TheTrainingCoop.com

Fatties Go Global ...

2012-02-15T11:52:00.002-06:00

It was bound to happen ... ya just knew folks would want to know more about the world of Fat Biking. So it was last week when Sam Karney from Global TV showed up to our little MB Fat Bike Wed Nite Ride. After interviewing FatIan and our gang hang'n out (waiting actually ... posing ... waiting ... ), then he did a little ride along and voila ... Fatties Go Global!

Check out the Global Winnipeg TV clip from this morning:

'Fatties Fit Fine' - MB Fat Bike WNR Video

2012-02-14T12:47:00.000-06:00

Last week's MB Fat Bike Wed Nite Ride was a time not just for the 'Fatties to Fit Fine', but also Film Fine (Global TV showed up to check it all out and interview 'FatIan' wrt the 'Actif Epica' connection).

Here's my little video salute:
'Fatties Fit Fine' - MB Fat Bike WNR 8-2-12

I'm racing Actif Epica....

2012-02-14T06:55:00.000-06:00

Well, except that I'm NOT. That didn't stop the Serkirk Journal from reporting that I am though (click on the link and notice the caption under my pick). I mean I can understand how they chose the best looking guy from the photoshoot for their pic, but they need to understand that I'm just the model, not the talent.

As long as we're pointing out factual inconsistencies, it's best not to accept much of the related article as fact either - there are errors everywhere. Surf over to Actifepi.ca if you want the real facts...and an accurate participant list.

Too cool not to re-share ...

2012-02-11T15:33:00.002-06:00

A re-share from 'ManiYeti's blog:

Check out this very cool video of "The Man Who Lived On His Bike".
Hey it's a Montreal based production - C'est Manifique!

THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

ManiYeti Sighting?

2012-02-10T20:29:00.000-06:00

A random encounter while riding near the Belgian Club tonight. May or may not have something to do with this.

5 hour transformation

2012-02-09T10:43:00.000-06:00

I've read of similar tricks to this before, but still thought the video below was worth the posting. It's worth noting that of course the dude in the video had to be stacked in order to get the 'after' picture so it's not like there are any video tricks to his impressive physique, but it's still interesting to see how easily, and quickly, the shape of the body can be manipulated (again, assuming you're starting off with some in-shape form).

This particularly struck me yesterday because I had a home made refried bean burrito (it was healthy and not high cal) and about a litre of diet pop for lunch, then had a milk based protein shake for an afternoon snack, and by the time I headed out to lead a fitness class just before supper I was bloated like a pig and was desperately trying to suck in my gut the whole class, when I wasn't popping Tums like candy. Lesson learned.

Frame Painting and MiniMotard

2012-02-08T09:53:00.001-06:00

Well the appointment is booked for this Friday to drop off the Truelove frame and choose the new colour. By the time it's done the parts should have arrived and the latest incarnation of my custom cx bike will be well on its way. I'm excited.

I'm also excited about an invite to check this out (see below). There goes our retirement money. Oh, who am I kidding...there's no retirement money.

Just in time for Valentine's Day

2012-02-07T19:14:00.001-06:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day Deanna forwarded this to me:

BIKE TIRE JEWELRY

Posted on 02.05.12 by Jaime in Style & Fashion

Jeni Oye takes old bike tires and makes them into creative cuffs for guys and gals. Made from aluminum and old tires, they’re the perfect gift for bike lovers. Available exclusively at Oye Modern.

Read more at Design Milk: http://design-milk.com/bike-tire-jewelry/#ixzz1lkSygKEu

Video of the Year

2012-02-06T21:37:00.000-06:00

ACTIF EPICA from kyle thomas on Vimeo.

New cx paint job coming soon...

2012-02-06T20:49:00.003-06:00

I'm pretty stoked about this - stoked enough that I'm using the word stoked. I sold my geared cx bike this past summer, and I had been using it mainly as my indoor training bike before that. I'm now using my Truelove cx bike indoors (if I'm not riding the Pugsley outside of course) and would like some gears on it for that purpose so I'm going to 1x10 it with almost exactly the same set up as Deanna and Graham's Salsa Chili Con Crosso's, and am just waiting on the brake/shift levers to come in (had to special order them because I wanted a non-shifting lever on the left side).

In the mean time I figured it was time for a little facelift, so the frame is getting a new paint job. It'll be a blue of some kind to coordinate with our team kit (notwithstanding Tom's recent comment that colour coordination is overrated :)), but I haven't decided on exactly what kind of blue yet - solid, metallic, candy...?

I plan to visit Villain Motorsport this week to sort that out and hand over the frame. They've (my which I mean "Paul" - as far as I can tell he's the company) handled some shop costumers' stuff and I featured them/him on the Olympia site last fall, so it's time to check it out for myself.

Yes, this also means I plan to race 'cross again and not give Graham a run for his money, though I think I've said that the last couple of years and not followed through. Well, I followed through on the not giving him a run for his money part.

Can you lift over 1500 lbs in just three powerlifts?

2012-02-06T01:00:00.002-06:00

So ... how many of you are friends with someone who can lift over 1500 lbs in just three powerlifts and weighs in right around 200 lbs? Hmmm??? That's what I thought! Well, up until this morning, I knew I had a friend who powerlifted as part of his workout regime (and for fun apparently as well!) and looked like he'd school me in any arm wrestle. But, who knew he was so powerful?
Today, I watched, cheered and marvelled at the sheer power of my friend and fellow Air Force Pilot co-worker. Actually, Captain Chris Marron is a United States Air Force (USAF) pilot on exchange for a tour here in Winnipeg working as I do, as an Instrument Check Pilot (ICP) Instructor at our Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ICP School.

Chris is a proud graduate of his Air Force's Academy

I normally see Chris dressed in his USAF flying suit (one piece coveralls with lots of zippers and pen slots - we never have enough of them!), which does a good job of masking one's physique (for good or bad!). As it turns out, mild-mannered Chris has been secretly hiding his true identity from us RCAF aviators; because he has some hidden Super Powers!

Chris's first Squat ... a mere 232.5 Kg / 512.5 Lbs ;-)

While I have done a fair amount of weight training over the years, I have always focused on higher rep workouts and so the world of powerlifting was an alien world to me. That is until today and Chris's participation in a Manitoba Powerlifting Competition at our 17 Wing Base Gym. I went to support him, but also secretly to make sure that if he did break any Canadian records that it was all on the 'Up and Up'!

Here's Chris's third Squat of 525 lbs ... almost "Light Weight Baby"

So, with 525 lbs as his max for the Squat, it was on to the Bench Press which was his favourite and one which he is poised to break the current Canadian Record in his weight class (under 204 lbs).

Here's Chris's successful Bench Press of 402.3 lbs - solid!

Now Chris decided to jump up to 425 lbs on his next lift (over the Cdn Record by a margin), but just came up short of a full extention and then his muscle fatique was a factor for his third lift as well. Chris was disappointed, but since his real goal was qualifying for the Canadian Championships in April, the mission was accomplished so far (2/3rds of the combined total well in hand!).

