FGBC Spring Ride 2011 - BIGGER IS BETTER!!

This was my 2nd year at the FGBC Spring Ride and it was even BETTER than last year!! 

Ok, I did not break any bones this time, nor did I have to help bandage up any almost severed body parts ... but that's not why it was so much BETTER!  It was BIGGER ... Bigger gang of good dudes out to ride, Bigger rides, Bigger boulders and hills, Bigger bonfires (with mega tarp - thanks to Brad the Impaler / the SOB / "Original Hipster" from [RRR]), Bigger connection time (great chats with JP [29erLove] driving there/back and with Mark [the Hipster] on that long walk back from Eagle Head lake Trail with his broken bike) and Bigger fun riding my Bigger new Niner Jet 9 - 29er!  BIGGER IS BETTER!!


This collage is a sample of some pics and video screencaps from the Spring Ride ...
If you want to see a bunch of pics from the weekend ... just click "Read more" below:

Random Pic

Random Tuesday morning shot: Deanna recently found this picture on www.cuteoverload.com (one of the least masculine sites around - I never look at it. Never. Ever.) Evidently some commuter was going to grad his bike to head off to work and he found that a baby owl had taken it over as a perch. Like I said, random.

Air Force Half Marathon

Well.....we did it! With Kara's 15 miles / month for the last two months training plan and Dean's post op recovery training plan (sans 4.3 grams) we both managed to hit our adjusted goal times.

Kara ran about 1:55 and Dean ran about 1:43. The race it self is a very well run race that we would definately do again. Good organization, services and support, and scenery.

I got to run with a Bigadier General for the first 5 miles until I had to go in for a hug from my kids and he was gone and I never saw him again. Boy, was he fit!

Thanks for all of your support. The Training Coop colours were flying high with pride!

Dean and Kara at about 7 km or so...

These may just be the worst pictures I've ever taken, but it had nothing to do with the subjects. After waiting outside on the Provencher bridge for 1/2 hour in the coldest 8C we've ever felt we warmed up inside Sal's for a bit (and ate our ham and eggs) before carrying on to watch Dean & Kara pass by during their half marathon.

Both looked to be on good pace and in great spirits, and despite their shorts they appeared warmer than us. Hope all went well guys.

Air Force Half Marathon

Well.....we signed up so I guess we have to race. Kara and I are racing the Air Force Half Marathon on Sunday May 29. We haven't trained like we had wanted and having your appendix out mid training season doesn't help either. But we will soldier on and give it our best shot. We will give you an update after the race. Wish us luck....we will need it.

'Delivered' Just In Time!

OH YAH ... JUST IN TIME FOR THE SPRING RIDE!!

As the 'expectant father' waiting for my Niner to be 'born', I was getting a bit nervous that my Jet 9 would not be ready for the Spring Ride ... ahh, but then I had the reassurance of my every confident 'doctor' Morgan at the Oly shop assuring me that "big bikes just take a bit more time" and minor complications are the way of things on the way to a better 'delivery' of the perfect ride!   All the nail biting was rewarded today, when the correct head tube accessories arrived and Morgan delivered!


Thanks Morgan and Olympia Cycle & Ski!  Time to get on the saddle and eat up some trails!!

Pain in the Assinoboine

Deanna, Graham, and I have officially put our money on the table for the upcoming Pain in the Assiniboine bike and paddle race. Deanna will be doing the whole thing solo (silly girl), while Graham and I will do a relay (he's doing the bike, I'm doing the paddle). I've never paddled competitively so I have no clue what my race pace will be like, but hopefully conditions will allow for the use of my Think racing kayak/surf ski - I'll take any help I can get.

Training Days 2011

It's been nearly one month since our TrainingCoop Training Days at A Rocha and the weather does not seem to have changed very much. Anyway, I thought everyone might enjoy a short video from that weekend while we wait for the weather to improve . Happy training!

Expectant Dad?

Today I feel like an 'Expectant Dad' ...
Today I went to the Olympia Shop 'Pre-Birthing Room' ...
Today I saw my little 'Almost Born' Niner Jet 9 - 29er MTB ...
Today I discussed the final 'Birthing Decisions' with my 'Doctor' Morgan ...
Today I saw a glimpse of my future MTBing steed before he was truely 'Born' ...
Tomorrow is 'Birthing Day' at the Olympia Shop and this Expectant Dad is Excited! :-)

Niner Jet has arrived

There seems to be a Niner frame now in stock at Olympia and I'm wondering how long it will take for Tom to notice it, either here or there.