Time flies, only biked 3hrs the past 7 days but seemed we did not stop all week.

Though had a spark in me with a mountain bike ride last night, miss it so much! So fun blasting on trails around Tunnel Mtn. With Marnie picking up teaching yoga on Thursday nights now which means no more Hammernights, will make an effort to hit the mountain bike trails more often to keep fitness for the Banff races.

But the boys out way everything by far!


swings across the street

Fairmont

Tasty chicken salad after last night's ride, spicy Thai sauce a must

 Toys now out on the deck for the boys

Enjoyable quick visit to Fairmont over the weekend. As usual no shortage of nice weather, home cooking & drinks with great company.

Seth at driving range for 1st time

Mom & Dad took us to 3 Geo Caches', Seth loved finding the treasures

Rory diving into lemons

Seth truly understanding his middle name now - CJ 'conchy joe' - Bahamian white native nickname after the shell

Helping mom in the garden

Heal up Scott who broke his collarbone in Sunday's race. Congrats to Sean on 2nd place and Robin 4th or 5th in Cat A, and Alaric's 3rd place Cat B in his 1st ever road race.

                                                     Views from tonight's ride, hard to beat

Last night's Hammernight lived up to it's name. 25 + people to start, down to 10 odd by Banff. Eric J dropped the hammer at the bottom hill coming out of Cascade pits shredding the field, paced continued to Minnewanka. Up Norquay, Eric pulls away at the first turn splitting field again. Fast pace home with surges everywhere to end the ride.

Surprise Colin shows up for his 4th ride since October and takes every mini sprint...guy is a specimen!

Legs were shattered being that was 4th day in a row of activity, most hrs all year.

No go for Prairie Roubaix race, heading to see the folks in Fairmont for some golf and home made cooking.

That's it that's all for the season at Norquay, unfortunate as the base is the highest in years. An obvious sign are the day lodge stairs or lack of, 5 in total but no where to been seen.

Tad of fresh snow for final day

Nana and gramps made it up for a few runs

With buddy Laken in the lodge

That afternoon after the boys went down for naps, I snuck out for my 2nd road ride of the year with Keith on the 1A west. Road all clear of gravel so good to go. Saw madman Eric Jensen and Chris Taylor were out hammering away by themselves. 

Was hoping to go for a nice ride today but woke up to this which continued on and off through out the day

So Seth and I headed to Norquay for several hours in the afternoon. Caught up with numerous friends and kids, band playing upstairs kept them dancing and entertained.

Final day of the season tomorrow, will be a large contingency of locals heading up so should be fun.

Have not done much activity wise since last Sunday's ride but still hoping to have fun in Prairie Roubaix Sunday...not sure fitness but who cares as it is a fun race like no other in Alberta.

ABA partnering with our club, we have the largest Youth enrollment in the province!

http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/aba-rmcc-release-youth-revolution?id=921

Dad and Seth time spent this afternoon at Norquay, gorgeous day hitting a solid 14 degrees out. No shortage of people enjoying drinks on the outdoor decks, spring skiing at it's finest.

Met up with Seth's buddy Laken and his dad Fred. The 2 boys are too cute skiing together, so funny.

Chasing each other around the mountain

Seth going down hard

Supposed to be 15 degrees again tomorrow then low single digits and rain for next 3 days so will most likely head back up to Norquay tomorrow afternoon...potentially the last day of the year up there.

My first road ride of the year yesterday was a beauty with Robbie and Keith.

Drove to and started in Bragg Creek. There to Black Diamond, over to Okotoks back on 549/762. Had driven those back roads on the way to Little Bow and always said how amazing they would be on a bike....was not disappointed! Non stop rollers after rollers with wild head and cross winds to keep us honest.

Legs were shattered to say the least after almost 5 hrs riding time, overall very happy considering my longest ride had been 1.75hrs on the trainer.

I think we all had some inspiration riding watching Boonen solo for 50km's in the Pairie Roubaix that morning. While watching the race at home, Marnie kept saying to me ' how come 14 guys cannot pull him back'.....because Boonen is an animal.

Easter Bunny was kind to the boys with plenty of eggs and chocolate hidden. Seth received an Adventure back pack consisting of items from a compass, flashlight, binoculars to a shovel.

Our old friend Jen is in town from Ontario for several nights with her 4 month old son. Up Tunnel Mtn this morning putting all the kids in backpacks and other devices. Crisp at 10am but warmed up substantially turning into a gorgeous day.

Marn took Seth to Norquay in the afternoon with Aidan and Patty. Both kids skied Mystic Chair for the first time, Bruno's Gully run top to bottom...crazy!
http://www.bozocup.com/ was going on so no shortage of action with live music inside and outside with locals everywhere.

Saw Wildcat Roubaix Race has been cancelled. 

Fingers crossed time opens up for me to join http://speedtheorycyclingteam.blogspot.ca/2012/03/prairie-roubaix-iii-weather-will-be.html

Blast of a road race with 3 odd kms' of gravel thrown in there each lap. Was easily one of the funnest, hardest, most random races of the year when we took part 3 yrs ago. Had a 50 person pack in Cat A so no shortage of firepower out there. Would be $$ if we could round up a crew of RMCC guys for it.

Our handsome little boys

At Norquay twice this week, Tuesday was just gorgeous in the sun. Loads of other families and friends soaking up the final weeks up there. 

Currently snowing as I am writing this, hopefully it burns off as I hoped to get out for my first outside ride Thursday or Friday....??? 

Saturday's Winter Tri ended up being a tonne of fun. Grind of a course, well organized while meeting a number of fun, new people.

7 minutes behind after the x country start, but could not have gone any faster as would have completely blown up.

Happy with the 2 bike laps where I just tried to hang in there on the run.

So impressive how winner Mike Vine started the bike approx 5 minutes back and reeled everyone back for the win. That's how you become a multiple worldwide Xterra champ, remember him killing the Bow 80 last September for the win.

Congrats Alaric Fish for 2nd place...strong dad!

Trying not to slip and slide too much

Mom and Dad came out for the night and brought the boys along as Marnie was teaching yoga, thanx for the support guys.

Happy overall considering activities have been limited to say the least during the past month, hopefully time opens up more in April.