All of Chris's Deadlifts were successful and culminated with this impressive lift of 584 lbs!
He felt over 600 was possible today - yikes!!

So, a bit of simple math and we are over 1500 lbs in three max powerlifts!

Very impressive to see for the crowd and also to the judges, who determined that Chris was not just Best in his Weight Class and the Top Military Lifter, but also the Top Overall Powerlifter (based on his weight-to-lifts aggregate)! Plus, he easily qualified for the Canadian and US Powerlifting Championships!

Well done "Grizzly" and thanks for a glimpse into the world of Powerlifting.
* Just wait until I get my cast off ... ??? ... Nah ;-)

'The Wild Side of Barn Cross' Video

2012-02-04T17:47:00.001-06:00

Oh Yes, the 'Wild Side' of Barn Cross deserved a video:

Barn Cross was a blast and this video captures the 'Wild Side' of a fun afternoon watching friends race and harass each other in true Cyclocross style!

I may not have been able to race that day, but I sure enjoyed it ... as did all those there (even the kids ... especially when they saw adults to imitate!). Btw Brad, nice "A-Tomek Elbow" technique during your 'wrestling match'! ;-)

Careful video review of the final corner 'harassment gang" actions, suggests that we may have to reconsider Lyle's 'Friendly Giant' alias!? :-)

**Thanks to Darryl's very cool Barn Cross Video, I had the close-up footage of Brad and Tomek 'showing' the kids how to rumble!

Saturday Morning Smile

2012-02-04T07:39:00.000-06:00

Just read a pretty good article on Cracked.com. It's a 5 point article, the 1st part is about bikes, the other parts are not, but they're still pretty hilarious and applicable IMHO. Check it out.

Lifestyle Fitness by Dean

2012-02-01T08:01:00.001-06:00

I enjoyed this recent post from Dean's training journal (you can follow his daily routine by clicking on his link on the left hand column of this page) and thought I'd paste it here. That's what we in the trade call "lifestyle fitness".

January 28, 2012: Run 45 min. Kara and I ran to the neighbours to get our daughter from a B-Day party. So not only was it a 45 minute run we swapped pushing a double stroller with 1 kid in it going one way and 2 kids in it coming back. Oh, and did I mention coming back it was directly into the wind. Needless to say the next day we were a little sore. 5 x 12 walking lunges.

Oh, THAT's the problem

2012-01-31T15:41:00.000-06:00

So, I've really been trying to concentrate on proper workout form recently, and as vain as it sounds I've been using my iPhone to capture some footage while I'm working out (seeing as I don't have a personal trainer - that's the trouble with being the personal trainer), and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why it seemed impossible to get perfectly symmetrical push-up form. As I looked further at the footage, and kept trying to get it right, I suddenly realized that my right shoulder (to the left in the shot below) is about an inch shorter than the other one. Not only that, but it's not aligned properly either.

Of course this is because I broke my collarbone a few years back and the medical attention I received was, well, non-existent really, so my clavicle is snapped in the middle and overlaps quite a bit. Once the pic below finally reminded me of this I actually felt a lot better about my form. Still, if I stare at it for more than a few seconds I think it looks a little freakish. Thankfully I usually wear a shirt when I go out.

'Mike G's Barn Cross - Skills Demo' Video

2012-01-31T13:41:00.000-06:00

Here's Mike G. from the Red River Racing gang displaying ALL the right 'skills' at the Barn Cross racing event a few days ago! Definitely deserving of his own video ... a 'Skills Demo'!

On the day, Mike's main 'protagonist' turned out to be Mark 'The Hipster' R. from the Fort Garry Bike Club ... a logical 'opponent' from the Dark Side gang, who found a few ways to even the odds in his own crafty ways. But, Mike took it all in stride and continued his skills demo! Well played Mike.

MB Arrowhead Finishers!

2012-01-31T13:35:00.001-06:00

RIGHT ON ... HAL, IAN AND DALLAS ARE DONE!!! New personal records set. Just Al to follow.

Check it all out here at OCC: Finishers!

A few snagged pics:

Hal in recovery after an impressive race!

Ian at the finish - new personal best time!

Mug shot and Trophy ... off to bed? You bet!

Dallas "I could be running" Sigurdur in action!

TrainingCoop tires

2012-01-31T09:18:00.001-06:00

I'll be posting a blurb about this bike in the coming days on the Olympia site but I had to feature if here too. Look, it has TrainingCoop tires! I think they should be team issue for our cyclocross bikes, though we better hope for dry conditions.

Where did we go wrong?

2012-01-30T14:31:00.003-06:00

Pick stolen from winnipegcyclechick.com

What happened? At some point Graham turned into a sort of grungy hipster, though we raised him in the best preppy environment our resources could afford. I led by example with white mesh shoes (well, I switched to off white after Labour day, I'm not a Neanderthal), pink shirts, up turned collars, and lots of europop, and still Graham ended up hanging out in Main Street coffee shops, unshaven, wearing zero hair product, in a grey hoodie. I mean at least he's not wearing plaid and a toque like some of his cohorts, but it can't be long.

If this is what it takes to ride fast I want no part of it. Now excuse me while I go upstairs to my home studio, turn on some Erasure, grab my Assos bibs, and hop onto my PowerTap equipped indoor trainer to spin for 20 minutes. I may only register 84 watts at my peak, but my hair is perfectly gelled and I can sing along to every line of The Innocence while I ride and for inspiration I can dream of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Brian Mulroney all in office at the same time. I'll bet you none of them have ever owned a hoodie.

Camelbak Oxygen

2012-01-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

This is kind of cool, even if I can't really think of any real world application for myself (the surf at Lake Winnipeg isn't really this big): Camelbak has manufactured a new product that contains an oxygen reserve, as opposed to the usual water reserve. Click here for more info.

Or just view the video below to see what circumstances might require the use of this new product.

My usual disclaimer regarding not following TMZ applies.

'Barn Cross Race - The Time Trials' Video

2012-01-30T07:07:00.000-06:00

* Yesterday was a Big Cyclocross Day in Winnipeg (all day actually) and across the world (more on the special early morning group viewing of the Men's World CX Race at Parlour Coffee later)!

For now, here's the first of two videos from the awesome Barn Cross ...
"BARN CROSS RACE - THE TIME TRIALS":

The 'Barn Cross' was the brainchild of Brad 'The Impaler' Enns of the 'White-side' Red River Racing and put on by RRR in cooperation with the 'Dark-side' Fort Garry Bike Club. Brad's obviously smarter than your average bear (especially the hibernating ones this cold time of the year), because his indoor Cross Racing plan came together for an afternoon of pure mid-winter cycling nirvana!

I couldn't race (because of a new cast on my right hand), but I used my GoPro HD cams to record the event. For the initial Time Trials part, I am only using my roving HD Hero2 cam, but was able to get most of the interesting angles in for most all racers. Good fun!

'Back on the River Trail - Dark Goodness' Video

2012-01-28T22:38:00.000-06:00

DARK GOODNESS! YES!!

