Coulee Cruiser Row Call!!

Next weekend is the Coulee Cruiser mountain bike race in Lethbridge.  I have never done this race but I have only heard good things about it.  All the detail can be found here: 

http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/events

Who's in?

Wildcat Roubaix a big success! (Updated with more pictures)

It was great to see 70+ cyclists out for the race put on by SPAN Cycling Club this morning. STC was super well represented with Jay, Andres, Suchaet, Nelson, Dan, Keith, Scott, Harley, Emily, and I. That's over 14% STC, pretty awesome.

Thank you to Dallas for spearheading this, and for SPAN on backing him up. Great Spring Classic!

Bill Quinney has posted quite a few pictures of the racing on his Facebook page here.

Ken Anderson has posted a great gallery as well here.

Next stop is the Penticton STC Training Camp!

Club Helmets and Shoes.

I asked the store if we could put out a 'recommended' helmet and shoes for the club so that if anyone does need new shoes or helmets they know a good one that matches the kit and it is for a fair price. The store will give club members the following prices.

Ian has suggested that the club go with:

the Kask Mojito in Black and Red. $185.
or the Bell Volt in Black and Red.  $145.

This way if slowly over the years we all replace our helmets, we have ones that match our kit.

For the shoes, he suggested

the Diadora Tornado $150
or the Sidi Genius 5  $225

If you need new shoes or a helmet, just go in and talk to Ian and he'll let you try on the stuff.

STC Clothing order is here!

The box came with all the STC clothes! It is all sorted and in bags with your names on it. If you ordered clothing this year, you can come pick it up. I have it in a box at the front of The Engine Room, which is my cycling studio at the back of Speed Theory. Come in any time the store is open and grab your clothing.

Trev

WildCat Roubiax - Time to Sign Up

There are only about 8 people signed up for this event.  Span needs a lot me people in order to hold this event so if you want to enjoy this race please sign up soon or the race will be cancelled.  :(

Go to the events page on the ABA website.  Scroll down till you see the WildCat Roubiax and click on the zone 4 link.  That is it. 

Cheers,

Harley B

WildCat Roubiax April 25th!!

Looking for a row count for the WildCat Roubiax.  This is a great preseason race to help you get into shape!!  Put your name on the list and lets plan a warm up ride together.

Thurs Night Skills In Training Forum

Good Day Everyone,

There is a new posting for the Thursday Night Skills in the training forum.

Cheers,

Harley B

Done. Log it! The Tombstone 600.

Just a quick update: I hope Stephen can write a little more soon.

The three of us on Day 2 around 450km in on Gates Pass.

Stephen, Paul, and I completed the Tombstone 600km Brevet this evening. It was actually 614km, and let me tell you, after 600km, that 14km hurt the head!

The weather was warm, but the hellacious winds were a massive problem on the day. The course distance is large enough, that there were extremely long sections in one direction. At one point in the ride, we had 102km of block headwinds where it was too loud to yell to each other. 6 hours in the small ring in concert level white noise is tough mentally, let me tell you!  Anyway, we completed 412km on the first, day, but we were pretty beat up by the extra 4 hours over the expected completion time. We got a shower, some food, and some sleep, then bagged the last 202km today, when it was much more favourable weather.

A brevet is unlike a race in that it is simply an event you partake in and try to complete the ride as strongly as you can. We all finished and still like cycling, so that is a win in our books.

Hopefully more to come from Stephen!

Garmin file here.

Stephen and Trev riding into the Sunset close to Sonoita about 320km in.

Trev

Penticton

Hey everyone!

It is one month until the Penticton camp!  If you have not booked accommodations yet you should do so asap.

Also, a reminder now is the time to start getting out for lots of rides in preparation if you have not yet done so.  If you cannot get out for longer (2.5+ hours) then get out for as many little rides as possible.  The training forum is a great tool to post or join rides so be sure to check there frequently.

If you have any questions don't be shy to ask.

Cheers,

Harley B
403-880-7695

First Thursday Night Skills Night This Thursday, April 9th

Good Day,

Please check the training forum for the posting of the 1st Thursday night skills night.

Cheers,

Harley B

Throwback Thursday: 2009 Mt. Norquay Hill Climb

After hearing the news about Banff Bike Fest being cancelled, I thought about other races that have been swept away by the sands of time. For three years the Mt. Norquay Hill Climb was THE focus race for me and, quite frankly, the only race I really cared about. Five kms of glorious, windy switchbacks with a nice flat to finish off the pain and, for the 2009 edition, fresh pavement with nary a crack in it. Oh, this day held potential for some fast times.

The 2009 edition was to be the last, after Parks Canada clamped down on using the road for competitions. Perhaps having the race on September 13 brought bad luck? Whenever we drive the TCH through Banff, I always find myself glancing up the Norquay road, thinking about old times, and reminding my wife that I had some ok results at that race. Strangely enough, I've never done this climb since that 2009 race.

Mt. Norquay Hill Climb Blog
2009 Results (A painful reminder that I used to be fast(ish). The year before was pretty good, too.)

(Photo: C. Mayne, via the Mt. Norquay Hill Climb blog)