Really Busy or Just Lazy?

My updates have been few and far between lately but I suspect they should pick up with some regularity now.  I have a couple really good reasons and several excuses for not posting updates,  My best (or should this be my worst?) excuse is that my old laptop bit the dust and having to go down to my office rather than sit in front of the TV and type with the tube on in the background seemed like too much of a chore.  I was getting some renovations done around the house and taking Lachlan skating but there is always time after he has gone to bed.  The only good reason I had was the workload of my latest NAIT class, but I was able to manage previously so why not now?  As most people with full time jobs and families, I am really busy, I am always really busy, but there is always time for something if you make time.  I simply chose not to make the time.

So what's the big deal?  It's a blog with 4 readers (okay 4 might be a high guess - let me have my moment).  Who cares?  Well, it's just a small example of how I let anything to do with cycling slip by this winter.  My training occurred about as often as my updates and the 'drive' to step up my game for 2011 went by the wayside.  Thankfully, I wasn't on the couch all winter so even though I wasn't on the bike I was able to keep some general level of fitness. Playing hockey, choosing to take the stairs rather than ride the elevator and walks at lunch have helped keeping my fitness from deteriorating.  With the first race of the season upon us, what should one do if they haven't sat on a bike all winter? 

I have only been cycling for 3 years now and commuting has always been something that I thought would be great to do but because of location and travel time, lack of adequate bike storage facilities and no shower facilities, commuting was never given much of a second thought.  There would be no real monetary advantage as my wife and I have always managed to carpool to work and even if I decide to ditch the car for the bike, she would still need to drive as Lachlan would still need to get to daycare. 

This year, due to the unpredictability of my wife's schedule as of late, I decided that I would start commuting home from work.  This works out well as I still get to sleep in, pack all my gear into my pack, throw the bike into the back of the car and drive into work with my wife.  I lock my bike up in the secured storage area and I don't have to worry about getting showered or changed before stepping into the office.  On my way home I can now leave the office when I am ready, get some saddle time in and on my first attempt today I actually got home before my wife. 

The commute went well as it is only 20 kms, most of which can be done on bike paths rather than on the streets.  Using Mill Creek and the bike path along 91 Street sure made the first commute comfortable as I was able to keep off the road for approximately 75% of my ride.  Once I perfect a route and my bike fitness levels return to a reasonable level I might consider riding into work as well.  I pushed reasonably hard for the entire trip and determined a few things.  First, the little bit of hockey and stair work kept my lungs in great shape.  Second, all those things did nothing for my cycling legs.  My legs were burning with every pedal stroke yet I was never even close to being out of breath.  My legs definitely felt better near the end and I was able to kick it up a few gears - I suspect that it was the rust on my legs. 

Just a quick update on the trails - there is some actual dry dirt out there!  Unfortunately there is only small sections and mostly just soft and muddy.  I suspect it will be another 10 days or more before we can get on the trails without causing too much damage.  I'll start bringing my camera next week and post some updates.

Edmonton Bike Skills Training Facility

I would like to pass along an open invitation I recieved. I urge all of you to pass this along with any medium you have available to you as well:

This is an invitation to a Very Special Meeting being held on Friday April 1, 2011 @ 6:30pm @ 118 Ave 92 Street - Alberta Avenue Community League - to plan a Bike Skills Training Facility that will be showcased at Bikeology this June. This is not an April fools joke...fun, but not funny! The bike skills training will involve people from many communities sharing in a project that will bring people to 118 Avenue and promote the area’s revitalization and encourage community. I will be sharing my ideas with the group, and encouraging you all to seek as many people on all levels to get involved in this truly outstanding opportunity!

THIS IS HUGE!!! I can’t say enough about how much I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!! each and everyone of you play an integral role in this Community, you’re respected members of our City, and can give in ways you may not even see yet? Sponsors, sponsors, sponsors!!!??? if you have ANYONE that’s willing to get advertisement space, we will be asking for word-of-mouth on connecting us with some Choice Vendors/Shops that can be involved in something that will benefit our City, and in turn us!

This is a Dream of mine......the benefit, a Safe Place to Learn, Play, and Grow as Human Beings!

Lowering crime, particularly Bike Crime, well this will continue to do so...as has The Spoke!
I Will be serving FREE PIZZA/DRINKS, so please bring people out, this is a family event, feel free to bring Kids!

Thank you all for your time,

Peace, Mountain Bike Mike.

I have been a part of many conversations amongst local trail riders suggesting we need something like this so here is our opportunity to show support for this project.  I hope to see some familiar faces this Friday...

My Single Speed is Finally Done!

This post has been a long time coming.  As I had alluded to in a post last December, I have been gathering parts to build a single speed.  This process starting in October but there were some delays on parts orders and general flip flopping on what parts I actually wanted.  The build was finally completed at the end of February and other than a few exceptions, I couldn't be happier with the final result.