A late start, but a great start to the winter biking season on the Winnipeg 'River Trail' with the Fort Garry Bike Club and associates gang this past Tuesday Night Ride. It was only a mildly cold night, but still worthy as a winter ice bike and snowy trail ride. The ride actually started for well out west, then over to Wolseley for the group start, on to the Forks and coffee at the Junction and finally down onto the River Trail proper.
This year it looks like the trail will only be on the Red (for now), due to irregular freezing on the Assiniboine and the late arrival of cold temps. So far, it is a fair ways down to Churchill Parkway and the scrimmage hockey rinks are a go.
Anyways, a ride that finishes with DARK beers and GOOD company is DARK GOODNESS!

'Back in the Black' - Winter Ride Video

2012-01-26T14:40:00.002-06:00

So ... this is what I was up to 3 nights ago, before the xrays caught up with me:

Decided to do some fixed camera 'ride-by' filming to capture my ride. Not my usual POV helmet cam approach and not likely to replace it ... I like being able to JUST RIDE and capture video as able. Having said that, this little video project was fun and I find myself enjoying the 'story board' aspect of it.

Body Rock image

2012-01-26T09:39:00.000-06:00

I've been visiting the Body Rock site for about 3 years now, sometimes to get ideas that I'll modify and incorporate into workouts for clients and other times to find a workout for myself to mix things up a bit. I've never followed it exclusively, though many do, and if you've been following Deanna's recent posts you'll know that she's doing their 30 day challenge this month.

I hopped on the site this morning and found this pic waiting for me and had to post it here (pictured are the current hosts of the daily videos). Maybe after Deanna has completed the 30 day challenge we'll have to try to duplicate it ourselves. Regardless, I thought it was a fun pic to start the day with.

Tom's Thumb's Up!

2012-01-25T20:30:00.003-06:00

Tom's Thumb's Up (pun intended) ... BUT, Up is not always the best! :-(

On the bright side, for the next 6 weeks I color match with the Coop and the Air Force! :-)

Barn Cross

2012-01-25T11:52:00.000-06:00

Chris H. et al are spreading the word about Barn Cross, so in case you haven't come across it elsewhere yet on the interweb here's a link to the pertinent info.

NO!?!?! ... NOT AGAIN?!?!

2012-01-25T11:21:00.000-06:00

Yup, it appears I have 'broken/chipped' another bone! :-(
It's not even 2 years since I broke my first bone ever (left knuckle if you recall)!

Went to see my Air Force doc this morning to get a physio referral and an xray just in case, since while my thumb has been getting better since a wipe-out during an Activ Epica recon ride a few weeks back, it's been sore after my last few rides (including a FGBC TNR last night).

Off to the Pan Am Clinic to see what they want to do with me this time!?
Sure hope I don't have to use THIS again ;-)

Pain in the Assiniboine

2012-01-24T17:53:00.001-06:00

We just happened to check the Swap Donkey site today and noticed that the date has been confirmed for the Pain in the Assiniboine bike/paddle race. Deanna is booking her faster kayak rental tomorrow!

Temperature Shock Workout - The 'Fly-In' Series Begins

2012-01-21T19:48:00.000-06:00

The Moonlander has landed ... Fatter Lust!

2012-01-15T23:45:00.001-06:00

Scott, this is a re-post of my post on the Manitoba Fat Bike Blog. I just couldn't resist posting it here and wallowing in my FATTER LUST! Yes, I must admit that I am lusting for a Moonlander :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So last Wednesday Nite Ride of the Manitoba Fat Bike club took us to my favourite bike shop (Olympia C&S on Portage of course) and what do think we got to see there in all it's recently assembled FATTER magnificence??? ...

The Surly Moonlander! Oh yah, let the Fatter-Lust begin:

Check out the 'Moondust' sparkles in the paintjob!

The Full Rig

Need more floatation???

Check out all 4.7 inches of the BIG FAT LARRY tires!

Mounted on the 100mm wide CLOWN SHOE rims

Fatter Moonlander and the Fat Pugsley ... I might just have to get fatter ;-)

BodyRock week 2: The week that wasn't

2012-01-15T20:36:00.001-06:00

Well, after my planned Monday rest day the remainder of the week definitely didn't go as planned. Tuesday's work day started with meetings at 6am to figure out how to get a critical sample test complete by the end of the day. We managed to get it done, but the end of the day ended up being about 9pm. I started the day determined to get the workout in, but as I started to realize how late I'd be getting home it just didn't make sense.

And things didn't get any better after that. On Wednesday, my Dad's declining health meant I was dealing with decisions about personal care homes at the same time as I was planning for major reorganization and staff reductions in my department, being implemented Thursday. It became apparent that I just couldn't keep workouts in the mix unless I could somehow add more hours to each day. Week 2 was officially cancelled.

I don't think it makes sense to do a four week program with a week's break after week 1, so tomorrow I start over from the beginning... I'm ready to get back in the gym and I'm excited about getting started (again). Fit test, here I come!

More Actif Epica Photoshoot Pics

2012-01-10T06:29:00.001-06:00

Judging from recent posts to this site we're getting a lot of mileage, figuratively and literally, out of an event that most of us aren't actually competing in (thank goodness Tom is so we have an official connection) but regardless here are a few more pics from the recent photoshoot. Yes. I've cherry picked a couple of pics that feature me and Deanna - others have their own blogs to feature themselves. That's what social media is for :)

Credit to Kyle Thomas, www.kylethomas.ca, for the excellent work.

Actif Epica Recon Group Ride - Part 1 Pics

2012-01-09T22:54:00.005-06:00

Sunday's Actif Epica 'Urban Recon' Group Ride organized by Ian was an awesome outing, an interesting promo photo/video shoot experience and eventually a rather epic winter bike ride which lasted over 7 hours (including photo shoot time). Scott, Deanna and I were there in our full TrgCoop colors and enjoyed the company of 'Winnipeg Cycle Chick' Andrea, 'The Impaler - of SOB fame' Brad, 'Muddy Guy' Guy and 'MB Fat Bike - FatIan' Ian. We rode together as a group of seven for around three hours before we split up, with Ian, Brad and I continuing on for a longer ride. It was a perfect winter morning (-8 C) with clear skies initially and not much wind (at first that is).

I'll let my GoPro helmet cam screen cap pics show the story line of Part 1 of the ride:

All smiles at the Forks with Scott, Andrea, Brad, Deanna, Guy and Ian

A 'picture perfect' winter morning for a ride ... as we cross the Esplanade Riel Pedestrian Bridge

After riding past Fort Gibralter and through Whittier Park, it was time to ride down to the Seine River

Here's Ian with his full Arrowhead-Ready Pugsley Rig - which I hope to copy for my future snow bike exploits

OK, so there actually is a bit of snow depth left in a few places in Winnipeg ... like here on the Seine

However, most of the river was thin hard pack snow ... fast and good for all tire widths

Ahh ... here's Kyle Thomas the photo/video artist at work. He obviously loves his craft and had us making many passses by his camera ... which was all good fun as we took turns 'showing off' for Activ Epica

Most of the river was easily rideable and frozen solid, except at a few bridges and culverts

Eventually we went far enough south on the Seine that it was time to consult Ian's map to chose routing for our split up ... some back to the Forks and the rest of us south to the floodway

But first, some fast bike paths were in order for the necessary urban 'assault' connections

Fortunately, the city has not only been adding more multi-use paths, but more recently started to keep them clear

Time for Andrea, Scott and Deanna to head off north, while Ian, Brad and I cruise south and a rendezvous with Kyle for another photoshoot on the barren, windy floodway ... good prairie-boy fun!

