Salty Dog 6 Hour Enduro MTN Bike Race

This past weekend, the interior BC’s roads and mountain bike trails were invaded by Speed Theory’s racing team. While some members kicked off the Penticton Training Camp, 4 of our members participated in the Salty Dog 6 hour enduro MTB race in Salmon Arm on Sunday. Thomas, Simon W, Rick M, and I took part in the grueling event as solo riders. This meant doing as many laps as you could in 6 hours. Each lap consisted of around 10.5km and just less than 400m of elevation gain. All of the climbing occurred in the first part of each lap, and the first half of the climb was steep singletrack switchbacks. The other half was nice smooth doubletrack with sections that allowed you to eat, drink, get into a bigger gear and hammer, pass people, and text. With a water/feed station at the top, you refueled, and then the reward came. A sweet, technical, fun-rolling, big-grin-on-your-face descent which made you forget about all the hard work you had to do to earn it. As you rolled through the transition area, fans screamed and yelled and cheered you on and you felt light on your feet as you ran through there with your bike. Then the mental game started, and you had to do it all over again.
The weather was a perfect mix of warmth and overcast skies with some sprinkles here and there. Not enough moisture to keep the dust down and everyone’s faces from being covered in Salty Dog war paint.

Props go out to Simon W for completing 8 hard laps, Thomas completing 7 laps (on his single speed hard tail 29’er!) Rick M threw down 7, and I had 6 laps, surpassing my goal of 5 laps. Simon passed me twice during the 6 hours, and always in the swoopy, rocky, dusty, switchback descents. He was moving so fast if it wasn’t for his accent and Speed Theory kit, I never would have noticed him. My guess is he picked up the pace when he saw me, to avoid a repeat of last Wednesday’s C4 TT, and having to help me with any flats. Mission accomplished.

Next up is this weekend’s Trans Stony 6 hour enduro in Stony Plain. Great race everyone!

I'm freaked out!

I have a special ride planned for Lachlan and I on Sunday after the camp is officially over. It is on the only roads I haven't explored around Penticton. It is old logging roads connecting Penticton with highway 33 near BeaverDell. It is mostly on gravel. Check out the profile of the ride! That vertical axis is in meters!

Awesome live coverage of the Tour De California

Hit up this link for live video and audio and amazing coverage! It is almost in HD!

Trev

New! and Improved! Track Cycling Returns to Calgary

Add some spice to your cycling life by racing in Fox and Hounds, Reverse Win and Out, or the Flying 400! A new and exciting season of track cycling in Calgary starts 10.00 AM Saturday May 1^st at the Glenmore Velodrome, and offers the opportunity to train and/or race up to four times per week. Thursday night racing starts May 6^th at 6:00 PM and continues until early September with prize purses totaling $4,000 for the season. In addition, we’re running four Saturday races in May and June starting with a UCI Omnium on May 15^th. ABA-sanctioned racing starts May 29^th with a one-day endurance team event.

If you’re new to the track, come and sample our stress-free “Try the Track” sessions with instruction on Monday nights starting May 3^rd, from 6:00PM to 8:30PM (unless the track is closed due to rain). It’s a great sport for the whole family! Free loaner bikes are available for “Try the Track” and no advance registration is required. For more information about “Try the Track”, please contact our track manager at trackmanager@cbtl.ca

Please note that registrations for the season and bike rentals are only available on www.karelo.com this year. Our track managers might be forgiving and allow you one free night on the track if you can show an ABA license, but just once.

More details on our programs, training times and Thursday night schedules are on our website www.cbtl.ca

Speed Theory Cycling's: ACME Incredibilus Velocitus ITT

Well, I have had the pleasure of simply observing Darcy's masterful negotiation through the red tape boundaries of bureaucracy and get us full permission to use an Alberta Transportation highway for our May 30th 40km ITT!!

We will have a poster and registration up very soon. But I wanted to give cyclists the heads up that this is a course not to miss. It is in a region that hasn't typically seen bike racing and Acme seems to be embracing the event, which should be encouraged.

Andy Holmwood will be doing a field test of the timing system that will be used for nationals at this event, so we will have national caliber timing that promises to be accurate and the results timely.

