Timing...

.... some times we get to plan it, other times it just is what it is... and both at work and home it's been said a few times the last two weeks.

tiny....

Good news; I'll be more in Calgary; can my job be done this way, well, it is what it is....
Good news; timing was good since they took away the large selection of scooping ice cream and now offering some dinky little cup of sundae!!! What.?..no need to travel that far for that!!
Good news; I actually did some core/stretching in camp last week! (it only takes a minute to eat that little dinky sundae, leaves room for a workout!!)



More good news; rest week was good rest!
Good news; probably immune to pretty much anything out there but should have timed in prior to rest week, as it had me out for most part of my first training week; oh well, it is what it is..an extra week of rest probably doesn't hurt as much as it bothers the mind!
Good news; feel good now and ready to pick it up this weekend, and the weather well, it is what it is......


Happy Riding!

View from my bike today - picturing the Buddhist flags on top of the tallest peak in Nepal .... probably could have found a good movie to watch.... but this worked ....

Three week ...

... cycle is up! Ended with two good days and now I'm set for a week of rest and some core tuning up north.

Saturday - Wednesday repeat with Andrea
A good ride today - route was the same as Wen but possible a little less wind, but it was up there! Hard push to Cochrane, great lunch and coffee (red pepper soup, one of my favs). Legs felt sore after some attempt on some new stretching exercises the day before (thought it was suppose to make me loose!!). Out of Cochrane we did our new nice pathway to old bridge and it was nice to have the wind in our back flying back to Calgary!

Climb out of Cochrane was tricky today, but possible.

 

Lunch face!

Sunday - yak training primo with Erik and Pat (for part of ride)

For the word version of this ride see Erik's Blog - but as always don't believe all you read.

For once I started the ride with a clean bike! I so enjoy the quiet clean ride (well if it wasn't for the squeaky breaks). Pat and Erik showed up today, and when Pat show I know it will be a good tempo on the road - he is a machine and just goes. It was a perfect day for a ride, the roads where slippery but manageable, the long route in to Cochrane, one of my favorite was a great choice for the day.
Pat made a call at Big Hill Spring to turn around, even though I tried to tell him "it'll get better".... it did - a couple hours later. After stepping in snow of all forms, soft, hard, hurting, deep, ridable and not - has to be good for Yak training.
As we came in to Cochrane I was concerned we were to late for soup - but to big smiles - there was lots left. Had a nice little break and opted for the same route home as yesterday. The soup had good stuff in it today and Erik was just flying on the south going section toward airport road, ouch, that was hard! and it was hard! We did a little twist to the route to get a more quiet road, my idea of a easy spin the last few km to "cool" down the legs didn't sit well with Erik as he hammered up the last hill like it was his last ride ever! For a second I let him go, but then the best of me got me and I pushed every little bit I had left to stay with him - ouch again.... I'm now ready to sit at my desk for the week.

Happy Riding All!


 

Clean bike!! :) for a little bit anyway....

Nice gravel roads -----

The twisty roads going through the valley....

.... on the top of my list of routes!!

My drive train....

Endless awesome roads....

Energy produced....

Only one flat today.... tubeless next for Pat.... while Erik and I was busy chatting and taking pictures... not much help we are

Oh yeah... here it goes... Pat, it did get better....

..like way over there somewhere.... but who can complain... it was an awesome day!!

Thai Chicken and rice soup... and Mocha better than ever...

AND THEN THE PICTURE TAKING WAS OVER... FAST RIDE HOME

Fighting the elements...

...wind, ice and the shadow....

With morning temperatures of plus 9 I figured it would be a windy day, but with blue sky how could I resist a ride on my last day off. And sure enough the wind, ice and the shadow gave me the run for my insanity...

Almost a repeat of Saturdays ride, skipped the single track in to Valley Ridge and went up over COP for the first time in a while; avoiding the killer downhill.... great day!

Happy Riding!

Chasing the Shadow for some draft...

Trying a pass, but Shadow was a hard fighter...soaking in the sun...

 

Oh yeah, take that!......

 

Challenging day... finding traction on some roads wasn't easy... beautiful though!

 

coconut chicken day :)

Love and hate...