Here is my build list:

Frame - 2009 Rocky Mountain Hammer 29
Crankset - TruVativ Stylo OCT 1.1, 32T
Wheelset - Velocity Blunt 29er rims with Shimano XT hubs
Brakes - Formula Oro K24
Rotors - Formula Oro - 180 front, 160 rear
Fork - Exotic Rigid 29er
Headset - FSA Orbit MX
Stem - Thomson Elite X4
Bars - RaceFace Deus
Seatpost - Thomson Elite
Saddle - Fizik Tundra
SS Hub Converter - Origin8
Rear Cog - Shimano 18T
Tires - Maxxis Ardent 2.25
Skewers - Shimano XT 9mm

Initially I was only intending to use this as a fun bike.  I was only going to take it out on the odd group ride, when I ride with the family or with the dogs. Ass the process wore on, I started to get the itch to try my luck in a couple races.  Now, some of the build components don't scream out 'racer,' specifically the steel frame and the wheels.  That being said, I am close to the same weight my 'race' bike is.  It took losing front suspension, shifters, derailluers, cables, a couple rings and a cassette to make up for the difference, but here we are at about 24.5 lbs on both bikes.  There is no doubt in my mind which bike is faster, gearing aside.  With over a pound difference in wheel weight, getting the SS up to speed will take considerably more effort.  If I were to try my luck at the Canadian Single Speed Championships, I just might be forced to pull my fork off my Vertex SE and put it on my SS.  I just can't see hammering out multiple laps on a rigid on a course that has as many roots as the Edmonton Canada Cup course.  That would also get me a lighter front wheel as the fork is a 15mm through axle.

As I mentioned, I am quite pleased with the final result, but I did miss the boat on a few items when looking back.  Obviously, had I been building a racer there is a lot of changes that would be required.  The one piece that I would made a different decision on (had I just been a little bit more knowledgeable at the time) is the bar.  Choosing aluminum over carbon was a poor decision.  The original decision had more to do with me thinking the benefit of carbon was reduced weight and cutting some grams on this build wasn't a concern so why bother?  Well, I have since found out that most guys who ride rigid use carbon bars as carbon does a much better job of reducing vibration.  Doh!  Live and learn, I guess. 

The other area where I made a poor decision due to the fact I knew next to nothing about riding rigid, I didn't realize that there would be a big difference from one fork to the next.  In my case, I bought the cheapest aluminum fork I could find.  I don't think I could have been any more incorrect as it is the same old story - you get what you pay for.  Carbon forks are much more compliant and do provide some level of vibration dampening that aluminum forks simply won't do.  I wasn't (and I am still not) convinced I want to ride rigid but I definitely want to try it out and because of that uncertainty, I couldn't bring myself to buy what I really wanted - a Niner carbon fork.  Bling bling and ching ching!!!  These are arguably the best rigid forks on the market and cost about as much as a entry to mid level air fork.  This may be a treat for next year if I am convincingly sold on this rigid idea.

Thankfully these weren't too costly of mistakes and I can always upgrade down the road.  Now that the build is complete I really can't wait to get this beast on the trail.  Unfortunately, with a base of over 3 feet of snow still remaining on the ground, it could be quite a while before this bike gets to see any dirt.

2011 Race Schedule

I had heard there was going to be some changes to the 2011 Alberta Bicycle Association Mountain Bike schedule from the previous two seasons so I was quite excited when I saw the new schedule for the first time last week.  You can find the complete schedule here, but the following are the events I will most likely participate in.

     Date     /     Name     /     Organizer     /     Location     

Sun 05/22     /     Hardcore XC     /     Hardcore     /     Edmonton

Mon 05/23   /

Edmonton Marathon  /

Hardcore/Redbike   /

Edmonton

Sat 05/28     /     Calgary XC     /     Dead Goat     /     Calgary

Sat 06/04 / Kananaskiker MTB Stage Race / Café Racers / Canmore

Sun 06/05 / Kananaskiker MTB Stage Race / Café Racers / Canmore

Sat 06/11   /   Iron Lung XC    /   CMC/Bow Cycle   /   Canmore

Sat 07/09   /    Perogy XC      /      RVC    /    Edmonton

Sun 07/10   /    Perogy XC     /      RVC     /    Edmonton

Sun 07/17   /   Mountain Bike Nationals   /   CMC/Bow Cycle   /   Canmore

Sun 07/24 / Edmonton Canada Cup / Alberta MTB Racing / Edmonton

Sat 08/27   /    XC Provincials    /    Freewheel   /   Hinton

I took a few marathon races off my list as they have not been my focus previously.   I did leave one marathon race on my list with hope that it will kick start my season.  With my goals this season being less aggressive from last year, I feel I can relax my training to allow some longer races.   Also, with this only being my 4th year riding, I finally feel like I actually have the fitness to complete an endurance race.

There will be one or two out of town races on here that I won't be able to make but at this point I haven't made a final decision which event I won't be attending.  What I do know is that a personal schedule with races 4 weeks in a row (and 3 weeks straight in Calgary/Kananaskis/Canmore) will not be wife approved.  With Lachlan's birthday falling in mid-June, the Iron Lung is most likely the one that will have to suffer for the third straight year. 

As for local races, my two previous best performances have been at the Edmonton Canada Cup so I am hoping that I can have similar results in 2011.  I think has mostly due to that the course suits my strengths; lots of roots and power climbs keep me out of the saddle for most of the race. 

As for the remaining Edmonton races, I am not too sure where in the city these will be held.  I assume that at least one will be held at Terwillegar Park but it is possible that both will be held there.  I would like to see one of these races held in Strathcona Science Park.  The Science Park was the home of the MTB race for the 2007 Western Canada Summer games so there is a suitable track available.  In addition, there is ample room for parking and compared to Terwillegar, users at the Science Park are almost non-existent. 

Finally, I was happy to see provincials at Hinton again this year.  I had a great time last year as the course was a real test of mettle.  The climbs were long and grueling but they weren't the hardest part.  The descents were punishing enough on a hard tail that I was begging to climb.  My arms and legs felt like I was riding a jackhammer as I tried to absorb the relentless terrain as we worked to the bottom of the hill.  I can't wait to try it again in 2011!