Actif Epica pics

2012-01-09T12:48:00.001-06:00

Ian just forwarded some pics that were taken of me, Deanna, Hal, and Ian for some Actif Epica promo stuff (nothing like getting into some promo pics for an event you're not competing in - though I guess it's less misrepresentative than staring as the aftershot in a hair restoration commercial when you've always had a full head of hair, like a friend of ours has) and they look great. One teaser is pictured below. I'll post a few more when I get a chance, and I'm sure others will pop up elsewhere online in the usual places.

Credit to Kyle Thomas, www.kylethomas.ca, for the excellent work.

My old wheels on a new, strange bike

2012-01-09T12:40:00.005-06:00

My old Pugsley wheels have reappeared on the internet in a completely new bike incarnation.

BodyRock week 1: 3hr ride + 2hr nap does not equal active rest

2012-01-08T16:44:00.003-06:00

Week one of the BodyRock.tv challenge has gone well. As I realized how late in the day the workouts would be posted (some of them not making it up on the site till 9pm!) I skipped one day and planned to do the workouts 'the day after', and leaving Friday's workout for the following Monday. Had another hiccup this week, so I ended off the week with Thursday's workout on Saturday instead. This was supposed to be my first of two active rest days over the weekend but I figured what the heck, I've still got Sunday.

Except then, in a clear instance of bravado over brains, I did a 3 hour fatbike ride Sunday morning. My legs blew up about halfway through but I just barely managed to hang off the back of the group, and Scott & I cut the ride sooner than we had originally planned. We took a not quick detour to the Forks mostly so that I could stay on bike paths and go as slow as I wanted. After a lunch stop there, we were back on the bikes to limp home. As soon as we arrived I dove under the covers for a blissful 2 hours of not using my legs at all. I don't think it averages out to 'active rest' though...

Tomorrow, I will take an actual rest day (clearly I cannot be trusted with active rest) before jumping back into BodyRock on Tuesday.

Ride and Roti & Scott faster than Brad = very slow Graham

2012-01-08T13:45:00.000-06:00

Good ride today. Went on another Actif Epica recon (and again planned to and did cut out part way thru). I was worried about (a) whether or not I was over my cold, and (b) if a temporarily single speeded Pugsley was a good idea. Both worries were unwarranted though - everything felt good and it was a beautiful day, ending with a beautiful rotti. Oh, and I finally got to ride with Wpg Cycle Chick, so I feel a little less like an internet lurker now.

I also learned some new math on the ride after beating Brad in a sprint*, as follows:

If A = Scott, B = Brad, and C = Graham, and A > B then C < the rest of the alphabet.

*the sprint may have been rigged for the purposes of supporting the above equation.

My Pugsley 3 speed

2012-01-07T22:00:00.001-06:00

Well we'll see how this goes. It looks like it will take another week or two to get the rear hub required to build up my new Pugsley rear wheel so in the meantime Ian has very generously offered me the use of his extra Pugsley wheel.

The only remaining issue is that I now sort of have two front wheels. Ian's spare is a front, but because Pugsley's use the same hub size front and rear I can use his in the back. However because he built it for the front it doesn't accommodate a full cassette, so I'm running it with a single speed free wheel.

My options, based on stock I have at home plus one of Ian's freewheels, is either a 16, 17, 18, or 19 tooth cog in the rear and either a 22 or 32 up front. I've gone with a 32x19 set up because I think I want a fair bit less than a 2 to 1 ratio for a fat tired 29er that will be ridden in snow, but anything using the 22 up front just seemed crazy low. Of course using the 32 means I can also bail to the 22 if need be because obviously my front shifting will still work (I've left the rear dérailleur on instead of truly single speeding it so the chain doesn't have to be a specific length) and I suppose I could even shift up to the outer chainring but I don't imagine that will actually happen without a massive shot of adrenaline.

Deanna and are heading to the Forks tomorrow to meet up with others for a ride so we'll know by the time we get there if the ratio works. Hopefully he answer is yes!

2012-01-06T18:33:00.002-06:00

From the Office of Officiality:

In order to confirm statements made (to many people) over the last week by Bradley Enns of the infamous Red River Racing cycling club, the Office of Officiality would like to state unequivocally that the aforementioned Bradley Enns of the aforementioned Red River Racing cycling club did, at approximately 3:15 pm on December 31 of the year 2011, in the presence of several witnesses, defeat Graham Wiebe of the TheTrainingCoop.com fitness club in a (not so) epic winter cyclocross race ending at Daniel Enns' (of the FOG cycling club) mid 90's Audi sedan which was at the time located at the western end of the south parking lot of the southern campus of the Canadian Mennonite University.

Now, please, back to your regularly scheduled program.

What clients think of their trainers

2012-01-05T09:53:00.001-06:00

A client (who I won't reveal, though her name rhymes with Debbie) just sent me the following, because it reminded her of me. I'm going to cling to the unlikely belief that she's referring to the description of the trainer at the beginning of the journal entries, and not further near the end:

Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my husband bought me a week of personal training at the local health club.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

________________________________

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines... I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

________________________________

TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

_______________________________

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

_______________________________

THURSDAY:

Butt hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.

_________________________________

FRIDAY:

I hate that jackass Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

________________________________

SATURDAY:

Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..

________________________________

SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!

'The Boys Are Back In Town' - Winter Bike Ride

2012-01-04T11:42:00.002-06:00

Well at least The 'Boys' Were Back In Town recently for Christmas at home and it was awesome to be together as a family again ... if only for a short while. Brett was back from Vancouver and Jordan from Finland (now back to Montreal).

While Lori's been convalescing at home recently, the boys and I were able to get in one good winter bike ride before they headed back to their studies. We headed out in the late afternoon on a cool day and what was to be a crisper night. Our ride took us down Sturgeon Creek, through Woodhaven and around Assiniboine Park to the mid-ride shelter of the Pavilion by the revamped Duck Pond. The pond was just opened for skaters and the new Park Cafe building looked very inviting at night (should be a nice place for a mid-ride refueling stop in the morning or afternoon - closes at 4 PM).

It was great fun getting out for a blast with my 'boys' and my first chance to use Lori's Christmas gift to me ... the new GoPro HD Hero2! Oh ya, thanks Scott for helping to arrange for one of these sweet new cams to be available through Olympia ... your sneaky ways are appreciated bud! I am very impressed with the new Hero2, especially it's much improved low-light recording clarity. It's a winner ... as was riding with my 'boys'!