...not sure what it is, but I have a hard time deciding. The real winter is trying really hard this year to make Calgary a winter wonderland, it dumped pretty much all yesterday and today I hoped to enjoy some of the awesome views on the bike. For most part, yes but side roads are a little less fun, but good for a challenge!

If you only could have one bike for winter which one would it be? For me it's a no brainer, the cross bike.... it goes everywhere and it has gone everywhere with me. It's very little it can't ride, with practice, but as they say "you gota learn to crawl before you can walk". It's gone from some frustration, figuring out setup, tires and fenders of course, figuring out how to ride slippery, deep snow, slush... but in the end is a ride that can take you 100-200 km in winter. So if you love the awesome quiet back roads in the foothills mixed with some exploration of trails, then this is the ride for you. I don't see a fatbike in my near future, but I do see a new cross bike and it'll be sweet - more to come :)

Happy Riding!

Papa bear was snowed in .....

Almost made it before the skier, but second in was pretty sweet too...

beautiful winter land...

and what's a ride with no lunch shot....

Back in winter...

...wonderland. It's pretty neat that in less than 24 hours I had a nice little road ride in dry sunny AZ and a long ride in sideways snowy/rainy cold Alberta foothills.

Fun road ride with Steve before leaving sunny AZ

Saturday freak storm ride (Erik's version)

At first I thought I'd have to solo the ride as by almost 9am I was still the only one at our regular spot. I wasn't too upset as legs really could so good with a easy spin day. But I had somehow given them the idea I was not coming so time had changed and by 9 both Erik and Jeff were there ready to ride - so my little wish of a reason to bail gone.
We road north roads to Cochrane. It felt much cooler than what forecast had said and without my poggies I had my first really cold hands ride of the season. 

After a coffee and soup stop the sun had warmed things up and we were pretty happy to be going again, well for the first few minutes. "Kate check your right shoulder" Erik said and it was dark! Hmm could we stay ahead? We took the old bridge way out of Cochrane which now is my regular in or out if looking for short, as it keeps you off all highway most of the way and connects the bike paths nicely. We did not make it though, super heavy winds and snow mixed with rain hammered us sideways until we got to enjoy it from behind for a bit, then some more sideways beating before Springbank airport road - and we were flying. From the turn to just before the Edge I did not take one pedal stroke! Fun times - soaking times... Erik and Thomas (who joined us in Cochrane) took the south route back while Jeff and I ventured north in to the Valley Ridge single track - last bit of fun. Great day - tired legs - happy mind.

A little bit of trails...

 

Not a real ride without Coffee and soup...

 

Thomas showed up - road with the roadies to Cochrane and got freckled by them...

Sunday short ride that ended long but good...(Erik's version, but lets make it clear - I only ride ahead of them so we can make it home quicker as my legs and body was dying slowly I'm just good at hiding the pain.... and if it wasn't for my nominated "kings" I wouldn't get out)

Late start today and when I arrived at Cadence Shawn was already there. First I wasn't sure if it was Shawn, the half eaten muffin and not so well looking guy wasn't the Shaw we usually see. A few hockey outings and this is what happens. He insisted this was as far as he would ride today. Devon shows up a few minutes later and he almost instantly left as he was on a mission for a efficient 2-3 hrs ride. We convinced him Erik was just around the corner and we would head out quick. Erik arrived and the four of us set out....

The loop ended up being much the same as yesterday but backwards, and a few minor changes. We avoided the Valley Ridge single track, and did a little hike across the field. And quickly made it to the Edge school for a Shawn emergency stop....
Devon went south on 22 while the rest of us went to Cochrane for soup and coffee. The ride home felt really hard. But the last bit of Tuscany single track put a big smile back... Great ride - very very tired legs - happy tired mind...

 

Nice arena, Erik having a snack - for future rides know they serve hotdogs and nachos!!

 

Coffee and soup time.... Shawn finally able to eat...

Fancy fender fixing....

My goal for my time off was volume - the last 8 days I've had just over 31 hrs on the bike and most I'd say is good quality rides, that does not include any of the hiking/skiing prior - so far loading is working. That is the most I've ever put in unless I'm stage racing. Tomorrow will be easy day and time to run errands and then a few more days left trying to get some final volume in to complete my 3 week cycle before a week of rest when back up north. The rest should bring the fitness around. It's about 7 weeks to Nepal and from next week I'm back on my tree day weekend program, which proved last year that can work. Goal for Nepal is simple - have enough fitness not get injured and be able to finish.