I have just purchased commercial event insurance for this race, meaning that THIS RACE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE SAME PRICE AS ABA MEMBERS !! Please start getting your friends pumped to try out a pure cycling event. I have told the commissaries that if you are registered in 'Citizen's Class' (meaning no ABA race license), then only check the bike for safety. This means if you are a triathlete, you can come and race the exact same set up you race tris on. We want you trying a pure bike race, since we know you will get hooked!

Next time you see Darcy, buy him a beer or pat him on the back, getting this permission wasn't a small amount of work.

We will be making the call for several volunteers soon.

Trev

Penticton Trip- Big Reminder

To those people heading to Penticton over the next week for some epic riding, remember one thing: bring your passport even if you are remotely thinking of joining us on the ride into the United States (Day 7 on Saturday). Without your passport, you will be left to your own devices (and possibly those of US customs) to try and cross the border with us.

There's a link at the top of this Blog page titled, PENTICTON CAMP, under the section called "Important current stuff." It will send you to a general post highlighting some important points about the trip and links to the previous blog posts about the rides and so on/what not/etcetera/so forth...

In other news, I won the Cabin Ride last night...that is, if it were a race to the bottom of Old Banff Coach Road. Go steel bikes!

Here is a webcam of where we are going on Thursday !! From warm swimmable lake in Oliver straight up to a ski lift ! Just a 27km climb separates them.

Calgary Challenge Triathlon

The Calgary Challenge Triathlon will take place May 29-30.

The events will include:

Sat May 29th
-Foothills Academy 10km Run
http://www.foothillsacademy.org/pdfs/2009-2010/RWR/Reg_form.pdf
Early bird entry before May 20th is $30

Sun May 30th
-Speed Theory 40km Time Trial (www.speedtheoryteam.com)

Sign up info for this coming soon. Race day insurance will be included in the entry fee for non ABA members. Entry fee is expected to be $30

-1,500m swim sponsored by the Kronos Triathlon Club, at Mount Royal pool
There will be a $5 donation for non Kronos members to be put towards the Kids of Steel race. All swimmers MUST have an ATA membership.

If you are interested in taking part in this event, please email
Kyle: dukyle at yahoo dot ca
Scott: ironchiro at gmail dot com

Prize information to come soon.
More infor will be posted at calgarytriandbike.blogspot.com

Midweek Mayhem crits start TONIGHT and Wednesday Night Race Series starts TOMORROW

Tuesday night crits start Tues - 11th May. Be aware that you need to sign up on karelo beforehand. I hope that racers who got their first taste of crit racing at Velocity are psyched!!

Wednesday night race series starts Wed. - 12th May. Link at the top of this page! See you there.

Calgary Triathlon Championships

Scott Curry and I are going to race each over an Olympic Distance Stage Race Triathlon. We're open for others to join us for some healthy competition. The results of the race will be based on the overall times determined from the following:

Sat May 8th, 2010:
7:30am start at Foothills Pool for a 1500m time trial
4:00pm start Time Trial bike: beginning and ending at the intersection of 101st and Upper Springbank Road SW - Scott and I won't be using race wheels,...it'll be up to you whether or not you are sissy enough to use them.

Sun May 9th, 2010:
9:00am start Mother's Day 10km, Calgary

If you're interested in joining us, you must RSVP by email Kyle @ dukyle at yahoo dot ca, or Scott @ ironchiro at gmail dot com

Penticton Bike Tour/Wine Camp Days 6 and 7

Day Six

By the time Day Six and Seven come around we’re pretty much as pro as it gets. Sponsors are calling and we got a free ride. Right? Both days have their challenges with Day Seven being the longest day of the week, but first, Day Six. It’s hill repeat day!!! Yaaaay!!! Cyclops there. Cyclops there. Both rides will head north to Summerland and then hit Giant’s Head- a tight, switchback, steep climb where you can see the rider above you or below you depending on your headspace- the climb will test your brain for sure. Because both groups are riding together we’ll climb Giant’s Head twice and then continue on with the ride. When we go through Summerland on the way back, those who are up for it can challenge Giant’s Head a couple more times. The ride overall is pretty isolated and it kind of gave me the creeps during the past two times I’ve done it, like banjo-in-the-background creeps. The distance is around 90km so we’ll be back home with lots of time for afternoon cocktails. The linked map isn't exactly accurate of where we will ride but we'll make sure no one gets lost.