Here's a little video that captures the fun - in HD if you wish:

Not a resolution

2011-12-31T20:26:00.000-06:00

I've kinda been dancing around this for a while now, but ever since Scott found BodyRock.tv I've secretly been wanting to join in. Secretly, since those super intense workouts scare me as much as they inspire me. If those superfit, superlean hosts find it so hard, how on earth can I hope to keep up? But I'm finally ready to declare myself and commit.

As of Jan 2nd (the day new workouts start posting to the site), I'm going to be following the BodyRock.tv site for daily workouts Monday to Friday. It's a big commitment for me. I've found it more difficult lately to get up for morning workouts but I hope this extra structure will help me stick with it. No more thinking / planning - I just do the day's workout and be done with it. The workouts are all pretty short, so it shouldn't be a problem to fit them in before work.

Here's a recent workout so you all know what I'm in for:

Dean's Training Journal

2011-12-31T20:13:00.000-06:00

Just letting you know that we're following your training journal Dean. You're not the only one who may have missed 2 or 3 days of training sometime around the 25th. We think that's okay. There are 362 other potentially productive days of the year. Well maybe 361 - you don't have to do anything on your birthday either if you don't want to, though thinking about it that's usually when we want to.

2011-12-31T20:00:00.001-06:00

It's a bit hard to understand how we're not done the relatively minor changes to the gym considering we've been on holidays the whole week (which may only be the 2nd or 3rd time in our 17 years of marriage that we've both had a solid week off at the same time btw) and considering the mutt gets us up at 6 am whether we like it or not (though actually we do) but we have made some good headway.

Pictured below are some of the changes which, frankly, look like nothing. That was the point. We wanted to configure things so that one third of the gym was pretty much empty of equipment and other encumberments. This allows for better body movement when doing some free weight stuff, Kettlebell drills, sandbag work, medicine ball partners exercise, yoga, TRX workouts, and much more.

Deanna is also looking to mix up her routine in the new year and I'm sure this set up will help - she'll likely post about that soon.

So, we cleaned up the shelving in the room, greatly organized the closet to hold stuff that was formerly out in the open, rubberized the floor wall to wall, and mounted a larger TV (okay, that didn't contribute to cleaning up the room, but it didn't detract either, and I find myself using videos more for my personal workouts and as a part of client's routines as well.

The result is a very simple, functional space within the gym that even my dad might like (he insists he'd like to live in a monochromatic home with very little furniture, no pictures on the walls, and has suggested he'd consider making the whole thing out of concrete so he can just hose it down periodically to maintain its stark cleanliness).

We're not there yet, but we're getting a little closer.

Good winter group ride

2011-12-30T19:26:00.001-06:00

I enjoyed a really good group ride today, organized by Ian, Hal, and Dallas (or at least that's the impression I got). A few others showed up as well and we tooled around town for a few hours before I split off to head home - I had targeted doing about half of their full ride which looked like it might work out to 6 hours or so. It ended up being a little bit less for me because I motored home at a faster pace than I anticipated.

It's been a while since I had ridden in a bit of a pack and it was nice to feel the organic ebb and flow of the riders as we wound our way through some trails.

Riding the U of M trails that Kevin cut was also a pleasure. It's the first time I've been on them and they very nicely broke up the other ride sections. It was nice to then bump into Kevin on the trails so we could compliment him on his work.

Another highlight was dropping down into the Seine river for a bit. It's always magical riding, running, walking, or paddling our river systems and this was my first time on a river this winter.

Below are a few random shots of the ride, including one of a curling rink some dudes were maintaining on the Seine that looks good enough for the pros to use (but what do I know about curling).

It's a bit odd to think that as I type this, curled up in my grandma's afghan, most of the guys I was riding with are still out there. Good on them I guess :)

New Wheels - rear hub needed

2011-12-28T08:24:00.001-06:00

Well I've made the final commitment NOT to get the Moonlander whenever it arrives by instead investing in a nice new white set of Rolling Darryl rims. With a tip from Liam a shop customer bought my existing Large Marge's to build a Fatbike recumbent (yes you read that right) so I could rationalize the white Darryl purchase.

Sadly the shop doesn't have any appropriate rear hubs in stock at the moment so i'm without the new wheel set until a hub comes in UNLESS someone has a used mid range (deore / xt or similar) 135 disc specific hub kicking around that they'd like to sell me. I'd need to know very soon because an order may go in as early as today, and I'd have to check on spoke length required for the build because if I have to order spokes I may as well just order the hub too, but I figured I'd throw it out there.

Regardless, I look forward to testing the new wheels out soon, and maybe we'll get some real snow by then as well!

Gym Floor Workout

2011-12-27T14:08:00.001-06:00

We've decided to take the Christmas break to do a few updates to the gym, starting with wall to wall rubber flooring. Yesterday we headed to Fitness Experience to pick up the extra mats we need to expand our current matted area out from the middle of the room to the walls.

The real work started today. First set: squat, bear hug a rolled mat, carry it up the stairs (6 reps). Second set: cut mats to size (number of reps tbd - but I've already learned the hard way that the number of reps is directly proportional to your measuring skill). It is astonishingly hard to cut these things.

It's going to look great when it's done and will expand the working area of the gym nicely, but the 'workout' to get it done is gonna be brutal...

Santa's Time-Trial Is Coming to Town

2011-12-24T19:11:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas Training Coop-ers ... HO HO HO !!!

The Oatmeal Workout

2011-12-21T07:09:00.001-06:00

I figure this is at least marginally more interesting than last week's salad post, but then again I really like porridge.

I'm experimenting with different things to fill my new 'Ultimate Sandbag' so that I can train with different weights but roughly the same volume. I already have about 50 lbs of sand divided into a bunch of smaller bags (which are then all placed in the sandbag together) and yesterday I bought 30 lbs of oats divided into the same number of bags.

I got some pretty good stares at Scoop n Weigh as I drained their oat barrel (my apologies to anyone who was looking forward to porridge on Christmas morning - maybe try the Bulk Barn).

I'll be doing my first oatmeal workout later today so we'll see how it goes!

Olympia Trip delayed by bomb threat

2011-12-19T09:40:00.001-06:00

Yes, that grainy pic above is of a bomb disposal robot removing a suspicious package from a destroyed SUV following an accident at the end of my street this morning. And yes, the pic is taken from my kitchen window.

So, it seems my bike ride to Olympia may be delayed a bit this morning as we stay put. Cops have pretty much surrounded the area.

Hmmm, a few of them are hiding behind a van in front of our house as I type this. For reals. Not good.

Christmas Salad Prep

2011-12-18T12:32:00.001-06:00

Preparing Christmas salad for extended family gathering later today. Mmmmm.

Kicked my butt

2011-12-17T18:42:00.001-06:00

Whoa, just kicked my own butt, with the help of these things (no they aren't sacks of weed. Though that might help deaden the pain right now). More to come. Off to Olympia party to get fat and purge later. JK.

N.E.O.S.

2011-12-16T10:28:00.001-06:00

I noticed Ian and Hal wearing these overboots last weekend - they looked great, not only for cold or cold and wet conditions on the fatbike, snowshoeing, etc., but they might also work well for trudging to and from Blue Cross classes with my indoor gym shoes on underneath.