Happy Training!

Turkey master...

...Chad!

Not really cycling related much, besides the fact I was really hungry from a long ride while waiting (and worth it) for Master Chad to make the bird good tasting... and the special visit from Ken (one of my first cycling friend and great one to learn from) and his son Connor, down from McMurray.



Oh yeah, the preparations, key to a good Turkey....

 

The pot, all ready to go.... focus Chad!

A beauty (the bird....)....

 

And the lucky once who got to enjoy it!! Thanks Chad!

Two weeks in...

...and feeling pretty good, if it wasn't for the regular life stuff such as work getting in the way I would have stayed and explored the rest of today's trails. 790 miles is the Arizona Trail. We did 47km of it and what a great ride, started at Picketpost trailhead. If I were to stop and take a photo of all the various section if trail it would take days to finish, one minute on red dirt, then some sand, then boulders, watch out for bushes of all kinds who jump out at you and really want a piece if your chamois.... Some sections were quiet exposed and yes, I made it alive! Exposed height not my forte but good to feel alive! The taste if this little section of the AZ trail have made me think I should plan a group ride and do the whole thing.

It's been a great four days of mountain biking and I'll end the trip with a road ride in the morning. Having Steve to pick the rides and guide me on the way is a bonus, no wasted time looking at maps and being list, and a little extra push to keep quality up.

Next week work is on the agenda again, but not until midweek so hope to have a couple of easy days then complete the three week cycle with some volume, before a good rest week (back north). I should be able to get one more block in before Nepal; hopefully on the bike but weather permitting and some good hikes will not hurt as far as I can tell from others that have raced in Nepal. Also need to start sorting out the details around the trip; gear, food, shots and others stuff..... End of February coming up too soon! 

Happy Riding!

Picketpost in the background...

Some dirt and smooth section, the decent back to the trail head was the best all week!!

If you look closely you can see where we are headed...

Little bit closer....

Killer bush!!

A rock... big rock...

Behind my bike you can see part of the trails we just did, and get to ride back again!

 

View point - time to turn back but the trails kept going - to Mexico...

Great sunny day!!

Thanks to Steve for great touring!!! to bad it has to end....

Day 13 - Black Canyon...

Bikes packed... tuk and winter jacket did go....

...a little bit of everything. This was a true epic. It was a few sections of smooth trail but mostly be prepared for a long day with wicked epic trail of all sorts of rock, various kinds of cactus (any bush you see, assume it can hurt you!!) and wildlife......(wild donkeys, single track hare, hawk were some).

Got up a early and snuck in a breakfast at yesterday's lunch spot before hitting the road. The trail head is about midway between Sedona and Black Canyon City (don't confuse the city with a city). Felt cool but advised no arm or knees today and Steve got that right. 

The trail is an in and out, with some options for a couple loops here and there.  It's starts with a great climb that not until I descended at the end if the day realized how exposed and wicked views it offered. We rode through any color and shape of rock you can imagine (and I know a few folks who would have probably had a proper name for it all but we probably would have spent days rather than hours finishing the ride).
 

On the first loop section we saw a group of wild donkeys, super health good looking. We had a couple of wet crossings, but on the bike this time. By the time we hit the end point about 40km in my shoulders/back were pretty bad but since there was no coffee shop we really had no option but to turn and ride back and look forward to the chocolate croissants in the car.... 

The ride bike felt shorter and quicker but it was about the same. In total this ride is about 80km. There are some great feature along the way and it never gets boring. If it wasn't for the bad shoulder at the very last decent; wow what a way to end the 80k ride!!! 

The bikes even deserved a rinse after today's outing. Tomorrow is picket post (or something like that) and then let the legs decide....

Happy Riding!

 



Black Canyon!! there was black rock, and white and others...

 

The tour guide!! again did very well...

 

Wild life.... donkeys!

 

Blue sky and great trails....

 

Steve in action...

 

Smooth flowy section ...

take the west loop down, the east loop back up is mostly jeep road....

 

Steve through cactus forest....