24 Hours of Falcon Ridge is back!

We're not really ones to set New Year's Resolutions per se, but this is New Year's Eve and I just found my goal for the 1st half of 2011 - get some decent endurance training in to participate in the 2nd 24 Hours of Falcon Ridge!

As you may recall I intended to do it as a part of a team last year but 2 team mates met untimely and somewhat gruesome fates at the Spring Ride (pics to jog your memory after the jump, but be warned, 1 pic in particular is nasty - seriously).

Seeing as my team mates are literally trying to sever their limbs to avoid riding with me I've decided to do the event solo this year. The training starts tomorrow...(not that this implies I'll be competitive on race day, but hopefully it implies I won't really suck and/or try to sever a limb myself as an 'honourable' way out of the race).

Manitoba Blue Cross

Welcome Manitoba Blue Cross Fitness Class participants to TheTrainingCoop.com! After working with staff of the Manitoba Blue Cross for the last few months under contract with another fitness class provider I'm now working with them directly. Accordingly they're now allotted a place on this website, and I'll be tweeting and twitpicking (is that the correct verb?) about their thrice weekly classes.

They're a great group of guys and gals, always ready to work hard - the kind of folks it's always a joy to work with. Manitoba Blue Cross seems to be a progressive employer offering some great perks for their staff. Not only do they have a well-stocked workout facility on site, they also have a nice lounge next door - I'm trying to figure out how we can incorporate 8 Ball into an exercise circuit.

Silent Night

What a cool tradition - makes me nostalgic for the vball and bball games we cheered for in University - maybe because by American standards I went to a small University. Well, the University wasn't small, but we just don't do college sports like they do in the States. It may also be worth noting that we were usually attending the girls games, not exactly by accident., whereas the motives of those cheering in the video below seems somewhat less motivated by the date you may or many not be hoping for afterwards...

Silent Night basketball game from Taylor University @ Yahoo! Video

Snow ride / ski / snowshoe

A message just came across the wire from Ian, as follows:

"Assuming I didn't break the internet, you can find details about an upcoming (January 8 Olympia club ride/ski/snowshoe on the Oly Club blog. It's a "club ride" but is open to anyone; winter/backcountry experience is advisable".

Looks like a cool idea.

Pauvre, pauvre pussycat.... c'est la guerre!

My recap of this weekend's GSP vs. Koscheck fight, in picture and in video:

TNR - A Bright Night

Another most excellent night of riding with the TNR gang and a visitor from my old college town of Lethbridge (Paddy H - looking right at home - complete with an Alberta "grizzly" beard). The "Dark Lord's" TNR report covers a night of good times with his pictures ... which I also captured from some different angles ...

Some "radiance" from Jonny G:


Paddy & Tomek showing us how gravity works:


The good times at the F&H come to an end (closing time does that):


A "Bright Night" sight on my ride home:


Providing my own brightness to the night:


I really need to get out to more TNRs ... good times!

Ironman World Championships teaser

Mark Barber just tweeted this video. Thought Dean in particular might like it. I like the underwater shots - our water isn't quite as clear here :)

Newest Future TrainingCoop member

Just received the following BlackBerry message, with the attached pic:

"We had a boy".

Congrats to Graham, Rhonda, and family.

No name or other stats reported yet. Cute kid though.

Surly 1x 1 for sale

I've been debating for a while whether or not to sell my Surly 1x1. I luv it, but I haven't really ridden the 1x1 since getting my Karate Monkey, and now I'm thinking of getting a 2nd 29er. I just don't know if I can rationalize keeping the 1x1 as an 'every once in a while' ride, no matter how much I still like it. If someone else could give it a good home I'd be willing to part with it.

Here are the specs:

Surly 1x1. Medium Size (18inch). Green Apple colour (purchased on St. Patrick's Day). Mavic CrossMax rim brake specific wheels with ceramic rims. Paul's brakes. XTR crankset with custom single speed spider. Dean post. Specialized Toupe saddle with titanium rails. Chris King headset. Egg Beater pedals. Carbon bar and post. Fox F80 RL fork and 1x1 steel fork. Will throw in a rigid carbon Winwood fork for an additional $100. Looks almost new. Likely the nicest 1x1 on the road, if I do say so myself. $800 ($900 with carbon rigid fork, in addition to the Fox and Surly forks.)