I've got some early Christmas money in my pocket, and these might just be a great way to spend it. Trying to hunt them down locally...

Update: Got 'em. Somehow they do seem to work with both my winter hiking books and my smallest pair of indoor gym shoes. Think I'm going to be very happy with these. Guess I'll have to ride all 24 hours of Sloth Cross now. Or just sleep outside.

Never been to Canadian Footwear before. Weird. In a good way. Would have been nice if I had noticed the ample free parking before I paid for a spot on the street though :)

Jeep Down

2011-12-13T12:43:00.000-06:00

I was just sent this pic from Deanna, who will apparently do anything to avoid having lunch with her father, including coming up with a guerrilla style workout program by puncturing her own tire and changing it on the way there.

It would have been cooler if her Mukluk was racked on the back - she could have just ditched the Jeep and carried on with two wheels.

Inconvenience aside, after replacing a whole engine this summer you can't really get too worked up over a tire.

Activ Epica Photoshoot

2011-12-12T10:22:00.000-06:00

Ian promised us that this would get us at least national level media exposure, and all the residuals that come with it...

Go to www.actifepi.ca (isn't that domain name clever) for event details, and hey, maybe a pic from the above shoot will make its way to the site some time.

Get Smart - Stay Warm: Actif Epica Info Night

2011-12-10T23:07:00.005-06:00

They say 'Knowledge is Power' and 'Communication is Key' ... well Ian Hall, Actif Epica coordinator, knows these things to be true and puts them into action ... starting at this Wednesday's Actif Epica Info Night ... or as he puts it "How to stop worrying and learn to love biking long distances in freezing temperatures".

I look forward to the evening and catching up with my former Air Force SAR Squadron mate Ernie Whelan. He's an amazing guy, as you can see in the links below and at his "Gliding Thru Barriers" Facebook page that documents his endeavours to show that diabetes does not have to limit adventure pursuits and also raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Details were posted by Halberto over here at OCC and pasted below:

The session will be at Olympia Cycle and Ski, 1813 Portage Avenue, and will start at 7:00PM. It should be about 90 minutes in length.
Right now the tentative agenda is:

7:00 – Introductions from Ian Hall, Actif Epica coordinator
7:10 – Ernie Whelan* – Cold weather safety/survival
7:40 – Hal Loewen – bike prep and clothing/gear advice (cables, freehub body, big boots, pogies, test all your stuff, etc.)
8:00 – Lindsay Gauld – mental toughness and mental preparation (tales from Ukatak and more)
8:15 – Q&A

*Ernie Whelan (Air Force Sergeant), is a former member of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Winnipeg andSearch and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech), who is now a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Instructor at theCanadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT) at 17 Wing, Winnipeg.

You likely heard about him in local and national news last year during his ‘Gliding Thru Barriers’ winter skiing trek on Lake Winnipeg. Check out coverage of his trek HERE, HERE and HERE.

Throughout, Jared Falk (he of Taints of Steel fame) and/or David Pensato will be tweeting/blogging the event, including taking questions from the internets (via 3G, since there is no known wi-fi…), we’ll provide more info about sending your questions into Jared and David soon – check back!

Brian Wilson is at it again. Makes my workouts look lame.

2011-12-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

The Dude (not THE Dude) is at it again, this time going for a run with someone perched on his back. Seriously:

It seems if your name is Brian Wilson you're destined to be a bit crazy, in a mostly good way.

(Once again, this pic was most definitely not lifted from TMZ.com, which I most definitely was not on)

WNR Report: 'Fat and Not So Fat'

2011-12-07T23:58:00.009-06:00

Made it out tonight to my 2nd WNRide is a row (yes, it's true :-)) and it was a great night to ride.

We had a gang of eight that got together at the MB Fat Bike rendezvous point at Assiniboine Forest. All were Fat Bike riders except for two 'Not So Fat' Bike riders on their MTBs (Vern the Intrepid Orienteerer and Andrea the Wpg Cycle Chick, who was apparently beginning her HTFU winter riding campaign - right on!). The MTBs were just fine tonight, because other than some narrow snow trails and the occasional log obstacles (Fat Bikes laugh at logs!), this ride had a distinctly urban assault flavour to it ... lots of clear wide trail, roads and one 'super-highway' ...

We rode through Assiniboine Park, west through Woodhaven, up Sturgeon Creek and then east onto the Silver multi-use pathway (truely a biking super-highway) and back south to the Assiniboine Park Footbridge where we split up. There's not much snow yet, but it was still a cold and yet pleasant night to ride, especially in the forest ... and ... on ... the ... 'Monkey Trails' ...

I was about to head home from the footbridge, when I decided to have a go at the Monkey Trails. Good call ... they were so much fun I rode them several times before calling it a night. By the time I got home, I had been out riding for over three and a half hours. Time well spent!

2011-12-07T13:15:00.001-06:00

I figured it was time to start updating my Training Journal again. Now that I have a few months of base training under my belt I feel that I can start tracking my training progression to my goal of the Calgary 70.3 on July 29, 2012. Feel free to follow along if you are interested. Should be a fun ride!

Dean

Floyd

2011-12-06T13:15:00.003-06:00

VN: What’s more frightening, rounding a NASCAR track at near 200 mph or descending a mountain on a road bike at 60-plus mph?

FL: I’m not afraid of anything.

VN: Can you list a few things you would you like to find in your holiday stocking this year and why?

FL: A time machine.

Drums, Shorts, Mittens & Snow on the Harte Trail

2011-12-03T16:05:00.001-06:00

Check out this video that is about to go viral and was just created by a local Winnipeg high school student. The kid's got musical talent for sure, but I am most impressed with his eye for winter beauty and his video editing. Love his 'Winterpeg' moxie with the shorts and the Canada Olympic mittens on while beating away on his drum set ... right there on a snow covered Harte Trail. Awesome! Maybe he could play a set for the next Fat Tire WNR ...

1st Fat Tire Flat

2011-12-02T13:45:00.001-06:00

Nothing like a little urban adventure. This one started when I realized that my 50 lb weight vest was in the Jeep, the Jeep was with Deanna at the U of M, and I was at home having just put together a workout plan for a client later today that relies heavily on said weight vest.

So I called Deanna and asked if she'd like to meet me for lunch. I'd ride to the University and then take the Jeep home with the vest (and the racked bike) and would pick her up later in the day.

Sounded like a good plan until I somehow flatted on river trails near Osborne and Jubilee. I'm calling Deanna now, hoping that she'd like to meet me for lunch, well, here. If no one sees me for a while her answer was obviously no.

WNR Report: Four Fatties Forage For Fun

2011-12-01T20:53:00.001-06:00

Enjoyed my first Wed Night MB Fat Tire Ride. Check it out here: Four Fatties Forage For Fun

New CycleOps x 2

2011-12-01T14:16:00.001-06:00

2 new CycleOps' have arrived for Blue Cross gym. Yippee. Too bad the boxes don't say "supply your own pedals". Back to the shop. Oh well, it's worth it. These things are great.

