but the views are awesome. I think I'm going to be spending a little more time there this week, try to get some climbing legs under me.
The plan for the rest of the trip......head over to Albuquerque to visit with my brother sometime next week, I'm thinking thursday. Going to stay with Casey as long as he can stand me...hehe, until about the 16th of April. I'm super stoked because we're kind of thinking of doing a little bike tour, fun!!!! From there head up to Monterey, CA for Sea Otter Classic, which is the weekend of the 18th/19th. Then I have a week where I'm not too sure what's going to happen, I want to stay somewhere warm though. Finally, on my way home, I'm going to meet up with some friends in Moab for some wicked riding. I've been to Moab twice, and only for two days each time, so I'm really looking forward to spending a little more time there.
And that's it.....I'm hoping to keep your better posted then I have been as we go along. Off to enjoy my coffee before I head out for a 4 hour ride....love it :)
Wednesday morning my little Sunfire, aka Alfonzo, was loaded to the gills but ready for the road trip of it's life. I was extremely fortunate to have a good friend willing to make the drive with me, keep me company, keep me awake....actually, he ended up doing most of the driving.
3 days of driving and here we are, beautiful, hot Tucson, Arizona. I've been talking about doing a training camp down south for a while but school has always been in the way, but I'm finally free!!!!! So what better thing to do then spend a month training and playing in some hot sunny weather.
I actually did my first ride outside in just shorts and a ss jersey, and lets not forget, first ride on the new road rig....Trek Madone 5.2 (aweosome bike, I'm so excited with it) while passing through Phoenix. Stopping to enjoy the full Apache Junction experience, I was able to steal away a couple of hours on the bike and it was great. In my haste to get riding though I managed to forget a couple of really cruicial things. Number 1....tighten handlebars....had a really good near miss while crossing a busy intersection. Number 2....chamoix cream....this actually didn't work out too bad, the new Trek Toronto Team kit is awesome, super comfortable and very sexy, just wait for the photos. Number 3....sun screen...I think this was the most important because dang it's extremely sore. I can't seem to lather enough aloe vera on to quench the thirst. I was really excited to start getting some color, slowly work up the tan, but not I've just got crazy burn line. Lesson learnt the hard way :)
We arrived in Tucson late friday night and managed to find our accomodations with the help of Sally. Sally is my new GPS unit and although she gets pissed off when you miss a turn and sometimes is completely way off in left field, I have to admit, she's been very handy. We are staying with Emily Batty (who is down in Chile with Catharine Pendrel, Amanda Sin and other Canadians competing in the Panams today...good luck ladies!!!!), Adam Morka, Mark Batty and Stef Widmer......cycling house extrodinaire.
Yesterday, being my first full day in Tucson I pulled off a big training day. Early in the morning I headed out to do some intervals, ended up going in completely the opposite direction that I was intending, getting very lost, but still managed to find my way home in just under 2 hours. After a grocery shopping trip and quick trip to the mall, I headed out in the evening for a 3 hour endurance ride, and I thought it would be a great idea to head up Mt Lemmon. In my easiest gear I was having a heck of a time keeping my heart rate low enough to be considered endurance pace and my legs were cramping (you have to remember I haven't done hills, especially like that, in a long time), but the views are awesome. I think I'm going to be spending a little more time there this week, try to get some climbing legs under me.
The plan for the rest of the trip......head over to Albuquerque to visit with my brother sometime next week, I'm thinking thursday. Going to stay with Casey as long as he can stand me...hehe, until about the 16th of April. I'm super stoked because we're kind of thinking of doing a little bike tour, fun!!!! From there head up to Monterey, CA for Sea Otter Classic, which is the weekend of the 18th/19th. Then I have a week where I'm not too sure what's going to happen, I want to stay somewhere warm though. Finally, on my way home, I'm going to meet up with some friends in Moab for some wicked riding. I've been to Moab twice, and only for two days each time, so I'm really looking forward to spending a little more time there.
And that's it.....I'm hoping to keep your better posted then I have been as we go along. Off to enjoy my coffee before I head out for a 4 hour ride....love it :)
Monday, 9 March 2009
Hammer Troubles
So yes, I'm starting to get really excited for warm weather. Yesterday I woke up and my door knob was frozen....I was locked in my room for like ten minutes. This morning I woke up and it read -45...yikes. But as it turns out, I'm not leaving the great white north as early as I was once hoping. The initial spectulation was for today (monday) or tomorrow, but as per usual, when everything is going as planned, something is bound to go very wrong. The rig for the girl that is replacing me broke down last night (or someone dropped a hammer head down the hole....not something that you can just drill through)...so it looks like I'm out here for a couple more days :(
Yeah, makes me kind of sad. When you start dreaming of warmer weather and your plans start coming together for departure, then something as simple as a dropped hammer gets in your way, you can get a little bummed. Oh well, it will make the sweet warmth that much sweeter once I make it.
Yeah, makes me kind of sad. When you start dreaming of warmer weather and your plans start coming together for departure, then something as simple as a dropped hammer gets in your way, you can get a little bummed. Oh well, it will make the sweet warmth that much sweeter once I make it.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Doing What You Can
So this past month has been pretty tough for me to motivate myself to train and think about the season. It's been a big lifestyle change living up north in camp, eating camp food...hehe, my biggest goal is to still be able to fit into my spandex come spring time....no, it's not that bad. I've had a lot of personal time to think while up north, like today I'm bored right out of my tree. Sometimes thinking too much can be pretty dangerous, but I think it's actually been really good for me. I've taken some big steps in my life, battled some big demons and made some big choices lately and I realize that I'm not ready to let go of my dream being a professional cyclist.
I've had some ask me if coming up to Fort McMurray to work for the winter would mean the end of my cycling career, if I am packing it in, and in all honesty, I wasn't entirely sure either way when I choose to take the job. I took this job not only for the great work experience, but so that I could actually afford to race and train this summer....lets face it, being a mountain biker really isn't a very profitable career.
I just wanted to send out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been supportive and understanding, not only these past couple months, but through out the past couple years.....it really means the world to me.
Now that it looks like this work term will be coming to an end in the next week or two, I'm starting to make grand plans to head down south to do some massive training in..hehe, cramming if you'd like. And try to figure out where my season is going to take me. Yes, summer is fast approaching and I am getting more and more excited by the day.
Happy Trails
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