Day Seven

The Awesome-Rad category ride on Day Seven totally rocks out so much that you need a passport. So bring your passport! We’re heading south to the land of IHOPs and Waffle Houses. The ride takes us south of Osoyoos and across the US border. From there we scoop down and over and come back into Canada on the other side of Richter’s Pass. Then we follow the Ironman course back to Penticton. You will never taste better Beef Jerky and Beaver Buzz when we stop in Keremeos. The ride distance is 210kms.

The Rad category ride will take on the epic Apex climb on Day Seven. It’s simple: ride up to Apex from Penticton and then ride down. Up and down. Seventy kilometres. And 11km of climbing that will make you cry. Just ask Jared. But then the ride down is one of the funnest (I make up words sometimes) descents you’ll ever do. Just make sure to ride the brakes down the first 11km part and then let it rip.

Now that we have all the rides on the table, whose coming with us? Drop your name and the first day you’re riding in the comments section of this post; for example, Carson Bannon: Sunday. I know some people will begin riding on Sunday (Mark, Carson, Ryan, Marilyn, Simon F., Natalie, Mike H.), some on Tuesday (Jared) and then some on Thursday (Frank, Trev and Lockie). Also, if anyone is interested, Carson, Mark and I are going on a ride Saturday, May 15, out of Revelstoke. We’ll swing by the Tim Horton’s by Hwy 1 around 9:30 a.m. to see if anyone is there. Finally, please ask any questions you may have about the trip in the comments section as well. I will have a final blog entry early next week before everyone heads out with some general trip info. We're 10 sleeps until Day 1.

Clothes under my deck. All ready for pick up.

Please only take the bag with your name on it :) Pick them up here.

Note: Google must have updated there maps since they are 'off' a bit with the pointer to my house.. but correct street.

Trev

Need a catchy name for our May 30th 40km ITT.

OK, with it starting in ACME, and it going through Bargrave and Linden, close to Sunnyslope, and on the 806, there is lots of opportunity for some word play or something.

Throw your name suggestion into the ring here and the winner gets a box of Protein Plus bars and free entry to the race! Anyone can suggest a name and win this, not just club members.

Follow this link for a map of the potential course.

Trev

STC Race Photos

Guys, Thomas has set up a 'group' Flickr account for our team. It would be great if people just started uploading good race photos there. I have yet to see most of the awesome shots from the PR. All you have to do is create a personal account on Flickr (don't worry about the email or anything they try to give you). Upload your photos to your Flickr account.

Then:

For Velocity photos go to this link, join the group, and "Add something" to the Group pool of photos.
For Prairie-Roubaix photos go to this link, join the group, and "Add something" to the Group pool of photos.

It's best if you organize your photos in your personal account into "Sets" eg. "Velocity Stage Race 2010". This way photos that are put into the group pool when clicked on viewers can get information about them. "Tagging" them with descriptive keywords will also help .

Velocity Stage Race

Wow! What a weekend. I am totally impressed by the caliber of riders that were out for this event. Even in the lowly Cat 5 category there are some awesome atheletes. Totally impressive are the Juvectus group of young riders. I haven't seen the results yet but in every event they were a power house.... well done.
Speed Theory has some fabulous talent this year as well. I was honored to be working with some of the other guys in the cat 5 road race. I think that some of them came in in the top 10-15. I ran over Rob (the road rash) Welsch on the second last corner so I didn't get to see the final sprint. With that said, I felt awesome (mostly) until that point. I'm sure I would have been crushed in the final sprint but it was a fun race.

Thank you Velocity for putting on such a well organized event. The volunteers and organizers were fabulous.

Does anyone have a relative, friend or co-worker that might be coming from edmonton? I left a wheel set in the wheel car and was hoping someone might be coming to Calgary soon and can bring them down. Lastly, I left some sunglasses in the Boston Pizza and was hoping someone grabbed them..
I seem to have a bout of LHD (Lockland Holmes Disease) for forgetting stuff. At least I got to race :) I better be carefull, I hear he's a black belt in Thong-quan-doe.