2011-12-01T11:56:00.002-06:00

Sorry babe, but read the fine print...

NO MUKLUKS PERMITTED

500 calories of easy and delicious

2011-12-01T11:16:00.001-06:00

Looking forward to tonight's tree trimming party.

Pugs and Tims is a great combo

2011-12-01T09:17:00.003-06:00

Just loving my Pugsley. Though I thought it would be best in deep (ish) snow what I'm finding so far is how much more solid than a conventional tired bike it feels on ice. Could this be the winter I don't fall? Not likely, but I'm sure I'll hit the ground less.

Okay, done with the morning Tim's visit (just a bagel sandwich, hold the sauce, and a coffee - no donut), and now on to DeLuca's. Classic Canadian to Authentic Italian in 10 blocks.

Favourite Toque

2011-11-29T20:50:00.001-06:00

I love my official TrainingCoop / Purotone toque almost as much as I love my candy cane donut. Strict eating begins Dec 1 so I must enjoy in moderation now.

Stretching Videos

2011-11-28T12:24:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend I put together 3 post workout stretching videos that I'll begin to use with some of my fitness classes later today after I lead folks thru general strength and conditioning workouts. In case they're of interest to anyone else I figured I'd post them here. Please note that they are not by any means all encompassing stretching routines - they're designed to hit most of the main muscle groups in the 8 minutes or so we have at the end of a workout to get at least some stretching in. In the near future I may put together an 'extra' video or two that goes through some additional muscle groups.

The other reason for posting here though is to point out what a good job the new GoPro Hero2 camera does of filming from inside looking out. We did flood the room with additional lighting that's just outside the camera view, but regardless it's always very hard to get decent lighting from a relatively dark, indoor place when you have natural light behind the subject. The first Hero camera didn't do a great job of this, but the Hero2, when in the correct mode, does a much better job.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank Deanna for her obvious help with the videos. She has a grace about her performing these stretches that I simply don't possess.

Below are two more:

Just a cool, artsy pic for a Monday morning

2011-11-28T08:25:00.001-06:00

Great pic, forwarded from the brother-in-law this morning. It's a screen capture, so don't try to click on the forward arrow to bring you to "2 of 13" 'cause it won't work :)

Fastest

2011-11-23T21:23:00.000-06:00

The hotly anticipated "Fastest", featuring the other kind of bikes I love, is finally available to order! BTW, they don't have to pedal these things but my guess is that if I tried to decelerate from 320km/h to 100km/h in 2 seconds so I could take a tight corner at highway speeds hanging off the side of my seat (and then keep doing that for 45 minutes straight) I'd discover that some amount of strength and cardio would be a good thing.

Best 'walk' ever

2011-11-23T20:44:00.000-06:00

This starts out slow but trust me, it's worth the wait... (PS this is actually posted by Deanna but I don't know how to use this crazy Mac yet.)

Mukluk vs. Pugsley video

2011-11-22T16:52:00.003-06:00

I'm goofing around with the stock video editing software that came with our new iMac. This is the result. If it looks similar to the template Brian used for the A Rocha video, well, it is.

Cigarettes may be useful for long distance runners...

2011-11-22T06:50:00.001-06:00

Deanna forwarded me a great article, here. For all of us who try to keep up with the latest journals, no matter the vocation, it's a good read.

Totally lost

2011-11-21T18:39:00.001-06:00

I am totally lost right now. Seriously. Warm and lots of energy left so I'm okay but who the heck knows where this is. Just saw a plane so heading to where it came from.

Clean Rubber

2011-11-21T14:33:00.001-06:00

There's something very satisfying about a clean tire after the snow melts off of it. The mess on the kitchen floor isn't as satisfying though.

TrainingCoop Mini

2011-11-21T11:49:00.001-06:00

How did Morgan get his hands on a TrainingCoop Mini Cooper?

Good Fatbike Ride Reward

2011-11-19T13:31:00.001-06:00

Christmas came early

2011-11-18T08:21:00.000-06:00

Well my head's spinning a bit right now as I try to learn all there is to learn (or more accurately a fraction of what there is to learn) about my new toys. By some act of divine conspiracy (more on that further down) I finally decide to take the plunge yesterday and get a new computer. What I've been using has served us well for a long, long time but it just doesn't have the computing power to do things I want it to do anymore. When we bought it we were still heavily invested in the PC format, partially as a hang over from my 'business' days, but since then I've found myself doing more graphic design (I use the term very loosely), website stuff, and video editing. The web stuff and video editing I do partially as a part of my self-employment, so the purchase of a new machine was a bit easier to rationalize, though it was time regardless.

So, in light of the shift in function that I require we've made the plunge and gone iMac. I probably spent 5 minutes this morning trying to figure out how to open two web browser windows at once, and about as long learning how to copy and paste some text from one spot to another. Yikes. Those, and many more issues aside I think this is going to be a good change. I'm really looking forward (sort of) to learning how to edit videos with a much more powerful processor than what I've been using now, though I also have to familiarize myself with brand new software using a brand new and very foreign (to me) operating system. Here goes! It helps a little that in recent years our household has acquired a Touch, an iPad, and an iPhone. Oh, and I suppose Apple TV too. Now all of that and our computer should interface fairly seamlessly. I hate to admit it but I guess we've joined the Apple cult. Sorry HP and Blackberry - we had some really good times.

Oh yeah, the divine conspiracy explanation: In the midst of my computer shopping morning yesterday my new GoPro arrived! Well the story is a bit longer than that, but the result is that I'm now in possession of a camera that can shoot in 1080p 170 degree 60fps HD, and I have a computer that can properly edit the footage! This is going to be fun :)

Stationary Pugsley

2011-11-15T15:16:00.001-06:00

I'm doing a stationary bike workout (and some strength stuff) with a client today and just realized that my Pugsley has machined sidewall rims and I happen to have a rim drive trainer. Hmmm.

Shel'll be riding the Cycleops while I join her on the Pugs, both pedaling along to my latest workout video. Looking forward to it.

Purolator by Wagon

2011-11-15T12:35:00.001-06:00

I looked out the window today to find that the local Purolator guy was delivering parcels thru the neighbourhood by wagon. Awesome.

Dean 'n Kara's Veggie Farm get together

2011-11-13T09:18:00.002-06:00

What a nice Nov 12th we had yesterday at Dean and Kara's. Thanks for the hospitality guys, and if you had anything to do with the weather thanks for that too - can't ask for more this time of year.

Below are a few somewhat random pics taken during our Coop get together...

Honestly, trying to come up with a comment for this one would just ruin it:

With 3 dogs, 2 cats, and few of those crazy, small humanoid animals running around Moka's keeping one eye open at all times:

Kara's potatoes, perfectly done:

Dean's chops, slightly crisped:

All seems well at the dinner table until you look more closely to see that Dean and Tom look about ready to take each other out, and Deanna is giving Lori some serious stink-eye:

Two old guys playing handsies:

Hmmm, just noticed there's no photographic evidence that Graham was in attendance. Guess he didn't make a very lasting impression.

