Beauty week

Ended up riding 5 out of 7 days ending last night. Great to log some hrs and km's as the Banff races are 3 weeks away...where did that come from?

On Sunday, we rode with the boys in the Chariot to Canmore and back on the Legacy Trail. Was Marnie's first time on the path and bike this year, she was lovin it! Will be heading out there again soon with the family.

Biked on the 1A yesterday with trip up to the Chateau and ski hill, saw 2 black bears.

On deck this morning

It's snowing

Woke up this morning to this

This arrives 12 hours after another wicked Hammernight. 6 of us with deja vu of last Thursday with again +5 and rain...more rain this time around. Several hours out to Banff and around and back, Brent must have injected some good EPO that morning as his pulls were beauties.

Colin and Scott mentioned they took part in the last segment of "King of Mountain" Wednesday night. 3 races - Hill Climb, Downhill on Reclaimer and a X Country. Winner takes an entry to B.C Bike Race - over $2,00 value!! http://www.bcbikerace.com/
Huge props to Canmore's Bike Cafe and Rundle Mountain Cycle club for putting up the prize!
Colin came 2nd overall behind Jon Firth

Seth feeding little bro

Rory sitting up now by himself

Think it could be a good morning for the hot tub at Banff Springs....

Little Bow Lake

Fun 3 nights at Little Bow. Jack, Christie with Jack's daughter Linnea and husband Mike with kids Dexter and AJ. Tasty food with no shortage of wine and rum & cokes....it is the cottage after all.

Seth Nana and cousin Dexter

Mike and Cathy from Banff were down as well. Mike took out all the kids one afternoon on his boat to the Provincial campground for ice creams. Seth took a turn driving.

Feel blah after 4 days off the bike and all that food and booze, but need that sometimes.

What the doctor ordered

7 of us showed up in +6 and drizzle for last night's Hammernight.

Canmore - Johnston Canyon - Canmore   Just shy of 3hrs riding time and 100 km's.

Pace was same same slug.

Gord and Matt mentioned they were just at the Tuesday night Crit series in Calgary the other day. Sean got in 5 man break and took it...nice!

Off to Marn's mom's place at Little Bow this afternoon until Monday. Looking forward to relaxing, the weather and taking the little hobbie cat out.

Velocity Stage Race

Fun weekend in Edmonton with Velocity stage race. 10km TT, Crit and 113km Road Race.

Gnarliest winds ever experienced on a bike, 70+ km/hr.

Not the results hoping for but s*&# happens, ended 7th overall after the 3 races. Completely happy with how smartly I rode conserving just ticked with Crit finish and how I was involved in little pile up in the road race.
Field was down to 11 guys out of the 30 that started when a crosswind gust knocked a guy down taking the 7 of us with him. By the time I changed wheels, the group was gone. From there it was by myself for remaining 35 km's wanting to finish for a decent placing overall. Tough ride with 3/4 of the lap being head or cross wind - standing still almost.

Fellow RMCC teammates killed it.
Sean Crooks in my category was 2nd in Crit and Road race placing 2nd GC resulting in him being upgraded to Cat 2. Gord Jewett was 5th in both the Crit and Road Race in Cat 1/2 - dude is strong!! Jeff was 4th GC in Cat 4 with Chris winning the Crit. 3 time Olympian,Robin Clegg, in his first ever road race won GC in Cat 5.

Crit pics

Not many RMCC riders there but beauty results, great start to season!

Rory and jolly jumper

Had Rory in the jolly jumper yesterday for the first time, he loved it! Seth was so proud of him, too cute.

Went to Marnie's friend Tova's wedding on Saturday in town. Open bar, ouch bad news. Needless to say people were on their way. 

Drove to Rafter 6 Ranch yesterday for Mother's Day Brunch, delicious! Seth loved the wagon ride with the horses afterwards.

Legs were quite shattered after the week's riding. Jump on trainer tonight for little spin but will relax this week as far as volume - keep including short bursts to keep legs firing for this weekend's race in Edmonton.

Ride last night

Last night's Hammernight ride was a beauty, good for the soul.

2hrs 55 mins riding time  Canmore-Banff-Minnewanka+Johnson Lake-Mt. Norquay-up Surprise corner and Tunnel Rd- Hwy 1 back to Canmore

Approx 25-30 guys to start where pace had blown a solid 10 people only 15 minutes in. Eric Jensen the dad of 2 was a specimen with his pulls.

Sunshine Road

How many years have I lived here and only have ridden the Sunshine road once, why I ask myself after the stupid ride up there last night. So relenting with non stop little kickers to shut your legs down.

Keith, Soldan, Colin and I battled the beauty headwind on the highway to the turnoff. Heart rate was through the roof up the first hill staying so the entire way. Colin's strength when attacking out of the saddle is stupid, unfortunate he must follow the ABA pecking order for moving up categories as he would be a MASSIVE benefit for our team in Banff Bike fest.

Had the scariest moment of my life with a speed wobble in back tire coming back down the road on Colin's wheel, still do not know how I hung on feathering back brake staying up right?? Colin clocked 81.2 km/hr in that last corner - yeesh.

Rest today with Hammernight tomorrow

Paternity Leave

1st day of Paternity Leave today with Marn back at work. Went well overall - feeding Rory, nap times etc.

Morning coffee on the deck

Weather has been bluebird last 2 days. Sunday spent 2hrs with Seth enjoying the sun on Bear St bumping into friends. Marn and Rory joined us and went to the Bison for brunch - delicious duck benedict and french toast.

Had a spur of the moment chance in the afternoon to get out for a quick 1.5 hr bike, like a little kid out there soaking up the weather with Tool blaring.

Jack and Christie came over for dinner that evening, they just got back from New Zealand and Fuji - beauty pics!!