GYBOTS Awards Ceremony

2011-11-11T10:31:00.002-06:00

Well it's probably overdue but tomorrow we can officially award Brian the prize for winning the GetYourButtOnTheSaddle contest.

Be sure to do your hair and makeup.

Pugsley Fenders

2011-11-07T07:41:00.001-06:00

I've never really been one for bike fenders, not so much because I'm anti-fender as I am more generally anti-putting-anything-on-my-bike. Heck, I like the fact that I can build my new Pugsley up as a single speed, though I don't think I actually will (seems a bit too hardcore for me, or at least my legs).

However, my opinion may have changed slightly when I went out for a ride in the rain/sleet/snow last night and discovered just how much wet stuff a 4.7 inch Big Fat Larry tire kicks up. Maybe I'd consider fenders. Ironically though it's pretty darn hard to find ones wide enough to work effectively on the Pugs.

I did find something from a guy in Portland - Woody's Custom Cycling Fenders. They're gorgeous, yes they're wood, and you can have them made up in virtually any aesthetic style (I'd go for some grey, black, and white strips - the brown wood looks odd on the white Pugsley to me). They aren't exactly cheap at $215 plus shipping for the set, but it looks like they'd work. Tom, I know you like your fenders so I'm posting this in part for you.

Moonlander crashes, Pugs to the rescue

2011-11-05T16:06:00.001-05:00

Well after the 2nd delay in delivery (the new hopeful ship date is some time in January, which me thinks means spring) I cut lose of the Moonlander and activated the emergency chute: A Pugsley!

It's fairly stock, excepting for an old rapid rise xtr rear d mated with grip shift (great setup btw - gears up and down like a motorcycle throttle) and a big fat Larry up front. I like it!

Brian Wilson Lebowski

2011-11-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

As winter, and winter riding, approaches here's a timely homage to who I've come to understand is the patron saint of nordic cross, The Big Lebowski.

Wilson has elevated the level of stardom afforded an MLB relief pitcher to the point where even I know who he is, though I haven't ever really watched a game, in large part because he is either completely committed to his goofy public persona, or that just is his genuine persona.

Either way, pairing some nice argyle socks (with a dash of SF Giants orange) with some hiking shoes, a trucker cap, the impossibly jet black beard, and team issue SF Giants shorts with a Big Lebowski t-shirt is a stroke of fashion genius. He's almost as much the dude as The Dude.

And where the heck is he?...there's not 1 but 2 psychedelically painted vehicles (an old school van and an RV) parked on the residential street behind him. It's a really complete picture.

(Picture lifted from TMZ.com, not that I ever visit the site myself. Ever.)

Halloween at the Camp Cross Race - HD Videos

2011-11-03T08:30:00.002-05:00

It was a real blast being able to take in all of the races at this year's Halloween Cross Race put on by the gang at Red River Racing and their Dark Side partners at the Fort Gary Bike Club. Making it a multi camera HD video project was a labour of love ... love of cycling and the crazy fun of cyclocross and love of capturing the experience on video!

Here's the results on one main video and four 'shorts' ... enjoy (in HD if you wish)!:

I luv my gym

2011-11-02T20:53:00.001-05:00

Most days I take my home studio for granted, but today was one of those days when I just thought man, this is great!

This space was reserved for a Public Apology to Chris Huebner

2011-11-02T07:05:00.002-05:00

But then I read his post about the Halloween race. "stupid"? "skinny"? whell! I've got some s - adjectives for him; how about sinister! and sanctimonious! Oh he would probably be all too pleased with those descriptions given his choice of dress on Sunday, not to mention his usual moniker.

I would have thought that letting him take the win over me was enough to calm him down. But no, he resorts to publicly degrading a fellow cyclist on prime time blog space.

All I can say is; this aggression will not stand man.

btw -most fun course ever

and, here it is: sorry for bumping you off the whoop Chris

And I'm cute too

2011-10-31T16:10:00.002-05:00

Super Grover is up, up and away to Blue Cross for a super workout.

Fall Get Together

2011-10-30T22:49:00.002-05:00

Hello Fellow Coop'ers,

I know Kara and I have been off the grid for a while but we were talking today about getting together with everyone for an end of season BBQ. Any takers? We would offer our house if you are all willing to drive a bit. Think about it and let us know if and when it may work.

Dean

Andy Hampston

2011-10-30T17:33:00.001-05:00

Graham channels his inner slurpee passion to post another good showing at the local cyclocross scene.

Skinny and Strong

2011-10-26T14:21:00.000-05:00

Note to self...don't ever make fun of skinny supermodels again. Adriana Lima's got skills, and from all appearances could beat the crap out of me:

video platform video management video solutions video player

Go Pro Hero2

2011-10-25T15:01:00.001-05:00

Oh my, this is exciting....a new, more powerful GoPro (twice the resolution), but the really cool feature is a WiFi accessory that allows you to easily stream what you're recording live on the web.

Unfortunately the WiFi accessory will be released this "winter" (ie. it's not available right away), and I do have concerns about the battery life when using WiFi (my guess is it will cut the life in half, much like the LCD BacPac does), but it's all still pretty cool and I've been seriously thinking about getting a 2nd camera to shoot two different angles at once anyway. Glad I waited.

The possibilities are pretty neat. For instance, I could take my surf ski out to the beach in the middle of the day and Deanna could watch me live enjoying the sun, sand, and waves while she was in her office at work. Perfect! More seriously, you could stream a POV video live in the middle of a race and let others watch the event unfold in real time remotely. That's pretty cool.

Tom, Brian?....I'm seeing if I can place my order thru Olympia ASAP :)

Get'n excited 2.0

2011-10-25T07:52:00.000-05:00

Well, no sooner did I make my last posting then GSP had to bow out due to a training injury, so now we're looking at a Penn vs. Diaz main event. Honestly, the perfect fight between these two would, for me, result in them knocking each other out and neither being declared the winner, but I do think it will prove to be entertaining no matter the outcome.

Get'n excited...

2011-10-18T10:38:00.002-05:00

Your GoPro video is better than mine

2011-10-18T10:19:00.000-05:00

Wow, this is some pretty cool footage, though getting that close to a Blue Whale is also pretty dumb (and potentially harassing to the animal). I'd be too terrified to do it regardless so not really an issue for me. Truthfully, I'm a bit frightened by large Sturgeons.

No more lucky number seven

2011-10-16T21:23:00.002-05:00

I broke the streak! Unfortunately I moved the wrong way on the list. I'll do better next week. Then again, it is Gary's race. You know you do it to spite me Gary. You know it.
Gary. You do.
Gary.

Embracing the Fat!

2011-10-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

I am "FatTom" and embracing it ... on the Manitoba Fat Bike Blog.

But, if I don't get more biking in soon (like stat!) then I will be fattened up way too much ... before winter! So I will ride Mr. Pugsley - today! :-)

Mountain Bike Hazards

2011-10-10T20:34:00.002-05:00

Reason #253 to always where a bike helmet: